September 30, 2021 - Non Residents
September 30, 2021 - Oklahoma Resident

*Verification process can take up to 2-3 weeks. It's advisable to submit your application by the first week of September 2021.

The training that leads to a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree is a combination of didactic (theoretical) and applied coursework together with a progressive experience in patient treatment in a clinical environment. The four-year DDS program is widely known as one of the top leaders in pre-clinical and clinical education.

1. Basic Admission Requirements

A. Academic

• A minimum of 90 semester hours of course work from any accredited college or university.
• A minimum of 75 semester hours of course work prior to application .
• A minimum grade point average of 2.50 for all college level work attempted.
• In good standing with the college or university last attended or in which currently enrolled.

Prerequisites

B. Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

All applicants are required to provide score results from the DAT. The DAT is administered through the American Dental Association and complete information on the examination is available at ADA.org. If taken multiple times, the College of Dentistry considers the DAT with the highest score of each section. The DAT exam is valid for 3 years from the date of the exam. 

C. Observation Hours

Applicants must complete at least 100 hours of observation in a dental practice setting and/or dental laboratory. The majority of shadowing should be done with general dentists.

In recent years, most, if not all, of the entering class has earned a considerably higher grade point average and DAT. The vast majority has completed a bachelors degree or an equivalent number of credits.

Interviews

Applicants with strong credentials and competitive applications are invited for a personal interview with individual members of the Admissions Committee. In addition to academic achievement, interviewers look for motivation, character, interpersonal and communication skills, maturity, service ethic, evidence of manual dexterity, and knowledge of the dental profession. Interviews begin in the early fall. The full Admissions Committee meets in November to consider applicants who have been interviewed and to make initial selections for the entering class.

Admissions Decision

Each applicant who submits a completed application may expect a response when a final admission decision is made, but not before 
December 1. Applicants are to check their OU Supplemental Application for a decision letter.

Successful applicants are asked to submit an advanced tuition deposit in order to reserve a position in the class and will receive a separate email with information to set up the OUHSC email account. Alternates are notified that they have been placed on a waiting list to be selected, should an opening in the class become available.

Class Size

A class of not more than 54 students begins each year. The summer semester for the entering class begins mid-June of each year. The learning experience is formatted around a cohort model in which students in each entering class progress through the entire program together. 

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Orientation and the start of classes for new students take place mid-June. The four-year curriculum begins with foundational studies in biomedical and dental sciences, progresses to applied laboratory and simulated patient experiences, and culminates with clinical training and comprehensive patient care. Completion of the prescribed program leads to a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree. Significant opportunities for treating patients is a hallmark of the student's training at the College of Dentistry and promotes the formation of strong clinical skills and development of excellent practitioners. 

In addition to completing the curriculum required by the College of Dentistry, students must also pass regional and national examinations administered by organized dentistry in order to receive a degree and become licensed to practice.