This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ufl.edu.
The college educates the state’s future dentists and dental specialists through 16 degree and certificate programs. Each year we admit a new class of 90+ D.M.D. students who are among the top predental students in the nation. Students’ performance on standardized examinations is a benchmark of the quality of our academic programs.
The college is Florida's only public dental school and one of the top dental institutions in the country. It has a statewide network for community oral health with four UF-owned dental centers and 11 partnership centers located throughout Florida. The college provides training opportunities for students and residents while providing dental care to Florida residents, many of whom are underserved and lack access to dental care.
The UF College of Dentistry is housed in the Dental Sciences Building located on the UF Academic Health Center campus. The Academic Health Center includes five additional colleges – Medicine, Public Health and Health Professions, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine – and is adjacent to one of the university’s affiliated private, tax-exempt teaching hospitals, UF Health Shands in Gainesville.
The College of Dentistry seeks students of the highest caliber for its many programs. A strong record of scholastic achievement, high moral character and strong motivation is expected of the applicant. Because of the vast amount of science that must be mastered by the dentist, a dental student must have aptitude and adequate academic preparation in the sciences. The highly personal relationship between patient and dentist places the latter in a position of trust, which demands maturity, integrity, intellectual honesty and responsibility.
Preprofessional students can major in any department or college of the university; however, an in-depth background in biological sciences is necessary to master the dental curriculum. The Pre-Health Advising Team in the UF Academic Advising Center offers information and resources to help students prepare for admission to a professional program in dentistry.
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General education requirements for admission to the College of Dentistry are fully described in the dentistry catalog. Registration in dentistry (DEN) courses is restricted to students admitted to the College of Dentistry with 0DN to 8DN classifications.
The application process is described on the college website or students can email the admissions office.
Doctoral Program in General Dentistry
The Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) program is a four-year doctorate program in general dentistry.
Combination Program for Undergraduate Students
The combination B.S./D.M.D. program allows the student to complete both the B.S. and D.M.D degrees in seven years instead of eight. Students submit applications at the conclusion of their freshman year at UF. Accepted students enroll in a carefully sequenced series of courses that meet both baccalaureate degree requirements and the College of Dentistry’s admissions requirements. The student completes three years of undergraduate work before transferring to the first year of dental school. The B.S. degree is awarded at the end of the first year of dental school. This program is jointly offered with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Combination Programs for Dental Students
The College of Dentistry offers an integrated dental and graduate research training program culminating in the awarding of both a D.M.D. and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. The combination D.M.D./Ph.D. program is offered in collaboration with the College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences and prepares students for a career in the dental academic setting using skills acquired in clinical practice and clinical education as well as basic and/or translational research. This program will typically take 7-8 years to complete.
Advanced and Graduate Programs
The College of Dentistry also offers four Master of Science in Dental Science (M.S.) degree programs as well as several Advanced Education Programs resulting in certificates of completion.
In conjunction with the College of Medicine, the College of Dentistry offers a six-year program that awards an M.D. degree and a certificate of completion in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Oral Biology Specialization
The college’s Department of Oral Biology, in conjunction with the College of Medicine, offers a program leading to a Ph.D. in medical sciences with a specialization in oral biology.
Established in 1972, the University of Florida College of Dentistry is the only publicly-funded dental school in the state and ranks as a national leader in dental education, research and community service.
- Exceptional boards pass rate
- Top 10 nationally-ranked research enterprise
- Statewide network of clinics
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