The American Dental Association (ADA) describes careers in dentistry as competitive in salary with a wide variety of career opportunities, including working in hospitals, research laboratories, private practice, education, as well as international relief organizations.
Program Overview
Acceptance to dental school requires a strong academic record supplemented with community service and dental experience.
Rockhurst University students from Kansas and Missouri qualify for the Reserved Admissions Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry.
The Reserved Admissions Program for the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UMKC enables highly motivated Missouri and Kansas residents who are in their sophomore year of college to apply directly to the School of Dentistry for a reserved seat in a future dental class. Accepted students can participate in developmental opportunities with the Office of Student Programs throughout the remainder of their undergraduate years. Once candidates meet the full criteria they are allowed to bypass the traditional dental application process for admission.
Learning Outcomes
Pre-dentistry students work closely with pre-health advisors to navigate the prerequisites and admission processes of the dental schools of interest. Program students typically major in a science, though it is not required. They will work on gaining the experience they need through volunteering, shadowing and other relevant experiences to help prepare them and gain valuable experiences.
As there is not one prescribed list of prerequisite coursework for dental schools, pre-dental students work closely with advisors to plan schedules to accommodate the different requirements. At Rockhurst, an active alumni medical network provides interested students with access to alumni in dental school, residency and early career to provide firsthand knowledge of the process of admissions and the challenges and rewards of how to become a dentist.
Program Outcomes
“The Rockhurst University dental advisors and the Rockhurst Pre-Dental Club have given me ample ability to achieve as a pre-dental student. My admission into dental school was streamlined thanks to the immense knowledge and help from not only my advisors but my fellow classmates! From students to faculty, it is incredibly evident how much everyone at Rockhurst wants me to succeed in dentistry.”
– Matt Wahle
Former Pre-Dental Club President
Rockhurst University Class of 2019
Dentist
Periodontist
Orthodontist
Prosthodontist
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dental Assistant
Dental Specialist
Dental Laboratory Manager
Course Map
Degree and class descriptions and requirements can be found by clicking on the course catalog listings below:
Popular Courses
This course addresses selected basic biological concepts and principles within the framework of the scientific method and modern evolutionary theory. Emphasis is on cellular biology with topics including the basic chemistry, structure, regulation, energy transformation, photosynthesis, respiration, reproduction and genetics of living systems.
The first semester of a year long course in introductory chemistry. Topics include atomic and molecular structure; periodic properties of the elements; chemical bonding; properties of gases, liquids, and solids; stoichiometry; aqueous solution reactions. Lecture three hours a week.
An introduction to modern organic chemistry including molecular bonding and structures, functional groups, nomenclature, stereochemistry, reactions, mechanisms, and synthesis. Lecture three hours per week.
An in-depth examination of the chemistry of living organisms, including biochemical structure-function relationships, enzyme catalysis, carbohydrate metabolism, and cellular regulation. Lecture three hours a week.
Degree Info
- DDS Reserved Admission Program at UMKC
- Rockhurst Pre-Dental Club
- Alumni medical networks in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, as well as Omaha, Nebraska, to create shadowing opportunities
- Pre-Health Blackboard page to announce upcoming opportunities for research, volunteering and shadowing
- Annual meetings with regional and local admissions representatives from professional health programs
- Class sizes less than 48 and instructed by full-time faculty
- Open-door access to professors
- Personalized advising
- Tutoring and supplemental instruction at no cost
- In the past five years, 77% of students placed in health care professional programs
- Kaplan Institutional Partnership with half-price DAT course
Pre-Med Scholars Program
Rockhurst has agreements in place with both local and regional medical schools for outstanding pre-medical students to gain early admission into medical school. Each program has a unique set of criteria.
Students interested in early acceptance programs must meet rigorous academic standards along with leadership, service and professional development criteria. It is strongly advised that students identify a program in their freshman year and work with pre-health directors Annie Lee, Ph.D. or Laura Salem, Ph.D. to identify appropriate coursework, extracurricular activities, volunteering opportunities and shadowing of physicians. Because some of the programs listed below are for sophomore applicants, students must have a strong commitment to pursue a medical career when they start at Rockhurst if they want to apply through one of these programs:
Find Your Program
Choose topic to quickly find specific program details