Preparing For Admission
A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health’s (ATSU-ASDOH) innovative dental education program is a four-year curriculum. In the first two years of the program, students focus on biomedical and human sciences, integration of oral medicine in the practice of dentistry, and preclinical simulation exercises. In the third and fourth years, students practice dentistry in community-based health centers. The third- and fourth-year curriculum places special emphasis on patient care experiences through integration of biomedical and evidence-based dental sciences, and problem-solving scenarios to achieve clinical experience. ATSU-ASDOH’s curriculum includes a strong component in public health, leadership, and dental practice.
In addition to the issues of oral health and the skills of dentistry, students are encouraged to become caring, community-minded healthcare providers. Graduates are expected to be leaders in their communities and resources to public, not-for-profit, and private sector oral health organizations.
- All applicants are required to take and submit the U.S. Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores via the American Dental Education Association Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS) site on or before Dec. 1 of the application year. No scores older than three years will be accepted.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 2.75 on a four-point scale (3.0 minimum recommended). The overall and science GPA, the school(s) attended, and the rigor of the academic course load are all assessed on an individual basis.
- Applicants are required to provide a minimum of TWO (2) letters of recommendation. ONE letter must be from a Science Faculty OR Predental Committee Member and ONE from a Dentist.
- Applicants can also submit an additional letter of recommendation from a community service supervisor. The letter from the community service supervisor must be from a broad-based volunteer community service project in which the applicant was involved but NOT paid.
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent U.S. resident or hold a F-1 student visa that allows for academic study in the U.S.
- A formal minimum three years of college or university coursework from a regionally accredited school in the United States only (90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours), but a baccalaureate degree is preferred.
- All prerequisite coursework must have been completed from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
*Due to COVID 19,
- ASDOH will accept pass/fail courses if a letter grade is not an option.
- Official Transcripts are required, if they cannot be obtained, a letter from the school, faculty and/or department will be required stating the applicant has successfully completed the course while including a grade.
Application Deadlines / Notification for Entering Class
| Application Deadlines/Notification for Entering Class | |
|---|---|
| AADSAS | Nov. 15 (submitted) |
| *DAT scores | Dec. 1 (taken) |
| Secondary application | Dec. 15 |
| First acceptance notification | Beginning Dec. 15 |
*DAT Code: 03
Selection Factors
Applicants are evaluated on academic course work, performance on the DAT, AADSAS essay, letters of evaluation, and interviews. Demonstrated community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment is preferred.
International Student Admissions
- International students applying for admission to ATSU-ASDOH must meet all general requirements for admission as stated in admissions publications.
- International students must take all prerequisites courses in the United States. Equivalency courses will not be considered
- Applicants who have graduated from a foreign college or university should submit acceptable evidence of U.S. degree/course equivalency. All course work taken at the foreign institution must be evaluated by one of the following services:
- World Education Services P.O.Box 5087 Bowling Green Station, New York, NY 10274-5087 Phone: 212.966.6311 Fax: 212.739.6139 E-mail: info@wes.org
- Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. P.O.Box 514070 Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 Phone: 414.289.3400 ece.org
- Foreign Consultants, Inc. Credential Evaluation Services 3000 Dundee Road, Suite 2019 Northbrook, IL 60062 Phone: 773.761.000 foreignconsultants.com
- GCE, Inc. P.O.Box 9203 College Station Texas 77842 Phone: 1.800.707.0979 gceus.com
**Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health. Written and spoken proficiency in the English language may be demonstrated by one of the following options:
- English is your first language.
- Graduated from a regionally accredited four year college/university in the United States with a BA/BS or graduate degree.
- You are demonstrating your English proficiency by submitting acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Acceptable minimum scores for ATSU-ASDOH applications are:
The Computer Based Test (CBT), Internet Based Test (iBT), or the Paper Based Test (PBT) are accepted. The following are the minimum required score based on test type:
| Test | Reading Skills | Writing Skills | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBT | 22 (minimum) | 26 (minimum) | 213 (minimum) |
| iBT | 22 (minimum) | 24 (minimum) | 80 (minimum) |
| PBT | 57 (minimum) | 61 (minimum) | 550 (minimum) |
The TOEFL is administered by
TOEFL/TSE Services
P.O. Box 6151,
Princeton, NJ, 08541-6151, USA
609.771.7100
A.T. Still University’s institutional code is 0339. Please be sure to include this information when you submit your application packet.
- Credit for advanced standing will not be given for any work completed in foreign graduate or medical schools. All students must apply for first-year status.
- International students must have permanent residency status (green card) to be eligible to receive any type of federal financial assistance.
- International students not having permanent residency status must provide written proof of ability to finance their Dental education prior to matriculation.
- Applicants must submit Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores that are not older than three years.
- International students seeking to enter a program of study at ASDOH must hold a F-1 (student) visa issued by the U.S. Government. ASDOH is approved to issue a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Form I-20. Upon receiving the completed Form I-20 from Enrollment Services, you may apply for an F-1 (student) visa.
Prerequisite Courses
All prerequisite coursework must be taken from a U.S. regionally accredited institution.
- ★Highly recommended that science prerequisites courses be taken within 5 years of applying.
- ★ AP and CLEP will not be accepted for prerequisite credits.
- General Biology - One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours (zoology or microbiology are acceptable alternatives)
- General Chemistry - One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- Organic Chemistry - One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- Human Physiology* - 3 semester hours/ 4 quarter hours
- Biochemistry - 3 semester hours/ 4 quarter hours - 300 university level minimum
- Physics (algebra-based) - One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
- English composition/Technical writing - minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours
- Human Anatomy* - 3 semester hours/ 4 quarter hours
* Anatomy & Physiology Part I and Part II is acceptable but, you must take both Part I and Part II.
Health Insurance
Maintaining personal health insurance coverage throughout the duration of enrollment is a requirement for all ATSU students. All students must enroll in the student-sponsored health plan or provide proof of other acceptable health coverage. More information on the health insurance requirement can be found on the Department of Student Affairs website.
