Biology Program

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

 

The "3 + 4" Accelerated Program In Dentistry

An Affiliation Agreement Between

The Pennsylvania State University at Erie, The Behrend College

School of Science

Biology Program

and

The Temple University School of Dentistry

The "3+4" Accelerated Program in Dentistry between Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and Temple University School of Dentistry (Temple) permits selected undergraduate students who have successfully completed specific core course requirements at Penn State Behrend to continue their education in dentistry at Temple in an accelerated program of study. This permits students to save one year of schooling as they work toward their DDS degree. The program is comprised of two phases: Phase I consists of the first three years of undergraduate education at Penn State Behrend; Phase II consists of the remaining dental school education at Temple. Penn State Behrend will confer the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology to the Penn State Behrend students in the program who have successfully completed the Penn State Behrend courses in Phase I (minimum 103 credits) and the first year of Temple’s academic curriculum.

Another advantage to the program is that Temple will give special consideration to Penn State Behrend students for enrichment opportunities, such as the Prospective Dental Students in Residence Program (http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/dschool/admiss/recruit.htm).

 

PHASE I

Students will be admitted, on a competitive basis, to the Penn State Behrend phase of the program based upon the following minimum criteria:
 

SAT Combined Score 1200
High School Grade Point Average 3.5
High School Class Rank Top 25% of the class.
Potential Preference may be given to PA residents from rural areas. Students should also present evidence of scholarly and professional potential and desire to become a dentist, particularly in underserved areas of PA.


The residency criterion means that preference will be given to students applying from the designated areas, but highly qualified applicants from other geographic locations will also be considered.

Acceptance to Phase I of the Program will be determined by Penn State Behrend.

Typically, a maximum of four students chosen from the most qualified applicants will be admitted to Phase I of the program each year.

Penn State Behrend Students:

  • Student shall maintain a cumulative and a science Penn State Behrend grade point average of 3.3 or better on a 4.0 grade scale.
  • Student must earn a grade of C or better in all Penn State Behrend courses.
  • Penn State Behrend program adviser will provide counseling to the student and evaluate the student's performance.
  • Penn State Behrend program adviser and Temple will monitor student progress on application documentation.
  • Penn State Behrend retains the right to dismiss student for academic or disciplinary reasons.
    •

    This is a rigorous program requiring heavy science loads. Students must be dedicated to the program and have strong academic records.

     

    PHASE II

    Temple Admissions Procedure

    Final acceptance of candidates to Phase II of the program will be determined by Temple. Students must apply through the American Association of Dental Science Application Services (AADSAS) to Temple during the fall of their third year. Letters of recommendation and supporting documentation must be submitted for Temple review by the first day of January.

    To gain acceptance, students must successfully have completed the specific course work described below (or as amended). The minimal overall grade point average at Penn State Erie must be a 3.3 (A=4.0) in science courses and overall. The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores must be taken no later than October of the third year and earn a minimum score of 18 Total Science and 17 Academic Average.

    An automatic invitation for a formal interview will be granted if the student meets the criteria detailed above.

     

    Three-Year Undergraduate Program In Biology At Penn State Behrend And Four-Year Dental Program At Temple

    PHASE I

    Penn State Behrend
    (Curriculum subject to revision)

    First Year

    First Semester1

    Second Semester1
    BIOL 110S Biology: Concepts BIOL 240W Biology: Structure/ Function
    ENGL 15 Composition and Rhetoric CHEM 13 Chemical Principles
    CHEM 12 Chemical Principles CHEM 15 Experimental Chem
    CHEM 14 Experimental Chem MATH 141 Calculus II
    MATH 140 Calculus I S/H/A ELECT2
    S/H/A ELECT2 GHA

      Second Year

    Third Semester1

    Fourth Semester1
    BIOL 230W Biology BIOL 220W Biology: Molecular
    CHEM 36 Lab in Organic Chem CHEM 36 Lab in Organic Chem
    CHEM 38 Organic Chemistry CHEM 39 Organic Chemistry
    STAT 250 Biostatistics SPCOM 100 Effective Speech
    S/H/A ELECT2 BIOBD 250 Pre-Med Seminar
    S/H/A ELECT2 S/H/A ELECT2
      S/H/A ELECT2

    Third Year

    Fifth Semester

    Sixth Semester
    MICRB 201 Microbiology PHYS 251 Introductory Physics II
    MICRB 202 Microbiology Lab BIOBD 420 Comparative Anatomy
    PHYS 250 Introductory Physics I BIOBD 452 Biochemistry
    BIOBD 322 Genetic Analysis BIOBD 453 Biochemistry Lab
    ENGL 202C Technical Writing ELECTIVE
    ELECTIVE GHA
    GHA  
    1 Students may wish to attend summer courses to reduce the academic year load.
    2 S/H/A ELECT (total 18 credits)

      6 credits in Arts courses designated with GA suffix.
      6 credits in Humanities designated with GH suffix. PHIL 3 recommended.
      6 credits in Social Science designated with GS suffix. PSY 2 recommended.

     
     

    Dental Admission Test (DAT)

    The DAT should be taken no later than October of the third year.

     

    PHASE II at Temple

     

    The curriculum of the Dental Program of Temple University is described in their web site: http://www.temple.edu/dentistry/dschool/admiss/academi.htm.

     

    Conferral of the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree

    The student must earn one hundred three (103) Penn State Behrend credits in the Biology (BIOBD) Major in the Pre-Professional option, and twenty-one (21) science credits at the Temple University School of Dentistry to receive the Penn State baccalaureate degree. The first year at the Temple University School of Dentistry will include science courses or their equivalents listed in the 2001 academic year program: biochemistry (4 credits), general and oral histology (6), gross anatomy (4), neuroanatomy (2), and physiology (5). Only grades of C or better will transfer from the Temple School of Dentistry. Dental school courses and credits, but not grades, will be listed on the Penn State Behrend transcript.

     

    To Apply For Phase I of the "3 + 4" Accelerated Program in Dentistry Contact:

    Dr. James T. Warren, Jr.
    Health Professions Adviser
    School of Science
    Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
    Erie, PA 16563

    jtw4@psu.edu

    814-898-6986
     

    Application will include evidence of your high school performance, a letter indicating your interest in a career in dentistry, and an interview conducted on the Penn State Behrend campus.

    If you meet the minimum requirements of the program and show a strong interest in dentistry, as evidenced by your letter, an interview will be arranged at Penn State Behrend. Admission to Phase I is granted on a competitive basis, with the applicant's record and interview included in the decision. Admission to Phase I grants the successful applicant conditional acceptance into Phase II. Acceptance into Phase II is based on the conditions outlined herein and is administered by Temple.