Admission requirements

The Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health’s 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. MOSDOH’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 a 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 January 31 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 2.50 on a 4.0 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 must provide a minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation. They must be from a Science Faculty or Committee Letter and a Dentist.
  • Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident.
  • A formal minimum of three years 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 pre-requisite course work must have been completed from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
  • Significant clinical shadowing or experience (100 hours strongly recommended)
  • Significant leadership and service to the underserved (100 hours strongly recommended)

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.

Prerequisite Courses

All pre-requisite coursework must be taken from a U.S. regionally accredited institution.​ Applicants must have completed the following courses with a grade of C or higher prior to matriculation (C- is not acceptable).

  • General Biology - One year lecture and lab, minimum of 8 semester hours/12 quarter hours
  • 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 college 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

Application Process

Please review our application process page for step-by-step instructions and important information.

Immunizations

We are pleased that you will be attending ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) in July 2026. Please have all copies of your records to our office by June 1, 2026. MOSDOH requires each student to have documented immunizations from birth to present day. These immunizations can be documented by either:

  • Individual immunization record from childhood or
  • State of Missouri allowable immunization exemption certificates on file with Student Success prior to matriculation. MOSDOH policy requires that all active students maintain compliance with the immunization and screening requirements.

Please pull together your immunization records from childhood and more recently. Once you have gathered the necessary records, please email mosodohimmunizations@atsu.edu or fax 660.626.2812

Please have all copies of your records to our office by June 1, 2026. If you have trouble locating your records due to loss of some sort, try contacting your undergraduate school or your high school for copies of your past records. It is MOSDOH policy that we must maintain copies of all your immunization records while an active student. These records are kept for six years after graduation and then destroyed.

Required Immunizations

ATSU-MOSDOH requires all entering students to provide proof of their immunizations prior to matriculation. This is necessary for the student’s protection as well as the protection of any individuals with whom they come in contact.

The following immunizations are required. Students must provide documentation.

Tetanus/ Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap)

  • A booster of Tdap within the last 10 years

Polio

  • 3 doses are required before the age of 18
  • If you did not receive 3 doses, you will need to get a Polio Booster or a Titer

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

  • 2 doses are required; if documentation cannot be produced a positive titer will suffice. If titer is negative, students must receive 1 MMR booster

Hepatitis B (HepB)

  • 3 doses are required and a positive Titer. If titer is negative, students must complete one of the two options:
    • Receive 2 vaccination series (Heplisav-B) OR 3 vaccination series (Engerix-B) & repeat titer 1-2 months after
    • Receive 1 vaccination for booster & repeat Surface Antibody Titer 1-2 months after (if the titer is still negative, proceed with completion of the series and additional titer).

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

  • 2 doses are required; if documentation cannot be produced a positive titer will suffice. If titer is negative, students must receive 1 varicella booster.

Meningococcal

  • 1 dose of Quadrivalent (Menactra or Menveo) vaccine

Influenza

  • The influenza vaccination is required annually (a flu clinic is held on campus each fall).

Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) OR IGRA Blood Test

  • Two completed Tuberculin Skin Tests (if there is no documented proof of positive TST in the past)
    • These must be completed 1 to 3 weeks apart.
  • An IGRA Blood Test (T-Spot or Quantiferon Gold) may be substituted for TSTs.
  • If history of positive TST or IGRA: Documentation and evidence of any chest x-ray and medical treatment must be provided.
  • If there is a known history of BCG vaccination, an IGRA blood test is preferred.
  • Please note: A one-step TST will be required in the D2 through D4 year as well.

COVID-19 Vaccine

  • COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are strongly recommended for all students. Please note that many of ATSU-MOSDOH's external clinical partners require students to be vaccinated prior to training in their facilities and exemptions may not be accepted. Clinical external rotation sites may require additional testing for their site and will be at the expense of the student. Consequently, unvaccinated students may be delayed in completing or unable to successfully complete program requirements.

Additional Immunization Requirements:

  • Submitted copies of immunization records must come from an identifiable licensed Physician (DO or MD), Physician Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), state health department, and/or pharmacy.
  • All required titer screenings must have a positive (or immune) result to be accepted by MOSDOH.
  • Students immunized in other countries must have their immunization documents translated into English by a certified translator. All foreign documentation must be translated before being reviewed by MOSDOH.

Once you have gathered the necessary records, please email to the address listed below by June 1st.
Via Email: mosdohimmunizations@atsu.edu
Via Fax (660) 626-2812

If you have any additional questions regarding immunizations, please contact mosdohimmunizations@atsu.edu or (660) 626-2844.

*Under certain circumstances, a request for exemption from preventative health requirements may be provisionally granted if a state of Missouri allowable immunization exemption certificate is on file with the Student Success office. Be advised that an exemption from immunization requirements may delay or prohibit entry into early clinic experiences and/or the clinical component of the program, and/or cause the student to be unable to complete required curriculum and/or graduate. Students seeking exemptions should submit the Request for Exemption from ATSU Vaccination Requirement form to mosdohimmunizations@atsu.edu. Please note: External Rotation sites may have additional immunization requirements. If these are not met, the student may be unable to complete the rotation or need to complete the rotation at another site.

Health Insurance

Maintaining personal health insurance coverage throughout the duration of enrollment is a requirement for all ATSU students. You will be required to provide verification of insurance coverage prior to matriculation. Instructions outlining the process for providing your verification of coverage will be provided to you at a later date by the Office for Student Affairs. Learn about ATSU’s insurance requirements or call the Office for Student Affairs at 660.626.2236 for more information.