What is the Upper Division?

The Upper Division is considered the final third and fourth year track of study for students who have

a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 and have acquired at least 54 college credit hours (completing all prerequisites) prior to the August fall semester start date.

There are 70 credit hours in the Upper Division curriculum. Click here to view the courses required in the third and fourth year of Upper Division study.

Admission to the Upper Division is competitive with only 30 positions in each class. Students selected for the Upper Division continue their education by entering the dental hygiene professional phase.

Upper Division Admission Requirements

• The application deadline is March 1.
• Students are admitted to the Upper Division in the Fall term only.

Admission to the upper division is competitive. Admission to the lower division does not guarantee admission to the upper division. 

1. To be considered for admission, applicants must:

   Complete (or be in the process of completing the following before fall admission to the upper division) the required pre-professional (prerequisite) courses:

   • English 101*
   • English 102*
   • Speech/Public Speaking 111, 112 or 115
   • Psychology 201
   • Sociology 201 or 203
   • Math (one from Gen Ed list)*
   • Intro. to Bio. Systems 102* (UofL Students)
   • Intro. To Bio. Systems Lab 104* (UofL Students)
   • Anatomy & Physiology I 260**
   • Anatomy & Physiology II 261**
   • Anatomy & Physiology Lab 262**
   • Chemistry 101 or 105**
   •  Nutrition 303**
   •  History 101 or 102
   •  Cultural Diversity (6hrs –3hrs must be CD1)
   •  Arts & Humanities (one in each)
   •  Soc. & Beh. Sciences (3hrs at the 200-300 level)

   Notes:

   * Must have a grade of “C” or better in these courses.

   ** Students must make a “C” or above in these courses and must have completed them no more than 5 years before Upper Division admission. Transfer credit for science courses taken prior to the last five years will be evaluated on an individual basis.

    

   2.  Have earned a cumulative and pre-professional (prerequisite) program grade point average of 2.8 or higher.  The cumulative GPA for admission to upper level Dental Hygiene is calculated based on all course work completed at accredited post-secondary institutions.  The pre-professional program cumulative GPA is based on all required pre-professional curriculum course work.

    

   3.  Non-UofL students should submit a University of Louisville Undergraduate Application.  Current UofL students enrolled in a department other than Dental Hygiene (e.g. A&S, Nursing, etc.), should submit an online IUT (Intra-University Transfer) request.  It’s available online at: www.louisville.edu/provost/iut

   Note that students in the Lower Division do NOT have to re-apply to the University or submit an IUT.

    

   ALL APPLICANTS MUST:

   4.  Submit a Dental Hygiene Professional Application (PDF)  

    

   5.  Return the DH Professional Application to the Student Affairs Office in the School of Dentistry along with the following documents:

   •  documentation of 12 hours dental work experience/observation

   • three letters of recommendation one (1) from a personal/work/community and two (2) from instructors, one of whom must be a science instructor
   • A 150 word personal statement stating why you wish to become a member of the dental hygiene profession.
   • The minimum technical standards for admission and matriculation with or without accommodation should be signed and submitted with your application. 
   • Send  midterm progress grade report signed by the instructor from any college course in progress during the spring semester to the professional dental hygiene advisor at the School of Dentistry. The grade report is due by March 10.
   •  Because command of the English language is essential for successful professional school study, applicants whose first language is not English, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate their English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  Preference is given to candidates with a minimum score of 100 and with listening and speaking section scores at 26 or above. The instituiton code for submitting TOEFL scores to the U of L School of Dentistry is 5933. For more information about TOEFL testing, go to: www.ets.org/.  
     • Students who have graduated from a high school in which English is the primary language and/or has completed a minimum of 30 credit hours in a fully accredited U. S. college or university qualify for a waiver of the TOEFL requirement 

    

   Upper Division application deadline is March.  Students are admitted to the Upper Division in the Fall term only.  Upper Division Application items should be mailed to the following address:

   Office of Student Affairs, Room 231

   Attention:  DH Admissions

   School of Dentistry

   University of Louisville

   Louisville, KY 40292-0001

The Committee on Admissions of the Dental Hygiene Program selects applicants for the Dental Hygiene Program. All required forms and transcripts (except Mid-Term Progress Report) must be received by the Dental Hygiene Program by March 1. Students are admitted to the fall semester only each academic year.

Applicants will be informed of the decision of the Committee on Admissions and, if accepted, will be requested to send a $150 deposit to the School of Dentistry to reserve a place in the class.  This amount will be applied as a credit toward the regular registration fee at the time of enrollment.  This sum will be forfeited in the event that the student should cancel the reservation in advance or fail to appear for enrollment.