Application to Upper Division
Deadline to Apply for 2025* Admission Cycle: January 15th
The upper division of the dental hygiene program consists of two years of full time study at the School of Dentistry, including clinical and didactic courses to prepare graduates for license as a dental hygienist. Admission to the upper division is competitive with applicants evaluated on academic as well as nonacademic attributes demonstrated in their DHCAS application materials. Each year, 30 students are admitted to the upper division and begin study at the School of Dentistry in the fall term.
Applicants must apply using the ADEA Dental Hygiene Centralized Application Service (DHCAS) Application. The DHCAS application will open on November 1st for the Fall 2025 upper division admission cycle.
*Note: Applications for the Fall 2024 upper division admission cycle closed on January 15th, 2024.
Admission Statistics
| DH Class | Cumulative GPA | Program GPA | Science GPA | ACT Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.68 | 3.7 | 3.61 | 21 |
| 2025 | 3.62 | 3.62 | 3.58 | 21 |
| 2024 | 3.51 | 3.61 | 3.58 | 21 |
Academic Requirements
Visit our curriculum information and the UofL Undergraduate catalog for complete academic requirements.
Prerequisite Coursework
Successful completion of, or in the process of completing, all lower division coursework at time of application. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions (including UofL) to DHCAS at time of application.
Grade Point Average
Minimum 2.8 cumulative college GPA, including coursework from all institutions, and completion of program sciences with a "C" grade or higher and within 10 years of application cycle year.
ACT/SAT Completion
While there is no official minimum composite score to apply to the upper division, preference is given to applicants with a 21 ACT/SAT equivalent or higher. Applicants will still need to have an ACT or SAT score on file, even if they are returning to school after sitting out for a while or if they applied to UofL test-optional.
Additional Requirements
Dental Hygiene Shadowing
Minimum of 20 hours of observation of a dental hygienist in a general dentistry setting. Additional experience in related dental areas is considered, but does not count toward this minimum requirement.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation submitted directly from reference to the DHCAS application. Recommendations should include one (1) college-level science instructor, one (1) additional college-level instructor, and one (1) personal or supervisor reference.
Casper Assessment
All applicants are required to complete the Casper Assessment as part of the application. Casper is a 60-90 minute online, open-response situational judgement test (SJT) that assesses non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics. The Casper will complement the other tools that we use for applicant screening. In implementing Casper, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process. To sign up for a session, visit https://acuityinsights.app/casper/ to create an account and sign up for a date.
You will be charged a fee to take the SJT/have the results sent to UofL and it requires a DENTPIN, which can be set up at https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dentpin.
- Note that you need to sign up for a specific date for the SJT prior to the application deadline.
- 2024- 2025 cycle dates are below. All dates are in Eastern Time.
- Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 8:00 pm
- Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 8:00 pm
- Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 8:00 pm
- Thursday, January 14, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Personal Statement
The essay prompt(s) included in the DHCAS application should be addressed clearly and concisely.
Current Resume
Consideration given to applicants demonstrating significant supporting experiences in leadership, service, and/or work experience.
Transfer applicants
Applicants not currently enrolled at the University of Louisville must also apply for admission through the UofL Undergraduate Admissions Office
Transfer students should complete the following in their application to UofL as a transfer student:
- Declare DHL as intended major
- Submit official transcripts to the undergraduate admissions office
- Include ACT/SAT composite scores
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 score of 100 or above and with listening and speaking section scores at 26 or above. Students who have graduated from a high school in which English is the primary language and/or have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at a fully accredited U.S. college or university may qualify for a waiver.
Interviews
As a part of the holistic review of applications to the upper division dental hygiene program, the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee will select applicants to invite for interview as a part of the upper division admissions process. If selected for interview, the applicant will be notified via email invitation. An interview is required prior to admission.
Enrollment
Students offered admission to the upper division of the dental hygiene program must comply with additional requirements as indicated below and described in additional detail at time of offer. Failure to comply with written requirements may result in forfeiture of acceptance.
Background Check
Applicants offered admission to the upper division of the dental hygiene program must complete and satisfactorily clear a background check, by a servicer of the School of Dentistry in order to reserve their space in the class.
Coursework
In order to matriculate in to the upper division, accepted students must fulfill all requirements of the ULSD contingencies provided at time of conditional offer of admission. All planned courses listed on the DHCAS application must be completed or approved for waiver by the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee. Acceptance may be withdrawn for failure to maintain high scholastic or behavioral standards during the remainder of pre-matriculation period.
Minimum Technical Standards
Both cognitive and technical skills are required to successfully negotiate School of Dentistry curriculum. With this in mind, applicants must be able to meet the minimum technical standards for admission and matriculation with or without accommodation.
Immunizations
Students admitted to study on the Health Science campus of UofL must comply with mandatory immunization requirements. Immunization requirements have been established to safeguard the health and well-being of patients, students, and all healthcare workers.
Laptop Requirement
Dental hygiene upper division students must comply with the UofL School of Dentistry laptop requirement policy. See here for more detailed information.
The University of Louisville School of Dentistry gives equal opportunity without regard to race, color, creed or religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental handicaps or disabilities, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or other factors, prohibited by law. The university, when requested, provides reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals who provide required documentation.
