This option is available within the Biology major at the following location:

• Corvallis

The Pre-Dentistry/Biology option is designed to meet the requirements for most dental schools in the U.S., but students should consult the requirements for specific schools before they apply because requirements can change. The option couples the comprehensive biological sciences background of the Biology major with human physiology laboratory experiences and important social science requirements. Dedicated health profession advisors work with Pre-Dentistry/Biology option students to integrate essential professional experiences during their time at OSU.

Option Code: 713

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Explain and apply the fundamental concepts of the biological sciences, including biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and genetics; physiology and organismal biology; and ecology and evolution.
• Identify and access information (from primary literature and other relevant works) for a particular topic and evaluate the scientific content and context of these sources.
• Generate relevant and testable scientific questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and identify measurable predictions based on observations or previous research.
• Design and implement observational or experimental investigations to collect relevant data, and employ appropriate analytical methods to analyze that data.
• Interpret data and/or observations to support or refute hypotheses, draw conclusions, put findings in the context of current scientific knowledge and literature, and/or suggest future avenues of research.
• Use effective formal and informal communication (i.e., written, oral, graphical, multimedia) to convey scientific information in ways that are appropriate for scientific and non-scientific audiences for a particular topic and evaluating the scientific content and context of these sources.
• Integrate and analyze information within and across spatial and temporal scales as well as levels of biological organization.
• Identify, reflect upon, and evaluate assumptions, biases, and alternative hypotheses or interpretations for their own scientific claims or those of others.
• Justify the importance of science and science literacy for individuals and society.
• Integrate biology with other disciplines to make evidence-based decisions on socio-scientific issues.
• Explain how biases and societal factors affect the processes of science (and vice versa), access to participation in science, and the differential outcomes and impacts (both positive and negative) of science on individuals.
• Explain and justify the ethical standards of their discipline, evaluate the ethics of published science, and articulate their personal code of ethics.
• Use effective and appropriate forms of collaboration.
• Produce a self-assessment of interpersonal and academic behaviors needed to achieve their individual career goals.

Options in the Biology major require 20 or fewer additional credits beyond the basic Biology major, and most students can complete the additional Pre-Dentistry/Biology option course work in four years. Students may not complete any combination of the Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental option or Physiology and Behavior options. Completion of the Pre-Dental option requires a 3.0 cummulative GPA in major and option course work. Courses used to satisfy the Pre-Dentistry/Biology option requirements also satisfy the Biology and Society, Physiology, Writing Intensive Course, Physics or Computational and Quantitative Applications, and Experiential Learning or Integrative Biology Elective requirements in the Biology major. Several courses may also be used to satisfy areas of the Baccalaureate Core.

Students may not pursue either the Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Pre-Medicine or Physiology and Behavior options within the Biology major —no combinations of these options are permitted.

Students interested in private practice should also consider taking BA 260 or BA 315.

For further information, see MyDegrees or the Integrative Biology website.

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Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

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Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

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Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards

Option Code: 713