Biology, B.S./Doctor of Dental Medicine Dual Degree with Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM)

Dentistry deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and malformations of the teeth, gums and oral cavity. A student participating in this dual-degree program spends three years at New Jersey City University as Biology major pursuing a B.S. degree. In the second year, the student applies for acceptance to the dual-degree program. After the second year, the student takes the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and applies to RDSM. If accepted, the student spends the following four years at RDSM. After the successful completion of the first year at RDSM, NJCU will grant the student a B.S. degree in Biology. After completing the fourth year of study at RDSM, the student is granted the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.).

This program is designed for students entering NJCU from high school, with placements into college-level composition and math courses. Transfer students are not guaranteed to have completed coursework appropriate to join the combined B.S./D.M.D. program. English Composition, Biology, Chemistry and Organic Chemistry must be completed by the end of the second year of study at NJCU to ensure proper preparation for the DAT. All prerequisite science and math courses and their labs will be completed at NJCU after the time of first enrollment at NJCU. A minimum of five (5) biology major courses must be completed at NJCU. A minimum grade of “B” must be attained in each Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math course, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, and a minimum science GPA of 3.5 are required for acceptance to and retention in the program. No withdrawal or incomplete grades are permitted in any dental school prerequisites. A minimum of 33 credits must be completed in NJCU’s General Education Program courses.

Applications and DAT scores must be submitted to AADSAS by December 1st of the year preceding RDMS enrollment. The minimum required DAT scores are: Academic Average 20, Total Science 20. Applicants who meet the objective academic criteria noted above may be invited to an interview with the RDMS Admissions Committee. However, an invitation to an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the dental program. Applicants not invited to an interview, or not selected for admission to RDMS, shall be notified as early as possible, and may reapply for regular admission to RDMS in the following year through AADSAS. Courses intended for transfer from RSDM to NJCU must be completed during the first year of study at RSDM. Any student who does not complete the first year of study at RSDM may return to NJCU to complete the BS degree in Biology.

Required Biology Courses:17
BIOL 130Principles Biology I4
BIOL 131Principles Biology II4
BIOL 230Cell Biology4
BIOL 304Genetics4
BIOL 440Biology Seminar1
Elective Biology Course:
Elective courses are selected from Biology courses numbered higher than BIOL 230.
Required Chemistry Courses:18
CHEM 105General Chemistry I Lecture3
CHEM 1105General Chemistry I Recitation/Laboratory2
CHEM 106General Chemistry II Lecture3
CHEM 1106General Chemistry II Recitation/Laboratory2
CHEM 207Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 2207Organic Chemistry I Laboratory1
CHEM 208Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 2208Organic Chemistry II Laboratory1
Physics Required Courses:8
PHYS 130College Physics I (Lecture)3
or PHYS 140 Principles of Physics I - Lecture
PHYS 1130Physics I Recitation & Laboratory1
or PHYS 1140 Principles of Physics I - Laboratory and recitation
PHYS 131Physics II (Lecture)3
or PHYS 141 Principles of Physics II - Lecture
PHYS 1131Physics II Recitation & Laboratory1
or PHYS 1141 Principles of Physics II - Laboratory and Recitation
Math and Computer Sciences Required Courses:11
MATH 192Calculus and Analytic Geometry I4
MATH 193Calculus and Analytic Geometry II4
INTD 180Computer Tools For Science and Mathematics3
or MATH 140 Statistics I
or PSYC 230 Statistics for Social Sciences
Total Course Credits:58
  1. As required by the affiliation agreement, the student will receive the B.S. degree in Biology from New Jersey City University following successful completion of the first year of the Rutgers—School of Dental Medicine curriculum.
  2. This program is designed for students entering NJCU from high school, with placements into college-level composition and math courses. Transfer students are not be guaranteed to have completed coursework appropriate to join the combined B.S./D.M.D. program.
  3. English Composition, Biology, Chemistry and Organic Chemistry must be completed by the end of the second year of study at NJCU to ensure proper preparation for the DAT.
  4. All prerequisite science and math courses and their labs must be completed at NJCU subsequent to the time of first enrollment at NJCU.
  5. A minimum of five (5) biology major courses must be completed at NJCU.
  6. Minimum science GPA is 3.5, with no grades below “B”, subject to change.
  7. No withdrawal or incomplete grades in any dental school prerequisites.
  8. A minimum of 36 credits required from NJCU General Education Program courses.
  9. Applications must be submitted to AADSAS by December 1st of the year preceding NJDS enrollment.
  10. DAT scores must be submitted to the RDMS Office of Admissions by January 1st of entering year.
  11. Minimum DAT scores: Academic Average 20, Total Science 20.
  12. Applicants who meet the objective academic criteria noted above may be invited to an interview with the NJDS Admissions Committee. However, applicants are advised that the invitation to an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the dental program.
  13. Applicants not invited to an interview, or not selected for admission to NJDS, shall be notified as early as possible, and may reapply for regular admission the following year through AADSAS.
  14. Courses intended for transfer from RSDM to NJCU must be completed during the first year of study at RSDM.
  15. Any student who does not complete the first year of study at RSDM may return to NJCU to complete the BS degree in Biology.
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
Semester 1Credits
ENGL 101
English Composition I
or English Composition I for English as a Second Language Students
4-6
BIOL 130 Principles Biology I 4
CHEM 105 General Chemistry I Lecture 3
CHEM 1105 General Chemistry I Recitation/Laboratory 2
General Education Tier I Course 3
 Credits16-18
Semester 2
ENGL 102
English Composition II
or English Composition 2 ESL
4-6
BIOL 131 Principles Biology II 4
CHEM 106 General Chemistry II Lecture 3
CHEM 1106 General Chemistry II Recitation/Laboratory 2
General Education Tier II Course 3
 Credits16-18
Sophomore
Semester 1
BIOL 230 Cell Biology 4
CHEM 207 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 2207 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1
PHYS 140 Principles of Physics I - Lecture 3
PHYS 1140 Principles of Physics I - Laboratory and recitation 1
MATH 192 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 4
 Credits16
Semester 2
BIOL 304 Genetics 4
CHEM 208 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 2208 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1
PHYS 141 Principles of Physics II - Lecture 3
PHYS 1141 Principles of Physics II - Laboratory and Recitation 1
MATH 193 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II 4
 Credits16
Junior
Semester 1
Biology Elective 2xx (above BIOL 230) 4
MATH 140 Statistics I 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
 Credits13
Semester 2
BIOL 440 Biology Seminar 1
General Education Tier II Course 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
General Education Tier II Course 3
General Education Capstone Course 3
 Credits13
Senior
Semester 1
BIOL 440 Biology Seminar 1
PHYS 130
College Physics I (Lecture) ( )
or Principles of Physics I - Lecture
3
PHYS 1130
Physics I Recitation & Laboratory ( )
or Principles of Physics I - Laboratory and recitation
1
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
 Credits14
Semester 2
PHYS 131
Physics II (Lecture) ( )
or Principles of Physics II - Lecture
3
PHYS 1131
Physics II Recitation & Laboratory ( )
or Principles of Physics II - Laboratory and Recitation
1
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
Minor or Elective Course 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits120-124

Student Learning Outcomes 

Upon completion of the Biology, B.S./Doctor of Dental Medicine Dual Degree with Rutgers School of Dental Medicine program, students will be able to:
 
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the factual and theoretical basis of biology including mechanisms on the molecular, cellular, organismal, and systems levels.
  2. Demonstrate understanding of scientific inquiry and explain how scientific knowledge is discovered and validated.
  3. Apply quantitative knowledge and reasoning to describe or explain phenomena in the natural world.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of chemistry and their application to understanding living systems.
  5. Communicate scientific information in written and/or oral formats.