This combined degree program provides qualified students the opportunity to complete a baccalaureate degree and a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in eight years. It is offered at the Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, New Jersey, and at the Florham Campus, Madison, New Jersey.

The bachelor’s degree (BS in Biology) is awarded by Fairleigh Dickinson University and the doctoral degree (DMD) by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine. Through these Early Acceptance Programs, Fairleigh Dickinson University undergraduate students are enrolled jointly by FDU and by LECOM. Once recommended by FDU, LECOM will interview the students prior to their enrollment at Fairleigh Dickinson University or within the first two years of being properly enrolled in the program. Students must schedule the interview via the LECOM Portal (generally by April 1 of the year of FDU matriculation).

Students interviewing successfully will be offered a provisional acceptance to LECOM’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program. To receive the official Provisional Letter of Acceptance, students must request the letter by emailing LECOM from their FDU email address within 12 months of their interview date.

The 4 Plus 4 track is composed of two phases. Phase I consists of four years of undergraduate education at Fairleigh Dickinson University and completion of the B.S. in Biochemistry or Biology degree. Phase II consists of four years of dental school education at LECOM and its associated clinical training sites.

Each academic year, a combined total of maximum two students will be accepted by LECOM into Phase II of the Early Acceptance Program from each campus of FDU. Provisionally accepted students may not apply to any other dental school. Application to another dental school will result in the loss of the student’s provisional acceptance.

Application Process

  1. Students must submit two different applications: an application to Fairleigh Dickinson University and an application to LECOM Early Acceptance Program.
  2. Students will first fill out an inquiry to the LECOM Early Acceptance Program via the LECOM portal. After completing this inquiry, students will be contacted by LECOM with a username and password to complete an application.
  3. If the student meets the admission requirements, LECOM will offer the student a list of Early Acceptance Program interview dates to self-schedule an interview.
  4. Following a successful interview, LECOM will notify the student via email that they have been pre-approved for a provisional letter of acceptance to LECOM. A copy of this pre-approval confirmation email must be submitted to myapp@fdu.edu.
  5. The Fairleigh Dickinson University application will be reviewed upon receipt of the LECOM pre-approval confirmation email.

Admission to Phase I

All applicants for admission to the combined degree program must satisfy secondary school preparation in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The high school GPA and rank in class, along with letters of recommendation from high school teachers, will be of primary importance in evaluating applicants’ credentials. High school seniors meeting the following minimum criteria may apply for admission to the combined degree program:

Dental 4 Plus 4 Admission Criteria, Phase I

  • SAT Composite score ≥1240
  • ACT Composite score ≥ 26
  • High school unweighted GPA ≥ 3.5

Full-time students currently enrolled at FDU who seek admission to the combined degree programs must apply to the Department of Biological Sciences, Olsen College of Engineering and Science (either New Jersey campus) by February 1 of their sophomore year for the 4 Plus 4 program.

Admission to Phase II

While enrolled in Phase I at FDU, students are required to follow a curriculum in Biology or Biochemistry for the 4+4 track. Completion of all FDU curriculum requirements, including general education requirements, degree program requirements for the major, and all prerequisite courses, is required prior to beginning Phase II at LECOM. Students must complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better and must achieve the minimum cumulative overall grade point average (GPA) and cumulative science GPA as indicated below. Qualified students enrolled in the combined degree programs must meet the following criteria as part of the application process for Phase II:

Dental 4 Plus 4 Admission Criteria, Phase II

  • Cumulative Overall GPA: 3.4
  • Cumulative Science GPA: 3.3
  • Old DAT: AA of 18 or greater with no subscore below 17, science average 18
  • New DAT: AA of 390 or greater, with at least the following sub scores SNS 380, BIO 370, GCH 380, OCH 380, PAT 360, QRT 380, RCT 340
  • DAT scores must come from a single exam; LECOM will not superscore multiple attempts.

Additional admission requirements include:

  • Timely submission of a completed AADSAS application, secondary LECOM application, letters of recommendation (including one letter from a dentist)
  • Advanced Placement (AP) credits may not be used to satisfy any of the Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Calculus course requirements. LECOM will only accept AP credits for the English and Behavioral Science courses and only if the student scores a four (4) or five (5) on the AP exam. A replacement course of equal or greater credit hours applicable to the field of medicine or a course of similar academic rigor, if approved by the Phase I adviser, must be taken at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
  • No reduced course load will be accepted. Students must carry 14+ credits every semester.

Pre-Dental Curricula

Students enrolled in the 4 Plus 4 years Early Acceptance Program will follow the curricula for the BS in Biology or BS in Biochemistry.

Program Outcomes

Students majoring in Biology develop the following skills and abilities:

  • Ability to use the scientific method and understand its strengths and weaknesses: Clearly states a hypothesis; Identifies not only the basics of the issue, but recognizes the nuances of the issue.
  • Ability to research a biological topic using traditional and computer technology: Provides a thorough and relevant literature review; Considers alternate ways to approach the questions; Ability to read and evaluate professional scientific literature; Demonstrates understanding of the relationship between experiment and theory.
  • Ability to write and communicate science: Writing enhances the presentation; Writing is consistently well written; Writing communicates clearly using the language of biology; Writing displays an excellent command of writing mechanics; Topics are clearly organized; Topics are covered in-depth; Topics display an abundance of original ideas; APA style is used consistently and accurately without any errors.
  • Ability to utilize mathematical reasoning and quantitative skills in biology: Analyzes data via graphs, statistics and curve fitting as appropriate; Possess observational and technical skills; Carries out controlled experiments using the proper equipment and safety measurements; Identifies relevant constraints; Collects data carefully and with appropriate precision; Uses initial data to refine the experiment.
  • Possess major field knowledge: Identifies an appropriate question by using prior knowledge; Ability to successfully compete in biologically related fields; Obtains acceptance into graduate/professional schools or employment in the field.

Degree Plan

NOTE: All students are required to complete the General Education Requirements in fulfillment of their bachelor’s degree requirements.

  • Florham Campus students are required to take SPCH1107 Fundamentals of Speech and PHIL1440 Bio-Medical Ethics as part of their general education requirements.
  • During semesters 4 and 5 the Florham Campus students will take Molecular Cell Biology before Genetics and Metropolitan Campus students will take Genetics before Molecular Cell Biology
  • Florham Campus students take Applied Statistics (MATH1133) and Metropolitan Campus students take Experimental Design (BIOL2300)
  • General Physics I and II can be taken with Calculus, as University Physics (Metropolitan Campus only) or without calculus on the Florham Campus
  • Marine Biology can satisfy Ecology requirement on the Metropolitan Campus only
  • Biochemistry lecture (without lab) can count toward a chemistry minor as an elective and may be a requirement in certain tracks on both New Jersey campuses
  • Ethics in Science can count for the Moral/Ethics requirement on the Metropolitan Campus only
  • Concentrations are offered in Anatomy and Physiology, Biotechnology (Metropolitan Campus only), Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Forensic Biology (Florham Campus only), Marine Biology minor (Metropolitan Campus only), Neuroscience (Florham Campus only), Prepharmacy (Florham only), and QUEST/Education.
  • Accelerated and combined degree programs for chiropractic, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, and veterinary medicine may have different degree requirements.  Please see those webpages for more details.

Semesters 1 and 2

Semester 3 and 4

Semesters 5 and 6

Semesters 7 and 8

  • BIOL3___/4___ Biology Elective III
  • BIOL4950 Biology Seminar
  • BIOL3___/4___ Biology Elective IV
  • BIOL3___/4___ Biology Elective V

Biology Electives (15–20 credits)

  • Elective area I: Ecology and Environmental Biology
  • Elective area II: Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Elective area III: Organismal Biology
  • Elective area IV and V: Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology and Environmental Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology

Major Requirements

  • Free Electives: May be chosen from any courses offered at the University after consultation with an adviser but may include no more than six credits of 1000-level Biology courses. Physical Education is recommended for students to go on to schools of veterinary medicine. Foreign language is recommended for students intending to go on to graduate school.
  • The Program is designed for students who plan to attend graduate school or who wish to prepare for admission to a school of medicine, dentistry, chiropractic, optometry, etc., as well as those interested in entering directly into the workforce.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.