Preparing you for admission into any dental program
About The Program
As a dentist, you’ll provide care that has a lasting impact on patients’ health and well-being as well as their smiles. While pre-dentistry itself isn’t a major, we’ll match you with a degree program and the necessary coursework required to prepare you for admission to a school of dentistry. Whether you want to work alongside colleagues or open your own dental practice, our program will help you gain the knowledge and skills to prepare you for success in this rewarding career path.
Northern's placement rate into dental school for the past five years is 83 percent - see what our graduates have to say about the advantages of earning their undergraduate degree at Northern!
This program will be a good fit if you are:
- Passionate about dentistry
- Detail-oriented
- Comfortable working with people in close proximity
- Easy to talk to
- A good communicator
- Good with time management
- A problem-solver
- Flexible/adaptable
With a degree in dentistry, your career opportunities will include:
- Dental hygienist
- Dentist
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeon
- Orthodontist
- Prosthodontist
- Dental laboratory technician
The NSU WolfPACT is the highest guaranteed, four-year scholarship in the region. But that isn't the only scholarship available at Northern. See Arts and Sciences Scholarships to learn about other scholarship opportunities!
- Dental graduate school acceptance rate is 83 percent.
Source: College of Arts and Sciences, 2015-2019
Experience the world while earning your degree through NSU Study Abroad! With hundreds of opportunities available around the globe, Northern can make your study abroad dream become a reality. Visit Study Abroad to learn more.
At Northern, you'll have the chance to conduct cutting-edge research that can have real-world impact - while still an undergraduate student. Now with our brand new, state-of-the-art Jewett Regional Science Education Center, the sky is truly the limit. Learn more at Student Research!
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today:
- Pre-Dentistry Faculty Advisor: Dr. Alyssa Kiesow, 605-626-2601 or alyssa.kiesow@northern.edu.
Want to learn more about living and learning at Northern? Contact NSU Admissions today 605-626-2544 or admissions@northern.edu!
Still unsure of a major? We can help! Contact Career Services at 605-626-3007 or careerservices@northern.edu.
Our Faculty



Ph.D. Montana State University
M.S. Montana State University
B.S. State University of New York
Dr. John Long joined the NSU faculty in the summer of 2015. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the State University of New York, a master’s degree in environmental and ecological statistics and a Ph.D. in ecology and environmental sciences, both from Montana State University. His area of expertise is the mathematical and physical aspects of the environment.
Dr. Long is a part of the SEA-PHAGES team trained by Howard Hughes Medical Institute to discover new viruses in environmental samples and to sequence their genome. Dr. Long is a retired U.S. Air Force major with 21 years of service as a B-52 electronic warfare officer.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Physics I and II
University Physics I and II
Biological Statistics I and II
R Programming
Geographic Information…
Dr. George Nora began at Northern State University in 2010 and has been promoted to associate professor of chemistry.

Ph.D. University of South Dakota
M.S. North Dakota State University
B.S. North Dakota State University