Dental Hygiene, Associate of Applied Science- DH13

The Dental Hygiene associate degree curriculum maximizes the integration of and promotes the interrelationship between general education, biomedical science, dental science, dental hygiene science, and clinical practice assignments of preventive dental hygiene services. The range of services performed by hygienists varies from state to state and may include cleaning and polishing teeth, examining the head, neck, and oral areas for signs of disease, educating patients about oral hygiene, expose and process radiographs, applying fluoride and sealants. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam (NBDHE) the clinical board examination -Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS) and/or the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) for Dental Hygiene Students. 

This is a competitive admissions program. Please see the Admissions section of the Student Handbook/Catalog for more information .

Program Curriculum

The Dental Hygiene program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for positions in the dental profession. Learning opportunities develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Registered dental hygienists work in a variety of professional settings. The public is most familiar with dental hygienists in the private dental office, where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. These include oral prophylaxis; assessing the head, neck, and oral areas for signs of disease; educating patients about oral hygiene; taking or developing radiographs; and applying fluoride and sealants. In this setting, registered dental hygienists play a vital role in protecting the oral health of the American public. Program graduates receive a Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science degree.

General Education Core

Area I - Language Arts/ Communication

ENGL 1101Composition and Rhetoric

3

SPCH 1101Public Speaking

3

Area II - Social/Behavioral Sciences

PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology

3

SOCI 1101Introduction to Sociology

3

Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics

 

Chemistry Option

Select four credit hours from the following courses.
CHEM 1211Chemistry I

3

CHEM 1211LChemistry Lab I

1

Mathematics Option

Select three credit hours from the following courses.
MATH 1111College Algebra

3

MATH 1103Quantitative Skills and Reasoning

3

MATH 1101Mathematical Modeling

3

Area IV - Humanities/Fine Arts

Select three credit hours of Humanities/Fine Arts electives. 
HUMN xxxxHumanities/Fine Arts Elective

3

Non-General Education Degree Courses

BIOL 2113Anatomy and Physiology I

3

BIOL 2113LAnatomy & Physiology Lab I

1

BIOL 2114Anatomy and Physiology II

3

BIOL 2114LAnatomy & Physiology Lab II

1

Occupational Courses

DHYG 1000Tooth Anatomy and Root Morphology

2

DHYG 1010Oral Embryology and Histology

1

DHYG 1020Head and Neck Anatomy

2

DHYG 1070Radiology Lecture

2

DHYG 1030Dental Materials

2

DHYG 1040Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lecture

2

DHYG 1050Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lab

2

BIOL 2117Introductory Microbiology

3

BIOL 2117LIntroductory Microbiology Lab

1

DHYG 1090Radiology Lab

1

DHYG 2050General and Oral Pathology/Pathophysiology

3

DHYG 1110Clinical Dental Hygiene I Lecture

2

DHYG 2200Periodontology

3

DHYG 2010Clinical Dental Hygiene II Lecture

2

DHYG 2020Clinical Dental Hygiene II Lab

2

DHYG 1111Clinical Dental Hygiene I Lab

3

DHYG 1206Pharmacology and Pain Control

3

DHYG 2130Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Lecture

2

DHYG 2080Clinical Dental Hygiene III Lecture

2

DHYG 2090Clinical Dental Hygiene III Lab

4

DHYG 2140Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Lab

4

DHYG 2070Community Dental Health

3

DHYG 2110Biochemistry and Nutrition Fundamentals for the Dental Hygienist

2

Total Credit Hours: 82

Total Credit Hours: 82