Dental Hygiene, AS
Program Summary
The Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene degree shall be awarded upon completion of 88 semester credit hours. The purpose of this program is to prepare students for employment as a dental hygienist. Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate receives an Associate in Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Students who wish to transfer any credits from this program to another institution must accept the responsibility for securing approval in advance from that institution. The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.
Federal CIP Code: 510602
Florida CIP Code: 1351060200
Admission Information
This is a limited access program with documents required for admission listed in the application materials. Additional information can be found in the following links:
Completed applications, including all admission requirements, must be received by the Admissions and Student Records office within the following time frame:
- August admission: The application will be accepted from the third Monday in January until the third Monday in March. View program webpage for dates.
Note: If the application deadline falls on a day the College is closed, the application will be accepted on the next day the College is open for business.
Note: Students who fail to attend the term for which admission is granted must reapply to the program.
Application and Admission Requirements.
- Completed PHSC application and application fee.
- Completed Dental Hygiene program application and limited access application fee.
- Official high school transcript indicating graduation and receipt of standard high school diploma, or an official transcript of GED scores indicating receipt of a high school equivalency diploma.
- Official transcript from each U.S. college and university attended other than PHSC.
- Official scores from external agencies as appropriate for prerequisite courses (i.e., AP, CLEP, IB, etc.).
- HESI (Health Education Systems, Inc.) admission assessment exam completed with a minimum level of 70 percent. Must be completed within two years of the dental hygiene program application date.
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.
- GPA of 2.5 or higher in the following prerequisite courses and complete each with at least a grade of "C" or higher:
- BSC 1085 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BSC 1085L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
- BSC 1086 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- BSC 1086L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
- CHM 1025 - Introductory Chemistry (or higher level chemistry course)
- CHM 1025L - Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (or higher level chemistry lab)
- MCB 2010 – Microbiology
- MCB 2010L - Microbiology Laboratory
- AMH 2020 - History of the United States II OR POS 2041 - American Federal Government
- PSY 1012 - Introduction to Psychology
- SPC 2608 - Introduction to Public Speaking.
- Completion of at least 16 hours of observation, volunteer service or work experience in dentistry, as verified by a dentist or dental hygienist. Must be completed within two years of the dental hygiene program application date.
- Copy of current driver's license, (P.O. boxes will not be used for residency preference in the selection process.). If a driver's license, or equivalent, is not submitted as proof of residency, the application will be processed as a nonresident application.
Note: Once an application packet is submitted, it cannot be amended.
Selection Process
Applicants who meet minimum requirements as of the deadline dates will be ranked based upon prerequisite GPA, overall GPA, and HESI test scores. Residents of Pasco and Hernando counties will received preference over out-of-district residents.
Note: PHSC'S linkage agreement with Polk State College (PSC) reserves one opening per year for an eligible PSC transfer student transferring from that school. Applicants must complete all of the above requirements and submit application materials to the Admissions and Student Records office.
Additional Information
Students graduating from institutions outside of the United States must follow the procedures for submitting transcripts outlined in the International Non-Immigrant (F Visa or M Visa) Student Admission section.
Students who have received special diplomas are not eligible for admission to degree programs.
An academic average of "C" or higher and/or a grade of "Pass" must be earned in each dental science and dental health course in order to continue in the program. Satisfactory completion of 88 semester hours of approved credit with a grade of "C" or higher in required general science, dental science and dental hygiene courses is necessary for graduation. Dental hygiene courses may be repeated only with the recommendation of dental faculty, Dental Programs Co-coordinator, Dean of Nursing and Health Programs and approval of the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer / College Provost and if class space is available.
A minimum of 15 hours of credit in dental hygiene must be completed in residence in classroom instruction at PHSC in 2000-level courses.
Some General Education and Support courses are prerequisites that must be successfully completed before application to the program. Please review the Academic Pathway section for more details.
General Education Courses - 16 credits
Area I. Communication and Information Literacy
| ENC 1101 | English Composition I | 3 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Area II. Mathematics
Complete any Area II. Mathematics course listed in the Associate in Science Degree Program requirements.
Area III. Natural Sciences
| BSC 1085 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 cr. |
| BSC 1085L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 4 |
Area IV. Social and Behavioral Sciences
Complete one of the following courses.
| AMH 2020 | History of the United States II | 3 cr. |
| POS 2041 | American Federal Government | 3 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Area V. Humanities
Complete any Area V. Humanities course listed in the Associate in Science Degree Program requirements.
Support Courses - 24 credits
| BSC 1086 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 cr. |
| BSC 1086L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| CHM 1025 | Introductory Chemistry | 3 cr. |
| CHM 1025L | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| MCB 2010 | Microbiology | 3 cr. |
| MCB 2010L | Microbiology Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| PSY 1012 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 cr. |
| SPC 2608 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 cr. |
| HUN 2201 | Science of Human Nutrition | 3 cr. |
| and | |
| ANT 2000 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 cr. |
| or | |
| ECO 2013 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Note: Students can complete CHM 1025 and CHM 1025L or higher level chemistry course (both lecture and lab).
Program Core Courses - 48 credits
CPR Certification
NCH 0050
| Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider CPR | 4 hr |
Note(s): CPR certification, PHSC course NCH 0050 American Heart Association, "Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers," is a requirement of this program.
Total Credit Hours: 88
Academic Pathway
Prerequisites - 25 credits
The following courses must be successfully completed before application to the program and are included in the 40 hours of General Education Requirements and Support Courses.
| BSC 1085 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 cr. |
| BSC 1085L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| BSC 1086 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 3 cr. |
| BSC 1086L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| CHM 1025 | Introductory Chemistry | 3 cr. |
| CHM 1025L | Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| MCB 2010 | Microbiology | 3 cr. |
| MCB 2010L | Microbiology Laboratory | 1 cr. |
| PSY 1012 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 cr. |
| SPC 2608 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 cr. |
| and | |
| AMH 2020 | History of the United States II | 3 cr. |
| or | |
| POS 2041 | American Federal Government | 3 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 25 |
Freshman—Session I
| DES 1020 | Oral Head and Neck Anatomy, Histology and Embryology | 4 cr. |
| DES 1020L | Oral, Head, and Neck Anatomy Laboratory | .5 cr. |
| DEH 1002 | Dental Hygiene I | 4.5 cr. |
| DEH 1002L | Dental Hygiene I Clinical | 1.5 cr. |
| DES 1200 | Dental Radiography | 2 cr. |
| DES 1200L | Dental Radiography Lab | 1 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Freshman—Session II
Freshman—Session III
| DEH 2802L | Dental Hygiene III Clinical | 2.5 cr. |
| Any Area II Mathematics course listed in the Associate in Science Degree Program Requirements | 3 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 5.5 |
Sophomore—Session I
Sophomore—Session II
| DEH 2605 | Advanced Principles of Dental Hygiene Seminar | 1 cr. |
| DEH 2702L | Community Dental Health Clinical | 1 cr. |
| DEH 2810 | Dental Hygiene IV | 2 cr. |
| DEH 2806L | Dental Hygiene V Clinical | 4.5 cr. |
| ANT 2000 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 cr. |
| or | |
| ECO 2013 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 cr. |
| Any Area V Humanities course listed in the Associate in Science Degree Program Requirements | 3 cr. |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14.5 |
Note(s): CPR certification, PHSC course NCH 0050, American Heart Association, "Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers," is a requirement of this program.