Program Summary
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.
This is a limited access program with documents required for admission listed in the application materials.
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.
Total Credit Hours: 88
Program Requirements
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.