The Utah College of Dental Hygiene offers a bachelor of science in dental hygiene that students can complete in 20 months. Students take prerequisite science courses in chemistry, anatomy and microbiology along with general education prerequisites such as psychology, English and statistics. Successful completion of the prerequisite courses qualifies students to enter the dental hygiene portion of the degree program that consists of 89 credits of coursework. Utah College of Dental Hygiene notes on its website that graduates of bachelor's degree programs in dental hygiene can obtain positions in teaching and public health that are not options for those who only complete an associate degree in the field. Applicants to the program submit high school and prior college transcripts and three reference letters; the school accepts approximately 60 students for each class.
Utah College of Dental Hygiene
1176 S. 1480 West
Orem, UT 84058
801-426-8234
ucdh.edu
The dental hygiene program at the University of the Pacific prepares graduates for careers in private dental offices as well as public clinics. The accelerated, three-year bachelor's degree program is divided into two segments. The first segment consists of three semesters plus one summer session devoted to prerequisite coursework in the physical, natural and social sciences, as well as math and English. The second half of the curriculum trains students in areas including dental science, ethics, oral health, and medical and dental emergencies. During the final semester of the program, students complete a senior project in special needs care, research, teaching or community health. Admissions is based on a review of a candidate's transcripts, essay, recommendations and standardized test scores. Qualified applicants will be invited for an in-person interview and orientation session.
University of the Pacific
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211
209-946-2285
web.pacific.edu
New York University's College of Dentistry offers an associate and bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. Students can complete the associate degree in two to three years and an evening program is available. Students in the associate program take courses in the sciences, math, and writing as well as oral anatomy, periodontics and preventive dentistry. In addition to completing the associate degree curriculum, students in the bachelor's degree program complete fieldwork and take courses in a concentration area such as research, education or geriatrics. Students can complete the bachelor's degree program on a part-time or full-time basis and some classes are available online. Applicants to both programs submit transcripts, two recommendations and a personal statement. All applicants must also complete an in-person interview; those accepted take a writing placement exam.
New York University
College of Dentistry
345 E. 24th St.
New York, NY 10010
212-998-9800
nyu.edu
Prospective dental hygiene students at Texas Woman's University must complete prerequisite courses in science, mathematics, and the liberal arts with grades of "C" or better. Once admitted to the professional portion of the program, students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.8 overall and 3.0 in their dental hygiene courses. The junior and senior year curriculum includes courses in oral radiology, pathology, dental materials, pharmacology and periodontics. Students also complete a practicum during the senior year at an on-campus dental hygiene clinic. Competitive applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or better and SAT scores of 1,000 or higher or ACT scores of 21 or higher. Applicants who pass the first round of screening complete a personal interview and submit a writing sample; they are also reviewed on factors such as critical thinking skills, leadership skills and a demonstrated desire to work in the dental hygiene field.
Texas Woman's University
304 Administration Drive
Denton, TX 76204
940-898-2000
twu.edu