The University of Washington (UW) in Seattle is one of the oldest state universities on the West Coast and is the top producer of graduates serving as U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, as of 2010. UW is composed of 16 colleges, offering over 250 degree options. The Department of Dental Public Health Sciences houses the dental hygiene program and offers on-campus and online programs awarding a bachelor's degree. It is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the field or to prepare students to continue their education at the graduate level.
University of Washington
1959 N.E. Pacific St.
Seattle, WA 98195
206-543-5820
washington.edu
Shoreline Community College (SCC) is approximately 10 miles from Seattle and is an 83-acre, 26-building campus offering technical, professional and vocational programs. The program has a two-year curriculum preparing students for both regional and national examinations. SCC provides state-of-the-art equipment such as digital X-rays, Piezo-electric ultrasonic technology and Wi-Fi access within classrooms. SCC also includes in-depth training on providing composite and amalgam fillings, as Washington is one of the only states that enables dental hygienists to perform these procedures.
Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Ave. N.
Shoreline, WA 98133
206-546-4101
shoreline.edu
With campuses in Lakewood and Puyallup, Pierce College is a two-year institute of higher learning with a diverse population and an emphasis in student activities. The dental hygiene program is seven semesters in length and prepares students for immediate employment in the field or a continuation of studies by earning a bachelor's degree. The program is affiliated with Eastern Washington University. The program incorporates updated technology such as digital radiography, computer-assisted anesthesia and office management software.
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom
9401 Farwest Drive SW.
Lakewood, WA 98498
253-964-6500
ctc.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU), located in Cheney, places an emphasis on hands-on, real world learning. The bachelor degree program in dental hygiene incorporates a liberal arts background with career training and is Washington state's only traditional baccalaureate dental hygiene program. It is designed to accommodate high school graduates in addition to transfer students and requires a minimum of one year of core classes in subjects such as biology, chemistry and algebra. According to the school's website, EWU graduates scored in the top 10 percent on the national exam for dental hygienists.
Dental Hygiene
310 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99202
509-368-6510
ewu.edu