Located in Montgomery, Bridgemont Community and Technical College has approximately 2,400 credit and non-credit students that attend classes each year. Bridgemont opened in 1966 and adopted its current name in 2009. Unlike most of the programs, the school's two-year associate of applied science degree in dental hygiene has restricted enrollment. To gain admission, students must submit a written essay about career goals and letters of recommendation as well as shadow a licensed hygienist. During the program, accepted students complete four clinical internships and take courses in pharmacology, special needs patients, periodontics, psychology, nutrition, computer science and business writing. Graduates from the college have the option to attend West Virginia Technical University for two years in order to earn a bachelor's degree in health services administration.
Bridgemont Community and Technical College
604B Davis Hall
Montgomery, WV 25136
304-442-3254
bridgemont.edu
A public, land-grant college, West Virginia University opened in 1867. With more than 21,000 undergraduate students, the college is the largest four-year post-secondary institution in the state. The college offers three bachelor's programs in dental hygiene. The first is a two-year degree-completion program for students who already have an associate degree in the field, and the second is an advanced-standing three-year program for students who have already taken chemistry, biology, nutrition, English, sociology, psychology, math, and communications at the college level. Admission to the school's traditional four-year bachelor's program gives preference to West Virginia residents before those from out-of-state. As a part of the required curriculum, all students complete an internship at an off-campus dentist office or clinic in rural West Virginia.
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6201
Morgantown, WV 26506
800-344-9881
wvu.edu
Located in the rural community of West Liberty, public West Liberty State College is home to nearly 2,500 undergraduate students, approximately 94 percent of which are from West Virginia. The school offers a two-year associate degree program in dental hygiene for students that have previously taken classes in English, psychology, sociology and communications. The college also offers a degree-completion bachelor's degree for students who already have an associate in the field as well as a four-year traditional dental hygiene degree. Students in the traditional program select an area of specialization from education, gerontology, management or marketing. By taking additional courses in their specialty field, students gain skills that can make them more attractive to employers.
West Liberty State College
Route 88
P.O. Box 295
West Liberty, WV 26074
304-336-8076
westliberty.edu