The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities -- a public research university considered a "Public Ivy" for its comparison to Ivy League institutions -- has the only full-fledged dental school in the metro area. It offers a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, the four-year program required of aspiring dentists to complete. DDS students take up to 250 credit hours in order to graduate, with courses that include Dental Care Delivery and Oral Epidemiology, Periodontology Technique and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. The U's School of Dentistry has several other programs, including bachelor's and master's degrees for dental hygienists -- people trained to assist dentists in promoting oral care and maintenance.
Argosy University counts the Twin Cities as one of its 19 locations throughout the United States, as of February 2011. Here, only one dental-related program is available: an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene. Argosy's program requires 90 credits for completion, compared with 131 credits of the U's bachelor's program, for instance. Moreover, the associate degree is for entry-level positions in dental hygiene, while bachelor's degrees are designed for those who want a higher level of training. The curriculum includes courses such as Oral Embryology/Histology, BioMaterials and Radiographic Interpretation.
In addition to an associate degree in dental hygiene, Century College offers one in dental assisting. The latter is for people who wish to provide assistance via basic administrative and clinical tasks. The dental assisting associate degree comprises 64 credits, while the dental hygiene associate degree requires 79 credits. There is also a 48-credit diploma version of the dental assisting program and a 16-credit certificate for people who prefer to focus on dental practice management.
Metropolitan State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program. Its curriculum consists of courses such as Collaborative Practice Dental Hygiene, Populations with Special Oral Health Needs, Management of Oral Health Care Delivery and Restorative Functions. Dental hygiene students at Metro State University require at least 120 credits for graduation.