PDF version of this chapterUndergraduate Degree
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
The mission of the USC Department of Dental Hygiene is to educate and prepare dental hygiene leaders for careers in a diverse and changing health care environment. Implicit in this is a desire to provide a liberal education as well as outstanding clinical experiences. The baccalaureate dental hygiene program is a combination of dental and dental hygiene sciences, supporting sciences and general education.
The curriculum reflects the core values of the profession in private and public health settings. The program is committed to creating a humanistic, educational environment that will facilitate the development of responsible, ethical, oral health professionals who are sensitive to the patient needs and competent in the dental hygiene process of care.
Educational and clinical services provided by dental hygiene students include dental health education, patient assessment, disease prevention and non-surgical periodontal therapy for a diverse population of patients. The program strives to produce graduates who will advance the profession of dental hygiene and improve dental health care through evidence-based research and scholarly activities. Finally, graduates are competent in self-assessment and scientific methodology in preparation for lifelong learning.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene requires two academic years of pre-dental hygiene courses followed by two additional years of enrollment in the dental hygiene program.
Admission
Admission to the school is granted through the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs that receives and processes all applications, evaluates credentials and mails letters of acceptance to applicants who qualify for entrance. Because of the university's selective admissions policy and limited enrollment, only those applicants are accepted who present evidence of intellectual promise and strong personal qualifications, including good moral character and sound health. Prior to enrollment, accepted students must provide evidence of sound health and meet the school's health requirements. (Before registration, the Student Health Service form, signed by the applicant's attending physician, must be filed with the Student Health Center.) Admission to the university in all cases is determined by the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs and appropriate selection committees.Application forms may be obtained by mail, online or in person from the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs. A nonrefundable $65 fee must be sent with the completed application.
Credentials for admission must include complete records of all previous college or university work. The student must request the registrar of each school attended to forward one official transcript of record directly to the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs. These should include the program of studies in which the applicant is currently registered. The university does not initiate requests for these credentials.
Applications for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene should be filed well in advance of February 1 of the year in which the student wishes to be admitted. The program begins in the fall. Applicants for admission are requested to file their applications before they have completed one full year of college predental work or pre-hygiene class.
Although students may transfer to USC at any time and begin prerequisite course work, the dental hygiene curriculum begins in the junior year. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program.
Two applications are required, one for the USC Undergraduate Admission Office and one for the School of Dentistry. See the Admission section of this catalogue.
Admission Requirements
Fifty students are admitted each year for the curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene.The Committee on Admissions examines credentials and bases its decision on the objective evaluation of these factors: preprofessional training, evidence of scholarship, dental hygiene aptitude test rating and personal evaluation of the student.
Minimum entrance requirements include: graduation from an accredited secondary school and completion of the following courses which may be transferred in from another college or university or taken at USC prior to bring admitted to the dental hygiene program.
General Biology
One semester is required.Anatomy
One semester is required.General Chemistry with Lab
One year is required.Expository Writing
Course work equivalent to Composition II at another institution is required.Introduction to Sociology
One semester is required.General Psychology
One semester is required.Public Speaking
One semester is required.General Education Requirements
The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail in the General Education Program section.All dental hygiene students have to follow the university's general education requirements.
It is recommended that one semester of organic chemistry be completed in addition to the other chemistry requirements. It is also recommended that the courses taken to complete the 64-unit requirement be chosen from courses that will satisfy the general education requirements.
The following courses are not transferable as part of the 64-unit minimum: dental assisting, dental technology, secretarial science (typing, shorthand, etc.), or other technically or vocationally related courses.
All entrance requirements must be completed by June 15 preceding the September of admission, and complete final credentials must be on file in the School of Dentistry Office of Admission and Student Affairs by July 15 preceding enrollment. Notification of acceptance will be sent by the Office of Admission and Student Affairs after May 1.
Orientation
Students who have been accepted into the program and who have reserved their place in the class by paying the appropriate tuition deposit will be forwarded orientation materials by July 15.Orientation is traditionally scheduled during the week before the first week of classes. The purpose of the program is to acquaint incoming students with the School of Dentistry, its policies, programs, faculty and facilities. Incoming students receive financial counseling and purchase their initial equipment issue as part of orientation activities.
Eligibility for Degree
A student is eligible for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene after attaining the qualitative and quantitative level expected in the dental hygiene curriculum. This specifically includes: no unreconciled marks of "F", "IW", "ICW", "N", or "NCr"; no conditions existing at the termination of the final trimester that would result in academic probation, clinical probation or academic disqualification. In addition, each student must have demonstrated the characteristics expected of a health professional and have fulfilled the financial and other obligations required for graduation.Curriculum
Courses listed are required for completion of the degree. Course listings are current as of 2004-2005 and are subject to change without notice by action of the School of Dentistry and the university.Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Curriculum
| Required courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| AMED 502 | Emergency Medicine | 2 |
| AMED 521 | Local Anesthesia | 1 |
| AMED 522 | Pharmacosedation I | 1 |
| ANAT 521 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DBIO 310 | Biochemistry and Nutrition | 4 |
| DHIS 310 | Basic Human and Oral Histology and Embryology | 4 |
| DHYG 311ab | Fundamentals of Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice | 3-3 |
| DHYG 314L | Dental Morphology Laboratory | 1 |
| DHYG 316 | Patient Education in Preventive Dental Care | 1 |
| DHYG 318 | Dental Specialties | 2 |
| DHYG 320 | Preventive Dental Therapy | 1 |
| DHYG 401 | Introduction to Advanced Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DHYG 410abc | Clinic: Dental Hygiene | 2-7 each |
| DHYG 412 | Preventive Dental Care Programs | 1 |
| DHYG 414ab | Advanced Dental Hygiene | 2-2 |
| DHYG 416ab | Community Dental Health | 1-1 |
| DHYG 422 | Essentials of Dental Hygiene Practice | 1 |
| DHYG 424ab | Research Methods | 1-1 |
| DIAG 415 | Radiographic Techniques | 1 |
| DIAG 521 | Principles of Oral Radiology | 2 |
| DMAT 316L | Dental Materials and Clinical Procedures | 2 |
| DPHR 410 | Principles of Pharmacology | 2 |
| DPHY 310L | Principles of Physiology | 3 |
| GSPD 504 | Dental Treatment of the Geriatric and Special Patient | 2 |
| HBHV 310 | Interactional Skills in Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| MBIO 310 | Principles of Microbiology and Immunology | 2 |
| OCCL 310 | Fundamentals of Dental Morphology | 1 |
| OMOD 506 | Infection Control | 1 |
| PEDO 310 | Principles of Dentistry for Children | 1 |
| PERI 310ab | Introduction to Periodontal Diseases | 1-1 |
| PERI 415 | Basic Periodontal Therapy | 1 |
| PERI 504 | Advanced Periodontics | 1 |
| PTHL 312abc | Medicine and Pathology | 1-3-2 |
Post-Certificate Program
The Post-Certificate Dental Hygiene Program provides the opportunity for dental hygienists who hold a certificate or associate degree to earn a Bachelor of Science degree within the discipline of dental hygiene. Specific emphasis will be placed on advanced periodontal education and clinical teaching skills.
The main objective of the program is to broaden the associate or certificate degree holder's career options. Graduates of the program will be prepared to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a variety of health care, research, community and educational settings.
Admission
Admission to the school is granted through the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs, which receives and processes all applications, evaluates credentials and mails letters of acceptance to applicants who qualify for entrance. Because of the university's selective admissions policy and limited enrollment, only those applicants are accepted who present evidence of intellectual promise and strong personal qualifications, including good moral character and sound health. (Before registration, the Student Health Service form, signed by the applicant's attending physician, must be filed with the Student Health Center.) Admission to the university in all cases is determined by the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs and appropriate selection committees.Application forms may be obtained by mail or in person from the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs. A $55 fee must be sent with the completed application. The fee is not refundable.
Credentials for admission must include complete records of all previous college or university work. The student must request the registrar of each school attended to forward one official transcript of record directly to the Office of Dental Admissions and Student Affairs. These should include the program of studies in which the applicant is currently registered. The university does not undertake to collect these credentials.
Applications for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene should be filed well in advance of March 1 of the year in which the student wishes to be admitted. The program begins in September.
Admission Requirements
(1) A minimum overall 3.0 GPA and a minimum 3.0 GPA in dental hygiene course work is recommended.(2) Completion of the university's general education, writing and diversity requirements.
(3) A minimum score of 80 on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination is recommended.
(4) Completion of a two-year accredited dental hygiene program is required.
(5) Licensure in at least one state is highly recommended.
(6) Interviews are required for admission and invitations are extended to those candidates in whom the committee on admissions has a serious interest.
(7) A personal statement is required.
(8) Three reference forms are required, one from the director, one from a clinical instructor and one from a basic science instructor of the dental hygiene program attended.
(9) Consideration is given to personal maturity and professional motivation. Students selected must be committed to scholarly pursuits and have career goals compatible with the basic objectives of the post-certificate program.
One class will be admitted in the fall trimester only. Applications must be submitted no later than March 1. Applicants currently enrolled in the last year of a dental hygiene program may apply for admission.
Lower Division Requirements
A minimum of 64 semester units and completion of the following courses are required for admission to the program (an Associate Arts Degree/Certificate in dental hygiene from an accredited school in the United States or Canada generally fulfills these requirements).General Biology or Zoology with Lab
One semester or a minimum of three semester hours is required. Anatomy, physiology or microbiology may not be used to fulfill this requirement.Anatomy
One semester or a minimum of three semester hours is required.General Chemistry with Lab
One year or a minimum of six semester hours is required. Organic chemistry may not be used to fulfill this requirement, but may be applied toward elective credit.Composition
One year or a minimum of six semester hours is required. Literature courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement, but may be applied toward elective credit.Introduction to Sociology
One semester or a minimum of three semester hours is required.General Psychology
One semester or a minimum of three semester hours is required.Public Speaking
One semester or a minimum of three semester hours is required.Required Elective Credit
An additional 37 units of credit are required and should include the university's general education requirement.Dental Hygiene Course Work
A minimum of 21 units in previous dental hygiene course work may be accepted.Orientation
Orientation is traditionally scheduled during the week prior to the first week of classes. The program's purpose is to acquaint incoming students with the School of Dentistry, its policies, programs, faculty and facilities. Incoming students receive financial counseling and purchase their initial equipment issue as part of orientation activities.Curriculum
Courses listed below are required for completion of the degree. Course listings are current as of 2004-2005 and are subject to change without notice by action of the School of Dentistry and the university.Post-Certificate Dental Hygiene Program Curriculum
| Required courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| AMED 421 | Seminar: Teaching Local Anesthesia | 1 |
| AMED 521 | Local Anesthesia | 1 |
| AMED 522 | Pharmacosedation I | 1 |
| DHYG 318 | Dental Specialties | 2 |
| DHYG 401 | Introduction to Advanced Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| DHYG 411ab | Dental Literature Review | 2-2 |
| DHYG 413ab | Dental Hygiene Educational Concepts | 2-2 |
| DHYG 414ab | Advanced Dental Hygiene | 2-2 |
| DHYG 415ab | Directed Clinical Teaching | 2-2 |
| DHYG 417 | Issues in Dental Health Care Delivery | 1 |
| DHYG 424ab | Research Methods | 1-1 |
| DHYG 430 | Seminar: Initial Periodontal Therapy | 2 |
| DHYG 431 | Seminar: Periodontal Treatment Planning | 2 |
| DHYG 460abcd | Clinic: Advanced Dental Hygiene | 2-2-1-1 |
| DPHR 501 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| GSPD 504 | Dental Treatment of the Geriatric and Special Patient | 2 |
| HBHV 310 | Interactional Skills in Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| INTB 601 | Advances in Oral Biology | 2 |
| PERI 415 | Basic Periodontal Therapy | 1 |
| PERI 502 | Periodontal Diseases and Elements of Therapeutic Judgment | 2 |
| PERI 504 | Advanced Periodontics | 1 |
| PTHL 312abc | Medicine and Pathology | 1-3-2 |
| PTHL 501 | Oral Pathology | 3 |
| Elective courses* | 16 | |
*Electives: Students must meet prior to registration each trimester with the Dental Hygiene Department Chair to review their proposed course schedule. Electives must be upper division courses in the humanities and social sciences. Upper division courses in the humanities taken prior to admission may fulfill up to eight units of the 16-unit elective requirement.