Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Dental Science

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene students learn to provide educational and clinical services for patients, including dental health education and disease prevention procedures, obtaining and recording patients' medical and dental histories, scaling and polishing teeth, recording conditions of patients' mouths and teeth, exposing and processing dental X-ray films, nutritional counseling, applying certain topical agents such as fluoride and pit and fissure sealants for prevention of dental caries.

The four-year dental hygiene program provides necessary instruction in expanded functions now required of dental hygienists practicing in California. The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

Admission

Application forms may be obtained by mail or in person from the Office of Dental Admissions and Minority Affairs. A nonrefundable fee of $50 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 School of Dentistry Office of Admissions and Minority 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 April 1 of the year in which the student wishes to be admitted. The program begins in September. Applicants for admission are requested to file their applications before they have completed one full year of college predental work or pre-hygiene class.

Admission Requirements

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 with credit for at least 12 academic units, including three units in English, two units in one foreign language and two units in college preparatory mathematics; and a minimum of 60 semester units completed at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. To be considered for admission, candidates must include the following courses in the required 60 units.

General Biology or Zoology with Lab
One year or a minimum of six semester hours is required. Anatomy (must include at least one course in general human anatomy), physiology, genetics or microbiology may be used to fulfill this requirement.

General Chemistry with Lab
One year or a minimum of six semester hours is required. Biochemistry may be substituted.

Expository Writing
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.

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 60-unit requirement be chosen from: additional biological sciences (comparative vertebrate anatomy, vertebrate embryology, genetics), chemistry, foreign languages, English literature, philosophy, social studies, and art or music appreciation.

The following courses are not transferable as part of the 60-unit minimum: dental assisting, dental technology, secretarial science (typing, shorthand, etc.), or other technically or vocationally related courses.

Appropriate scores on the Allied Health Professions Admission Test are also required. This test must be taken no later than February of the year of application for admission. Test scores more than two years old may not be accepted. Applicants should check with the Dental Admissions Office. For more information on the Allied Health Professions Admission Test write to the Psychological Corporation Project, 624/AHPAT, 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, Texas 78204-2498.

All entrance requirements must be completed by June 15 preceding the September of admission, and complete final credentials must be on file in the Office of Dental Admissions by July 31 preceding enrollment. Notification of acceptance will be sent by the Office of Dental Admissions after May 1.

Orientation

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

Curriculum

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Course Requirements

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