Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

The UAA dental hygiene entry-level program prepares graduates for licensure and employment as dental hygienists.

The UAA dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Licensure and/or Certification

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) are eligible to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination from the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations and for regional clinical examinations required for state licensure. Graduation from a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program and successful completion of licensure examinations are required to obtain a State of Alaska Dental Hygiene License.  

Graduates of the BSDH are eligible to sit for clinical exams given by the Dental Competency Assessment/Western Regional Examining Board (CDCA/WREB) required for licensure.

This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in the State of Alaska. However, the program might not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in other states. Please see UAA's Licensure and Certification website for more information.

Admission Requirements

• Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
• Complete the following Admission Requirements for the BS in Dental Hygiene:
  • All students will initially be admitted to a pre-major status. Admission to the pre-major status does not guarantee subsequent admission to the major. Admission to the entry-level program is competitive due to limited capacity. As a pre-major, students work with an advisor to assist them in completing pre-major requirements and preparing to apply to the full major. Admission to the BSDH for graduates of an associate degree dental hygiene program for the purpose of bachelor degree completion does not require a competitive admission process.
  • Complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C:

• For entry-level admission to the BSDH, submit an application according to criteria and deadlines on the program website. Completion of the program admission requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the dental hygiene program as a full major.  
• Applicants with an associate degree in dental hygiene should meet with an advisor to determine eligibility to petition selected coursework for the major.

Special Considerations

• Prior to beginning pre-clinical and clinical courses, students must provide documentation of the following:
  • Current health insurance
  • Vaccinations as listed in the program handbook
  • Current Basic Life Support certification for healthcare professionals
  • State of Alaska background checks
• Students in the entry-level Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene will be selected in August and will start dental hygiene classes in January. Once enrolled in the BSDH, the student can anticipate a five-semester, 40-hour-per-week schedule that includes course activities outside of normal class times. Evening classes and clinics may be scheduled.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
• Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees. 
  • ​For Written Communication Skills GER, WRTG A212 is recommended.
  • Courses required for program admission may satisfy Oral Communication Skills, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences GERs.
  • The statistics major requirement may satisfy the Quantitative Skills GER.
• Complete the following major requirements with a minimum grade of C:

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene will be able to:

• Provide and document dental hygiene care in a legal and ethical manner.
• Exhibit professional behavior, including time management, risk management, and respect of patients and co-workers.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature and research relevant to dental hygiene.
• Collect, analyze, and record data on the general and oral health status of patients.
• Use critical decision-making skills to develop a dental hygiene diagnosis, which will provide a basis for interventions that are within the scope of dental hygiene practice and determine the need for referral to appropriate health professions as needed.
• Formulate a dental hygiene care plan, including a planned sequence of educational, preventive, and therapeutic services based on the dental hygiene diagnosis in collaboration with the patient and other health care providers.
• Deliver preventive and therapeutic care to achieve and maintain oral health utilizing established infection control procedures, pain control measures, and ergonomic practices.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented services, and modify as needed.
• Promote the profession of dental hygiene through service and affiliations with professional organizations.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate complex community oral health projects to diverse populations

Sample Plan

The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.

Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.

• Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
• GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
• Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
• Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
• Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.