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:
BIOL A111
A111L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
4
BIOL A112
A112L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
BIOL A240
A240L
Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory
4
COMM GER course3
CHEM A103
A103L
Introduction to General Chemistry
and Introduction to General Chemistry Laboratory
4
or CHEM A105
A105L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM A104
A104L
Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory
4
PSY A111Introduction to Psychology3
or PSY A150 Lifespan Development
SOC A101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC A201 Social Problems and Solutions
WRTG GER course3
  • 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

BIOL A111
A111L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
4
BIOL A112
A112L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
BIOL A240
A240L
Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory
4
CHEM A103
A103L
Introduction to General Chemistry
and Introduction to General Chemistry Laboratory
4
or CHEM A105
A105L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM A104
A104L
Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory
4
DH A110Dental Radiography4
DH A160Applied Dental Materials3
DH A200Basic Instrumentation for Dental Hygienists2
DH A201Oral Histology and Embryology2
DH A203Assessment Procedures in Dental Hygiene3
DH A204Anatomy of the Orofacial Structures2
DH A220Introduction to Preventive Dentistry2
DH A222Adjunctive Techniques for Dental Hygienists3
DH A292DClinical Seminar I1
DH A292EPreclinical Seminar1
DH A295DClinical Practicum I4
DH A302Advanced Instrumentation for Dental Hygienists1
DH A310Oral Pain Control3
DH A311Periodontics2
DH A314Pathology of Oral Tissues2
DH A316Professional Dental Hygiene Practice1
DH A321Current Periodontal Therapies2
DH A324Community Dental Health I2
DH A365Pharmacology for Dental Hygienists2
DH A392CClinical Seminar II1
DH A392DClinical Seminar III1
DH A395CClinical Practicum II5
DH A395DClinical Practicum III6
DN A203Nutrition for Health Sciences3
PSY A111Introduction to Psychology3
or PSY A150 Lifespan Development
SOC A101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC A201 Social Problems and Solutions
STAT A200Elementary Statistics3-4
or STAT A253 Applied Statistics for the Sciences
Complete a minimum of 11 credits from the following:11
Restorative Techniques for Dental Auxiliaries
Selected Topics in Dental Hygiene 1
Community Practicum in Dental Hygiene 2
Instructional Practicum in Dental Hygiene
Rural Practicum in Dental Hygiene 2
Food & Nutrition in Modern Alaska
Weight Management and Eating Disorders
Preventive and Therapeutic Nutrition
Technical Writing and Design
Professional Writing
Research Writing
Social and Cultural Determinants of Health
Biomedical Ethics
Other courses approved by a Dental Hygiene advisor
Integrative Capstone
DH A424Community Dental Health II3
Total101-102
1

No more than 6 credits of DH A390 may be applied toward this degree.

2

No more than 3 credits total of DH A395E and DH A495E can be counted toward this requirement.

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.
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BIOL A111
A111L
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab
4
CHEM A103
A103L
Introduction to General Chemistry
or General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
PSY A111
Introduction to Psychology
or Lifespan Development
3
MATH A121
Applied College Algebra
or College Algebra for Calculus
3-4
WRTG A111 Writing Across Contexts 3
 Credits17-18
Spring
BIOL A112
A112L
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab
4
BIOL A240
A240L
Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences
and Introductory Microbiology for Health Sciences Laboratory
4
CHEM A104
A104L
Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory 1
4
SOC A101
Introduction to Sociology
or Social Problems and Solutions
3
GER Oral Communication Skills 3
 Credits18
Second Year
Fall
DN A203 Nutrition for Health Sciences 3
STAT A200
Elementary Statistics
or Applied Statistics for the Sciences
3-4
WRTG A212 Writing and the Professions 3
GER Humanities 3
 Credits12-13
Spring
DH A200 Basic Instrumentation for Dental Hygienists 2
DH A201 Oral Histology and Embryology 2
DH A204 Anatomy of the Orofacial Structures 2
DH A220 Introduction to Preventive Dentistry 2
GER Fine Arts 2 3
GER Humanities 2 3
 Credits14
Third Year
Fall
DH A110 Dental Radiography 4
DH A203 Assessment Procedures in Dental Hygiene 3
DH A222 Adjunctive Techniques for Dental Hygienists 3
DH A292E Preclinical Seminar 1
DH A311 Periodontics 2
DH A365 Pharmacology for Dental Hygienists 2
 Credits15
Spring
DH A160 Applied Dental Materials 3
DH A292D Clinical Seminar I 1
DH A295D Clinical Practicum I 4
DH A302 Advanced Instrumentation for Dental Hygienists 1
DH A314 Pathology of Oral Tissues 2
DH A321 Current Periodontal Therapies 2
 Credits13
Fourth Year
Fall
DH A310 Oral Pain Control 3
DH A316 Professional Dental Hygiene Practice 1
DH A324 Community Dental Health I 2
DH A392C Clinical Seminar II 1
DH A395C Clinical Practicum II 5
Upper Division Program Elective 5
 Credits17
Spring
DH A392D Clinical Seminar III 1
DH A395D Clinical Practicum III 6
DH A424 Community Dental Health II 3
Upper Division Program Elective 6
 Credits16
 Total Credits122-124