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Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

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About the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

The IU South Bend campus offers two types of degrees for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Dental Hygiene:

• The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene entry level, which is designed for those just preparing to enter the profession
• The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene completion degree, which is designed for licensed hygenists who are already graduates of an accredited Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene degree program and wish to continue their education

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Entry Level

The Dental Hygiene curriculum, which is accredited by the American Dental Association, leads to the Bachelor of Science degree, and consists of a total of four years of study; two years of prerequisite courses followed by two years of professional study. Upon completion, graduates are eligible for licensure to practice this preventive specialty of dentistry. Contact the Office of Student Services in the College of Health Sciences at (574) 520-4571 to meet with an advisor.

Preprofessional Curriculum (55 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise designated.

Dental Hygiene Prerequisites and General-Education Requirements

First Year—Fall Semester (13 cr.)

• COAS-Q 110 Introduction to Information Literacy (1 cr.)
• ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I
• SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking
• XXX-N 190/390 The Natural World (one must be at the 390 level of the B, T or N common core courses)

Select one of the following:

• BUS- K 201 The Computer in Business
• CSCI-A 106 Introduction to Computing

First Year—Spring Semester (12 cr.)

• PSY-P 103 General Psychology
• SOC-S 161 Principles of Sociology
• CHEM- C 102 Elementary Chemistry 2
• XXX-B 190/390 Human Behavior and Social Institutions (one must be at the 390 level of the B, T or N common core courses)

Students who have completed high school chemistry within the last three years with a grade of C or better may go directly to CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry 2 after successfully passing the mathematics placement examination.

Second Year—Fall Semester (14 cr.)

• PHSL-P 261 Human Anatomy and Physiology (5 cr.)
• HPER-N 220 Nutrition for Health
• XXX-T 190/390 Literary and Intellectual Traditions Common Core (one must be at the 390 level of the B, T or N common core courses)

Select one of the following:

• CJUS-K 300 Criminal Justice Resarch
• MATH-K 300 Statistical Techniques for Health Professions
• NURS-H 355 Nursing Research
• PSY-P 354 Psychology Research
• SOC-S 351 Social Statistics

Second Year—Spring Semester (16 cr.)

• MICR-M 250 Microbial Cell Biology
• MICR-M 255 Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• PHSL-P 262 Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 (5 cr.)
• Select approved critical thinking course
• Select approved non-western cultures course

Professional Phase (65 cr.)

Third Year—Fall Semester (13 cr.)

• DHYG-H 214 Oral Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 217 Preventive Dentistry—Second Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 218 Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 224 Oral Histology and Embryology (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 240 Introduction to Dental Ethics (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 242 Introduction to Dentistry (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 303 Radiology (2 cr.)

Third Year—Spring Semester (13 cr.)

• DHYG-H 205 Medical and Dental Emergencies (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 211 Head and Neck Anatomy (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 213 Human Biology 2-First Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 219 Clinical Practice 1
• DHYG-H 221 Clinical Dental Hygiene Procedures (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 305 Radiology Clinic I (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 321 Periodontics (2 cr.)

Fourth Year—Summer Session I (6 cr.)

• DHYG-H 300 Clinical Practice A-S (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 308 Dental Materials (2 cr.)

Fourth Year—Fall Semester (16 cr.)

• DHYG-H 215 Pharmacology/Therapeutics—1st Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 222 Advanced Clinical Hygiene Procedures (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 250 Local Anesthesia and Pain Control (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 301 Clinical Practice 2 (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 304 Oral Pathology-Second Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 306 Radiology Clinic II (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 312 Radiology Lecture II (1 cr.) (pending approval)
• DHYG-H 347 Community Dental Health (2 cr.)

Fourth Year—Spring Semester (17 cr.)

• DAE-E 351 Advanced Dental Materials Technology for Auxiliary (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 302 Clinical Practice 3
• DHYG-H 307 Radiology Clinic III (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 309 Practice of Community Dental Hygiene-Second Year
• DHYG-H 320 Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 400 Evidence-Based Decision Making
• DHYG-H 444 Bachelor Degree Capstone Course

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Degree Completion

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree completion program provides an opportunity for graduate dental hygienists to develop further expertise and includes application of practical experience. It prepares hygienists for leadership roles in education, public health, commercial ventures, professional associations, and/or health advocacy. It can enhance career opportunities available to dental hygienists in a variety of areas, including but not limited to state and county health departments, academia, sales and marketing, pharmaceuticals, dental education consulting, dental insurance companies, research, and clinical dental hygiene. Program activities promote development of professional leadership skills and prepare hygienists for entry into graduate programs.

The program’s objectives are designed to provide students with the education and skills to:

• perform dental hygiene services in a variety of settings (e.g., private dental practice, public health clinics, school systems, institutions, and hospitals)
• serve as a resource person and work in cooperation with other health personnel in assessing health care needs and providing health care services to the public
• plan, implement, and evaluate effective teaching methodologies in an educational setting
• supervise the teaching of dental hygiene services in a clinical or public health setting
• prepare for admission to graduate degree programs
• continue their professional education and personal growth

Students must complete the 120 credit hours of coursework listed below.

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Completion

• Required General Education courses (13 cr.)
• Required Dental Hygiene courses (12 cr.)
• Elective courses (6 cr.)

Applicants who receive dental hygiene degrees from accredited degree programs other than those offered by Indiana University will be considered transfer students for the purpose of fulfilling general-education requirements at IU South Bend.

Courses required for admission may be taken at any Indiana University campus or may be accepted as transfer credit hours from other accredited institutions. Priority consideration is given to those students completing coursework on the IU South Bend campus.

Admission is competitive based on average GPA, average for preprofessional coursework, and the GPA for professional dental hygiene courses. A minimum GPA of 2.50 in each category is required.

The BSDH Completion Degree currently requires 30 credit hours beyond the 90 earned for the I.U. South Bend ASDH degree to equal 120 credit hours.

Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene (ASDH) graduates of programs that do not have the minimum of 90 credits of the I.U. South Bend  program need to take additional approved bridge course electives at I.U. South Bend to add up to the 90 credits prior to enrolling in the following BSDH degree completion courses.

Admission Policies Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Degree Completion

Graduates from an accredited degree program holding the Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene, and a current Indiana dental hygiene license must submit an application to be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree program after meeting with an academic advisor. Applicants who receive Dental Hygiene degrees from accredited programs other than those offered by Indiana University will be considered transfer students for the purpose of fulfilling general-education requirements at IU South Bend. Courses required for admission may be taken at any Indiana University campus or may be accepted as transfer credit hours from other accredited institutions. However, priority consideration is given to those students completing the majority of their coursework on the IU South Bend campus. Contact a dental education advisor for more information. A minimum GPA of 2.50 in each category is required. Two letters of recommendation from faculty or dental professionals are required for non-IU South Bend degree graduates. Students with the highest overall GPA and positive letters of recommendation will be granted admission. A student is expected to complete the work for a degree within five years from date of admission.

Academic Policies

• 30 credits must be completed at IU South Bend.
• 20 of the 30 credit hours for the BSDH Completion Degree must be taken at IU South Bend, after admission to the program.
• Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all required courses and maintain a semester and overall GPA of at least 2.5.
• Completion of the degree will be five years from the date of enrollment in the first course toward the BSDH degree.

BSDH Required General Education (12 cr,)

• Select from approved 390 course list :: select from approved course list
• Computer Literacy (3 credits) :: select from approved course list
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 credits) :: select from approved course list
• Research-related course (3 credits) :: see advisor for approved course list
• Information Literacy (1 credit) :: COAS-Q 110 Information Literacy

An additional 6 credits of electives are required to complete the 30 credit hours for the degree which will include:

• 6 credit hours of electives shall be upper division courses (300-400 level)

BSDH Required Dental Hygiene Courses (12 cr.)

• DHYG-E 443 Public Health Education Methods
• DHYG-H 410 Management Strategies for the Dental Hygiene Professional
• DHYG-H 412 Global Methods (pending final approval)
• DHYG-H 444 Bachelor Degree Capstone Course