Pictured | Rachel Duszynski | Dental Hygiene | La Porte, Indiana (hometown)

About the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

The IU South Bend campus offers two types of degrees for the Bachelor of Science 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.

Academic Advising

College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s to enrollment. Advising holds are placed on all Vera Z. Dwyer College of Health Sciences students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Students with a declared major are advised in their academic units. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see One.IU.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

Degree Map >>

Students receiving the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene must complete 120 total credit hours including:

• IU South Bend Dwyer College of Health Sciences Campuswide General Education Curriculum (34 cr.)
• Biomedical Sciences Requirements (18 cr.)
• Social Sciences Requirements (3 cr.)
• Major concentration requirements (65 cr.)

• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300- or 400-level
• Courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
• A minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required.

Major Requirements (65 cr.)

All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise designated.

• DHYG-H 205 Medical and Dental Emergencies (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 206 General Pathology I (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 211 Head and Neck Anatomy (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 214 Oral Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 215 Pharmacology/Therapeutics—First Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 217 Preventive Dentistry (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 218 Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 219 Clinical Practice 1
• DHYG-H 221 Clinical Dental Hygiene Procedures (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 222 Advanced Clinical Hygiene Procedures (2 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 250 Local Anesthesia and Pain Control (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 300 Clinical Practice A-S (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 301 Clinical Practice 2
• DHYG-H 302 Clinical Practice 3
• DHYG-H 303 Radiology (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 304 Oral Pathology—2nd Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 305 Radiology Clinic (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 306 Radiology Clinic II (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 307 Radiology Clinic III (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 308 Dental Materials (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 312 Radiology Lecture II (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 320 Practice Management  Ethics, and Jurisprudence (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 321 Periodontics (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 400 Evidence-Based Decision Making
• DHYG-H 444 Bachelor Degree Capstone Course
• DHYG-H 497 Topics in Dental Hygiene (2 cr.)
• HSC-H 477 Community Assessment and Program Planning
• HSC-H 478 Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs

Photo credit | Teresa Sheppard