Pictured | Hannah Collingsworth | Dental Hygiene | Garrett, Indiana (hometown)

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 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; one year of prerequisite courses followed by three years of integrated general education and professional studies. Upon completion, graduates are eligible for licensure to practice this preventive specialty of dentistry. Students can schedule an appointment with an advisor through the Student Appointment Scheduler (SA) in One.IU.

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 Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.)
• Biomedical Sciences Requirements (12 cr.)
• Social Sciences Requirements (3 cr.)
• Major concentration requirements (72 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.
• All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted.

Major Requirements (72 cr.)

• DHYG-H 205 Medical and Dental Emergencies (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 206 General Pathology I (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 211 Head and Neck Anatomy
• DHYG-H 214 Oral Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology
• DHYG-H 215 Pharmacology/Therapeutics—First Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 217 Preventive Dentistry
• DHYG-H 218 Fundamentals of Dental Hygiene (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 219 Clinical Practice 1
• DHYG-H 221 Clinical Dental Hygiene Procedures
• DHYG-H 250 Local Anesthesia and Pain Control 
• DHYG-H 301 Clinical Practice 2 (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 302 Clinical Practice 3 (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 303 Radiology
• DHYG-H 304 Oral Pathology—2nd Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 308 Dental Materials (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 312 Radiology Lecture—II (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 320 Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 321 Periodontics
• DHYG-H 333 Management of the Special Needs Patient
• DHYG-H 400 Evidence-Based Decision Making
• DHYG-H 403 Advanced Community Dental Hygiene (2 cr.) 
• DHYG-H 420 Advanced Clinical Procedures (4 cr.)
• DHYG-H 444 Bachelor Degree Capstone Course (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 497 Topics in Dental Hygiene (1 cr.)
• HSC-H 434 Diversity and Cultural Competence
• HSC-H 477 Community Assessment and Program Planning
• HSC-H 478 Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs
• HSC-W 314 Ethics and Health Professionals