Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene focuses on the art and science of preventing oral disease and promoting health, including behavior management. The Entry-level Dental Hygiene Program offers an innovative curriculum to address current and future oral health needs. It prepares students as generalists in dental hygiene and provides a foundation for graduate studies. The program aims to develop graduates who think critically, act ethically and culturally competently, communicate effectively, understand community resources, and serve as skilled healthcare providers, role models, and responsible managers. The curriculum emphasizes health, wellness, and understanding individuals within their environments.

The options offered at IU South Bend include:

• Entry–level Pathway | This degree pathway is for students who want to become a licensed dental hygienist and have never completed a CODA accredited dental hygiene clinical program.
• RDH–to–BSDH Completion Pathway | This degree pathway is for students who are licensed dental hygienists who already graduated from a CODA accredited dental hygiene program and wish to expand their career opportunities by continuing their education to earn the baccalaureate degree.

Accreditation Information

The Entry–level Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Commission on Dental Accreditation
211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
(312) 440-4653
Web address | coda.ada.org/en

For the most up-to-date information on the accreditation status, visit the program website.

Admission Information

The Entry–level Dental Hygiene Program is a limited access program with additional admissions criteria beyond general college requirements. While all students who meet the minimum criteria are encouraged to apply, acceptance is not guaranteed for all qualified applicants.

Application Requirements

An application for admission to the Entry–Level Dental Hygiene degree program must be completed by February 1.

In the competitive process, applicants are ranked based on the following:

• Application GPA
• Science GPA
• Multidimensional Evaluation Criteria
• Cumulative GPA
• Completion of General Education Requirements
• Note | GPA scores will be calculated by averaging all attempts of required coursework, including equivalent courses unless the student were granted grade replacement per IU policy prior to the application deadline. See the equivalency list for course transfers. Please note that grade replacements is not the same as the IU policy for "best grade". Grade Replacement is a separate process which involves steps with the student and the Registrar on your campus.

Additional Academic Requirements

Students should refer to the program handbook for detailed academic and clinical policies, ensuring compliance with program requirements and standards (i.e. GPA requirements, program dismissal, reinstatement, etc.). For additional information regarding program policies, please visit this Bulletin link.

Pre–clinical students in the Vera Z. Dwyer School of Health Sciences are strongly encouraged to identify and apply a parallel plan. A parallel plan helps you align with the requirements of another academic program, providing a clear path for academic progression if your professional goals change, you encounter challenges meeting program requirements, or your needs shift.

Degree Requirements

Students receiving the Entry-level Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree must complete 120 credits earned with a C minimum. All courses are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.

• IU South Bend Campuswide General Education Curriculum (33 cr.)
• Prerequisite Coursework (21 cr.)
• Major Coursework (84 cr.)

Prerequisite Coursework (21 cr.)

• ANAT-A 210 Elementary Human Anatomy
• CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry 2
• ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• PHSL-P 130 Human Biology
• PSY-P 103 General Psychology
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• SOC-S 161 Principles of Sociology
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum

Major Coursework

• 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
• 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
• DHYG-H 303 Radiology
• DHYG-H 304 Oral Pathology—2nd Year (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 305 Radiology Clinic (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 308 Dental Materials (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 312 Radiology Lecture—II (1 cr.)
• DHYG-H 320 Practice Management, Ethics, and Jurisprudence (2 cr.)
• DHYG-H 321 Periodontics
• DHYG-H 333 Management of the Special Needs Patient
• DHYG-H 400 Evidence-Based Decision Making
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• 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 477 Community Assessment and Program Planning
• DHYG-H 478 Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs
• DHYG-H 497 Topics in Dental Hygiene (1 cr.)
• HPER-N 220 Nutrition for Health
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• HSC-H 101 Introduction to Health Sciences

Completed prior to clinical program with first fall semester after admission into the program.

• HSC-H 322 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• HSC-H 434 Diversity and Cultural Competence
• HSC-W 314 Ethics and Health Professionals
  May count for Campuswide General Education Curriculum
• MICR-M 250 Microbial Cell Biology (or equivalent coursework)