山麓学院

The Dental Hygiene Program is a bachelor in science degree program, under the pilot program (SB 850), authorized by the State Chancellor's Office. The program is highly academic, with an emphasis on evidence based practice and clinical skills to prepare students to assess the medical/dental status of patients, develop a dental hygiene care plan, implement appropriate dental hygiene care, and evaluate outcomes. The Commission on Dental Accreditation accredits the dental hygiene program. Graduates are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and qualify for the State or Regional Registered Dental Hygiene licensure examination.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Professionalism: The dental hygiene bachelor in science degree graduate will have the skills to implement his/her role as a health professional at the local, state, and national levels. The graduate will possess the ethics, values, skills, and knowledge integral to all aspects of the profession.
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: The dental hygiene bachelor in science degree graduate will be competent in the performance and delivery of oral health promotion and disease prevention services in public health, private practice and alternative settings. The graduate will be able to exercise evidence-based practice, critical thinking and communicate effectively in all professional employment settings.

Career Opportunities:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 33% through 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth ranks dental hygienists among the fastest growing occupations as there will become an increasing demand for dental care and the greater use of dental hygienists. Opportunities exist for a registered dental hygienist in general or dental specialties such as pediatrics and periodontics. Other career opportunities include public health, sales representative, dental hygiene educator, consultant and continuing education.

Degree Requirements:

The Dental Hygiene bachelor in science degree is a 2+2 program: two years of prerequisite courses, including the required general education, science courses and social sciences courses; then, following an application and acceptance to the dental hygiene program, there are two years of dental hygiene core courses and upper division general education. The bachelor degree requires completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Inter-segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Completion of the pre-program courses and general education does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program. It is strongly recommended that students meet with a counsellor to create an education plan.