Dental Hygiene
Associate in Science
Career/Technical (Major Code: 02380)
Prepares students for a career in dental hygiene through the study of humanities, social and natural sciences, and the field of dental hygiene. Emphasis is on clinical practice in the context of dental hygiene care. Graduates are eligible to apply to take both regional and national examinations for licensure.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Analyze and evaluate dental hygiene theory to achieve a minimum of 75% on the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination.
- Assess patient needs, coordinate dental hygiene treatment and demonstrate clinical skills to pass regional licensing examination.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisities | ||
| BIOL 260 | HUMAN ANATOMY | 4 |
| BIOL 261 | PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY | 4 |
| BIOL 265 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 4 |
| CHEM 100 | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| CHEM 110 | ELEMENTARY ORGANIC AND BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ORAL COMMUNICATION | ||
or COMM 104 | PUBLIC SPEAKING | |
| COLLEGE COMPOSITION: READING AND WRITING ANALYTICALLY | ||
or ESL 115A | COLLEGE COMPOSITION FOR MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS | |
| HLTH 204 | FUNDAMENTALS OF NUTRITION | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| SOC 101 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| or SOC 110 | CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL PROBLEMS | |
| INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA I (FOR LIBERAL ARTS MAJORS) * | ||
or MATH 72 | INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA I AND II (STEM/BUS) | |
- *
MATH 60 or a higher-numbered math course with equivalent content (EXCEPT: MATH 100, MATH 110, or MATH 115 which do not meet the minimum program standards). Recommend MATH 119 or PSYC/SOC 270 for students planning to transfer.
Department Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| DH 101 | INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL CONCEPTS | 2 |
| DH 108 | INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE | 2.5 |
| DH 109 | DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY | 3 |
| DH 114 | HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY | 3 |
| DH 123 | ORAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY | 2 |
| DH 125 | ORAL HEALTH | 2 |
| Units | 14.5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| DH 112 | CLINIC I | 4 |
| DH 113A | CLINICAL CONCEPTS I | 1 |
| DH 115 | PERIODONTICS | 2 |
| DH 121 | PAIN CONTROL | 2 |
| DH 203 | PATHOLOGY | 2 |
| DH 206 | DENTAL PHARMACOLOGY | 2 |
| SUMMER SESSION | ||
| DH 118 | TRANSITIONAL CLINIC | 1.5 |
| Units | 14.5 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| DH 106 | SPECIAL NEED PATIENT CARE | 2 |
| DH 113B | CLINICAL CONCEPTS II | 1 |
| DH 122 | CLINIC II | 4 |
| DH 116 | DENTAL MATERIALS | 3 |
| DH 200A | COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH I | 2 |
| DH 205 | ADVANCED PERIODONTICS | 2 |
| Units | 14 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| DH 113C | CLINICAL CONCEPTS III | 1 |
| DH 202 | CLINIC III | 4 |
| DH 200B | COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH II | 2 |
| DH 211 | ETHICS AND JURISPRUDENCE | 2 |
| DH 214 | SEMINAR | 2 |
| Units | 11 | |
| Total Units | 54 | |
Note: A grade of 75% (“C”) or better is required in all dental hygiene courses for progression in the Dental Hygiene program and to graduate.
To earn an associate degree, additional general education and graduation requirements must be completed. An Arts/Humanities general education course of three units must be completed by the end of the fourth semester. It is highly recommended to complete this general education and graduation requirement prior to the start of the Dental Hygiene program.
Dental Hygiene courses are sequential in the program. Please consult the individual course listings for prerequisites and any other limitations on enrollment.