Dec 13, 2024  
Undergraduate Bulletin 2008-2009 
    
Undergraduate Bulletin 2008-2009 [Archived Catalog]

Dental Hygiene (A.S.)


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Program: A.S. in Dental Hygiene
Department of Dental Education
College of Health and Human Services

Neff Hall 150 ~ 260-481-6837 ~ www.ipfw.edu/dental

 


The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

  •  Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in principles of social sciences, basic and dental sciences.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in assessing, planning, treating, and evaluating oral conditions and diseases.
  • Interpret, evaluate and contribute to current dental research and apply that knowledge to demonstrate dental hygiene skills necessary for life-long learning.
  • Demonstrate the highest levels of personal integrity and professional ethics in the delivery of dental hygiene services.
  • Promote the dental hygiene profession through service learning activities, affiliations with professional organizations, and partnerships with the community.
  • Design, implement, and evaluate community oral health programs appropriate for the diverse, multicultural communities in northeastern Indiana.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to be responsible dental professionals and leaders in local, regional, national, and international organizations and communities.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking, reasoning, questioning, and decision-making skills. 
  • Demonstrate the written, oral, and multimedia skills necessary to communicate effectively in diverse professional and educational settings for multicultural audiences. 

 


This program involves one year of prerequisite courses and two years of dental hygiene courses. The program offers a full-time curriculum that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

An A.S. in Dental Hygiene prepares the student for a career as a dental-health professional who specializes in educational, preventive, and therapeutic oral healthcare. The program combines didactic, laboratory, and clinical courses. Graduates are eligible to take national, state, and regional licensing examinations. Dental hygienists who graduate with an associate degree can work in private dental offices, dental clinics and hospitals, public health facilities, and dental research facilities.

Admission

Admission to IPFW does not confer admission to this program. To be admitted to the A.S. program, the student must apply separately to IPFW and the dental hygiene program. Prospective dental hygiene students must first complete the prerequisite courses listed below or equivalent courses at another accredited college or university. These courses may not be graded on a pass/not-pass option. Remedial or developmental courses cannot be used to fulfill these prerequisite requirements. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Because space in the dental hygiene program is limited, admission is competitive and an overall GPA of at least 3.50 or higher is recommended. Applications for selection into the dental hygiene program must be received no later than Feb. 1 of the year an applicant wishes to enter the program. The number of eligible applicants each year exceeds the number of spaces available.

Prerequisite Courses


To apply for the A.S. in dental hygiene program, you must complete the following prerequisite courses by May 25 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher:

Prerequisite courses must be completed by May 25 for admission into the class that begins each fall. A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is required for all applicants. Required courses may be repeated only once to improve the grade. The second grade for any course will be substituted for the first grade given for the same course. Microbiology, human anatomy, and human physiology constitute a large portion of the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination each year. Therefore, credits in these three courses must be completed within five years of admission into the program. Credits in English composition, speech, psychology, sociology, and chemistry will be accepted for 10 years. Outdated courses must be retaken.

In addition, the only Advanced Placement (AP) courses accepted are English and psychology, if AP scores are 4 or higher. Transfer courses accepted by IPFW as “undistributed” must be evaluated by the department before they are accepted as prerequisite courses for dental hygiene.

Total Credits: 26-29


Total Credits: 60


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