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Dental Hygiene
Special Population Care Concentration (BHP)
Academic School: Health Sciences
(Effective Fall 2009)

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene has two entry options. One is designed for students who wish to complete course work toward the bachelor degree beginning with their freshman year, and the other is designed for individuals who are graduates of accredited dental hygiene programs, licensed and interested in earning the bachelor's degree. The curriculum will enable the graduate to assume positions of responsibility in a variety of alternate care settings, and also create positions to meet the demands of future health care needs. In addition, this curriculum will provide the graduate with skills for working with pediatric and geriatric populations. The Special Population Care Concentration curriculum offers a required core of dental hygiene and general education courses. Students with a current dental hygiene license have the flexibility of completing the remaining degree requirements on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Students will take six credits within the concentration area in addition to the dental hygiene core courses and required baccalaureate courses. Curriculum will be based on individual needs.

Career Opportunities:  Advanced position in the field of dental hygiene, legislative aid, lobbyist, insurance review specialist, dental health consultant, office manager, marketing representative, public health hygienist, geriatric oral health specialist and special population provider.

Special Admissions Requirements:  Acceptance into this competitive major is based on a selective admissions process. To view detailed information on acceptance criteria, testing requirements, performance expectations, and the admissions ranking system, consult the following Web site: http://www.pct.edu/catalog/specialadmission.htm

Curriculum sequence for this option will be individualized. Dental Hygienists seeking entrance must have (1) obtained a passing score on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination, (2) graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program, (3) hold a dental hygiene license in any one state, (4) be eligible for Pennsylvania licensure.

Remediation Strategies:  All developmental needs must be cleared before admission to this major unless the Director of Dental Hygiene gives special permission.

Transfer Procedures:  All students entering the major will be treated as transfer students, including students who have graduated with Penn College's associate-degree major. All students' transcripts will be evaluated by the Director of Dental Hygiene. Students must have earned a grade of 'C' or better in courses to be transferred.

A maximum of 44 credits in dental hygiene courses may be transferred from an associate degree level curriculum. Credits will be transferred as a block of credits, rather than as individual course credits. In addition, all general education courses that meet College requirements will be eligible for transfer according to College policy. Thirty-six of the last 60 credits must be Penn College courses. Courses taken more than 10 years ago will be evaluated to determine if they meet current course requirements.

Program Goals:  A graduate of this major should be able to:

• develop skills for and commit to the process of lifelong learning.
• develop techniques and skills for problem solving and decision-making.
• demonstrate effective organizational, operational, and management skills.
• appreciate and adapt to diverse/alternative cultures, processes, and ideas.
• recognize and adapt to the changing health care environment.
• identify and interact with various health care delivery, social service, educational, and legislative/political systems.
• analyze and design activities relative to the future in terms of possibilities, responsibilities, and challenges facing health care providers and consumers.
• initiate changes in the health care environment when need and opportunity are indicated.
• develop and demonstrate empathy with students, faculty, clients, and colleagues.
• evaluate professional literature and scientific studies.
• contribute service and knowledge to the community and the profession.
• continue clinical competence based upon current standards of dental hygiene practice and available information.
• discuss, contrast, compare, and appreciate different career paths in dental hygiene and other health career areas.
• continue investigation and development of competencies in the six roles of the dental hygienist including: administrator/manager, change agent, clinician, consumer advocate, educator/health promoter, and researcher.
• assume one or more roles of the six roles of the dental hygienist.
• present current dental information to community groups/organizations.
• evaluate information and concepts for application in the chosen area of concentration.
• apply information and concepts presented in class to the chosen area of concentration.
• assume an expanded role in pain control and periodontal therapy.
• integrate ethical and moral behavior and serve as a role model for the dental hygiene profession.

Notice of Conviction:  Child abuse clearance and criminal background checks are required by some agencies involved in fieldwork and/or capstones. Agencies can bar students from their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Penn College students to be at clinical sites, agencies have the right to ask for random drug testing.

Inability to gain clinical or fieldwork or intern education experiences results in inability to meet program objectives and outcomes.

For additional clarification, students can speak with their program director.

Accreditation:  The associate-degree dental hygiene component of the Dental Hygiene major is fully approved by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation. Licensure to practice dental hygiene is one requirement for graduation.

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