The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene has two entry options, pre-licensure and post-licensure. This one is designed for the traditional student who is not licensed as a dental hygienist and wishes to complete coursework toward the bachelor’s degree beginning with their freshman year. 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 healthcare needs. Major-related courses at the 300 level and above are completed via distance education. Additionally, the support courses in the final two years of the curriculum may also be taken via distance education.
Effective Fall 2021
- School of Nursing & Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
- More Information about Dental Hygiene
Career Opportunities
Advanced positions in the field of dental hygiene, legislative aide, lobbyist, insurance review specialist, dental health consultant, office manager, marketing representative, public health hygienist, and special population provider.
Recommended High School Subjects
Because of the strong emphasis on science in this major, applicants are encouraged to complete one year of high school biology, two years of high school algebra, and one year of chemistry with a laboratory.
Special Admissions Requirements
Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.
Special Equipment Needs
Upon admission to this major, additional expenses will be encountered for uniforms, personal protective equipment, and instruments. Refer to the list of tools, uniforms, and supplies.
Laptop Computer Required
- Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher (recommended).
- Intel Core i5 or i7 (generation 10 or higher) processor (recommended).
- 8+ GB RAM (recommended).
- 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended).
- Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
- Laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
- Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required).
- Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance).
- Chromebooks and other devices running ChromeOS are prohibited.
Remediation Strategies
All incoming students must meet placement requirements in math. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in the College Catalog (see https://www.pct.edu/catalog/admissions-policy).
Transfer Procedures
All general education courses that meet College requirements will be eligible for transfer according to College policy. At least 36 credits of the final four semesters of the student's profile must be satisfied by Penn College courses. Courses taken more than 10 years ago will be evaluated to determine if they meet current course requirements.
International health credentials/licensure, sciences courses, and most math courses will not be accepted to satisfy requirements of this major. Please see additional information for international students applying to the School of Nursing & Health Sciences majors.
Program Goals
A graduate of this major should be able to:- develop skills and commit to lifelong learning to maintain competence in an evolving healthcare system.
- apply critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making skills in a healthcare environment.
- effectively communicate in diverse settings utilizing a variety of methods.
- demonstrate an understanding of cultural diversity and the importance of cultural competence.
- expand their role and career opportunities beyond clinical dental hygiene.
Performance Standards
Students must earn a minimum grade of 'C' in each dental hygiene (DEN) course through semester four. Failure to do so will result in termination from the major.
The following grading system applies to all dental (DEN) courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades:
A= 90-100
B= 80-89.99
C= 75-79.99
F= 74.99 and below
Curriculum
| First Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYE101 | First Year Experience | 1 | .50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| DEN103 | Dental Hygiene I | 4 | 2 | 6 | M | REQ | |
| DEN104 | Preventive Dentistry | 2 | 1.50 | 1.50 | M | REQ | |
| DEN109 | Orofacial Anatomy | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN108 | Oral Histology | 1 | 1 | M | REQ | ||
| BIO115 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| ENL111 | English Composition I | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 18 | ||||||
| Second Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| DEN123 | Dental Radiology | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| DEN126 | Dental Hygiene II | 5 | 2 | 9 | M | REQ | |
| DEN130 | Introduction to Periodontics | 2 | 2 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN211 | Oral Health & Nutrition | 2 | 2 | M | REQ | ||
| BIO125 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| BIO201 | Microbiology | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 20 | ||||||
| Summer Session | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| MMM | Math Elective (MTH151 or Higher) | 3 | S | MMM | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 3 | ||||||
| Third Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| DEN204 | Pharmacology | 2 | 2 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN216 | Dental Hygiene III | 6 | 2 | 12 | M | REQ | |
| DEN214 | Dental Materials & Specialties | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| DEN202 | General & Oral Pathology | 2 | 2 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN212 | Periodontics II | 1 | 1 | M | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14 | ||||||
| Fourth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| DEN220 | Community Dental Health | 2 | 2 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN224 | Dental Law & Ethics | 1 | Writing Enriched Requirement | 1 | M | REQ | |
| DEN227 | Dental Hygiene Theory & Practice | 5 | 1 | 12 | M | REQ | |
| DEN240 | Techniques in Pain Control | 2 | 1 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| SPC101 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| CSC124 | Information, Technology & Society | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| SSP | Core Social Science Perspective | 3 | S | SSP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 19 | ||||||
| Fifth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| DEN301 | Issues in Professional Dental Hygiene | 3 | Writing Enriched Requirement | 3 | M | REQ | |
| DEN307 | Dental Practice Management | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| MGT115 | Principles of Management | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| SSP | Core Social Science Perspective | 3 | S | SSP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 12 | ||||||
| Sixth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| HTH325 | Healthcare Delivery Systems | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN303 | Dental Public Health | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| DEN | Directed Dental Hygiene Elective | 3 | M | DEN | |||
| MTH159 | Statistics for Health & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 12 | ||||||
| Seventh Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| DEN447 | United States Health Policymaking | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| ARP | Core Arts Perspective | 3 | S | ARP | |||
| HIP | Core Historical Perspective | 3 | S | HIP | |||
| ENL121 | English Composition II | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| ENL201 | Technical & Professional Communication | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 12 | ||||||
| Eighth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| DEN495 | Dental Hygiene Capstone | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| PSY111 | General Psychology | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| OEA | Open Elective | 3 | S | OEA | |||
| HTH415 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 | Cultural Diversity Requirement & Science, Technology and Society Requirement | 3 | M | REQ | |
| PPC | Proven Professional Credential or Associate's Degree | S | PPC | ||||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 12 | ||||||
The actual sequence of courses may differ based on the student's need for developmental courses, date of selection into the program, and full- or part-time status in the final two years.
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 program in dental hygiene is accredited by the 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. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: http://www.ada.org/en/coda