AAS in Dental Hygiene
Our program grants a two year AAS degree in dental hygiene. This is a four (4) semester program that totals 81 credits. The 19 credits of college pre-requisites are part of these 81 total credits.
The overwhelming majority of dental hygienists nationwide have a two year degree. The two year degree provides the training and knowledge needed to be an excellent practicing dental hygienist. The program prepares the graduate to take various licensing boards in order to practice dental hygiene.
The majority of dental hygiene graduates work for dentists in private practice. There are other opportunities open to a dental hygienist such as:
- teaching
- research
- government and insurance
- private business, such as dental manufacture´s sales reps and trainers
For more detailed information, please view the AAS Program Bulletin.
Catalog Listing for AAS in Dental Hygiene (pdf)
2012-2013 Curriculum Plan
for the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene
For students doing all course work at UVU. Courses requiring pre-requisites should not be taken until prerequisites have been met. Prerequisites cannot be taken concurrently with courses requiring the prerequisites.
Pre-requisites for Program Admission |
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|---|---|---|
| MATH 1050 | College Algebra | 4.0 |
| ENGL 1010 | Intro to Writing | 3.0 |
| CHEM 1110 | Elem. Chemistry for Health Sciences | 4.0 |
| ZOOL 2320 | Human Anatomy | 4.0 |
| ZOOL 2420 | Human Physiology | 4.0 |
Total |
19.0 |
|
REQUIRED AAS PROGRAM COURSE WORK |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall Semester - Year 1 |
Spring Semester - Year 1 |
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| MICRO 2060 | Microbiology for Health Professions | 4.0 | DENT 2060 | Community Dental Hygiene | 3.0 |
| DENT 1010 | Dental Hygiene I | 4.0 | DENT 1040 | Dental Hygiene II | 6.0 |
| DENT 1020 | Oral Anatomy and Physiology | 4.0 | DENT 1050 | Clinical Dental Radiography | 2.0 |
| DENT 1030 | Dental Materials | 2.0 | DENT 1060 | General and Oral Pathology | 3.0 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3.0 | |||
Total |
14.0 |
Total |
17.0 |
||
Fall Semester - Year 2 |
Spring Semester - Year 2 |
||||
| DENT 3010 | Dental Hygiene III | 6.0 | DENT 3040 | Dental Hygiene IV | 6.0 |
| DENT 2020 | Dental Pharmacology | 3.0 | DENT 3050 | Dental Hygiene Seminar | 1.0 |
| DENT 3030 | Periodontology | 3.0 | PHIL 2050 | Ethics & Values | 3.0 |
| NUTR 1020 | Foundations of Human Nutrition | 3.0 | SOC 1010 OR
1020 |
Intro to Sociology OR
Modern Social Problems |
3.0 |
| COMM 1050 OR
2110 |
Intro to Speech Communications OR Interpersonal Communicaitons |
3.0 | |||
Total |
18.0 |
Total |
13.0 |
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Note:
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TOTAL AAS PROGRAM CREDITS: |
81.0 |
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Program Objectives for the AAS Program
- Graduates will be competent enough in knowledge and skills to graduate the program and pass the National and Regional licensing boards.
- Graduates will be prepared to enter private practice as competent, licensed, practicing dental hygiene professionals and/or continue in their dental hygiene education.
- Dental hygiene students will successfully integrate and apply a variety of appropriate skills, techniques, knowledge and principles gained in areas to include basic/dental/dental hygiene sciences, infection control, communication skills and professionalism as evidenced in their treatment planning and clinical patient care/management, in a clinically competent manner meeting the standard of care.
- Dental hygiene students will utilize the four (4) step dental hygiene process of care to include:
- Assessment
- Planning
- Implementation
- Evaluation
- The program is student centered and focuses on developing the knowledge and skill needed in dental hygiene while striving to develop the students´ problem solving and critical thinking skills, communication skills and teaching/education skills.
- The curriculum also focuses on developing the students´ professionalism; promoting life-long learning, community awareness and service, all in a caring and empathetic way.