Program Overview

Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene

The Department of Dental Hygiene provides the fundamental and technical skills needed to become a licensed dental hygienist through our Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program. Through classroom instruction, clinical practice, and community outreach, you'll gain real-world experience and the interdisciplinary knowledge essential for today's dental hygiene field.

Program Overview

We offer a flexible, personalized education with courses available in both hybrid and face-to-face formats. Certain prerequisite courses, including a minimum of one academic year of courses, are required prior to applying to the dental hygiene program.

What You Will Learn

Our degree programs give you fundamental and technical skills needed to work in the growing interdisciplinary field of dental hygiene or pursue a graduate program. In the program, you will learn about:

• Clinical dental hygiene care
• Patient management
• Head, neck and dental anatomy
• Teamwork
• Periodontal care and therapy, including local anesthesia
• Interprofessional education
• Oral radiology
• Problem solving skills

Career and Salary Outlook

As a dental hygiene graduate, you can become employed as a dental hygienist once you have your professional license. The average starting salary for a dental hygienist in the state of Utah is usually around $100,000, however this varies greatly depending on clinics and hours.

Associate of Science Degree

The Department of Dental Hygiene awards an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene for completion of our two-year dental hygiene program. Students must complete all associate of science degree requirements from the university and department (which include several program prerequisites and general education courses) to earn their degree in dental hygiene.

Program Structure

Students in the program can expect to spend 35-40 hours on campus or in lecture and clinical courses each week. This program is a lockstep design where students are admitted and continue through the program together as a class. Our two-year associate's degree program will help you get started towards professional licensing and employment as a dental hygienist.

Course Requirements and Prerequisites

Before beginning the dental hygiene program, students must complete general education and science prerequisites. All course requirements are detailed in the university catalog.

Possible Course Sequence

The following is a suggested course sequence for students pursuing their Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene:

Semester One (Fall)

• ENGL 1010: Introductory College Writing (3)
• PSY 1010: Introduction to Psychology (3)
• HTHS 2110: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4), or ZOOL 2320: Human Anatomy (4)
• COMM 1020: Principles of Public Speaking (3), or COMM 2110: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication (3)
• Quantitative Literacy (QL) Requirement (3-6) Total Credits: 1619

Semester Two (Spring)

• ENGL 2010: Intermediate College Writing (3), or ENGL 2015: Intermediate College Writing & Research (4)
• HTHS 2111: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4), or ZOOL 2420: Human Physiology (4)
• SOC 1010: Introduction to Sociology (3), or SOC 1020: Contemporary Social Issues (3)
• NUTR 1020: Science and Application of Human Nutrition (3)
• American Institutions (3) Total Credits: 16

Semester Three (Fall)

• Information Literacy requirement or ENGL 2015 (1 or 4)
• HTHS 2230: Introductory Pathophysiology (3)
• It's highly recommended to concurrently take HTHS 2231: Introductory Pathophysiology Laboratory (1)
• General Education Requirement (3)
• General Education Requirement (3)
• General Education Requirement (3) Total Credits: 13-17

Semester Four (Spring)

• Five General Education or Upper Division Courses (3 each) Total Credits: 15

Semester Five (Fall, First Year in Dental Hygiene Program)

• DENT 2201: Concepts of Community Dental Health (1)
• DENT 2205: Head/Neck and Dental Anatomy (2)
• DENT 2206: Clinical Dental Hygiene/Radiology (4)
• DENT 2207: Dental Hygiene I (3)
• DENT 2208: Radiology (1)
• DENT 2250: Professional Ethics (1) Total Credits: 12

Semester Six (Spring)

• DENT 2211: Oral Pathology (3)
• DENT 2215: Periodontology (2)
• DENT 2216: Clinical Dental Hygiene II (3)
• DENT 2217: Dental Hygiene II (3)
• DENT 2235: Dental Medicine (2) Total Credits: 13 *Meet with an advisor to determine whether you should take classes in the summer between your first and second years in the Dental Hygiene Program.

Semester Seven (Fall)

• DENT 2219: Dental Materials (1)
• DENT 3305: Pain Control (3)
• DENT 3336: Clinical Dental Hygiene III (4)
• DENT 3337: Dental Hygiene III (3) Total Credits: 11

Semester Eight (Spring)

• DENT 3301: Community Dental Health Service Learning Lab (1)
• DENT 3346: Clinical Dental Hygiene IV (5)
• DENT 3347: Dental Hygiene IV (2) Total Credits: 7

Degree Completion Notes

Minimum for graduation: 120 total credit hours. Additional requirements: 40 upper-division credits (3000/4000 level) and 30 residency credits at the university (may overlap).