Degrees, Certificates, & Transfer Programs

Dental Hygiene 2020-2021

The Dental Hygiene Program is a bachelor in science degree program, under the pilot program (SB 850), authorized by the State Chancellor's Office. The program is highly academic, with an emphasis on evidence based practice and clinical skills to prepare students to assess the medical/dental status of patients, develop a dental hygiene care plan, implement appropriate dental hygiene care, and evaluate outcomes. The Commission on Dental Accreditation accredits the dental hygiene program. Graduates are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and qualify for the State or Regional Registered Dental Hygiene licensure examination.

Program Learning Outcomes:

-Professionalism: The dental hygiene bachelor in science degree graduate will have the skills to implement his/her role as a health professional at the local, state, and national levels. The graduate will possess the ethics, values, skills, and knowledge integral to all aspects of the profession.
-Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: The dental hygiene bachelor in science degree graduate will be competent in the performance and delivery of oral health promotion and disease prevention services in public health, private practice and alternative settings. The graduate will be able to exercise evidence-based practice, critical thinking and communicate effectively in all professional employment settings.

Career Opportunities:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 33% through 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth ranks dental hygienists among the fastest growing occupations as there will become an increasing demand for dental care and the greater use of dental hygienists. Opportunities exist for a registered dental hygienist in general or dental specialties such as pediatrics and periodontics. Other career opportunities include public health, sales and marketing, dental hygiene educator, research, consultant and continuing education.

Units Required

Degree Requirements:

The Dental Hygiene bachelor in science degree is a 2+2 program: two years of prerequisite courses, including the required general education, science courses and social sciences courses; then, following an application and acceptance to the dental hygiene program, there are two years of dental hygiene core courses and upper division general education. The bachelor degree requires completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Completion of the pre-program courses and general education does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program. It is strongly recommended that students meet with a counselor to create an education plan.

NOTE: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree. All dental hygiene courses must be taken in sequence and must be completed with a grade "C" or better.

Students who wish to apply for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver pursuant to Education Code Section 76300 shall be required to complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application in lieu of completing the Board of Governors Fee Waiver application.

Enrollment Fees and Tuition: Upper Division Coursework Fee (California Education Code (CEC), 78042(g)(5); CCR, title 5, section 58520)--additional upper division course fee of $56/unit for quarter system colleges charged on all upper division courses that are part of an approved Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program.

Additional Information:

Program Application
Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria and application to the program can be found on the Dental Hygiene Program website: foothill.edu/dentalhygiene/

Program Prerequisites: (must be completed with a grade of "C" or better)
High school diploma or equivalent.
College GPA of 2.5 or higher.
The following courses are required for the Dental Hygiene Bachelor in Science degree and must be completed before starting the core dental hygiene courses:
CHEM 30A and 30B or equivalent.
One of the following: MATH 10, PSYC 7 or SOC 7 or equivalent.
HLTH 20 or 21 or equivalent.
PSYC 1 or equivalent.
SOC 1 or equivalent.
COMM 1A or equivalent.
Multicultural or ethnic studies course.
BIOL 40A, 40B, 40C or equivalent.
BIOL 41 or equivalent.
BIOL 45 or equivalent.
PHT 58.
D H 200L.
One of the following: ENGL 1A, 1AH, or 1S & 1T.
One of the following: ENGL 1B or 1BH.
Completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).

Core Courses (91 units)

FIRST YEAR
Summer
D H 50 Orientation to Dental Hygiene (1 unit)

Fall
D H 300A Oral Biology I (3 units)
D H 302 Assessment Procedures in Dental Hygiene (3 units)
D H 304 Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene (4 units)
D H 305A Introduction to Dental Radiography I (2 units)
IDS 300* Research Methodology for Health Professionals (5 units)

Winter
D H 300B Oral Biology II (3 units)
D H 305B Dental Radiography II (1 unit)
D H 308 Clinical Technique (6 units)
D H 310 Dental Materials (3 units)
D H 312 Emergency Procedures (1 unit)
D H 314 Dental Health Education (2 units)

Spring
D H 305C Dental Radiography III (2 units)
D H 316A Periodontics I (3 units)
D H 318 Introduction to Clinic (5 units)
BIOL 300* Human Pathophysiology & Pharmacology (4 units)
HLTH 300* Health Across the Lifespan (5 units)

SECOND YEAR
Summer
D H 320A Clinical Dental Hygiene I (3 units)
D H 322 Local Anesthesia (2.5 units)

Fall
D H 316B Periodontics II (2 units)
D H 320B Clinical Dental Hygiene II (8.5 units)
D H 324 Oral Pathology (2 units)
D H 326A Community Dental Health I (2 units)
D H 328A Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory I (2 units)

Winter
D H 305D Dental Radiography IV (1 unit)
D H 320C Clinical Dental Hygiene III (8.5 units)
D H 326B Community Dental Health II (2 units)
D H 328B Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory II (2 units)
D H 330 Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Analgesia (1 unit)

Spring
D H 320D Clinical Dental Hygiene IV (8.5 units)
D H 326C Community Dental Health III (2 units)
D H 328C Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory III (2 units)
D H 332 Ethics, Law & Business Practices (3 units)

* Upper Division General Education courses.

Dental Hygiene Bachelor in Science Completion Track

Units: 64

The Dental Hygiene bachelor in science degree completion track broadens the educational experience of licensed dental hygienists who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program by providing a liberal arts and broad-based general education component, including critical thinking, analysis, writing, researching, and reporting. The program will prepare dental hygienists to interact effectively with other health professionals in a competent, collaborative, and ethical manner. The program can be completed in 1-2 years and will award the Bachelor in Science in Dental Hygiene degree upon successful completion of all courses and program requirements. Students will take online upper division coursework focused on developing communication and critical thinking skills necessary for the bachelor degree. Completing the bachelor degree will allow the licensed dental hygienist to pursue career options in education, corporate/industry, research and public health. The completion track is under the pilot program (SB 850), authorized by the State Chancellor's Office.

Units Required for Major: 64 (additional units are required to satisfy prerequisites and general education requirements)

Degree Requirements:

30 units of core courses in dental hygiene and 14 units of upper division general education courses; active and good standing dental hygiene license; and completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).

Foothill College awards 24 units as credit for prior learning for passing the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination, Regional/State Clinical Licensing Examination, and State Law & Ethics Examination.

It is strongly recommended that students meet with a counselor for evaluation of transcripts and to determine if general education pattern has been completed.

Program Application
Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria and application to the program can be found on the Dental Hygiene Program website: foothill.edu/dentalhygiene/completion/

Program Prerequisites:
Associate degree from an accredited two-year community college dental hygiene program.
Active and in good standing Registered Dental Hygiene license (RDH or RDHAP).
Completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).

Core Courses: (64 units*)

Select ONE of the following options (option is selected during the application process):

Option 1: One academic year (must begin in spring quarter)
Spring
IDS 300** Research Methodology for Health Professionals (5 units)
HLTH 300** Health Across the Lifespan (5 units)

Fall
D H 350A Dental Hygiene Research & Capstone Project I (5 units)
D H 352 Health Communication & Cultural Issues (5 units)

Winter
D H 350B Dental Hygiene Research & Capstone Project II (5 units)
D H 356 Education Theory, Practice & Administration (5 units)

Spring
D H 350C Dental Hygiene Research & Capstone Project III (5 units)
D H 354 Health Care Management (5 units)

Option 2: Two academic years (must begin in fall quarter)
FIRST YEAR
Fall
D H 352 Health Communication & Cultural Issues (5 units)

Winter
D H 356 Education Theory, Practice & Administration (5 units)

Spring
D H 354 Health Care Management (5 units)
IDS 300** Research Methodology for Health Professionals (5 units)

SECOND YEAR
Fall
D H 350A Dental Hygiene Research & Capstone Project I (5 units)

Winter
D H 350B Dental Hygiene Research & Capstone Project II (5 units)

Spring
D H 350C Dental Hygiene Research & Capstone Project III (5 units)
HLTH 300** Health Across the Lifespan (5 units)

* Includes Upper Division GE courses and 24 units awarded as credit for prior learning.
** Upper Division General Education courses.

Control Information:
2020-2021 | Status: Approved | Modified: 2020-04-27 15:29:10 | Dept Code: D H