We designed this plan to provide an extensive study of the theory and practice of dental hygiene. It is the only Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program (BSDH) in Arizona. Oral health is an important part of total health and there is increased demand for dental hygiene services in public and private health settings. The program provides many opportunities for students to develop expertise in oral health education and clinical care for underserved populations in northern Arizona.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) This plan is nationally recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA).
Professional dental hygienists with good people skills can make patients feel more comfortable and confident that they're getting the best care. If you like working closely with others and are interested in science, then a career in dental hygiene may be for you.
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene is a four-year program that includes two years of prerequisite course work and two years of professional education. Practice in our 18-chair dental hygiene clinic and five-chair radiographic facility. Our program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association. You will graduate fully prepared to take regional and national board examinations.
Note: If you want to major in Dental Hygiene, you must apply and be accepted to the Department of Dental Hygiene's program in addition to being admitted to the university.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 124 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | STA 270 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
The Northern Arizona University Dental Hygiene Department offers the only Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in the State of Arizona. With a national reputation for educating dental hygiene professionals since its inception in 1973, the program offers a high-quality education. Students complete two years of prerequisite didactic instruction in preparatory areas such as human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology, nutrition, human behavior, and statistics and then apply to the program. Once students enter the program, a strong emphasis is placed on gaining extensive clinical experience. Regular clinic rotations require students to provide dental hygiene care at the NAU Dental Hygiene Clinic, the Hopi Health Care Facility, the Yavapai Apache Dental Clinic, Flagstaff Medical Center, and North Country Healthcare. Faculty connect these field experiences to coursework, so students actively apply their knowledge of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine, Pharmacology, and Periodontics to their work with patients in the clinic. In addition to regular clinical rotations, students must complete a minimum two-week summer externship in a dental public health facility serving American Indian, military, or underserved populations throughout Arizona, in selected sites outside Arizona, or Internationally. Graduates are prepared to practice in diverse settings with special emphasis on rural communities and other underserved populations through a curriculum centered on public health. Their capstone project requires the origination of a public health project that requires exhaustive assessment and planning. Projects are then implemented, and outcomes are evaluated in a final written report. This public health emphasis specifically prepares graduates to write grant proposals and serve in public health administrative roles. The future of dentistry is moving towards the development of a dental therapist; a new Masters prepared dental midlevel provider. Students graduating from NAU's Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene are optimally poised to enter advanced dental therapy programs, work in independent practice, and/or work in affiliated practice.Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Preprofessional Requirements (54 units)
The following must be completed to be eligible to enter the major.
*Of the 12 required General Studies units, at least 6 units must be Inclusive Perspective course units; 3 units Global, 3 units Indigenous Peoples.
Students completing their Mathematics Foundations at NAU should take STA 270.
Note that the prerequisite for STA 270 is a Math Placement Test Result of MTHPLACE 40+, ALEKS 40+; PLACE 46+. Students not receiving those test results must take MAT 114 or higher with a Grade of 'C' or better to meet the prerequisites for STA 270.
All preprofessional requirement courses, General Studies courses, Foundation courses, and Inclusive Perspective courses must be completed with a Grade of 'C' or better, a science GPA of 2.5 or higher (including BIO 181, BIO 201/BIO 201L, BIO 202/BIO 202L, BIO 205/BIO 205L, BIO 320, and CHM 130/CHM 130L or CHM 151/CHM 151L), and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher before entering the program. However, students may apply to the program once 40 units of the preprofessional requirements are completed.
Students are required to complete the dental hygiene milestone, which is acceptance into the dental hygiene program.
Due to a delay in the review and approval of the curriculum by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), an initial curriculum of fewer units was published in the academic catalog in March 2025. Since that time, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) has approved the new curriculum with 4 additional units of credit. Since all students entering the program must enroll in a standard, full-time semester-based cohort, tuition and fee charges, as well as course scheduling, remain the same, even with a small increase in units of credit required since the original curriculum publication.
This major requires 124 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 70 units:
Preprofessional Requirements (54 units)
Professional Requirements (70 units)
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 124 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.