College of Health and Human Services
Department of Dental Hygiene
Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Overview
In addition to University Requirements:
- 51 units of preprofessional requirements.
- 69 units of major requirements.
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion |
120 |
| 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 |
Not Available |
| 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
- Patient Care
- Provide oral health care and case management for a diverse population.
- Systematically collect and analyze data on the general, oral, and psychosocial health status of a variety of individuals including a comprehensive exam and interpretation of appropriate diagnostic information including radiographic, periodontal, and other data needed to assess the patient's needs.
- Use critical decision-making based on assessment data to reach conclusions about oral health needs to determine the dental hygiene diagnosis and need for care coordination.
- Collaborate with patients and other health professionals to formulate individualized comprehensive dental hygiene care plans.
- Perform preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene interventions.
- Determine the effectiveness of dental hygiene interventions and provide appropriate follow-up care and/or health maintenance.
- Improving Health in Individuals and Communities
- Promote the values of oral and general health and wellness.
- Respect the goals, values, beliefs, and preferences of others.
- Assess community oral health needs and resources.
- Plan community-based oral health programs.
- Implement community-based oral health programs.
- Evaluate outcomes of health promotion and disease prevention activities.
- Core Competencies:
- Demonstrate professional, ethical, and legal behavior.
- Use critical thinking and problem-solving in the provision of evidence-based practice.
- Provide dental hygiene care based on accepted scientific theories and the current standard of care that is humane, empathetic, and caring.
- Perform self-assessment for life-long learning and professional growth.
- Act as a change agent to improve community oral health and/or advance the profession through service activities and affiliations with professional organizations.
- Communicate effectively with individuals and groups from diverse populations.
More Information