Health and Life Sciences Majors at IUPUI

Undergraduate Majors : Dental Hygiene (Associate degree) and Public Health Dental Hygience (Bachelor degree)

Description

The Associate of Science program in dental hygiene is a full-time program that is two academic years in length and is composed of a core curriculum of 27 courses presented over four semesters and one summer session. All courses are mandatory. The curriculum supports attainment of the following list of competencies expected of a dental hygienist entering the profession.

The Bachelor of Science program in Public Health Dental Hygiene provides an opportunity for graduate dental hygienists to develop further expertise in public health methods or dental hygiene education and includes application of practical experience. It is a degree-completion program and may be completed on a part-time basis. Pre-requisites include completion of 90 semester hours, graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program, satisfactory completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and current licensure as a dental hygienist.

Students in this program complete a total of 32 semester hours of course work, including five courses composing the required core curriculum. In addition to the core courses, students must complete 9 semester hours of elective coursework in a chosen focus area (e.g., basic sciences, education, behavioral sciences).

The program's objectives are designed to provide students with the education and skills to:

perform dental hygiene services in a variety of settings (e.g. private dental practice, public health clinics, school systems, institutions and hospitals
design, implement, and evaluate effective preventive dental health programs for individuals and for groups in such settings as schools, hospitals, institutions and community programs;
serve as a resource person and work in cooperation with other health personnel in assessing health care needs and providing health care services to the public;
plan, implement, and evaluate effective teaching methodologies in an educational setting;
supervise the teaching of dental hygiene services in a clinical/public health setting;
prepare for admission to graduate programs;
continue their professional education and personal growth

An application and further information about the Bachelor of Science program in Public Health Dental Hygiene can be obtained from the Director of the Dental Hygiene Program. Address communications in writing to Director, Dental Hygiene Program, Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5186. You may also call the Dental Hygiene office at 317-274-7801 for more information about the Bachelor of Science degree program.

Admissions Criteria

Prerequisites for the Associates Degree Program

REQUIRED COLLEGE COURSES: One semester of each of the following:

English Composition
Elementary Chemistry with Laboratory (a minimum of four (4) semester hours)
Human Anatomy (a minimum of three (3) semester hours)
Human Physiology (a minimum of three (3) semester hours)
Microbiology with laboratory (a minimum of four (4) semester hours – the microbiology course must include immunology)
Introductory Psychology
Introductory Sociology
Public Speaking
Two Arts and Humanites Courses (Examples: liturature, foreign language,history, philosophy.)

Eligibility Requirements:

A minimum college cumulative GPA of 2.50
A minimum science (elementary chemistry lecture and lab, microbiology lecture and lab, human anatomy and physiology) prerequisite GPA of 2.70.
All required science courses must have been completed within the past (7) seven years
All perequisite courses listed above must be complete by the end of the spring semester of the year in which students wish to enter the program.
Personal Statement
Observation at two (2) separate Dental Offices for a minimum of 8 hours total
Completion of Dental Hygiene Applicant Orientation

Application Procedures

IUPUI Transfer Application Form - Applicants currently attending another college or university (this does not include applicants attending an IU campus) must submit an IUPUI transfer application. The online IUPUI transfer application requires payment of a $50.00 application fee using a credit card at the time of submission. You must send official college transcripts directly to the IUPUI Admissions Office. Updated official transcripts must be sent to the IUPUI Admissions Office at the end of each semester/quarter of coursework.
DH ON-LINE Application APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1. Note when applying online you will need to have your college transcript(s) available to enter all college course work you have completed and plan to complete. If college courses are not entered your application will not be considered. *The Student Records and Admissions Office will notify applicants by email as to the status of their application and additional information that may be required.
Official College Transcripts: All applicants must send one official college transcript from every college/university attended to the IUSD Student Records and Admissions Office. Updated official transcripts must be sent at the end of each semester/quarter of coursework.
Dental Assisting Transcript Applicants who have or are attending a Dental Assisting program must send one official transcript from the program (if the dental assisting grades are not included on college transcript).
Dental Hygiene Personal Statement: The personal statement is included as part of the online application and is required upon submitting the application. Please explain why you chose to pursue a career in dental hygiene and how you have prepared for this field. Describe any accomplishments you achieved, obstacles you cleared, or challenges you overcame that impacted your preparation for the dental hygiene program. Please limit your statement to 500 words.
Dental Hygiene Practice Observation Documentation: All applicants are required to observe practicing dental hygienists a minimum of 8 hours in two different practice settings. Each dental hygienist must document your observation by providing the following information on their office letterhead: your name, date and time of observation and their signature. The IUSD Student Records and Admissions Office must receive this documentation by the 1st of April.
Completion of the Required Dental Hygiene Applicant Orientation: Applicants to the program must either attend the In-house orientation or complete the online orientation. Registration forms will be emailed to you after your application has been reviewed. Return the completed form indicating your orientation preference to the Student Records and Admissions Office. Spring grades must arrive in the IUSD Student Record and Admissions Office (DS 105) no later

Admission Criteria for the Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health Dental Hygiene

Prerequisites to the Public Health Dental Hygiene Program include:

Completion of 90 semester hours
Graduation from an accredited Dental Hygiene program
Satisfactory completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
Current licensure as a Dental Hygienist

What can you do with this major?

The dental hygienist is a member of the dental health team who provides educational, preventive and therapeutic oral health services. Employment opportunities may be available in private dental practice, hospitals, public health agencies, educational institutions, and research. A Bachelor of Science degree in public health dental hygiene is offered for dental hygienists who desire career options such as: public health, teaching, research, business and marketing. This degree is awarded upon completion of an additional 32 credit hours beyond the Associate of Science degree.

Experiential Learning:

Students in the Dental Hygiene program begin practicing in the clinics in the second semester of the program and continue to practice throughout the remainder of the program.