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BS DENT HYG - Dental Hygiene (BS)

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SOD-Dental Hygiene (Academic_Department) ACADEMIC_LEVEL_UNDERGRADUATE

Program Title

Dental Hygiene (BS)

Default Credentials

BS - Bachelor of Science

Program Description

The UMMC School of Dentistry's Dental Hygiene department offers an entry-level, traditional baccalaureate degree program for students who plan to earn a dental hygiene license. Upon completion of the five-semester, 22-month face-to-face program, students earn a bachelor of science degree and are prepared to apply for and obtain a dental hygiene license. During the first year at the Medical Center, students study basic and dental sciences and dental hygiene theory and techniques. In the second year, emphasis is on clinical experience and application of dental hygiene procedures.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the admission standards of the institution and the general admission requirements of the School of Dentistry, candidates seeking admission to the Dental Hygiene's entry-level traditional program must:

  1. Have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours of academic credit (exclusive of physical education, military science, dogmatic religion and vocational courses) from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning;

  2. Have a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on 4.00 scale;

  3. Have completed 8 hours observation of a licensed or registered dental hygienist in two separate clinical environments;

  4. Complete an interview, submit a resume, and participate in a hands-on dexterity test;

  5. Submit ACT scores;

  6. Have completed 12 hours of the science prerequisite courses* and 24 hours of the non-science courses prior to the February 1 application deadline to the program; and,

  7. Have successfully completed (a grade of C or better) the following minimum prerequisite number of required courses below:

Prerequisite Courses

Number of Courses

Semester Hours

English Composition

2

6

General Biology or Zoology with Lab

1

4

General Chemistry with Lab

2

8

College Algebra

1

3

Fine Arts

1

3

General Psychology

1

3

Intro to Sociology

1

3

Speech

1

3

Humanities

2

6

Anatomy and Physiology with Lab **

2

8

Microbiology with Lab

1

4

Nutrition

1

3

Abnormal, Adolescent/Child, Educational or Developmental Psychology

1

3

Medical Terminology

1

3

Total Prerequisites

60

*One course in anatomy plus 1 course in physiology or anatomy and physiology combined for two courses

**Online Science Courses - Effective Fall 2025, online science courses will no longer be accepted to satisfy pre-requisites for the Dental Hygiene program. Online courses taken between Spring 2024 and Spring 2025 are acceptable to satisfy pre-requisites. Special consideration will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE

All application documents and application fees must be received by the Office of Enrollment Management by February 1st. In-person interviews are by invitation only for qualified applicants and are held the first Friday of March. General application information may be found in the General Application Procedures section of the School of Dentistry in the UMMC Bulletin.

The following criteria are utilized in selecting students to the Dental Hygiene program:

  1. GPA

  2. ACT

  3. Interview and Resume submission

  4. Completed required courses

  5. Observation form

Degree Requirements

DEGREE COMPLETION

Candidates for the dental hygiene degree must have completed the prescribed curriculum with an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better on a 4.00 scale on all work at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Following satisfactory completion of all requirements, students will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of Mississippi and are eligible to apply to challenge national and state or regional board clinical examinations for licensure as a registered dental hygienist. A degree cannot be granted unless the student has spent the equivalent of at least one full academic year in residency; earned a minimum of 30 semester hours of residence credits; and completed the required course of study in the School of Dentistry with the appropriate overall cumulative grade point average on all work at the University of Mississippi Medical Center:

PROGRAM OF STUDY

Junior (DH3) Year - Fall

Semester Hours

DH 302

Principles and Practice I

2

DH 305

Dental Hygiene Instrumentation

2

DH 309

Dental Anatomy

2

DH 312

Preventive Oral Health

3

DH 315

Oral Histology and Embryology

1

DH 321

Head & Neck Anatomy

2

DH 332

Scientific Foundations

3

15

Junior (DH3) Year – Spring

DH 313

Radiology

4

DH 316

Pathophysiology

3

DH 317

Medical Emergencies

2

DH 323

Methods of Patient Care

3

DH 331

Periodontics I

1

13

Senior (DH4) Year – Summer

DH 326

Principles and Practice II

2

DH 327

Patient Care I

2

DH 407

Pharmacology I

1

DH 420

Pain and Anxiety Management

2

DH 425

Periodontics II

1

8

Senior (DH4) Year - Fall

DH 405

Patient Care II

3

DH 406

Dental Public Health I

1

DH 408

Pharmacology II

2

DH 416

Oral Pathology I

1

DH 417

Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene

1

DH 418

Principles & Practice III

2

DH 423

Biomaterials in Dentistry

2

12

Senior (DH4) Year - Spring

DH 409

Dental Public Health II

3

DH 431

Periodontics III

1

DH 433

Patient Care III

4

DH 444

Practice Management and Specialties

2

DH 446

Case Studies

1

DH 449

Oral Pathology II

1

12

Total Required Hours

60

For more information about this program, contact:

Elizabeth O. Carr, DHA, RDH
Email: ecarr@umc.edu
Phone: (601) 984-6060