Associate of Applied Science | 89 credits minimum, including prerequisites

Allied Health Division
Jordan Campus
Program Office & Phone, HTC 110, (801) 957-6074
www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene
Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advising, Jordan Campus, JHS 047, (801) 957- 6215
Health Science Admissions, JHS 065, (801) 957-6363

Program Faculty:
Program Manager
Assistant Professors - Renee Mendenhall, RDH, MBA, and Jeanie Allen, RDH, BS

Program Description: The Dental Hygiene Program offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree which prepares graduates to practice entry level dental hygiene. Dental hygienists provide preventive and therapeutic health care services including oral health assessment & education, pit & fissure sealants, fluoride treatments, oral prophylaxis and advanced periodontal therapy; in addition to public dental health services.

Upon administrative approval, second-year SLCC dental hygiene students are eligible to take examinations required for licensure in all fifty states, including the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and state or regional clinical examinations, such as the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB).

Career Opportunities: Dental hygienists may secure employment in a variety of settings, including private dental offices and clinics, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, public health facilities and other government agencies. Due to the unique nature of the profession, dental hygienists enjoy a flexible work schedule ideal for balancing career and lifestyle needs.

Program Entry Requirements:

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

NOTE: See the dental hygiene webpage for essential information regarding completion of admission criteria at www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

1. Be admitted to SLCC as a matriculated student. See www.slcc.edu/students-future/admissions
2. High School Graduate or equivalent.
3. For transfer credit, submit OFFICIAL, SEALED transcripts for ALL colleges and universities where prerequisite course work has been completed. Send to:

SLCC Office of the Registrar and Academic Records
4600 South Redwood Road
P.O Box 30808
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0808 

4. Also, a request to have an OFFICIAL evaluation of student’s transcript must be submitted to the SLCC Transfer Evaluation Office. The form is located at: www.slcc.edu/transcriptevaluation/transferring-to-slcc. This process may take 4-6 weeks and must be completed before a student’s application will be considered.

5. Required Prerequisite coursework are listed below. Final pre-requisite courses can be in progress when submitting an application. Final grades will be checked at the end of the semester with the noted grade requirements/conditions:

• All BIOL and CHEM courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C+ or higher
• All other prerequisite courses listed below must be completed with a minimum of grade of C or higher, AND
• All science prerequisites must have been completed within the last five years

BIOL 2060 - Microbiology  BIOL 2065 - Microbiology Lab  BIOL 2320 - Human Anatomy  BIOL 2325 - Human Anatomy Lab  BIOL 2420 - Human Physiology  BIOL 2425 - Human Physiology Lab  CHEM 1110 - Elementary Chemistry  CHEM 1115 - Elementary Chemistry Lab  ENGL 1010 - Intro to Writing (EN)  MATH 1010 - Intermediate Algebra (QS)  COMM 1010 - Elements of Eff. Comm (CM,IN)  HLTH 1020 - Foundations of Nutrition  SOC 1010 - Intro to Sociology (SS)  PSY 1010 - General Psychology (SS)

Note: It is the student’s responsibility to examine each course description for details of other prerequisite classes. Those prerequisites must be satisfied before the designated program prerequisite course may be taken.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

See the Dental Hygiene webpage for essential information regarding completion of application requirements http://www.slcc.edu/dentalhygiene/index.aspx

The clinical placement agencies make the final determination about accepting students for placement in their facility, and may decline to have students placed at their facility, based on the criminal background record of the student. The latter may cause the student not to be able to complete all of the program requirements.

In addition, it will be the responsibility of the student to contact the licensing agency and seek advice regarding eligibility for licensure and requirements needed to progress in this profession, if the criminal background check discloses issues of concern.

PROGRAM STIPULATIONS

SAFETY
Applicants who are enrolled in the SLCC dental hygiene program will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens and infectious diseases. The program strictly adheres to established policies and procedures regarding infection control as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

LICENSURE
Admission to or graduation from the SLCC Dental Hygiene Program does NOT guarantee the ability to obtain a license to practice dental hygiene. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of the board of dentistry in each state. In order to practice dental hygiene, students must satisfy the requirements of individual state dental practice acts independently of any college or program requirements. Many states, including Utah, require background information prior to licensing candidates to practice dental hygiene; therefore, it is highly recommended that applicants consult in advance with the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL), or similar agencies in other states, regarding eligibility for licensure. DOPL can be reached at 801-530-6628 or http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/dentistry.html.

CLINICAL PLACEMENT
Students accepted into the dental hygiene program must meet the same health and safety requirements that its clinical rotation facility providers require of their own employees. These facilities make the final determination regarding student acceptance for placement and may decline it based on the criminal background record, which may then preclude completion of program requirements. It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek advice regarding the status of their eligibility for clinical placement if their criminal background check discloses any areas of concern.

Total Program/Course Fees: Estimated $20,000; not including pre-requisite courses.

Estimated Time to Completion: Core Program requires two academic years, Summers are not included. Additional time is required to complete prerequisites and AAS Gen Ed requirements.

Specialized Accreditation: The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education) provides accreditation for the degree of Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene at SLCC.

Program Student Learning Outcomes	Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
	1 - Substantive Knowledge 2 - Communicate Effectively 3 - Develop Quantitative Literacy 4 - Think Critically 5 - Civic Engagement and/or Working Professionally 6 - Work Professionally and Constructively 7 - Develop Computer and Information Literacy
Initiate and participate in community oral health programs.	2, 4, 5, 6
Successfully complete the National Board Dental Examinations and regional/state dental hygiene licensure board examinations.	1, 2, 3,4, 5
Utilize the Dental Hygiene Process of Care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to positively affect the oral health status and behavior of individuals and groups.	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Communicate effectively with patients, peers & faculty in both verbal and written forms.	1, 2, 3, 6, 7
Utilize critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.	1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7