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IPFW Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletins for

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    Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
   
 
  Nov 22, 2009
 
 
    
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Dental Hygiene (A.S.)

Program: A.S. in Dental Hygiene
Department of Dental Education
College of Health and Human Services

Neff Hall 150 ~ 260-481-6837 ~ www.ipfw.edu/dental

The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

  • Demonstrate breadth of knowledge in principles of social sciences, basic and dental sciences.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in assessing, planning, treating, and evaluating oral conditions and diseases.
  • Interpret, evaluate and contribute to current dental research and apply that knowledge to demonstrate dental hygiene skills necessary for life-long learning.
  • Demonstrate the highest levels of personal integrity and professional ethics in the delivery of dental hygiene services.
  • Promote the dental hygiene profession through service learning activities, affiliations with professional organizations, and partnerships with the community.
  • Design, implement, and evaluate community oral health programs appropriate for the diverse, multicultural communities in northeastern Indiana.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to be responsible dental professionals and leaders in local, regional, national, and international organizations and communities.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking, reasoning, questioning, and decision-making skills.
  • Demonstrate the written, oral, and multimedia skills necessary to communicate effectively in diverse professional and educational settings for multicultural audiences. 

This program involves one year of prerequisite courses and two years of dental hygiene courses. The program offers a full-time curriculum that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

An A.S. in Dental Hygiene prepares the student for a career as a dental-health professional who specializes in educational, preventive, and therapeutic oral healthcare. The program combines didactic, laboratory, and clinical courses. Graduates are eligible to take national, state, and regional licensing examinations. Dental hygienists who graduate with an associate degree can work in private dental offices, dental clinics and hospitals, public health facilities, and dental research facilities.

Admission

Admission to the Dental Hygiene program is limited and competitive, and admission to IPFW does not confer acceptance to the Dental Hygiene program. To be admitted to the A.S. program, prospective dental hygiene students must first be admitted to IPFW, complete the prerequisite courses listed below (or equivalent courses at another accredited college or university), then apply separately to the Dental Hygiene program. Applications for acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program MUST BE received by February 1, for admission into the program in the following fall semester.

Applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher for these prerequisite courses. Meeting the minimum GPA does NOT guarantee a position in the program. Applicants are ranked and accepted each year based on their prerequisite GPA. Therefore, the GPA necessary for admission varies each year with the applicant pool. Admission is competitive and an overall GPA of at least 3.6 or higher is recommended. 

Prerequisite Courses

To apply for the A.S. in dental hygiene program, you must complete the following prerequisite courses by May 25 of the application year with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher:

  • Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C-” or better. Courses graded on a pass/fail option will not be considered.
  • Required courses may be repeated only one time, with the most recent grade used in the prerequisite GPA calculation.
  • Credits in human anatomy and physiology and chemistry must be completed within five years of admission to the professional program. Credits in English composition, speech, psychology, and sociology will be accepted for 10 years. Outdated courses must be retaken.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses in English and psychology are acceptable, if AP scores are 4.0 or higher. No other AP courses will be accepted.
  • Transfer courses accepted by IPFW as “undistributed” must be evaluated by the applicable department (i.e. chemistry or biology) before they are accepted as prerequisite courses.

Total Credits: 26

Class Selection Process

Special Academic Regulations

Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program is contingent upon an applicant’s ability to meet the following additional requirements:

  • Demonstrate compliance with the College of Health and Human Services Technical Standards.
  • Successful completion of a specified background check at student’s expense.
  • Submit military discharge papers, if applicable.
  • Complete Special Academic Regulations for Students in Dental Hygiene as listed in Dental Education Part 5  .

University Preference

Priority consideration will be given to students who have completed the required pre-dental hygiene courses at IPFW or another Indiana University or Purdue University campus.

Program Requirements

After acceptance into the program, you must fulfill the requirements of IPFW (see Part 8 ) and Dental Education (Part 4), and satisfactorily complete the following courses:

NOTE: It is recommended that microbiology (BIOL 220) be completed prior to beginning the Dental Hygiene program. Microbiology taken more than five years prior to admission into the professional program must be retaken.

Total Credits: 61

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