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Dental Hygiene Bachelor's Degree Completion Program

dental hygiene student and teacher

 

Are you looking to further your education as a dental hygienist? Advancement or new options in your career?

Oregon Institute of Technology's online degree completion program enables professional dental hygienists to complete a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. The program integrates dental hygiene, public health, education and management courses with a general education core.

About our Program

Our degree completion program offers you additional education in your profession, advancement or new options in your career, and the bachelor's degree required for entry into master's degree programs.  Many of our students go on to advanced degrees in business, education and more.

You will begin the program with a foundation for degree completion built upon two sources: credit you complete at another college and transfer to Oregon Tech and credit granted for successful completion of the dental hygiene national board examination.  For example, 86 credits are granted for the national exam.  After evaluating your credits and credentials, we work with you to develop an individualized plan to complete your program requirements.  A typical plan is outlined below under Course Requirements.

Who is Eligible?

  1. You must have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program or receive departmental approval prior to enrolling.
  2. You must successfully complete the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination.
  3. You must be licensed or eligible for licensure in the state where you live.
  4. You must meet the Oregon Tech admissions criteria. Special admissions arrangements are also available.

Residents of some states are not eligible for this program. Click here for a list of those states.

Arkansas
Maryland
Minnesota

It may be possible in the future to allow students from these states to be admitted.  Please contact us if you have questions regarding this restriction or are interested in an online program at OIT but reside in one of these states.  Contact by email or phone:  barb.dekalb@oit.edu or 541-885-1142

Course Requirements

Note: You must click the magnifying glass icons or titles below to expand or collapse each requirement section.

Transfer Courses (64 credits)

BIO 105 Microbiology*** 4
BIO 200 Medical Terminology 2
BIO 205 Nutrition 3
BIO 231 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 4
BIO 232 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 4
BIO 233 Human Anatomy & Physiology III 4
CHE 101/104 Elementary Chemistry/Lab*** 4
CHE 102/105 Elementary Chemistry/Lab*** 4
CHE 103/106 Elementary Chemistry/Lab*** 4
CHE 360 Clinical Pharmacology 3
Humanities elective 3
MATH 105 Collegiate Mathematics OR
MATH 111 College Algebra 4
Psychology elective 3
Psychology elective 3
SOC 204 Introduction to Sociology 3
SPE 111 Public Speaking*** 3
WRI 121 English Composition*** 3
WRI 122 Argumentative Writing
3
WRI 123 Research Writing***
   OR
   
WRI 227 Technical Report Writing 3

Courses Granted for Dental Hygiene National Board Exam (86 credits)

DH 100/101 Introduction to Dental Hygiene I and II 2
DH 221/222/223 DH Clinical Practice & Seminar I, II, and III 11
DH 225 Head and Neck Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology 3
DH 240/241/242 Prevention I, II, and III 9
DH 244 General and Oral Pathology 3
DH 252/253 Oral Radiology I and II 5
DH 254 Introduction to Periodontology 1
DH 267 Emergency Procedures 3
DH 275 Dental Ethics 2
DH 321/322/323 DH Clinical Practice & Seminar IV, V, and VI 12
DH 340/341 Prevention IV and V 6
DH 344 Advanced General & Oral Pathology 3
DH 354 Periodontology 3
DH 363 Dental Materials 3
DH 366 Dental Anatomy 2
DH 380 - 381 Community Dental Health I, II 4
DH 421/422/423 DH Clinical Practice & Seminar VII, VIII, IX 14

Degree Completion Courses (54 credits)

AHED 450 Instructional Methods 3
BUS 317 Healthcare Management 3
BUS 331 Personal Finance 3
DH 351 Pain Management I* 2
DH 352 Pain Management II* 3
DH 401 Overview of Advanced Dental Hygiene 3
DH 453 Current Issues in Dental Hygiene 3
DH 454 Dental Practice Management 3
DH 455 Dental Hygiene Research 3
DH 470  Community Program Planning I
DH 471 Community Program Planning II 3
MATH 243 Introductory Statistics 4
SPE 321 Small Group and Team Communication 3
Communication Elective (from General Education list) 3
Dental Hygiene elective (approved by advisor)** 3
Humanities elective 3
Humanities elective 3
Social Science elective 3

*These credits may be granted for additional licensure exams or by individual course transfer.

**AHED 451, 452, 460, DH 480 or others approved by advisor meet this requirement.

***This class is not offered online at Oregon Tech.  We can help you find an appropriate course to transfer from another school.

Registration & Tuition

You will receive complete instructions for registering after you have been admitted.

As a state-supported university, Oregon Tech offers online degree completion programs at affordable rates. There is no out-of-state surcharge for non-Oregon residents. Current information about tuition and fees can be found on the Distance Education web site under Financial Matters. Students who take six credits or more per term may qualify for financial aid.

 

Diana Evans, Student Support Services Coordinator

Office:Boivin - Room 184
Tel:(541) 885.1676 or Toll Free: (866) 497.0008
Fax:541.885.1139
Distance Education Office
Oregon Institute of Technology
3201 Campus Drive
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
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