Dental Hygienist
Associate in Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene (AAS_DHYG)
Occupational Title: Dental Hygienist
Flanagan Campus, Lincoln only
This program is accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611.
The dental hygienist is a licensed professional who provides primary preventive dental
services to patients in a wide variety of settings. Students in this program attend
lecture and laboratory classes and provide treatment in a modern, state-of-the-art
dental hygiene clinic at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. This course of study prepares
students for board examinations required for dental hygiene licensure. Participation
in the dental hygiene program exposes students to infectious diseases, bloodborne
pathogens and ionizing radiation.
Technical Standards: The physical activity (strength) level for dental hygienist (078.361-010) is classified
as “light” by the Department of Labor in The Dictionary of Occupational Titles.
Note: Many courses require prerequisites and/or testing. See course descriptions for details.
CCRI also offers a Dental Assisting certificate program, see this page for details.
GENERAL POLICIES
See important general policies in the beginning of this section on the performance-based Health Sciences application process, academic progress,
advanced placement, background check, CPR certification, health insurance, health
records, reinstatement, transportation, uniforms, and equipment.
Minimum requirements needed to apply to the Dental Hygiene program
- CCRI application – Submit a completed CCRI Application for Enrollment. General Studies should be first
choice; DHYG should be second choice.
- High school transcript – Send an official copy of a transcript from an accredited high school or GED® certification,
including date of graduation or, if the applicant holds a baccalaureate degree from
an accredited college/university, the high school transcript may be waived; college
transcript must indicate completion and degree awarded.
- Placement testing – Complete a standardized test (ACCUPLACER) issued by CCRI's Department of Advising
and Counseling. Students may retake the ACCUPLACER test once before completing any
remedial course(s).
- Reading comprehension test (waived for students with a Bachelor's degree or higher) Score of 80 or above in Classic
Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension or score of 253 or above in Next Generation
Accuplacer is required in Reading Comprehension or students must complete ENGL 0890:
Critical Reading with a grade of "B-" or better or 0950: Integrated Critical Reading
and Writing.
- Math – Demonstrate competency by placing into MATH 0101 with a test score of 75 or above
for the classic ACCUPLACER algebra section, or a score of 256 or above on the Next-Generation
Accuplacer is required for Math (Quantitative, Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics),
or completion of MATH 0101: Foundations of College Algebra with a grade of "C" or
better. The entry course for MATH 0101 is MATH 0095. The following courses will substitute
for MATH 0101:1025,1139,1175,1240,1241,2077, 2110,2111,2138,2141,2142 or 2243.
- English (writing) test must show readiness to take ENGL 1010: Composition I or applicant must have completed
ENGL 1005: College Writing with a grade of "C" or better. ENGL 1300 will not substitute
for ENGL 1010.
- Complete courses required for admission with a grade of C or better:
- CHEM 1010 - Survey of Biomedical Chemistry (Chemistry placement testing is required
prior to enrolling in CHEM 1010.)
- DENT 1000 - Introduction to Dental Health
- BIOL 1010 - Human Anatomy or BIOL 2201: Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIOL 1020 - Human Physiology or BIOL 2202: Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- GPA – A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for all college courses taken.
All science courses must have earned a final course grade of "C" or better. If not,
the science course(s) must be repeated.
- All the above requirements must be completed satisfactorily BEFORE submission of performance-based
Health Sciences application and do not guarantee acceptance to the program. Students
declining acceptance into the program for the semester offered must resubmit a performance-based
Health Sciences application for the program and meet the current admission requirements
for the application period in which they reapply. Once accepted into Dental Hygiene,
the student must attend a mandatory orientation conducted by the Dental Health Department.
- Health Sciences application – Submit a completed performance-based Health Sciences application including a preadmission
degree evaluation. Deadlines are listed on form.
- BCI – Conditionally accepted students are required to submit a background check when
directed by notification from Enrollment Services. Results of BCI may prevent admission
due to clinical agencies requirements.
Program Requirements
- Students must complete all BIOL, CHEM, and DENT 1000 with a grade of C or better.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better is required at the end of each semester
to proceed in the program.
- General education courses in the Dental Hygiene curriculum may be taken prior to the
semester recommended. BIOL 2210 must be taken prior to or during the second semester.
- Program faculty reserve the right to dismiss any student from the program or refuse
reinstatement based on academic, clinical or professional performance.
- All science courses must be completed with a grade of C or better or the course(s)
must be repeated.
- Students must complete all DHYG and DENT courses with a grade of C+ or better.
Readmission
Any student who leaves the program for any reason may apply for readmission in a subsequent
year. Such application must be made by letter to the program director and must be
received by Oct. 15 or March 15 preceding the semester for which readmission is sought.
Consideration for possible readmission will be by concurrence of the Dental Hygiene
Readmittance Committee and the program director who will review each request individually.
There is no guarantee that a student will be readmitted to the Dental Hygiene program.
A student may be readmitted to the Dental Hygiene program only once and must comply
with the recommendations of the Dental Hygiene Readmittance Committee and the program
director.
These recommendations may include but are not limited to:
- reinstatement on a space available basis;
- reinstatement that may include repeating any previously completed clinical courses;
- reinstatement that may include repeating or auditing any previously completed didactic
courses;
- denial of reinstatement with no further consideration for readmission.
RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCE
PREADMISSION Requirements
These courses must be taken prior to program admission.
PREADMISSION Requirements
COURSE NO. |
COURSE TITLE |
COURSE NOTES |
CREDITS |
BIOL 1010 or BIOL 2201 |
Human Anatomy OR Human Anatomy & Physiology I
|
|
4 |
BIOL 1020 or BIOL 2202 |
Human Physiology OR Human Anatomy & Physiology II
|
|
4 |
CHEM 1010 |
Survey of Biomedical Chemistry |
|
5 |
DENT 1000 |
Introduction to Dental Health Careers |
Course must be taken prior to admission. |
2 |
Total PREADMISSION Requirements Credits 15
General Education Requirements
COURSE NO. |
COURSE TITLE |
COURSE NOTES |
CREDITS |
BIOL 2210 |
Introductory Microbiology |
BIOL 2210 must be taken prior to or during second semester |
4 |
ENGL 1010 |
Composition I |
|
3 |
PSYC 2010 |
General Psychology |
|
4 |
SOCS 1010 |
General Sociology |
|
3 |
COMM 1100 |
Public Speaking |
|
3 |
Total General Education Requirements Credits 17
Total General Education Credits (including preadmission) 30
Total Major Requirements Credits 49
Total Program Credits 81