Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene/Master of Science in Health Studies

This program provides exceptional undergraduate Dental Hygiene majors an avenue toward accelerated completion of a Master's degree in Health Studies with an emphasis in Dental Hygiene. Students in the program complete 6 semester credit hours (SCH) of graduate coursework during their final undergraduate semester that will count toward both their B.S. in Dental Hygiene and M.S. in Health Studies degrees.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

  1. Apply evidence-based dental hygiene implementation measures and evaluate patient outcomes utilizing professional values and ethical principles.
  2. Effectively assess, implement, and evaluate the oral health needs of community-based programs.
  3. Evaluate and analyze scientific literature as a basis for evidence-based practice.

 Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

Spring: October 1

Admission Requirements

To apply to the program, students must

  • be enrolled in the B.S. in Dental Hygiene program at TWU.
  • have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
  • have successfully completed all required coursework to date in the B.S. in Dental Hygiene program.

How to Apply

Students interested in applying to the accelerated program are encouraged to contact the B.S. in Dental Hygiene Program Director prior to applying.

  • Complete the B.S. Dental Hygiene/M.S. Health Studies Accelerated program application
    • Applicants must submit the following materials:
      • A one-page personal statement letter indicating the reasons for pursuing a master's degree
      • Professional resume indicating academic background and relevant experience for graduate study
      • The names and email addresses of two faculty and/or employers who will provide recommendations for graduate school
  • Once admitted by the program, apply to the Graduate School. Students cannot enroll in graduate-level coursework until accepted by the Graduate School.
    • Apply for admission to the M.S. in Health Studies Dental Hygiene emphasis program
      • NOTE: the start date indicated on the graduate application must be for the semester following graduation from the bachelor's degree.

Accelerated Undergraduate-Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to an approved accelerated degree program once they have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester credit hours. Upon admission to an accelerated program, students may enroll in graduate courses for credit once they have attained at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

  • Up to 12 SCH of designated graduate courses may apply to both the Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree program comprised of 45 or fewer SCH; and up to 15 graduate SCH may apply toward both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree program comprised of more than 45 SCH (Master’s, Specialist or Doctoral degree.)
  • Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
  • No undergraduate-level course may count toward a graduate degree.
  • Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Academic components may set higher requirements for their program.
  • Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.
  • Prior to applying to an accelerated degree program, students must have completed a minimum of 15 semester credit hours at Texas Woman's University.

Graduate Application Process

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 121

Major:  63 SCH

Program Code:     CIP Code: 51.06

Texas Core Curriculum

ENG 1013Composition I3
ENG 1023Composition II3
Mathematics3
Life & Physical Sciences6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture3
Creative Arts3
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-18653
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present3
POLS 2013U.S. National Government3
POLS 2023Texas Government3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
CAO: Women's Studies3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics3
Total SCHs42

Courses Required for Major

DH 3112Periodontology I2
DH 3222
DH 3221
Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry
and Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry Lab
3
DH 3312Professionalism and Ethics 2
DH 3323
DH 3341
Orofacial Biology
and Orofacial Biology Lab
4
DH 3401Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Theory1
DH 3402Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Practice2
DH 3413Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice3
DH 3433
DH 3431
Oral Radiology
and Oral Radiology Lab
4
DH 3502Dental Hygiene II2
DH 3511Clinical Dental Hygiene II Theory1
DH 3512Clinical Dental Hygiene II Practice2
DH 3542Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist2
DH 4301Clinical Dental Hygiene III Theory1
DH 4303Clinical Dental Hygiene III Practice3
DH 4313Community Oral Health3
DH 4341Advanced Periodontology Lab1
DH 4342Periodontal Disease II2
DH 4412Dental Hygiene III2
DH 4431Community Oral Health Practicum1
DH 4443Dental Hygiene Care for Special Needs3
DH 4451
DH 4461
Dental Materials
and Dental Materials Lab
2
DH 4551Senior Seminar1
DH 4561Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Theory1
DH 4563Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Practice3
DH 4713Applied Evidence-based Research3
DH 4723General and Oral Pathology3
HS 5723Health Care in a Culture of Poverty3
HS 5763Alternative Dental Health Careers3
Total SCHs63

Departmental Requirements

BACT 1003
BACT 1001
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory
4
Any upper level CHEM lecture course3
Any upper level CHEM lab course1
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I3
NFS 2323Introduction to Nutrition3
ZOOL 2013
ZOOL 2011
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
4
ZOOL 2023
ZOOL 2021
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
4
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology3
SOCI 1413Culture, Inequality, and Self3
or SOCI 1013 Introductory Sociology
Total SCHs28

Retention Criteria 

Students must meet all of the following requirements in order to continue in the program.

  • A minimum grade of C is required for all dental hygiene courses. No credit will be awarded toward the major for a grade of D or F.
  • Students receiving a grade of D or F in a course will be placed on academic probation and must retake the course and earn a grade of C or better in order to graduate from the Dental Hygiene program. Students earning two grades lower than a C, whether in the same course or different courses, will be dismissed from the program.
  • Students must maintain professional and academic integrity at all times and must abide by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners ethics policy and the American Dental Hygienists' Association Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice, university, college, department, and program codes of ethics/conduct and policies and procedures while in the program. Any act deemed unethical or unprofessional by the Promotion Committee may result in sanctions for the student including academic probation or dismissal from the program.
  • Immunizations: Students must submit documentation showing that all required immunizations are current to Student Health Services at TWU. Immunizations must also remain current throughout enrollment. Without immunizations, students will not be able to participate in required externships, clinical rotations or client interactions on campus.

  • Background check:  Before beginning the dental hygiene program a criminal background check is required. The background checks are conducted by a third party at the student's expense. In addition, some externships and clinical rotation sites require additional background checks that students are responsible to complete at their expense. Inability to participate in clinical experiences will hinder or preclude a students from either entering into or continuing tin the program.

    • Students who have had a conviction or deferred adjudication for a felony or misdemeanor offence (not a traffic ticker) should contact the dental board to determine whether or not they will be eligible for licenser. Also note that the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners requires naturalization papers, driver's license, or passport in order to apply for dental hygiene licensure.

  • Drug Screening:  A drug screening is required before beginning the program. Most externships and all clinical rotation sites also require drug screenings. Drug screening is facilitated through TWU Student Health Services at the student's expense. Any student with a non-negative drug screen result or any students who refuses the test will not be admitted into the dental hygiene program or will be dismissed from the program if enrolled.

 Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
FallTCCNSCHs
ENG 1013Composition I ENGL 13013
MATH 1703Elementary Statistics I MATH 13423
ZOOL 2013
ZOOL 2011
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
BIOL 2401
& BIOL 2101
4
Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core2
UNIV 1231Learning Frameworks: First-Year Seminar EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 13001
 SCHs 13
SpringTCCN
PSY 1013Introduction to General Psychology PSYC 23013
SOCI 1413Culture, Inequality, and Self 3
ENG 1023Composition II ENGL 13023
HIST 1013History of the United States, 1492-1865 HIST 13013
BACT 1003
BACT 1001
Microbiology
and Microbiology Laboratory
BIOL 2420
& BIOL 2120
4
 SCHs 16
Second Year
FallTCCN
ZOOL 2023
ZOOL 2021
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
BIOL 2402
& BIOL 2102
4
NFS 2323Introduction to Nutrition BIOL 13223
POLS 2013U.S. National Government GOVT 23053
HIST 1023History of the United States, 1865 to the Present HIST 13023
 SCHs 13
SpringTCCN
CHEM 1013
CHEM 1011
Introductory Chemistry
and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 1305
& CHEM 1106
4
POLS 2023Texas Government GOVT 23063
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core3
Creative Arts Core Course3
Multicultural Woman's Studies CAO Core3
 SCHs 16
SummerTCCN
DH 3323Orofacial Biology 3
DH 3341Orofacial Biology Lab 1
DH 3312Professionalism and Ethics 2
 SCHs 6
Third Year
FallTCCN
DH 3401Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Theory 1
DH 3402Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Practice 2
DH 3112Periodontology I 2
DH 3413Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice 3
DH 3433
DH 3431
Oral Radiology
and Oral Radiology Lab
4
 SCHs 12
SpringTCCN
DH 3222
DH 3221
Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry
and Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry Lab
3
DH 3502Dental Hygiene II 2
DH 3511Clinical Dental Hygiene II Theory 1
DH 3512Clinical Dental Hygiene II Practice 2
DH 3542Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist 2
DH 4451Dental Materials 1
DH 4461Dental Materials Lab 1
 SCHs 12
SummerTCCN
DH 4443Dental Hygiene Care for Special Needs 3
DH 4723General and Oral Pathology 3
 SCHs 6
Fourth Year
FallTCCN
DH 4301Clinical Dental Hygiene III Theory 1
DH 4303Clinical Dental Hygiene III Practice 3
DH 4313Community Oral Health 3
DH 4342
DH 4341
Periodontal Disease II
and Advanced Periodontology Lab
3
DH 4412Dental Hygiene III 2
DH 4713Applied Evidence-based Research 3
 SCHs 15
SpringTCCN
HS 5763Alternative Dental Health Careers 3
HS 5723Health Care in a Culture of Poverty 3
DH 4431Community Oral Health Practicum 1
DH 4551Senior Seminar 1
DH 4561Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Theory 1
DH 4563Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Practice 3
 SCHs 12
 Total SCHs:  121