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."
- Apply evidence-based dental hygiene implementation measures and evaluate patient outcomes utilizing professional values and ethical principles.
- Effectively assess, implement, and evaluate the oral health needs of community-based programs.
- 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
- Applicants must submit the following materials:
- 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.
- Apply for admission to the M.S. in Health Studies Dental Hygiene emphasis program
Accelerated Graduate Program Policy Guidelines
Students may apply to the accelerated graduate degree program once they have attained advanced junior standing with at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours (SCH). Upon admission to an accelerated program, students with senior standing (90 earned SCH) may enroll in graduate courses for credit. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.
Conditions
- Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
- Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. The program may set higher GPA requirements as outlined on their TWU graduate program website at the time of graduate application.
- 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.
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
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| DH 3112 | Periodontology I | 2 |
| DH 3222 & DH 3221 | Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry and Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry Lab | 3 |
| DH 3312 | Professionalism and Ethics | 2 |
| DH 3323 & DH 3341 | Orofacial Biology and Orofacial Biology Lab | 4 |
| DH 3401 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Theory | 1 |
| DH 3402 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Practice | 2 |
| DH 3413 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice | 3 |
| DH 3433 & DH 3431 | Oral Radiology and Oral Radiology Lab | 4 |
| DH 3502 | Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DH 3511 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II Theory | 1 |
| DH 3512 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II Practice | 2 |
| DH 3542 | Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist | 2 |
| DH 4301 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III Theory | 1 |
| DH 4303 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III Practice | 3 |
| DH 4313 | Community Oral Health | 3 |
| DH 4341 | Periodontology II Lab | 1 |
| DH 4342 | Periodontal Disease II | 2 |
| DH 4412 | Dental Hygiene III | 2 |
| DH 4431 | Community Oral Health Practicum | 1 |
| DH 4443 | Dental Hygiene Care for Special Needs | 3 |
| DH 4451 & DH 4461 | Dental Materials and Dental Materials Lab | 2 |
| DH 4551 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| DH 4561 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Theory | 1 |
| DH 4563 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Practice | 3 |
| DH 4713 | Applied Evidence-based Research | 3 |
| DH 4723 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| HS 5723 | Health Care in a Culture of Poverty | 3 |
| HS 5763 | Alternative Dental Health Careers | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 63 | |
Departmental Requirements
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| BACT 1003 & BACT 1001 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| Any upper level CHEM lecture course | 3 | |
| Any upper level CHEM lab course | 1 | |
| MATH 1703 | Elementary Statistics I | 3 |
| NFS 2323 | Introduction to Nutrition | 3 |
| 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 1013 | Introduction to General Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI 1413 | Culture, Inequality, and Self | 3 |
| or SOCI 1013 | Introductory Sociology | |
| Total SCHs | 28 | |
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| MATH 1703 | Elementary Statistics I | MATH 1342 | 3 |
| ZOOL 2013 & ZOOL 2011 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | BIOL 2401 & BIOL 2101 | 4 |
| Wellness/Mathematics CAO Core | 2 | ||
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| SCHs | 13 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| PSY 1013 | Introduction to General Psychology | PSYC 2301 | 3 |
| SOCI 1413 | Culture, Inequality, and Self | 3 | |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| BACT 1003 & BACT 1001 | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | BIOL 2420 & BIOL 2120 | 4 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| ZOOL 2023 & ZOOL 2021 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | BIOL 2402 & BIOL 2102 | 4 |
| NFS 2323 | Introduction to Nutrition | BIOL 1322 | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| SCHs | 13 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| CHEM 1013 & CHEM 1011 | Introductory Chemistry and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory | CHEM 1305 & CHEM 1106 | 4 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| Creative Arts Core Course | 3 | ||
| Multicultural Woman's Studies CAO Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Summer | TCCN | ||
| DH 3323 | Orofacial Biology | 3 | |
| DH 3341 | Orofacial Biology Lab | 1 | |
| DH 3312 | Professionalism and Ethics | 2 | |
| SCHs | 6 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| DH 3401 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Theory | 1 | |
| DH 3402 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene I Practice | 2 | |
| DH 3112 | Periodontology I | 2 | |
| DH 3413 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice | 3 | |
| DH 3433 & DH 3431 | Oral Radiology and Oral Radiology Lab | 4 | |
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| DH 3222 & DH 3221 | Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry and Risk Assessment and Preventive Dentistry Lab | 3 | |
| DH 3502 | Dental Hygiene II | 2 | |
| DH 3511 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II Theory | 1 | |
| DH 3512 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II Practice | 2 | |
| DH 3542 | Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist | 2 | |
| DH 4451 | Dental Materials | 1 | |
| DH 4461 | Dental Materials Lab | 1 | |
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Summer | TCCN | ||
| DH 4443 | Dental Hygiene Care for Special Needs | 3 | |
| DH 4723 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 | |
| SCHs | 6 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| DH 4301 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III Theory | 1 | |
| DH 4303 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III Practice | 3 | |
| DH 4313 | Community Oral Health | 3 | |
| DH 4342 & DH 4341 | Periodontal Disease II and Periodontology II Lab | 3 | |
| DH 4412 | Dental Hygiene III | 2 | |
| DH 4713 | Applied Evidence-based Research | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| HS 5763 | Alternative Dental Health Careers | 3 | |
| HS 5723 | Health Care in a Culture of Poverty | 3 | |
| DH 4431 | Community Oral Health Practicum | 1 | |
| DH 4551 | Senior Seminar | 1 | |
| DH 4561 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Theory | 1 | |
| DH 4563 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV Practice | 3 | |
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 121 | ||
