Registered Dental Hygienist to Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (Online Program)
The online RDH-to-BSDH program allows an individual who either has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited Program in Dental Hygiene or is currently enrolled as a student in a CODA-accredited Program in Dental Hygiene to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. This program focuses on enriching the concept of the professional dental hygienist. This program does not fulfill requirements for licensure as a dental hygienist. A total of 90 semester credit hours (SCH) may be transferred into the program. Transfer courses may include bachelor’s degree requirements for Texas and TWU as well as courses from previous dental hygiene coursework.
Program Requirements
- 120 semester credit hours (SCH).
- 30 SCH minimum completed at TWU.
- 18 SCH of Dental Hygiene coursework.
- 12 SCH of core or electives.
- 30 SCH minimum completed at TWU.
- Students must receive a grade of C or higher in all dental hygiene coursework.
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."
- Utilize critical thinking skills to apply evidence-based dental hygiene implementation measures and evaluate patient outcomes utilizing professional values and ethical principles.
- Evaluate and analyze scientific literature as a basis for evidence-based practice.
- Apply leadership skills for professional growth in clinical and alternative practice settings.
Admissions
All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
Program Application Deadlines
Applicants should apply to the university and have submitted all required transcripts and other documentation prior to these deadlines:
- Fall: July 15
- Spring: Dec. 1
- Summer: April 15
Requirements
- Graduated from or currently enrolled (early entry) in an associate’s degree program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
- Students are eligible for early entry into the RDH-to-BSDH program if they are in the final year of a dental hygiene program and obtain written approval from their current dental hygiene program director
- Licensed as a dental hygienist
- Early-entry applicants must submit a copy of their dental hygiene license after completing the associate’s degree program and passing national board exams
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on transferable college work (students may be admitted provisionally without a 3.0 GPA)
- Regular access to a computer that meets standards compatible with TWU distance education and high-speed Internet access
How to Apply
- Apply to TWU as a transfer student
- After acceptance to TWU, apply to the dental hygiene RDH-to-BSDH program. To complete the program application, applicants must first create their TWU Pioneer Portal account then log in to their TWU Google Drive account using their TWU email address and Pioneer Portal password.
- To complete the program application, applicants must submit:
- A scanned copy of their dental hygiene license. (Early-entry applicants need a letter of eligibility and support from the program director of the associate's degree dental hygiene program. Contact dh@twu.edu to request a copy of this specific form to be used.)
- A brief essay on their professional goals, including any information relevant to consideration of the application. The essay should include the applicant's name and student ID at the top of the form.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120
Major: 18 SCH
Program Code: DENTHYGNRDH.BS CIP Code: 51.0602.00
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum (may be transferred up to semester credit hour limit) | 42 | |
| Entry-Level Dental Hygiene coursework (transferred from AAS DH program) | 40 | |
| RDH to BSDH major required courses (upper-division courses) | 18 | |
| Introduction to Process of Care for Early Entry RDH to BSDH | ||
or DH 3303 | Process of Care for the Registered Dental Hygienist | |
| Alternative Dental Hygiene Practice | ||
| Oral Health Worldview | ||
| Applied Evidence-based Research | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinical Case Study Development | ||
| Professional Development for the Registered Dental Hygienist | ||
| Elective Courses | 20 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Recommended Plan of Study
The plan of study varies for each student depending on the courses transferred in, but each plan must include the following Dental Hygiene courses:
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Process of Care for Early Entry RDH to BSDH | ||
or DH 3303 | Process of Care for the Registered Dental Hygienist | |
| Alternative Dental Hygiene Practice | ||
| Oral Health Worldview | ||
| Applied Evidence-based Research | ||
| Dental Hygiene Clinical Case Study Development | ||
| Professional Development for the Registered Dental Hygienist | ||
