Dental Hygiene Overview (2151) Limited Access
Type of Award
AS - Associate in Science
Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/career-pathways/pathway-health.aspx
Program Description
The program leads to an A.S. degree and is approximately 21 months in length, not including the time necessary to complete the General Education and Natural Science program Required Courses. The Dental Hygiene Program begins with the fall term of each year and is structured as a daytime program only.
NOTE: The program maintains compliance with institutional policy and applicable regulations of local, state and federal agencies including, but not limited to, radiation hygiene and protection, ionizing radiation, hazardous materials, and bloodborne and infectious diseases. Policies are continually monitored for compliance by the program in accordance with Palm Beach State College’s Safety and Risk Management Office. All policies are available for review at: www.palmbeachstate.edu/Safety
Program Accreditation
This program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA CODA), 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-2678, (312)440-2500, and is approved by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
Program Learning Outcomes
For detailed information, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/learningoutcomes/Program-Learning-Outcomes.
General Admission Requirements to the College
- Complete an Application for Admission, located at www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/Admissions-Applications.
- Submit an official high school or GED transcript and official college/university transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Admission Procedures section of the college catalog for more information regarding transcripts.
- Submit placement test scores if not exempt from placement testing. To determine if you are exempt, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/advising/placement-testing.aspx
- Complete all other requirements for admission outlined in the Admissions section of this catalog.
Admission Requirements for Dental Hygiene
In addition to the General Admission requirements, students must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for selection to the program. (Meeting admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the program).
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher;
- Complete all Natural Science program Required Courses (listed below) with a grade of C or higher; and
- Submit a completed Dental Hygiene program application, located on the program website, by the deadline.
Completion Requirements
Students must complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program with a grade of C or higher.
For more details about graduation requirements please refer to the Graduation section of this catalog.
Program Length
The program is approximately 21 months in length, not including the time necessary to complete the General Education and the Natural Science program Required Courses. It begins with the fall term of each year and is structured as a daytime program only.
Location
The program is offered at the Lake Worth campus.
For More Information
Dental Health Services Coordinator, (561) 868-3752
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the program and after successfully passing national and state licensing examinations may seek employment as a licensed registered dental hygienist in a variety of settings, to include but not limited to general/specialty dental practices, public health, hospitals and community health care related facilities, public and private health access settings, school based programs, dental product representatives, and educational and research related fields.
Career Path Notes
Courses from this program may transfer into Palm Beach State's Bachelor of Applied Science program in Supervision and Management. For more information, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/Bachelors
In addition, courses from this program may transfer to other colleges and universities that allow students to transfer into a four-year program. For more information, contact the college or university to which you wish to transfer.
Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities, including job outlook and salary information, visit: Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org
Required courses:
General Education (Credits: 18)
| ENC1101 | English Composition 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| PSY2012 | Introduction to Psychology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| SYG2000 | Introduction to Sociology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Choose Any Mathematics Area lll, Tier 1 course | 3 Credits |
| Choose Any Humanities Area ll, Tier 1 course | 3 Credits |
| AMH2020 | United States History Since 1877 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
| POS1041 | Introduction to American Government (AA) | 3 Credits |
Natural Science Program Requirements (Credits: 18)
| BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| Any level transferable Chemistry course | 3 credits |
| HUN1201 | Elements of Nutrition (AA) | 3 Credits |
| MCB2010 | Microbiology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| MCB2010L | Microbiology Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
Required Courses (Credits: 52)
| DEH1003 | Dental Hygiene Instrumentation (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1003L | Dental Hygiene Instrumentation Lab (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH1130 | Oral Embryology and Histology (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1800 | Dental Hygiene 1 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1800L | Dental Hygiene 1 Lab (AS) | 4 Credits |
| DEH1802 | Dental Hygiene 2 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1802L | Dental Hygiene 2 Lab (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH2300 | Pharmacology (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH2400 | General and Oral Pathology (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH2602 | Periodontology (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH2604 | Current Concepts in Periodontology (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2701 | Community Dentistry (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH2702L | Community Dentistry Practicum (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2804 | Dental Hygiene 3 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2804L | Dental Hygiene 3 Lab (AS) | 4 Credits |
| DEH2806 | Dental Hygiene 4 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2806L | Dental Hygiene 4 Lab (AS) | 5 Credits |
| DES1020 | Dental Anatomy (AS) | 3 Credits |
| DES1100 | Dental Materials (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DES1100L | Dental Materials Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1200 | Dental Radiology (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DES1200L | Dental Radiology Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1600 | Office Emergencies (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1800 | Introduction to Clinical Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
| DES1800L | Introduction to Clinical Procedures Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1832 | Expanded Functions Lecture (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1832L | Expanded Functions Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1840 | Preventive Dentistry (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DES2502 | Office Management (AS) | 1 Credit |
DES1020, DES1100, DES1100L, DES1200, DES1200L, DES1600, DES1800, DES1800L, DES1832, DES1832L, DES1840, and DES2502: These courses will articulate from the Palm Beach State Dental Assisting Program.
Total Credit Hours: 88
Course Sequence
Term One - Fall (Year One) (Credits: 17)
| DEH1003 | Dental Hygiene Instrumentation (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1003L | Dental Hygiene Instrumentation Lab (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DES1020 | Dental Anatomy (AS) | 3 Credits |
| DES1100 | Dental Materials (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DES1100L | Dental Materials Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1200 | Dental Radiology (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DES1200L | Dental Radiology Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1600 | Office Emergencies (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1800 | Introduction to Clinical Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
| DES1800L | Introduction to Clinical Procedures Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
Term Two - Spring (Year One) (Credits: 12)
| DES1832 | Expanded Functions Lecture (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1832L | Expanded Functions Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DES1840 | Preventive Dentistry (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH1130 | Oral Embryology and Histology (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1800 | Dental Hygiene 1 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1800L | Dental Hygiene 1 Lab (AS) | 4 Credits |
| DEH2300 | Pharmacology (AS) | 2 Credits |
DES1832, DES1832L and DES1840: These courses will articulate from the Palm Beach State Dental Assisting Program.
Term Three - Summer (Year One) (Credits: 7)
| DEH2602 | Periodontology (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH1802 | Dental Hygiene 2 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH1802L | Dental Hygiene 2 Lab (AS) | 2 Credits |
Term One - Fall (Year Two) (Credits: 8)
| DEH2701 | Community Dentistry (AS) | 2 Credits |
| DEH2804 | Dental Hygiene 3 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2804L | Dental Hygiene 3 Lab (AS) | 4 Credits |
| DEH2604 | Current Concepts in Periodontology (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2400 | General and Oral Pathology (AS) | 2 Credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year Two) (Credits: 8)
| DES2502 | Office Management (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2806 | Dental Hygiene 4 (AS) | 1 Credit |
| DEH2806L | Dental Hygiene 4 Lab (AS) | 5 Credits |
| DEH2702L | Community Dentistry Practicum (AS) | 1 Credit |
DES2502: These courses will articulate from the Palm Beach State Dental Assisting Program.
Total Credit Hours: 88