Academic Catalog

Dental Hygiene

The program requirements have been updated effective Fall Quarter 2024. To view the requirements for Summer Session 2024, refer to the Dental Hygiene (summer) listing. If you have any questions, please meet with a Foothill counselor.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree program is part of the statewide community college baccalaureate degree program authorized under AB 927. The dental hygiene program is highly academic with an emphasis on development of evidence-based clinical practice skills to prepare graduates to assess the medical/dental status of patients across the lifespan, develop a dental hygiene care plan, implement appropriate dental hygiene care, and evaluate the outcomes of dental hygiene care. The dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and is approved by the Dental Hygiene Board of California. Graduates are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination and qualify for state or regional clinical examinations for licensure.

Learn more about the program on the Dental Hygiene website.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program will demonstrate the values, ethical decision-making skills, application of knowledge, and use of effective communication skills in all aspects of their role as an oral health care provider and oral health care professional.
  • Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program will demonstrate competency in the delivery of evidence-based practice and critical thinking skills in oral health promotion and disease prevention services to persons across the lifespan in a wide range of settings including private practice and public health.

Career Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental hygienists is expected to grow 9% through 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth ranks dental hygiene among the fastest growing occupations, as there will be an increasing demand for dental care and the greater use of dental hygienists in a wide range of settings. Clinical practice opportunities exist for dental hygienists in general dentistry and dental specialties such as pediatrics and periodontics. Other career opportunities include public health, dental product sales and marketing, dental hygiene education, scientific research, and in the provision of continuing education/professional development programs.

Award Type(s)

BS = Bachelor of Science Degree

Units Required

  • General education and prerequisite courses: 91.5
  • Major courses and upper division general education: 99.5
  • Total units: 191

Program Application

Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria, and application to the program can be found on the Dental Hygiene Program website.

Program Prerequisites

Must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  • Recency of courses: There is a six-year recency requirement for the biological sciences (anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and pharmacology), which must be passed with a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).
  • The following courses are required for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree and must be completed before starting the core dental hygiene courses:
    CHEM 30A
    CHEM 30B
    SURVEY OF INORGANIC & ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    and SURVEY OF ORGANIC & BIOCHEMISTRY
    10
    or equivalent
    MATH 10ELEMENTARY STATISTICS5
    or PSYC 7 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
    or SOC 7 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
    or equivalent
    HLTH 20INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH4-5
    or HLTH 21 CONTEMPORARY HEALTH CONCERNS
    or equivalent
    PSYC 1GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (or equivalent)5
    SOC 1INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (or equivalent)5
    COMM 1APUBLIC SPEAKING5
    or COMM 1AH HONORS PUBLIC SPEAKING
    or COMM 1B ARGUMENTATION & PERSUASION
    or COMM 2 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
    or COMM 3 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION STUDIES
    or COMM 4 GROUP DISCUSSION
    or equivalent
    COMM 10GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE5
    or COMM 12 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
    or equivalent
    BIOL 40A
    BIOL 40B
    BIOL 40C
    HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY I
    and HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II
    and HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY III
    15
    or equivalent
    BIOL 41MICROBIOLOGY (or equivalent)6
    BIOL 45INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN NUTRITION (or equivalent)4
    PHT 58FUNDAMENTALS OF PHARMACOLOGY4
    D H 200LINTRODUCTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE1.5
    ENGL 1ACOMPOSITION & READING5
    or ENGL 1AH HONORS COMPOSITION & READING
    or ESLL 26 ADVANCED COMPOSITION & READING
    or equivalent
    ENGL 1BCOMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE5
    or ENGL 1BH HONORS COMPOSITION, CRITICAL READING & THINKING THROUGH LITERATURE
    or ENGL 1C ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
    or ENGL 1CH HONORS ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING & CRITICAL THINKING
    or PHIL 1 CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING
    or PHIL 7 INTRODUCTION TO SYMBOLIC LOGIC
    or equivalent

Bachelor Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree is a 2+2 program: two years of prerequisite courses, including the required general education, science courses, and social sciences courses; then, following an application and acceptance to the dental hygiene program, there are two years of dental hygiene core courses and upper division general education. The bachelor degree requires completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Completion of the pre-program courses and general education does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program. It is strongly recommended that students meet with a counselor to create an education plan.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a grade of "C" or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree. All dental hygiene courses must be taken in sequence and must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Students who wish to apply for a Board of Governors Fee Waiver pursuant to Education Code Section 76300 shall be required to complete and submit either a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application in lieu of completing the Board of Governors Fee Waiver application.

Enrollment Fees and Tuition: Upper Division Coursework Fee (California Education Code (CEC), 78042(g)(5); CCR, title 5, section 58520)—additional upper division course fee of $56/unit for quarter system colleges charged on all upper division courses that are part of an approved Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program.

Core and Support Courses

Core Courses

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Summer SessionUnits
D H 50 ORIENTATION TO DENTAL HYGIENE 1
 Units1
Fall Quarter
D H 300A ORAL BIOLOGY I 3
D H 302 ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES IN DENTAL HYGIENE 3
D H 304 PRE-CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE 4
D H 305A INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY I 2
IDS 300 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 1 5
 Units17
Winter Quarter
D H 300B ORAL BIOLOGY II 3
D H 305B DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY II 1
D H 308 CLINICAL TECHNIQUE 6
D H 310 DENTAL MATERIALS 3
D H 312 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 1
D H 314 DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION 2
 Units16
Spring Quarter
D H 305C DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY III 2
D H 316A PERIODONTICS I 3
D H 318 INTRODUCTION TO CLINIC 7
BIOL 300 HUMAN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 1 4
HLTH 300 HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN 1 5
 Units21
Second Year
Summer Session
D H 320A CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE I 3
D H 322 LOCAL ANESTHESIA 2.5
 Units5.5
Fall Quarter
D H 316B PERIODONTICS II 2
D H 320B CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE II 6
D H 324 ORAL PATHOLOGY 2
D H 326A COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH I 2
D H 328A CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE THEORY I 2
 Units14
Winter Quarter
D H 305D DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY IV 1
D H 320C CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE III 6
D H 326B COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH II 2
D H 328B CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE THEORY II 2
D H 330 NITROUS OXIDE/OXYGEN ANALGESIA 1
 Units12
Spring Quarter
D H 320D CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE IV 6
D H 326C COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH III 2
D H 328C CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE THEORY III 2
D H 332 ETHICS, LAW & BUSINESS PRACTICES 3
 Units13
 Total Units99.5
1

Upper Division General Education courses.

Please note: Total Units listed above includes 14 units of Upper Division General Education courses.

Dental Hygiene Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Track

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree completion track broadens the educational experience of licensed dental hygienists who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program by providing a liberal arts and broad-based general education component, including critical thinking, analysis, writing, researching, and reporting. The program will prepare dental hygienists to interact effectively with other health professionals in a competent, collaborative, and ethical manner. The program can be completed in 1-2 years and will award the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree upon successful completion of all courses and program requirements. Students will take online upper division coursework focused on developing communication and critical thinking skills necessary for the bachelor degree. Completing the bachelor degree will allow the licensed dental hygienist to pursue career options in education, corporate/industry, research, and public health. The completion track is authorized under AB 927 and the State Chancellor's Office.

Learn more about the program on the Dental Hygiene website.

Units Required

  • Major: 64 (additional units are required to satisfy prerequisites and general education requirements)

Program Application

Admittance to this program is through an application process. Program information, admission criteria, and application to the program can be found on the Dental Hygiene Program website.

Program Prerequisites

  • Associate degree from an accredited two-year community college dental hygiene program.
  • Active and in good standing Registered Dental Hygiene license (RDH or RDHAP).
  • Completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).

Bachelor Degree Requirements

30 units of core courses in dental hygiene and 14 units of upper division general education courses; active and good standing dental hygiene license; and completion of one of the following general education patterns: CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).

Foothill College awards 24 units as credit for prior learning for passing the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination, Regional/State Clinical Licensing Examination, and State Law & Ethics Examination.

It is strongly recommended that students meet with a counselor for evaluation of transcripts and to determine if general education pattern has been completed.

Core and Support Courses

Select one of the following options (option is selected during the application process):

Option 1: One academic year (must begin in spring quarter)
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Spring QuarterUnits
IDS 300 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 1 5
HLTH 300 HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN 1 5
 Units10
Second Year
Fall Quarter
D H 350A DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH & CAPSTONE PROJECT I 5
D H 352 HEALTH COMMUNICATION & CULTURAL ISSUES 5
 Units10
Winter Quarter
D H 350B DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH & CAPSTONE PROJECT II 5
D H 356 EDUCATION THEORY, PRACTICE & ADMINISTRATION 5
 Units10
Spring Quarter
D H 350C DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH & CAPSTONE PROJECT III 5
D H 354 HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 5
 Units10
 Total Units40
1

Upper Division General Education courses.

Please note: Total Units for the completion track is 64 units, which includes Upper Division General Education courses and 24 units awarded as credit for prior learning.


Option 2: Two academic years (must begin in fall quarter)
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall QuarterUnits
D H 352 HEALTH COMMUNICATION & CULTURAL ISSUES 5
 Units5
Winter Quarter
D H 356 EDUCATION THEORY, PRACTICE & ADMINISTRATION 5
 Units5
Spring Quarter
D H 354 HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT 5
IDS 300 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 1 5
 Units10
Second Year
Fall Quarter
D H 350A DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH & CAPSTONE PROJECT I 5
 Units5
Winter Quarter
D H 350B DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH & CAPSTONE PROJECT II 5
 Units5
Spring Quarter
D H 350C DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH & CAPSTONE PROJECT III 5
HLTH 300 HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN 1 5
 Units10
 Total Units40
1

Upper Division General Education courses.

Please note: Total Units for the completion track is 64 units, which includes Upper Division General Education courses and 24 units awarded as credit for prior learning.