Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

The Department of Dental Hygiene provides the fundamental and technical skills needed to become a licensed dental hygienist.

Through classroom instruction, clinical practice, and community outreach, you'll gain real-world experience and the interdisciplinary knowledge essential for today's dental hygiene field.

We offer two different ways to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene through a flexible, personalized education with courses available in both hybrid and face-to-face formats.

Certain prerequisite courses, including a minimum of one academic year of courses, are required prior to applying to the dental hygiene program.

Please consult the Dumke College of Health Professions Office of Admissions Advisement or our application page for more information about prerequisite courses, program, and graduation requirements.

This webpage spells out dental hygiene degree requirements, prerequisites, career and salary outlook and more. If you’re ready to apply, head to our application webpage for a full list of application requirements.

Application Information

What You Will Learn

Our degree programs give you fundamental and technical skills needed to work in the growing interdisciplinary field of dental hygiene or pursue a graduate program. In the program, you will learn about:

Clinical dental hygiene care
Patient management
Head, neck and dental anatomy
Teamwork

Periodontal care and therapy, including local anesthesia
Interprofessional education
Oral radiology
Problem solving skills

Career and Salary Outlook

As a dental hygiene graduate, you can become employed as a dental hygienist once you have your professional license. The average starting salary for a dental hygienist in the state of Utah is usually around $100,000, however this varies greatly depending on clinics and hours.

Dental Hygiene Program, Career and Salary Outlook

ASSOCIATE's TO BACHELOR'S

The associate's degree to bachelor's degree path allows you to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene while enrolled in the associate's degree program.

Students must complete all associate of science and bachelor of science degree requirements from the university, which include general education courses and several program prerequisites, and may need to complete courses during the summer semester prior to program completion.

Course Requirements and Prerequisites

Before starting the dental hygiene program, you must complete certain prerequisite general education and science courses.
All course prerequisites are listed on the department’s application page.
All course requirements are detailed in the Weber State University Catalog.

Associate's Degree Requirements Bachelor's Degree Requirements

Possible Course Sequence

Associate's to Bachelor's Pathway
The following is a suggested course sequence for students pursuing the associate's to bachelor's degree pathway.

This is an example of a possible course sequence. Course information is subject to change. Some general education courses may also be taken in the summer semester. We highly recommend you meet with an academic advisor once per semester to create a specific plan that best fits your academic needs and visit the WSU Catalog for up-to-date course information.
SEMESTER ONE (FALL)
- ENGL 1010 EN1: Introductory College Writing (3 credits)
  
  Students may need to take developmental courses in order to take ENGL 1010.
  
  PSY 1010 SS: Introduction to Psychology (3)
- HTHS 2110 LS: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4), or ZOOL 2320: Human Anatomy (4)
- COMM 1020 HU: Principles of Public Speaking (3), or COMM 2110 HU CEL: Interpersonal and Small Group Communication (3)
- Quantitative Literacy (QL) Requirement (3-6)
  
  Students may need to take developmental courses in order to satisfy their QL requirement.
Total Credits: 16–19

SEMESTER TWO (SPRING)
- ENGL 2010 EN2: Intermediate College Writing (3), or ENGL 2015 EN2: Intermediate College Writing & Research (4)
- HTHS 2111 LS: Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4), or ZOOL 2420 LS: Human Physiology (4)
- SOC 1010 SS/CC: Introduction to Sociology (3), or SOC 1020 SS/CC: Contemporary Social Issues (3)
- NUTR 1020 LS SUS: Science and Application of Human Nutrition (3)
- American Institutions (3)
Total Credits: 16

SEMESTER THREE (FALL)
- Information Literacy requirement or ENGL 2015 (1 or 4)
- HTHS 2230: Introductory Pathophysiology (3)
- General Education Requirement (3)
- General Education Requirement (3)
- General Education Requirement (3)
Total Credits: 13 or 16

SEMESTER FOUR (SPRING)
- FIVE General Education or Upper Division Courses (3 each)
Total Credits: 15

SEMESTER FIVE (FALL, FIRST YEAR IN PROGRAM)
- DENT 2201: Concepts of Community Dental Health (1)
- DENT 2205: Head/Neck and Dental Anatomy (2)
- DENT 2206: Clinical Dental Hygiene/Radiology (4)
- DENT 2207: Dental Hygiene I (3)
- DENT 2208: Radiology (1)
- DENT 2250: Professional Ethics (1)
Total Credits: 12
SEMESTER SIX (SPRING)
- DENT 2211: Oral Pathology (3)
- DENT 2215: Periodontology (2)
- DENT 2216 INT: Clinical Dental Hygiene II (3)
- DENT 2217: Dental Hygiene II (3)
- DENT 2235: Dental Medicine (2)
Total Credits: 13

*Meet with an advisor to determine whether you should take classes in the summer between your first and second years in the Dental Hygiene Program.

SEMESTER SEVEN (FALL, SECOND YEAR IN PROGRAM)
- DENT 2219: Dental Materials (1)
- DENT 3305: Pain Control (3)
- DENT 3336 INT: Clinical Dental Hygiene III (4)
- DENT 3337: Dental Hygiene III (3)
- DENT 4530 INT CRE: Principles and Application of Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene Practice (2)
  
  Required class, taught only in the fall semester
- DENT 4800: Individual Research (1-3)
  
  Elective class, requires application and faculty approval
Total Credits: 13 minimum

SEMESTER EIGHT (SPRING)
- DENT 3301 INT: Community Dental Health Service Learning Lab (1)
- DENT 3346 INT: Clinical Dental Hygiene IV (5)
- DENT 3347: Dental Hygiene IV (2)
- DENT 4780 Baccalaureate Thesis (3)
  
  Required class, taught only in the spring semester
- DENT 4800: Individual Research (1-3)
  
  Elective class, requires application and faculty approval
- DENT 4890 INT: Advanced Community or Clinical Work Experience (2) - Required class
Total Credits: 12 minimum
DEGREE COMPLETION NOTES:
- Minimum for graduation: 120 total credit hours.
- Additional requirements: 40 upper-division credits (3000/4000 level) and 30 residency credits at WSU (these can be part of the required 40 credit hours).

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE COMPLETION DEGREE

If you already have an associate-level degree in dental hygiene, either from Weber State or another accredited institution, you can transfer into WSU’s dental hygiene program and earn a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene.

Prerequisites

Before starting the bachelor’s degree program, students must complete general education and science prerequisite courses, along with the courses required for an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene.
Speak with one of our advisors or visit Weber State Transfer for more information on transfer credits and course equivalencies.

Course Requirements

In addition to the associate's degree coursework, the following courses are also required to earn a bachelor’s degree:

DENT 4530 INT CRE: Principles and Application of Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene Practice (2)
DENT 4780 Baccalaureate Thesis (3)
DENT 4890 INT: Advanced Community or Clinical Work Experience (2)

Degree Completion Requirements:

Minimum for graduation: 120 total credit hours.
Additional requirements: 40 upper-division credits (3000/4000 level) and 30 residency credits at WSU (these can be part of the required 40 credit hours).

All course requirements and prerequisites are listed in the WSU Catalog.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements