M.S. & Accelerated B.S. to M.S. & Accelerated A.A.S/A.S
Accelerated Dental Hygiene B.S. to M.S.
This program is taken while completing the B.S. Degree in Dental Hygiene degree on the Pocatello Campus
Students accepted into the accelerated BS to MS pathway may take departmentally approved graduate coursework as part of their undergraduate curriculum. These credits will count towards both their bachelor's and master's degrees and can fulfill major requirements, upper-division requirements, and/or free electives. For details on accelerated programs at Idaho State University, please see Degree Requirements.
Once accepted into an accelerated degree program, it is strongly recommended for students to stay in close communication with their advisor regarding the pursuit of acceptance into the Graduate School and the master's degree program at Idaho State University. Acceptance into an accelerated program during the bachelor's degree program is the first step in the admissions process. A separate application to the Graduate School is necessary for all accelerated programs. For more information regarding application and admission to the Graduate School at Idaho State University, please see the Graduate Admissions section of the graduate catalog.
This accelerated program provides an opportunity for outstanding bachelor's degree dental hygiene students to complete a fast-track program during the summer and last two semesters of the bachelor's degree program. Students who have a cumulative 3.0-grade point average in their dental hygiene courses and senior standing may complete up to 12 online graduate credits. These credits may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Students must be in good academic standing with the Department of Dental Hygiene and Idaho State University and have demonstrated successful completion of upper-division courses in the bachelor's degree dental hygiene program. Please contact the Graduate Program Director regarding acceptance into the Graduate School and the Master of Science Dental Hygiene program.
Graduates of the MSDH program at ISU are prepared to work as educators, leaders, and administrators in academia, public health, corporate settings, alternative work settings, and research development.
Prerequisite Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2233 | Principles of Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 2233L | Principles of Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| Choose one of the following course sequences: | 8 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab | ||
and | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab | ||
or | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab | ||
and | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab | ||
| CHEM 1101 | Introduction to Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1102 | Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1103 | Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| COMM 1101 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| DENT 2201 | Principles of Dental Hygiene | 2 |
| ENGL 1101 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| ENGL 1102 | Writing and Rhetoric II | 3 |
| NTD 2239 | Nutrition | 3 |
| or NTD 3340 | Nutrition for Health Professionals | |
| MATH 1153 | Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| PSYC 1101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 1101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| All coursework must be completed with a grade of C- or above | ||
| Total Credits: | 42 | |
*Elective course DENT 2220 is highly recommended for pre-dental hygiene students without dental office
experience.
General Education
The listing below includes program requirements that also fulfill General Education requirements.
- Objective 1 - ENGL 1101; ENGL 1102 (6 credits)
- Objective 2 - COMM 1101 (3 credits)
- Objective 3 - MATH 1153 (3 credits)
- Objective 4 - Any course meeting Objective 4; must take two Objective 4 courses (6 credits)
- Objective 5 - CHEM 1101 (7 credits)
- Objective 6 - PSYC 1101, SOC 1101 (6 credits)
- Students must fulfill Objective 7 or Objective 8 (3 credits)
- Objective 7 -
- Objective 8 - INFO 1101 (Recommended)
- Objective 9 - Any course meeting Objective (3 credits)
Total Credits 37
*Elective course INFO 1101 is highly recommended as an elective for those individuals without computer
skills and it may be chosen to satisfy General Education Objective 8.
Accelerated Dental Hygiene A.A.S./A.S. to M.S.
This accelerated bridge program from an entry-level dental hygiene program to a Master of Science with an emphasis in Dental Hygiene (MSDH) is for registered dental hygienists who have already graduated from an accredited entry-level dental hygiene program and are licensed as Registered Dental Hygienists. This program is offered 100% online. Twelve credits in this program are dual credits meaning they count for both undergraduate and graduate course work creating an accelerated path to the MSDH. Students must be in good academic standing with the Department of Dental Hygiene and Idaho State University and have demonstrated successful completion of upper-division courses in the bachelor's degree dental hygiene program. Please contact the Graduate Program Director regarding acceptance into the Graduate School and the Master of Science Dental Hygiene program. Students who are accepted into the BS Degree Completion program can choose to continue their degree progression to the accelerated M.S. program and follow the GPA requirements of 3.0 once they enter the M.S. accelerated pathway.
Program Admissions Requirements
Admissions for the program is “open enrollment", students can apply at any time. Applicants must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0. Dental hygiene program information regarding current admission criteria and procedures can be obtained from the Dental Hygiene website at https://isu.edu/dentalhygiene/, or directly from the department. Admission to Idaho State University and the AAS/AS to MS Accelerated Pathway is a separate procedure and must be completed prior to submitting an application to the MS in dental hygiene graduate program. The graduate application must be completed prior to starting the dual credit courses listed at the 5000-6000 level. A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admissions to the MS in dental hygiene program.
Academic Standards
To enroll in upper division courses with a dental hygiene prefix (DENT), students must be accepted for admission to the dental hygiene AAS/AS to MS accelerated program. To be eligible for graduation and progression in the dental hygiene master’s program, the student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all course work. Course work for which the student receives a grade below 3.0 will not be accepted as fulfilling requirements for the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program.
Major Requirements (Core)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 3307 | Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
| DENT 4401 | Research Methods | 2 |
| DENT 4408 | Ethical and Legal Principles | 2 |
| DENT 6623 | Leadership & Health Policy | 3 |
| DENT 6605 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| DENT 4424 | Principles of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice | 3 |
| Total: | 15 | |
| Electives: | ||
| DENT 4400 | Experiential Learning Equivalency for BS Degree Completion and Accelerated MSDH Program | 1-16 |
| DHS 4401 | Mindfulness in Health Science | 2 |
| DHS 4402 | Survey of Aging Issues | 3 |
| DHS 4403 | Interprofessional Systems in Geriatric Management | 3 |
| DHS 4405 | Effects of Mindfulness Practice | 1 |
| DHS 4427 | Evidence Based Complementary and Integrative Health | 3 |
| DENT 4481 | Independent Studies in Dental Hygiene | 1-3 |
| Total: | 14 - 37 | |
Accelerated Dental Hygiene Graduate Dual Credit
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DENT 5596 | Graduate Seminar I | 1 |
| DENT 6605 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| DENT 6610 | Special Care Populations | 3 |
| DENT 6623 | Leadership & Health Policy | 3 |
| Elective Course at the 5000/6000 level (Online) | 2 | |
| Total: | 12 | |
Degree Totals
- Program Admission Requirements (Required General Education credits removed): 80-90 credits (varies)
- General Education: 0-37 credits
- Major Requirements: 27 credits
- Upper Division Electives: 9 credits
- Electives: 0-37 credits
Total Credits 120-213
- Program admission totals vary depending on the associate degree earned.
- Students who earn a qualifying associate degree will qualify for a general education waiver upon matriculation to ISU.