Accelerated B.S. Dental Hygiene

Accelerated B.S. to M.S.

Students accepted into an accelerated undergraduate program 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 (p. 62)).

Once accepted into an accelerated degree program, it is strongly recommended for students to stay in close communication with their advisor regarding 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 (http://coursecat.isu.edu/graduate/graduateadmissions/).

Dental Hygiene Accelerated Criteria

This accelerated program provides an opportunity for outstanding bachelor degree dental hygiene students to complete a fast track program during the summer and last two semesters of the bachelor degree program. Students who have a cumulative 3.5 grade point average in their dental hygiene courses and senior standing may complete up to 12 graduate credits. These credits may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate dental hygiene 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 degree dental hygiene program. Please contact the Graduate Program Director for more information. Once accepted into the accelerated program, it is recommended that students meet with the Graduate Program Director regarding acceptance into the Graduate School and the Master of Science Dental Hygiene program.

Program Admissions Requirements

Formal application for admission to the dental hygiene program must be submitted before January 15 of the year the student wishes to enter. Applicants must complete prerequisite courses and complete specific requirements for consideration. Applicants must have a minimum Cumulative Core and Natural Science Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8. 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. Application materials are submitted through the American Dental Education Association Centralized Dental Hygiene Application Service (http://www.adea.org/dhcas.aspx).

Admission to Idaho State University is a separate procedure and must be completed prior to application to the dental hygiene program. Students must provide verification of current CPR certification and vaccinations prior to beginning the program within the specified application year.

Academic Standards

To enroll in upper division courses with a dental hygiene prefix (DENT), students must be accepted for admission to the dental hygiene program. Each student is responsible for completing the required course work in proper sequential order. To be eligible for graduation and progression in the dental hygiene program, the student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.25. Course work for which the student receives a grade below “C-” (C minus) will not be accepted as fulfilling requirements for the Department of Dental Hygiene. The department chairperson must approve any deviation from these standards.

Prerequisite Courses

BIOL 2233
2233L
Principles of Microbiology
and Principles of Microbiology Lab
4
Choose one of the following course sequences:8
Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
and Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
and
Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
and Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
or
Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 1
and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab
and
Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
and Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab
CHEM 1101Introduction to Chemistry ((Partially satisfies General Education Objective 5)3
CHEM 1102
CHEM 1103
Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry
and Essentials of Organic and Biochemistry Laboratory
4
COMM 1101Fundamentals of Oral Communication (Satisfies General Education Objective 2)3
DENT 2201Principles of Dental Hygiene2
ENGL 1101Writing and Rhetoric I (Partially satisfies General Education Objective 1)3
ENGL 1102Writing and Rhetoric II (Partially satisfies General Education Objective 1)3
NTD 2239Nutrition (Partially satisfies General Education Objective 5)3
or NTD 3340 Nutrition for Health Professionals
MATH 1153Statistical Reasoning (Satisfies General Education Objective 3)3
PSYC 1101Introduction to Psychology (Partially satisfies General Education Objective 6)3
SOC 1101Introduction to Sociology (Partially satisfies General Education Objective 6)3
All coursework must be completed with a grade of C- or above.
Student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 or higher.
Total Credits42

 •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 11026
Objective 2 - COMM 11013
Objective 3 - MATH 11533
Objective 46
Objective 5 - CHEM 11017
Objective 6 - PSYC 1101, SOC 11016
Students must fulfill Objective 7 or Objective 83
Objective 7
Objective 8 - INFO 1101 (Recommended)
Objective 93
Total Credits37
  • 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.

 Major Requirements

DENT 3307Prevention and Management of Medical Emergencies3
DENT 3308Oral Histology and Embryology2
DENT 3309General and Oral Pathology3
DENT 3311Tooth Morphology2
DENT 3312Head and Neck Anatomy3
DENT 3313Clinical Dental Hygiene I3
DENT 3313CClinical Dental Hygiene I Clinic3
DENT 3314Clinical Dental Hygiene II2
DENT 3314CClinical Dental Hygiene II Clinic3
DENT 3315Preventive Dentistry2
DENT 3316Dental Materials2
DENT 3318Oral Radiology2
DENT 3318LOral Radiology Laboratory1
DENT 3319Preclinical Restorative Procedures2
DENT 3320Pain Management2
DENT 3321Periodontology2
DENT 4401Research Methods2
DENT 4402Advanced Periodontology2
DENT 4403Advanced Clinical Theory I2
DENT 4403CAdvanced Clinical Practice I Clinic4
DENT 4404Advanced Clinical Theory II2
DENT 4404CAdvanced Clinical Practice II Clinic4
DENT 4405Dental Hygiene Seminar1
DENT 4408Ethical and Legal Principles2
DENT 4411Application of Restorative Therapies2
DENT 4411CRestorative Care I1
DENT 4412CRestorative Care II1
DENT 4413Community Health and Special Needs Populations3
DENT 4414Community Outreach Experiences2
DENT 4421/6623Leadership and Health Policy2
DENT 4422/6605Educational Strategies and Applied Methods2
DENT 4424Principles of Interprofessional Practice Management3
DENT 3322Basic and Applied Pharmacology for Dental Hygiene2
All coursework must be completed with a grade of C- or above.
Student must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 or higher.
Total Credits74

 Dental Hygiene Electives

DENT 3330CInterim Clinic2
DENT 3340CEnhanced Strategies in Clinical Care1
DENT 4481Independent Studies in Dental Hygiene1-3

Students in the accelerated BS to MSDH program can take the following elective courses at the 5000/6000 level that will count towards their graduate coursework.

Accelerated Dental Hygiene Graduate Electives

DENT 5596Graduate Seminar I (Online)1
DENT 6610Special Care Populations (Online)3
or
Elective Course at the 5000/6000 level (Online) 2-3

 Degree Totals

Program Admission Requirements (Required General Education credits removed)21
General Education37
Major Requirements74
Total Credits132

ISU Degree Requirements

ISU General Education

Major Academic Plan (MAP)