Dental Hygiene Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)
The Dental Hygiene program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. It is the only traditional Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program in Washington state.
Dental hygiene graduates are eligible to take national, regional, and state licensing examinations. Successful completion of the examinations enable baccalaureate dental hygienists to seek employment in private dental practices, health clinics, school programs, public health programs, hospitals, nursing homes, industrial clinics, college dental hygiene programs, corporations, and research. The demand for dental hygienists has significantly increased in the last two-three years and EWU dental hygiene graduates have an excellent placement record in Spokane and nationwide.
Completion of the dental hygiene curriculum requires a minimum of four full academic years of study. The first two years focus on a broad spectrum of courses, including university breadth area core requirements (BACR), competencies, and proficiencies, as well as dental hygiene prerequisite basic science courses that prepare students for the dental hygiene major. Once admitted to the program, students combine previous knowledge from general education courses and basic science courses into dental hygiene lecture and clinical coursework over a two-year period that includes five semesters.
This two-year professional segment includes emphasis on dental sciences, community dental health, health research theory and clinical practice in traditional and expanded functions. Students treat dental patients under direct faculty supervision at the 46-chair Dental Hygiene clinic on the EWU Spokane campus, hospital-based clinic, pediatric office and local community clinics. While in the program, dental hygiene students must participate as operators and patients for each other, to deliver and receive injections of local anesthetic, and administer/receive nitrous oxide sedation for dental hygiene learning experiences.
General Admissions Requirements for Dental Hygiene Program
Access the Dental Hygiene Department website for current information on prerequisite coursework requirements and application procedures for admission to the program. Students interested in majoring in dental hygiene should contact the dental hygiene department early in their university program. Because enrollment is limited and the admission process is competitive, applicants who are admitted to the university and have successfully completed the prerequisite coursework may not be accepted to the Dental Hygiene program.
Prior to Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program, all students must:
- apply for admission to EWU and pay admission fees;
- attend one dental hygiene information session prior to applying to the dental hygiene program;
- complete all required Dental Hygiene program admission prerequisite courses and dental hygiene program admission requirements;
- complete the supplemental EWU Dental Hygiene application;
- apply to the EWU Dental Hygiene Program and pay the Dental Hygiene program application fee;
- have a Social Security Number SS# prior to entry into the program. Students without a SS# prior to fall entry are dismissed;
- have current immunizations records for Hepatitis B, mumps, measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and varicella; NO EXCEPTIONS;
- provide proof of seroconversion or presence of anti-HBs antibody;
- submit proof of a QT Gold TB blood test prior to the fall entry into the program;
- meet the essential functions required of a dental hygienist;
- be willing to treat all patients assigned realizing the potential exists for transmission of bloodborne and other infectious diseases during patient care services;
- hold a current Health Care Provider CPR Certification;
- pass a state and federal background check; prior criminal convictions may prohibit a graduate from obtaining a license to practice dental hygiene.
- seek advice from a medical professional specializing in allergies if they suspect they may have a latex allergy.
Admissions Requirements for Transfer Students
Students transferring from either four-year institutions or community colleges must first apply for admission to the university through the EWU Admissions Office which evaluates transfer coursework and upon request sends a copy of the transcript evaluation to the Dental Hygiene Program.
Transcripts And Inquiries Should Be Directed to Lorie Speer, Chair of the BSDH Program.
Visit the Dental Hygiene department web page for further information.
Each required prerequisite course must be completed with a grade ≥C+.
Program applicants may retake two of the five priority prerequisite sciences courses one time (BIOL 232, BIOL 233, CHEM 161, CHEM 162, FNDT 356).
| Required Prerequisites prior to admission to Dental Hygiene–quarter system | ||
| BIOL 232 | HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS | 5 |
| BIOL 233 | HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS | 5 |
| BIOL 234 | HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY NON-BIOL MAJORS | 5 |
| BIOL 235 | ELEMENTARY MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY | 5 |
| CHEM 161 & 161L | GENERAL CHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES | 5 |
| CHEM 162 & 162L | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES | 5 |
| CHEM 163 & 163L | BIOCHEMISTRY FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES and BIOCHEMISTRY LAB FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES | 5 |
| ENGL 201 | COLLEGE COMPOSITION: ANALYSIS, RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION | 5 |
| FNDT 356 | NUTRITION | 5 |
| PSYC 100 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 5 |
| SOCI 263 | SOCIAL PROBLEMS | 5 |
| or SOCI 101 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | |
| Choose one course from the following | 4 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH COMMUNICATION | ||
| INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION | ||
| NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| INTERVIEWING | ||
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| GLOBAL COMMUNICATION | ||
| Total Credits | 59 | |
| Major Requirements for Dental Hygiene | ||
| Year One–fall semester | 17-18 | |
| HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY | ||
| DENTAL ANATOMY | ||
| HISTOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY | ||
| RADIOLOGY | ||
| PRE-CLINIC | ||
| DISEASE PREVENTION STRATEGIES | ||
| LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | ||
| Year One–spring semester | 15 | |
| PHARMACOLOGY | ||
| PERIODONTOLOGY I | ||
| MANAGEMENT OF MEDICALLY COMPROMISED | ||
| CLINIC I | ||
| RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY I | ||
| Year One–summer semester | 8 | |
| PAIN MANAGEMENT | ||
| CLINIC II | ||
| Year Two–fall semester | 18 | |
| GENERAL AND ORAL PATHOLOGY | ||
| SPECIAL POPULATIONS | ||
| PERIODONTOLOGY II | ||
| CLINIC III | ||
| DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH | ||
| RESEARCH | ||
| CLINICAL EDUCATION STRATEGIES | ||
| RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY II | ||
| Year Two–spring semester | 16 | |
| CLINIC IV | ||
| STRATEGIES IN RISK AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT | ||
| EXPERIENCES IN DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH | ||
| RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY III | ||
| PRINCIPLES OF ADVOCACY AND ETHICS | ||
| DENTAL HYGIENE CAPSTONE | ||
| Total Credits | 74-75 | |
Plan of Study
The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.
Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| CHEM 161 & 161L (Natural Science BACR 1) | 5 | CHEM 162 & 162L (Natural Science BACR 2) | 5 | CHEM 163 & 163L | 5 |
| ENGL 101 | 5 | ENGL 201 | 5 | FNDT 356 | 5 |
| MATH 107 | 5 | PSYC 100 (Social Science BACR 1) | 5 | Humanities & Arts BACR 11 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall Quarter | Credits | Winter Quarter | Credits | Spring Quarter | Credits |
| BIOL 232 | 5 | BIOL 233 | 5 | BIOL 234 | 5 |
| SOCI 263 (Global Studies - graduation requirement) | 5 | Communication Studies Elective2 | 5 | BIOL 235 | 5 |
| Social Science BACR 21 | 5 | Humanities & Arts 21 | 5 | Diversity - graduation requirement1 | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Total Credits 90 | |||||
| Third Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits | Summer Semester | Credits |
| DNHY 300S | 2 | DNHY 320S | 2 | DNHY 421S | 3 |
| DNHY 301S | 2 | DNHY 321S | 2 | DNHY 450S | 5 |
| DNHY 302S | 2 | DNHY 341S | 2 | ||
| DNHY 310S | 3 | DNHY 350S | 5 | ||
| DNHY 330S | 5 | DNHY 380S | 4 | ||
| DNHY 360S | 2 | ||||
| DNHY 477S | 1-2 | ||||
| 17-18 | 15 | 8 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits | ||
| DNHY 430S | 2 | DNHY 452S | 5 | ||
| DNHY 441S | 1 | DNHY 454S | 2 | ||
| DNHY 442S | 2 | DNHY 461S | 1 | ||
| DNHY 451S | 5 | DNHY 481S | 3 | ||
| DNHY 460S | 2 | DNHY 484S | 2 | ||
| DNHY 470S | 2 | DNHY 490S (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement) | 3 | ||
| DNHY 475S | 1 | ||||
| DNHY 480S | 3 | ||||
| 18 | 16 | ||||
| Total Credits 74-75 | |||||
- 1
University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.
- 2
Choose one CMST course from the approved list.
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
General Education Requirements (GER)
- Minimum Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
- 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
- 45 credits in residence (attendance) at Eastern, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at Eastern
- Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0
Breadth Area Core Requirements (BACR)
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
University Graduation Requirements (UGR)
Diversity Course List
World Language (for Bachelor of Arts)
Global Studies Course List
Minor or Certificate
Senior Capstone Course List
Application for Graduation (use EagleNET) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term you expect to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).
Use the Catalog Archives to determine two important catalog years.
Requirements in Degree Works are based on these two catalog years:
- The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Credit Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
- The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.
Students who earn a BS in Dental Hygiene from EWU should be able to:
- assess the role of the dental hygienist on an interprofessional health care team;
- create an electronic portfolio that validates successful attainment of the Eastern Washington University Dental Hygiene Core Competencies for Entry into the Profession of Dental Hygiene;
- demonstrate clinical competence through successful completion of all clinical requirements;
- develop programs that promote the health and well-being of a diverse society;
- integrate principles of leadership and advocacy in the professional roles of the dental hygienist;
- synthesize theoretical, experiential, and empirical knowledge from dental hygiene, scientific, and humanistic disciplines into the professional roles of the dental hygienist.