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, or Megan Cargile, Program Specialist.
Please 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).
| 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 MICROBIOLOG | 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 |
| INTRODUCTION TO SPEECH COMMUNICATION | |
| INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | |
| SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION | |
| NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION | |
| INTERVIEWING | |
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | |
| GLOBAL COMMUNICATION | |
| Total Credits | 59 |
| HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY | |
| DENTAL ANATOMY | |
| HISTOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY | |
| RADIOLOGY | |
| PRE-CLINIC | |
| DISEASE PREVENTION STRATEGIES | |
| LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | |
| PHARMACOLOGY | |
| PERIODONTOLOGY I | |
| MANAGEMENT OF MEDICALLY COMPROMISED | |
| CLINIC I | |
| RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY I | |
| PAIN MANAGEMENT | |
| CLINIC II | |
| GENERAL AND ORAL PATHOLOGY | |
| SPECIAL POPULATIONS | |
| PERIODONTOLOGY II | |
| CLINIC III | |
| DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH | |
| RESEARCH | |
| CLINICAL EDUCATION STRATEGIES | |
| RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY II | |
| 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 | 76 |
University Competencies and Proficiencies
English
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning
Placement and Clearance
Prior Learning/Sources of Credit AP, CLEP, IB
- 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
Humanities and Arts
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Diversity Course List
Foreign 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.
Degree Works calculates 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.
