The MSDH program is currently on hold and not enrolling new students at this time. 

The MSDH program offers opportunities for licensed dental hygienists who desire a graduate degree and have a baccalaureate degree. Our graduate program prepares graduates to assume roles in various employment environments and provides them with the tools to initiate as well as to adapt to change.

Course work is designed to promote advanced communication and interpersonal skills, critical and reflective thinking, evidence-based decision making, problem-solving, technology and information literacy, interprofessional collaboration, scholarly inquiry and application, ethical and professional behavior, and the value of lifelong learning.

Graduate education in dental hygiene is imperative for developing a cadre of dental hygiene professionals who lead the profession and assume leadership roles in health care and education, as well as the development of scholars to participate in the generation and dissemination of original research. Dental hygiene graduate education is based on a body of knowledge that is specific to the roles of the dental hygienist. To that end, students with faculty mentorship complete a practicum experience and a research project based on their chosen interest.  

Admission Requirements For MSDH Program

1. Cumulative undergraduate GPA ≥3.0.
2. Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene or related area from an accredited dental hygiene program in the U.S. or Canada. (Bachelor of Applied Sciences and Bachelor of Arts are considered on a case-by-case basis)
3. Successful completion of the Dental Hygiene National Board exam or its Canadian equivalent.
4. A current dental hygiene license in the U.S. or Canada.

In addition to the $75 university graduate application fee, there is an additional $50 departmental application fee. Applications to the Department of Dental Hygiene are not considered until they are processed in the EWU Graduate Studies Office and a copy of the transcript evaluation is sent from Graduate Studies to the Department of Dental Hygiene.

Please visit the Dental Hygiene department web page for further information.

Note: this program is currently not accepting new students.

Required Courses
DNHY 505S	HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP	3
DNHY 520S	RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND SCHOLARLY WRITING	3
DNHY 525S	DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH SEMINAR	2
DNHY 526S	DENTAL HYGIENE RESEARCH SEMINAR	2
DNHY 535S	RESEARCH METHODOLGIES AND APPLIED STATISTICS	3
DNHY 601S	DNHY GRADUATE PORTFOLIO	2
DNHY 605S	COMPONENTS OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT	2
DNHY 610S	HEALTHCARE EDUCATION THEORIES AND INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS	2
DNHY 615S	PRINCIPLES OF DENTAL HYGIENE COURSE AND CURRICULUM DESIGN	3
DNHY 620S	SEMINAR ON CONCEPTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH PROMOTION	2
DNHY 625S	CLINICAL TEACHING STRATEGIES	2
DNHY 630S	SEMINAR ON HEALTHCARE POLICIES AND FINANCE	2
DNHY 635S	PRACTICUM	5
DNHY 640S	SEMINAR ON ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION	2
Total Credits		35

Students who successfully earn a Master of Science In Dental Hygiene from EWU should be able to do the following:

• demonstrates the skills needed as a leader in the profession and community;
• complete a research project using a scholarly inquiry approach to a research topic of their own choosing; 
• use a global perspective to reflect on their ability to meet their full potential as a graduate dental hygienist.