Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree

PROGRAM CODE: 1S03787
Financial Aid Eligible

The Dental Hygiene Associate in Science Degree is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and has been granted the Accreditation status of approval without reporting. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. This program offers a curriculum that provides the student with the appropriate academic instruction to achieve eligibility for the National Board of Dental Hygiene Examiners written examination, and the Western Regional Examining Board Examination (WREB) for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist, qualifying the candidate as stipulated in the California Dental Practice Act. To earn an Associate Degree students must complete all graduation requirements to include: (1) all major course requirements with a grade of C or better; (2) Cypress College Native General Education requirements; California State University General Education Breadth requirements (CSU GE Breadth) or IGETC General Education requirements; (3) the cultural diversity and reading requirements; (4) any elective courses to complete a minimum of 60 units; and, (5) have a minimum GPA of 2.0. At least 50% of all major course work must be completed at Cypress College. Statement of Program Goals and Objectives The goal of the Dental Hygiene Program at Cypress College is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain (1) dental hygiene process of care knowledge, skills, and values, (2) a professional relationship with the community in which they serve, (3) a relationship amongst allied health care team, (4) professional knowledgeable of and compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, Law and Ethics, Dental Hygiene Board of California, and local regulatory guidelines, as well as (5) professional sensitivity to the autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence principles of ethical practice.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES 1. To educate dental hygiene students in the ethical, legal, and competent practice of dental hygiene. 2. To educate dental hygiene students in the areas of disease prevention and oral health promotion. 3. To facilitate dental hygiene student’s involvement in community projects. 4. To promote professional growth, development, and an appreciation for scholarly activity. 5. To ensure the dental hygiene student provides optimal patient care. 6. To qualify for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist, and a professional member of the allied health team.

MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR APPLICANTS 1. Eligibility for admission to Cypress College. 2. High school graduation or completion of the General Education Development (GED) test or passing of high school proficiency examination. 3. Minimum of 17 years of age to apply. Must be 18 years age to start the program. 4. A minimum of 2.5 GPA in ALL college work attempted and a 3.0 GPA in the science prerequisites. Official transcript of all colleges are required. 5. Evidence of "good" physical and mental health as determined by medical examination upon admission to the program and prior to enrollment. 6. Three (3) Science courses must be completed prior to application. See list below. 7. Three (3) General Education courses must be completed prior to application. 8. All applicants accepted to the program are required to attend a mandatory orientation. 9. All accepted and alternate applicants are required to pass DH 100C Introduction to Dental Hygiene.

PREREQUISITES The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C and an overall GPA of 3.0. 1. Science: All courses must be completed within five years of filing the initial application. Four courses must be completed prior to application; the remainder must be completed no later than the end of the spring semester prior to enrollment in the fall program. Required courses are listed in suggested sequence: Course # Title Units CHEM 101 C Introduction to Chemistry 5 or equivalent (5) CHEM 201 C BioChemistry (4) BIOL 220 C Medical Microbiology 4 BIOL 230 C General Anatomy 4 BIOL 240 C Human Physiology 5 2. In addition a minimum of three courses of the following related courses must be completed prior to application. All courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to fall enrollment into the program. PSY 101 C General Psychology 3 SOC 101 C Introduction to Sociology 3 COMM 100 C Human Communication 3 ENGL 100 C College Writing 3 Cultural Diversity 3 HRC 100 C Nutrition 3

ADDITIONAL COURSES The following courses are required for the Associate Degree must be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to fall enrollment into the program. MATH 040 C Intermediate Algebra or higher 4 Arts 3 Humanities 3 Physical Education (Activity) 1 Reading Proficiency 3

DENTAL HYGIENE CURRICULUM Dental Hygiene courses must be taken in a specific sequence. Students must obtain a grade of C or better in all courses listed in the Dental Hygiene Curriculum to continue in the program. Refer to the General Education Requirement of the college to obtain an Associate Degree. Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene curriculum listed below and the general education requirements, the student will be eligible for an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene from Cypress College. To earn an Associate Degree students must complete all graduation requirements to include: (1) all major course requirements with a grade of C or better; (2) 25 units of General Education Graduation Requirements; (3) the cultural diversity and reading requirements; (4) any elective courses to complete a minimum of 60 units; and, (5) have a minimum GPA of 2.0. At least 50% of all major course work must be completed at Cypress College. The goal of the Dental Hygiene Program at Cypress College is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain (1) dental hygiene process of care knowledge, skills, and values, (2) a professional relationship with the community in which they serve, (3) a relationship amongst allied health care team, (4) professional knowledgeable of and compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, Law and Ethics, Dental Hygiene Board of California, and local regulatory guidelines, as well as (5) professional sensitivity to the autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence principles of ethical practice.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES 1. To educate dental hygiene students in the ethical, legal, and competent practice of dental hygiene. 2. To educate dental hygiene students in the areas of disease prevention and oral health promotion. 3. To facilitate dental hygiene student’s involvement in community projects. 4. To promote professional growth, development, and an appreciation for scholarly activity. 5. To ensure the dental hygiene student provides optimal patient care. 6. To qualify for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist, and a professional member of the allied health team.

MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR APPLICANTS 1. Eligibility for admission to Cypress College. 2. High school graduation or completion of the General Education Development (GED) test or passing of high school proficiency examination. 3. GPA of 2.5 or higher in all college work completed. 4. Evidence of good physical and mental health as determined by medical examination upon admission to the program and prior to enrollment. 5. Completion of specific science courses with a grade of C or better and overall GPA of 3.0. See list below. 6. Completion of specific general education courses prior to application.

PREREQUISITES The following courses must be completed with a grade of C or better and an overall GPA of 3.0. 1. Science: All courses must be completed within five years of filing the initial application. Four courses must be completed prior to application; the remainder must be completed no later than the end of the spring semester prior to enrollment in the fall program. This degree requires a total of 60.5 units.

*Optional Electives (If Offered): DH 275 C & 276 C (1 UNIT)

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

OUTCOME 1: Be able to provide patients with dental hygiene process of care in disease prevention and oral health promotion utilizing knowledge, skills, and values.

OUTCOME 2: Serve in professional relationships within the community in which they serve.

OUTCOME 3: Participate in a relationship amongst the allied health care team.

OUTCOME 4: Be prepared to provide professional knowledge of and compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, Law and Ethics, Dental Hygiene Board of California, and local regulatory guidelines.

OUTCOME 5: Adhere to professional sensitivity to the patient’s autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence principles of ethical practice.

https://www.curricunet.com/Cypress/reports/program_report.cfm?programs_id=1546

Program Goals

The goal of the Dental Hygiene Program at Cypress College is to provide the student with the educational opportunity to attain:

1. dental hygiene process of care knowledge, skills, and values,
2. a professional relationship with the community in which they serve,
3. a relationship amongst allied health care team,
4. professional knowledgeable of and compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, Law and Ethics, Dental Hygiene Board of California, and local regulatory guidelines, as well as
5. professional sensitivity to the autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence principles of ethical practice.

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Program Objectives

1. To educate dental hygiene students in the ethical, legal, and competent practice of dental hygiene.
2. To educate dental hygiene students in the areas of disease prevention and oral health promotion.
3. To facilitate dental hygiene student’s involvement in community projects.
4. To promote professional growth, development, and an appreciation for scholarly activity.
5. To ensure the dental hygiene student provides optimal patient care.
6. To qualify for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist, and a professional member of the allied health team.

Minimum Standards for Applicants

1. Eligibility for admission to Cypress College.
2. High school graduation or completion of the General Education Development (GED) test or passing of high school proficiency examination.
3. Minimum of 17 years of age to apply. Must be 18 years age to start the program.
4. A minimum of 2.5 GPA in ALL college work attempted and a 3.0 GPA in the science prerequisites. Official transcript of all colleges are required.
5. Evidence of "good" physical and mental health as determined by medical examination upon admission to the program and prior to enrollment.
6. Three (3) Science courses must be completed prior to application. See list below.
7. Three (3) General Education courses must be completed prior to application.
8. All applicants accepted to the program are required to attend a mandatory orientation.
9. All accepted and alternate applicants are required to pass DH 100C Introduction to Dental Hygiene.

Prerequisites

The following courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C and an overall GPA of 3.0. 1. Science: All courses must be completed within five years of filing the initial application. Four courses must be completed prior to application; the remainder must be completed no later than the end of the spring semester prior to enrollment in the fall program.

Selection Procedure

“Applications normally exceed capacity. Selection of applicants is based on GPA of Science prerequisite courses, GPA of General Education courses used within application will be used in the event there is a tie in GPA of Science prerequisite courses, Application Reference Number (determined by date and time of electronically submitted application) will be used in the event there is a tie in GPA of General Education courses. Criteria are subject to change. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify that evidence of criteria is on file at Cypress College.” 

Application Procedures

1. Applications must be completed online during the month of February. Please see the Health Science Application link on the Dental Hygiene home page, or visit http://www.cypresscollege.edu/academics/divisions-special-programs/health-science. 
2. Applicants must submit official transcripts (except Cypress and Fullerton Colleges) and signature page of application in person to the Health Science Applications office by March 15. Please bring photo identification: Health Science Applications Office, Health Science Building, Cypress College, 9200 Valley View Street, Cypress, California 90630-5897.

Dental Hygiene Curriculum

Dental Hygiene courses must be taken in a specific sequence. Students must obtain a grade of C or better in all courses listed in the Dental Hygiene Curriculum to continue in the program. Refer to the General Education Requirement of the college to obtain an Associate Degree.

Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene curriculum listed below and the general education requirements, the student will be eligible for an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene from Cypress College. To earn an Associate Degree students must complete all graduation requirements to include:

1. all major course requirements with a grade of C or better;
2. 25 units of General Education Graduation Requirements;
3. the cultural diversity and reading requirements;
4. any elective courses to complete a minimum of 60 units; and,
5. have a minimum GPA of 2.0.