This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene requires two years of liberal arts study, with a minimum of 60 semester hours, followed by two years of study focusing on basic and dental sciences, dental hygiene science and theory, community health and pre-clinical and clinical experiences. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible for national, regional and state board licensing examinations. Classes enter once each year in the fall semester.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Demonstrate commitment to the legal and ethical practice of dental hygiene, demonstrating integrity, honesty and confidentiality with colleagues, patients and the community
- Demonstrate competence in interpersonal and communication skills and in the evaluation, synthesis and application of information and technology as resources in contemporary dental hygiene practice
- Systematically collect, accurately record and analyze data on the general, oral and psychosocial health status of a variety of patients using methods consistent with medico-ethico-legal principles
- Use critical-thinking and decision-making skills to reach conclusions about the patient’s dental hygiene treatment needs based on an analysis of all available assessment data and evidence from current scientific literature
- Collaborate with the patient, guardian and/or other health care professionals to formulate an individualized comprehensive dental hygiene care plan based on assessment findings and the dental hygiene diagnosis
- Provide and implement specialized care that includes educational, preventive and therapeutic services designed to minimize risk and optimize oral health as well as assist the patient in achieving and maintaining oral health goals
- Evaluate the outcomes of dental hygiene care, which occur throughout the process of care, and modify as necessary
- Initiate and assume responsibility for health promotion and disease prevention activities for diverse populations in a variety of settings
Special requirements
Admission requirements include two years of liberal arts study with a minimum of 60 semester hours of transferable quality academic course credits. By completing these 60 semester hours, students will complete the general education requirements of the degree. More information concerning the admission requirements for VCU students is located in the undergraduate study section of this Bulletin that describes the pre-health major in dental hygiene.
- GPA – A minimum GPA of 2.5 based on a 4.0 scale in the cumulative courses and a minimum GPA of 2.7 in math/sciences is required.
- English proficiency – To successfully complete the dental hygiene curriculum, students are required to communicate clearly (in English) with faculty, students, staff and patients. To assure such competence, the Dental Hygiene Program requires any applicant whose native language is not English and who has been educated primarily outside of the United States to submit official Test of English as a Foreign Language or International English Language Testing System scores. Applicants are required to submit an official score with the application packet. The test must have been taken within the past two years. The Dental Hygiene Program does not conditionally admit applicants who have not met the requirement for proof of English proficiency.
You may be exempt from this requirement if:- You have successfully completed 26 or more transferable semester credits at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution in the U.S. and have completed the full freshman English (non-ESL) requirement at that school with a minimum grade of C.
or - You have successfully completed 60 or more transferable semester credits at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution in the U.S.
- You have successfully completed 26 or more transferable semester credits at a two- or four-year postsecondary institution in the U.S. and have completed the full freshman English (non-ESL) requirement at that school with a minimum grade of C.
No student will be considered for admission until proof of English proficiency is determined.
TOEFL: VCU’s Dental Hygiene Program minimum TOEFL score requirements are 550 (paper), 213 (computer) or 80 (internet-based). For more information about TOEFL testing, go to www.ets.org.
IELTS: VCU’s Dental Hygiene Program minimum IELTS score requirement is 6.0.
Degree requirements for Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. 1 | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| DENH 301 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 5 |
| DENH 302 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 2 |
| DENH 312 | Community Oral Health Education and Promotion | 2 |
| DENH 327 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DENH 342 | Nutrition | 3 |
| DENH 347 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Summer Clinic | 2 |
| DENH 401 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 |
| DENH 402 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 2 |
| DENH 407 | Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene Practice | 2 |
| DENH 411 | Dental Public Health I | 2 |
| DENH 412 | Dental Public Health II | 2 |
| DENH 422 | Current Issues, the Law and Ethics | 2 |
| DENH 437 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 5 |
| DENH 447 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DENH 457 | Clinical Service-learning | 2 |
| DHBS 301 | Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Hygienists | 3 |
| DHBS 302 | Microscopic Anatomy | 2 |
| DHBS 341 | Pharmacology and Pain Control for Dental Hygiene | 4 |
| DHBS 365 | Infection and Immunity | 2 |
| GENP 302 | Dental Materials | 2 |
| GENP 311 | Oral Anatomy and Occlusion | 3 |
| IPEC 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| ORPT 301 | Dental Radiology | 1 |
| ORPT 324 | Oral Pathology | 3 |
| ORSG 431 | Management of the Medically Compromised Dental Patient and Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office | 2 |
| PERI 326 | Periodontics I | 1 |
| PERI 329 | Periodontics II | 2 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| Additional subjects and credits required for admission 1 | 39 | |
English (6-9 credits) | ||
General biology with laboratory (3-5 credits) | ||
College chemistry with laboratory (3-5 credits) | ||
Anatomy with laboratory (3-5 credits) | ||
Physiology with laboratory (3-5 credits) | ||
Microbiology with laboratory (3-5 credits) | ||
Humanities (3 credits) | ||
Introductory sociology (3 credits) | ||
Introductory psychology (3 credits) | ||
Speech (3 credits) | ||
Statistics (3 credits) | ||
Visual or performing arts (3 credits) | ||
Electives | ||
| Total Hours | 128 | |
Some course work completed toward admission will also fulfill general education requirements. Admission to the program requires 60 credits.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 128.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Credits required for admission to program: 60
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| Courses taken toward admission to program | 15 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Courses taken toward admission to program | 15 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| Courses taken toward admission to program | 15 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| Courses taken toward admission to program | 15 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| DENH 301 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 5 |
| DHBS 301 | Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Hygienists | 3 |
| DHBS 302 | Microscopic Anatomy | 2 |
| DHBS 365 | Infection and Immunity | 2 |
| GENP 311 | Oral Anatomy and Occlusion | 3 |
| IPEC 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| ORPT 301 | Dental Radiology | 1 |
| PERI 326 | Periodontics I | 1 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| DENH 302 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 2 |
| DENH 327 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DENH 342 | Nutrition | 3 |
| DHBS 341 | Pharmacology and Pain Control for Dental Hygiene | 4 |
| ORPT 324 | Oral Pathology | 3 |
| PERI 329 | Periodontics II | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| DENH 312 | Community Oral Health Education and Promotion | 2 |
| DENH 347 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Summer Clinic | 2 |
| GENP 302 | Dental Materials | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| DENH 401 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 |
| DENH 407 | Evidence-Based Dental Hygiene Practice | 2 |
| DENH 411 | Dental Public Health I | 2 |
| DENH 437 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II (capstone) | 5 |
| DENH 457 | Clinical Service-learning 1 | - |
| ORSG 431 | Management of the Medically Compromised Dental Patient and Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| DENH 402 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 2 |
| DENH 412 | Dental Public Health II | 2 |
| DENH 422 | Current Issues, the Law and Ethics | 2 |
| DENH 447 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III (capstone) | 5 |
| DENH 457 | Clinical Service-learning 1 | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 13 | |
| Total Hours: | 128 | |
DENH 457 is a yearlong course with grade and credit assigned after completion of second semester.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 128.