Dental Education
Dental Hygiene
The dental hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. IU Northwest's Dental Hygene Program is located in the Dunes Medical / Professional Building.
Mission Statement of Commission on Dental Accreditation:
The Comission of Dental Accreditation serves the public by establishing, maintaining and applying standards that ensure the quality and continuous improvement of dental and dental related education and reflect the evolving practice of dentistry. The scope of the Commission on Dental Accrediation encompasses dental, advanced dental and allied dental education programs.
Degree:
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Bachelor of Science Completion Degree in Dental Hygiene
Academic Features:
There are two options: An entry level Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene for non-hygienists and a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene completion option for hygienists holding an Associate of Science degree. A minimum of 125 credit hours is required, including 64 general education credit hours and 61 professional credit hours specific to the major, for a minimum of 125 credit hours.
The courses that compose the degree are pre-requisite and professional courses required by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and general education courses required by Indiana University Northwest.
Entry Level Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (125 credits)
S121 Public Speaking (3) P101 Introductory Psychology (3)
A106 Introduction to Computing (3) or C106 Introduction to Computers
and Their Use (3)
P261 Human Anatomy & P262 Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4)
Physiology I (4) P130 Human Biology (4)
M200 Microorganism in Nature and B215 Nutrition for Health Professionals (3)
Disease (4) W231 Professional Writing Skills (3)
C102 Chemistry II (3) K300 Statistical Techniques (3)
M100 Basic Mathematics (4) P201 Urban Public Health (3)
Cultural and Historical Studies Elective (3) Arts and Humanities Electives (6)
Professional Education Courses (61 credit hours)
H211 Head and Neck Anatomy (2) H214 Oral Anatomy (3)
H218 Fundamentals of Dental H217 Preventive Dentistry (2)
Hygiene (4) H303 Dental Radiology (2)
H205 Medical and Dental Emergencies (1)
H219 Clinical Practice I (4) H224 Oral Histology and Embryology (1)
H242 Introduction to Dentistry (1) H308 Dental Materials (2)
H305 Radiology Clinic I (1) H221 Summer Clinical Dental Hygiene
Procedures (3)
H220 Summer Radiology Clinic (1) H204 Periodontics (1)
H215 Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2) H304 Oral Pathology (2)
H311 Dental Health Education (2) H301 Clinical Practice II (5)
H321 Periodontics (2) H306 Radiology Clinic II (1)
H250 Local Anesthesia (2) H347 Community Dental Hygiene (3)
H320 Practice Management, Ethics H302 Clinical Practice III (5)
and Jurisprudence (2)
H344 Senior Hygiene Seminar (1) H307 Radiology Clinic III (1)
H351 Advanced Clinical Procedures (2) H402 Practicum in Dental Hygiene
Education (Capstone) (3)
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Completion Degree (128 credit hours)
Prior Credit: Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene Prerequisites (35 credit hours)
Prior Credit: Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene Professional (62 credit hours)
General Education Courses (22 credit hours)
M100 Basic Mathematics (4) P201 Urban Public Health (3)
K300 Statistical Techniques (3) W231 Professional Writing Skills (3)
Arts and Humanities Electives (6) Cultural and Historical Elective (3)
Professional Education Courses (9 credit hours)
H351 Adv. Dental Hygiene Education (3) H402 Practicum in Dental Hygiene (3)
H403 Advanced Community Dental Hygiene (4)
Students who do not enter the degree completion program with at least a total of 90 semester hours, but who have met all the other prerequisite qualification, may need to take additional credit hours to accrue the minimum total college credit hours necessary to award the Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene from IU Northwest.
Degree:
Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene
Academic Features:
The dental hygiene program requires one year of prescribed liberal arts courses. This freshmen year may be taken at any accredited college or university.
A total of 35 credit hours must be completed with required courses including:
- W131 - English Composition (3 credits)
- C101 - Chemistry (3 credits)
- C121 - Chemistry Lab (2 credits)
- P101 - Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
- S161 - Sociology (3 credits)
- S122 - Interpersonal Communication (3 credits) or S121 - Public Speaking (3 credits)
- A106 - Introduction to Computing (3 credits) or C106 - Introduction to Computers and Their Use (3 credits)
- P261 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 credits)
- P262 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 credits)
- M200 - Microorganism in Nature and Disease (4 credits) (prerequisite Fall 2008 )
- One Elective - (3 credits) examples below:
- Foreign Language
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Ceramics
- Photography
The courses may NOT be taken on a pass/fail option. Courses taken at other institutions must be approved for credit transfer by the Indiana University Northwest Admissions office, (219) 980-6821. All prerequisites courses must show a grade of C or above to be accepted as credit by Indiana University Northwest Dental Hygiene Program. Remedial courses cannot be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements.
After acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program, the student attends two years (five semesters) of courses designed to provide the educational and clinical training necessary for the practice of dental hygiene. The program course descriptions explain details of our courses.
Program Special Features:
The Dental Hygiene Program at Indiana University Northwest is fully accredited. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the written National Board Examination and upon successful completion, can take The Northeast Regional Board (NERB) examination. After successful completion, the student is eligible for licensure in the state of indiana.
Graduates of the Dental Hygiene Program can pursue a Baccalaureate Degree in General Studies through the Division Continuing Studies, Bachelor of Science in Helath Services Management thorugh the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Sciences; and Baccalaureate Degree in Health Occupational Education through IUPUI.
Accreditations:
Accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of theAmerican Dental Association, a specialized accreditation body recognized by the Council of Post Secondary Education and by the United States Department of Education.
Career Options:
Employment opportunities are available in private dental practice (general or specialty), hospitals, educational institutions, business, and federal, state and community clinics.
