Program:
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene is a degree completion program for those who already possess an Associate level degree in dental hygiene from an accredited U.S. institution. It consists of a total of 126 credits, building on the foundational knowledge and skills possessed by the Associate level trained dental hygienist. The program is interdisciplinary, consisting of six upper level dental hygiene courses, as well as three tracts of 12 credits each, in the areas of : Education; Public Health; and Business.

The majority of the course work in the three tracts consists of courses already taught by their respective departments.

The program is intended to help dental hygienists attain their personal, career and educational goals, whether they remain in private practice or enter related areas of the profession. It is intended to further develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and help address the ever growing knowledge base and changing oral health care delivery avenues. Further, the degree can be used towards exploration of, and/or as a step towards, acceptance into graduate level programs and research.

Program Objectives:

1. Graduates will be able to expand and develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
2. Graduates will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to their everyday practice and/or career development.
3. Graduates will be able to identify future changes in the profession and formulate appropriate strategies to adapt to them.
4. Graduates will be able to discuss the major current, and future, issues in oral care delivery to include cultural, economic and societal factors.
5. Graduates will be able to comprehend and apply their knowledge of learning/developmental theories to the education of their patients and community.

Length of Program:
The student will be required to complete the program in three academic years, beginning with the first fall semester they are officially in the program. It is expected that many students will be able to complete the program in one or two academic years on a part-time student basis, depending on their course load, previous work completed and individual life circumstances.

Admission/Application requirements to the BS in Dental Hygiene Program:
Admission to the program requires a separate admission process from that of applying to UVU.

1. Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program in the U.S. with an Associate level degree. The degree must be acceptable and transferable to the USHE higher education system.
2. A minimum of 3.0 GPA in the Associate level dental hygiene program.
3. A letter of intent stating why the applicant would like to attend the program.
4. An interview, for non-UVU dental hygiene graduates, will also be required.

Admission to UVU does not constitute admission to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene completion program.

Admission/Selection Procedure:
Applicants must complete an official UVU Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program completion application. To request application materials you may e-mail henderjo@uvsc.edu call the department at (801) 863-7536, or visit our administrative office in room 203 of the Browning Administration building.

Applications will be available, and will be accepted, beginning February 25, 2008. The application, and all application materials, must be completed and postmarked or hand-delivered by the application deadline of August 15, 2008.

The application materials consist of:

1. An official completed Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene completion program application.
2. Official transcripts showing the applicant´s dental hygiene education, grades, degree awarded, etc.
3. All other official college transcripts.
4. Letter of intent.

Selection of Applicants:
Applicants must satisfy the above minimum requirements. The GPA of their dental hygiene degree will be determined. Results of the interview and letter of intent will also be evaluated. Admission points will be assigned on the basis of these factors. A list generated based on the admission points will be used to determine admission.

It is the applicant´s responsibility to make sure that their application file is complete and all required materials have been received by the application deadline date. Please call our department at (801) 863-7536 to make sure that application materials were received by the department, as well as to ask any questions you may have about the application process and/or your application.

All applicants will be notified by mail, no phone requests please, of their admission status, (accepted/not accepted).

Transfer of Credits:
For information regarding transfer of credits from other institutions of higher learning for general education and required courses, other than dental hygiene courses, please contact the UVU transfer credit office at (801) 863-8438. The Department will evaluate each applicant´s previous dental hygiene courses.

Program Costs:
Student costs for the program will be based on UVU tuition and fees. Contact the UVU admission office for the current tuition and fee rates.

Professionalism:
Professionalism is an integral part of being a dental hygienist. The Department of Dental Hygiene expects professional conduct by the applicant and student at all times. As such, any serious lapse in professional conduct by the applicant or student may make the applicant ineligible for acceptance into the program or may be cause for dismissal from the program, if already a student.

The student will be informed of additional departmental policies following admission to the program.

The Curriculum Plan of 2008:
The program consists of 126 credits, your previous course work, including your Associate level dental hygiene degree, will be evaluated for acceptance towards the 126 credits. As of 2008, all UVU Bachelor degree candidates, who begin their Bachelor level degree in 2008 or later, will be required to take a global involvement course to meet graduation requirements. Three of the nine elective credits should be in one of the official global involvement courses.

Upon acceptance, each student will meet with the Department and design a timetable and course sequence plan to be followed.

Emphases or Tracts:
There are three tracts for the student to choose from, depending on what their individual interests and future plans may be. Each tract consists of four courses of three credits each for a total of 12 credits.