What Will You Study? Dental Hygiene Degree Curriculum Overview
The following are just some examples of the exciting courses that the Dental Hygiene major offers:
- Oral Pathology
- Radiology
- Community Health
- Medical Emergencies
- Pharmacology
- Pain Management
To see the full curriculum, .
Career Paths for Dental Hygiene Majors
Equipped with the critical thinking skills developed as part of your liberal arts foundation, your theoretical knowledge of dental hygiene, and the practical and interpersonal expertise you acquire through clinical work with patients and other health care professionals, you will be well on your way to a rewarding career as a dental hygienist. You may work in clinical or administrative roles in corporate, nonprofit, educational, or public health settings, such as:
- Private Dental Practices
- Health Service Corps
- Clinics and Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Private Businesses (Sales and Development)
- Schools
- Public Health Agencies
Scope of Practice
Dental hygienists work in a host of different settings and under varying levels of supervision. Each state enacts its own laws determining the services dental hygienists can provide, the settings in which they can practice, and the supervision under which they practice.
Permitted functions and supervision requirements vary widely by state. To verify any of these requirements contact your state’s dental board. The Oral Health Workforce Research Center also offer an interesting overview of the variation in dental hygiene scope of practice by state.
Career Advising in the Dental Hygiene Program
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
Dental Hygiene Careers By The Numbers
expected rate of dental hygienist job growth from 2016 to 2026
New hygienist jobs expected to open in U.S. between 2016 and 2026
Experiential Education in Dental Hygiene
- Gain knowledge, skills, and confidence
- Practice technique in the Dental Simulation Lab
- Serve a diverse population at the on-campus Coleman Clinic
- Provide a wide range of patient services
Medical Emergency Training for Dental Hygiene Students
Dental Hygiene students work with Dental Medicine students in the Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center training for medical emergencies.
Interprofessional Education
As a student in Թϱ’s Dental Hygiene program, you have the unique opportunity to collaborate with students in a wide range of different health professions programs to provide quality, patient-centered care. You will continue to use these interprofessional team-based learning skills in your clinical workplace after you graduate. Reap the personal and professional benefits of graduating from one of only a handful of private universities with a comprehensive health care mission.
No matter your major there's always a chance to learn something new and use it in your professional career. We all want to help others, and learning from one another is the best way to do so.” — Baylee Flemming, RDH ’21
