Associate in Science Degree

(88 Credit Hours)

Program Director

Kimberly G. Bastin, CDA, EFDA, CRDH, MS
941-752-5245, Bradenton
BastinK@SCF.edu / DentalHygiene@SCF.edu

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the dental hygiene program is to provide an engaging learning environment for the education of oral health professionals who will provide ethical and comprehensive dental hygiene care for the community. The program will foster the maturation of technical, communication and critical thinking skills in the development of excellent clinicians, oral health educators and lifelong learners. The program is designed to meet the need of the community by maintaining an industry current facility and a curriculum that supports the current standards of dental hygiene practice.

Program Goals

• The program will provide the students with engaging educational and clinical opportunities that promote entry level competency in dental hygiene practice.
• The program will meet the needs of the community and the curriculum will reflect the current standards of dental hygiene practice.
• The program will provide an accessible educational environment that encourages ethical practice, professional leadership, self-assessment, effective communication, critical thinking and lifelong learning.
• The program will participate in ongoing activities to maintain the standards of accreditation, at the highest level, with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Illustrate ethics, professional development, and life-long learning.
• Employ quality patient care.
• Demonstrate education of individuals and groups.

Program Entrance Requirements

In addition to the admission requirements of the College, the following are requirements for admission into the Dental Hygiene Program:

1. Earned grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or better in ALL general education courses required by the program toward the degree, and a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 to meet graduation requirements.
2. Satisfactory completion of any remedial coursework needed to be eligible for college level courses.
   NOTE: Prerequisite courses may be required for ENC 1101  and mathematics requirement. These prerequisites MUST be taken PRIOR to entry into the Dental Hygiene Program. Consult the course descriptions in the Catalog or the specific department of the College for additional information.
3. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better by the end of the Fall term prior to the year to which you are applying.
   Prerequisite courses:
   BSC 2085 - Anatomy and Physiology I , BSC 2085L- Anatomy and Physiology I Lab  
   CHM 1020C - The Chemistry of Everyday Life 
   Any Mathematics, Area II, A.S. MAC 1105 - College Algebra  OR STA 2023 - Elementary Statistics  preferred
4. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all courses applied toward the dental hygiene degree.
5. A completed application for the Dental Hygiene Program with supporting documentation of residence and the nonrefundable application fee of $35. (A separate application is required for admission to the College.)

Upon acceptance, the following are required:

1.  A statement of satisfactory physical and mental health from a licensed physician or nurse practitioner (form to be provided).
2. Background checks, fingerprinting, CPR certification, and health and drug screenings to meet local health care agency regulations. Based on the results of these checks and screenings, students may become ineligible for program admission. Continuation in the program is based on acceptable results from random/ongoing screenings and background checks. Clinical facilities may limit or prohibit students with positive drug screen results or criminal histories from participating in clinical experiences, thus making the student ineligible to continue in the program. Students are responsible for all fees incurred with these checks and screenings.
3. Successful completion of Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider (American Heart Association) CPR course. To ensure that certification remains valid throughout the duration of the program, students will complete the course together during the first semester of the program.
4. Mandatory attendance at the Dental Hygiene Program orientation (date to be announced)

Students are admitted to the Dental Hygiene Program once a year with classes beginning in the Summer term. This is a limited enrollment program. Completion of all or part of the general academic courses required for the degree does not guarantee acceptance into the program. However, priority is given to applicants who have completed the most required hours of coursework toward the degree by the end of the Fall term preceding the year for which the applicant is applying. If there are more qualified applicants than seats available in the program, the GPA of the general education courses required by the program will be the determining criteria for acceptance into the program along with any previous dental experience as outlined in the detailed application instructions.

For additional program and admission information, check the website at scf.edu/DentalHygiene.