Dental Hygiene (Bachelor of Science)

Total Credits:	30
Credential:	Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Program Code:	SCI.DHYG.BDEG
CIP:	51.0602

Overview

The Dental Hygiene Degree program builds students’ professional capacity and accountability as primary healthcare providers, preparing graduates to play an essential leadership role in oral health promotion and disease prevention.

Graduates are prepared for business ownership as dental hygiene practitioners and to practice collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team in a wide range of settings. Solidly grounded in theory, science, and scholarship, students develop their ability to practice the art and science of dental hygiene.

Students develop the leadership skills, attitudes, and values necessary to provide person-centered oral health education and therapeutic services to the general public, including underserved and vulnerable populations and those with complex health care needs.

Students explore how to provide culturally inclusive, safe, and respectful oral health care, including consideration of Indigenous and traditional ways of knowing and being.

In addition to using research to inform and support autonomous decision-making, students engage in scholarship of the discipline of dental hygiene through critical analysis and evaluation of research methods and results, as well as examination of current and emerging issues.

Students acquire the skills necessary to navigate and advocate for public policy in order to reduce inequities in oral health status and improve access to dental hygiene services for individuals, groups, and communities.

Graduates are prepared for increasing opportunities for private dental hygiene practice ownership by gaining a solid foundation in business practices.

Employment and career opportunities are extensive, with opportunities for graduates to become private dental hygiene practice owners, expert clinicians, researchers, educators, public health professionals, health advocates, and administrators.

Admissions

One of:

Completion of a two-year Dental Hygiene diploma and thirty (30) 100 level or higher credits from a recognized post-secondary institution.
Completion of a three-year Dental Hygiene diploma

All of:

A National Dental Hygiene Certification Board Exam Certificate
Submission of a Personal Profile.

Admissions process:

Admission to the BSc in Dental Hygiene is a competitive entry program. The program ranks students according to overall Dental Hygiene diploma GPA and score on the personal profile.

Applications are evaluated in two phases. Applicants will first be evaluated on their Dental Hygiene diploma GPA after which applicants with the highest Dental Hygiene diploma GPA are invited to submit their personal profile. Specific instructions and criteria for the personal profile will be communicated at that time.

Applicants with the highest combined GPA and personal profile score are offered seats in the program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the learner will be able to

Practice autonomously and professionally as a dental hygiene practitioner in a variety of settings
Effectively integrate business and entrepreneurial concepts and principles into private dental hygiene business
Critically analyse and integrate research results and methodologies to address complex oral and overall health needs within dental hygiene practice
Make autonomous and evidence-informed decisions based on knowledge of behavioural, social, and biological sciences to support private dental hygiene practice
Effectively communicate information in multiple forms, accurately and reliably to a range of audiences, including interdisciplinary teams
Demonstrate leadership in the delivery and enhancement of oral health services to manage complex oral health needs and outcomes of individuals, groups, communities, and populations as part of an interdisciplinary health care team
Collaborate effectively with partners and organizations to improve oral health and wellness outcomes of individuals, groups, communities, and populations
Advocate at a policy level to reduce inequities in oral health status and to increase access to oral health services and resources for individuals, groups, communities, and populations

Curriculum

Academic Term One

The Degree of Bachelor of Science Dental Hygiene Major

All of:

DHYG 410 - Critical Research Analysis Credits: 3
DHYG 411 - Principles and Practices of Dental Hygiene Business 1 Credits: 3
DHYG 423 - Health Policy and Advocacy Credits: 3
Two (2) electives 100-level or higher course Credits: 6 *

Note:

* PHIL 250 and BUS 150 recommended

Academic Term Two

All of:

DHYG 421 - Principles and Practices of Dental Hygiene Business 2 Credits: 3
DHYG 424 - Current and Emerging Issues in Dental Hygiene Credits: 3
Three (3) electives 100-level or higher Credits: 9 **

Note:

** ACCT 161 , BUS 280 , PHIL 330 recommended

Program Participation Requirements

Students must provide evidence of their immunization status. Students are highly recommended to maintain current immunizations as per the Practice Education Guidelines of B.C. Recommended immunizations are found on the Health Sciences Placement Network of Canada website by searching for immunization guidelines. Failure to comply with immunization guidelines could result in the health care organization or the College barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until proof of immunity is provided and/or until a communicable disease outbreak is declared over. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement and/or a clinical/community rotation.
The Provincial Practice Education Guidelines may require students to complete the BC Provincial Violence Prevention Training prior to clinical/practicum placements. This training will occur during the program. Students will be notified in sufficient time for the training to occur and this training will be provided by a third party. Students will be responsible for any associated costs. Failure to comply with this training could result in the health care organization, community partner or the college barring the individual from the clinical/practicum setting until required training is completed. This could impact a student’s ability to successfully complete the clinical/practicum placement. Violence prevention training from other provinces does not transfer in and meet the requirements.

Program Completion Requirements

A minimum grade of C is required in all courses with an overall GPA of ‘C+’.
The program must be complete within five years.