Dental Hygiene

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene degree prepares students to become primary care oral health professionals. A licensed dental hygienist may provide education, assessment, diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services, research, and administrative services that support overall health through the promotion of optimal oral health. Hygienists may be employed in general or specialty dental practice in private or public healthcare settings. The program also prepares students for university transfer.

The dental hygiene program offers a rigorous, intensive, science-based curriculum. Students will provide services in clinical settings and will develop a commitment to the community through offsite educational and enrichment experiences serving diverse populations. Successful students will develop and demonstrate critical thinking, as well as ethical and professional behaviors required by the field.

Applicants should possess hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, attention to detail, and the ability to persevere through a rigorous academic and clinical full-time program workload. Students in an MCCCD Dental Hygiene program will be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. The program strictly adheres to established policies and procedures regarding infection control as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association, the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2637; (312) 440-4653) grants accreditation to the ��ϲ�ȫ��ͼ��, Rio Salado College, and Mesa Community College programs. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. Graduates are eligible for board examinations and licensure in all fifty states.

Details

Field of Interest

Health Sciences

Degree Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Academic Plan

Dental Hygiene (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

3831

Total credits required

96-115.5

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Effective Term

Fall 2023

Admissions criteria

High school diploma or GED equivalency is required.
Completion of program prerequisites.
Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
Acknowledgement of ability to fully participate in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
Formal application and acceptance to the program is required.

After being placed in the program, the following are required:
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
Complete and submit the required proof of immunity and health declaration form signed by a licensed health care provider.
Submit to a drug screening and demonstrate negative results.
Submit current CPR card for Health Care Provider and maintain current status throughout the program.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25 or better as indicated in the Program Prerequisites.
Basic Science courses must have been completed within the last five years upon application submission or as determined by the Dental Health Professions Instructional Council.
Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in the Required Courses area within the core program.
Students should consult with an advisor prior to applying to the program.

For students pursuing a Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) or to complete an AGEC-A: MHL155 and PHI213 are recommended for the Humanities, Arts and Design area for a total of 6 credits in this area.
COM225 with the [L] designation is recommended for the Oral Communication area. PSY101 and SOC101 are recommended for the Social Behavioral area.
MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142, MAT145 or MAT146 or higher level is required for the Mathematics area.
An additional course, MAT206 or PSY230 or PSY230WL, is required to meet the Computer/Statistics area.

Note: Total credits to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene through NAU as part of the CEP program are 124-129. Some of the courses listed in the prerequisites area are for students pursuing the CEP, and thus are not counted as part of the AAS total program credits.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of oral health care.
Systematically assess comprehensive data on the general and oral health needs of patients from diverse populations.
Use critical decision making to interpret data and create a dental hygiene diagnosis.
Design and present a patient-centered dental hygiene care plan utilizing evidence-based research and professional standards.
Implement comprehensive dental hygiene services to achieve and maintain patients optimal health.
Evaluate the outcome of dental hygiene care during active and maintenance treatment phases and refer to appropriate healthcare providers if indicated.
Record accurate, consistent, and complete documentation throughout the process of care.
Employ effective interpersonal communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team in a culturally competent, ethical, and professional manner.
Practice professional and ethical behaviors as accepted by healthcare professionals.
Demonstrate self-assessment and self-regulation strategies for lifelong learning.
Advocate for healthy communities through the provision of community-based preventive and therapeutic oral healthcare services.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Dental Hygienists

$91,280 Show expanded career information for Dental Hygienists

* Wage information sourced from the . Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester. See your Academic Advisor or visit NAU's website for more information about the .

Term 1 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
or	or	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in or or ) or (B or better in ) or ( & Corequisites: or or or ) or ( & Corequisites: or or or ). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in or or ) or (B or better in ) or ( & Corequisites: or or or ) or ( & Corequisites: or or or ).	Critical course	FYC or FYC	3
( and ) or	( and ) or	Prerequisites: C or better in [( or or or or higher or satisfactory math placement) and ( or , or higher or eligibility for as indicated by appropriate reading placement)] or permission of the Instructor. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: . or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(, or , or , or , or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory math placement) and (, or , or higher, or eligibility for as indicated by appropriate reading placement)], or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	OR Acceptable higher-level CHM course: AND OR OR AND OR OR AND OR OR AND OR OR AND OR . Students who have completed AND prior to Fall 2019 have fulfilled the CHM requirement for acceptance into the MCCCD Dental Hygiene program. AND completed Fall of 2019 or after, will no longer meet the MCCCD Dental Hygiene Application Admissions requirement as this class is being phased out. Please note that CHM 130 is required for participation in the CEP program through NAU.	SQ and SQ in combo w/ CHM130 or SQ	4
			Recommend for students pursuing the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) or to complete an .	SB	3
or	or				1–3

Term 2 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
or	or	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in . or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in .		FYC or FYC	3
		Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [( or ) and ( or or or or or )] or a grade of B or better in or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor.	Critical course OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment; Students who are exempt from must complete a course with an [L] designation if pursuing a CEP or to complete the . Exemptions for , recommend for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the to meet the Oral Communicati on and the Literacy [L] designation.	L	0–3
or	or	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in , or , or higher, or eligibility for . One year of high school or one-semester of college level chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in , or , or higher, or eligibility for . One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.	OR One year of High School biology.	SQ or SQ	0–4
			Recommend for students pursuing the CEP (or to complete an ) and selecting or to meet the [CS] designation.	SB	3
or or or or or	or or or or or	No requisites or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (, , and ), or (, , and ), or , or , or or or . or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (, , and ), or (, , and ), or , or , or , or , or , or . or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (, , and ), or (, , and ), or , or , or , or , or , or . or No requisites or No requisites	or Higher course with the [MA] designation is required for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the . will meet the AAS degree.	None or MA or MA or MA or MA or MA	3–6

Term 3 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
or or or	or or or	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in , or , or equivalent. or No requisites	Recommend for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the to meet the Oral Communication and the Literacy [L] designation.	SB or SB or L or SB	3
			Recommend OR for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the .	HU	3
		Prerequisites: C or better in (, or , or , or , or 1 yr of high school biology) and (, or , or higher, or eligibility for ). or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.	Critical course Gateway course	SG	4
or or	or or	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in , or , or , or equivalent, or an appropriate District placement, or permission of Department/Division Chair. or Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in and or higher MAT course) or (a grade of C or better in and eligibility for or higher as indicated by appropriate mathematics placement test score) or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ( and eligibility for or higher as indicated by appropriate district mathematics placement) or permission of Instructor.	or or is required for students pursuing a CEP or baccalaureate degree to meet the [CS] designation. or Student may receive credit for only one (1) of the following courses: or .	CS or CS or CS	4

Term 4 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4 - Program Prerequisites
Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in or .	Critical course	SG	4
Prerequisites: C or better in (, or , or , or , or 1 yr of high school biology) and (, or , or higher, or eligibility for ). or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.	Critical course	SG	4
	Recommend OR for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the .	HU	0–3
	OR Current CPR certification at the health care provider Professional rescuer level		0–0.5

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program.			2
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Program Director.			2
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.			6
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program.			2
		Prerequisites or Corequisites: ( and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program) or permission of Program Director.			1
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.			3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
or	or	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.	Students will enroll in or as offered by the college of attendance.	3
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		3
		Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ( and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program) or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: .		3
		Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: and current CPR card.		3
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of instructor. Corequisites: .	Required for MCC and RSC	0–2
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: .	Required for MCC and RSC	0–1

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
or	or	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.	Students will enroll in or as offered by the college of attendance.	3
		Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in and and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: .		2
		Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in and and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: .		5
		Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		3
		Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in .		2

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Requisites	Notes	Credits
Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of instructor. Corequisites: .	Required for PC	0–2
Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: .	Required for PC	0–1
Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		2
Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		3
Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ( and ) and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: .		2
Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ( and ) and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: .		5

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
FYC = First Year Composition
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry

MA = Mathematics
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
SG = Natural Sciences General
SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program. Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25 or better. Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in their DHE coursework.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s for additional details regarding the requirements of this award .

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

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Dental Hygiene