NOTE: Students must complete prerequisite courses prior to beginning the UCDH BSDH program. Contact UCDH at (801) 426-8234 for complete details.

Course Name and Number	Many Other Dental Hygiene Programs*	The UCDH Accelerated Bachelor's Program
Microbiology	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Chemistry	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Anatomy	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Physiology	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program	A science core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
English I	A General Education course that must be taken BEFORE or DURING the program	A General Education prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Sociology	A General Education course that must be taken BEFORE or DURING the program	A General Education prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Psychology	A General Education course that must be taken BEFORE or DURING the program	A General Education prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Human Nutrition	A General Education course that must be taken BEFORE or DURING the program	A General Education prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
Oral Communication (Speech)	A General Education course that must be taken BEFORE or DURING the program	A General Education prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the program
*Statistics	NOT REQUIRED if you are only pursuing an Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene	A General Program Core prerequisite that must be taken BEFORE you begin the UCDH Dental Hygiene Program

IN CONCLUSION: All the courses listed (*except statistics) in the above left column MUST be taken for you to become a dental hygienist regardless of which college or degree program (Associates or Bachelors) you choose.  This being the case, enrolling in the UCDH Accelerated 20 month Bachelor's Degree could help you graduate sooner, make money faster, and begin your career as a dental hygienist as soon as possible! 

*Copyright 2009 Careers Unlimited L.L.C.  Information subject to change without notice.  Complete accuracy of information relating to other dental hygiene programs is not guaranteed.  Readers are encouraged to verify other dental hygiene program requirements, degrees awarded, and curriculum offerings.

The UCDH BSDH program requires completion of 122 credit hours (which includes a minimum of 33 credit hours of prerequisite & general education coursework).  The curriculum is structured into semesters, each of which is equivalent in academic rigor and in time to a traditional semester.  One credit hour equals fifteen hours of study for lecture components or thirty hours of study for laboratory, clinical and independent study components.  Breaks are scheduled between all semesters.

The accelerated schedule is not the only innovation for the program.  The program is structured to allow students to pursue additional study to enhance their role as clinical dental hygienists or to pursue careers in other aspects of professional dental hygiene.  The disciplines on which students may focus include advanced clinical practice, education, public health, administration/management, advocacy, and research.

The good news is that instead of graduating with an associate's degree in late April; the students choosing this program will be able to graduate in late May of the same year with a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene! 

You may wonder why you should consider a BSDH.  Graduates who have been awarded a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene not only enjoy a well-rounded academic background and the respect that goes along with a baccalaureate degree, but the BSDH also allows entry into positions in teaching, administration, public health, business, and additional areas that other types of dental hygiene education do not. In a baccalaureate program there are opportunities for growth that no other form of dental hygiene education can provide. The UCDH program will have a strong clinical program as might be expected, but is also designed to allow the student to excel in the areas of sound decision-making, community and public health, research, and specialized areas of clinical practice dental hygiene practice. 

The UCDH BSDH program will allow the student to gain substantial knowledge of all aspects of dental hygiene and ensure that the curriculum effectively will prepare students for the professional roles and functions they will be expected to perform in the workplace, as defined by current state law or regulation.  It also will allow the student comprehensive learning about the specific role(s) of the dental hygienist that are of most interest to the individual, which may lead to alternative career pathways within the profession. Wherever a student's dental hygiene related interest might lie, the goal is to provide maximum opportunities to explore and learn through this innovative baccalaureate degree program.

The prerequisite courses for the program are listed below.  It is acceptable for you to take the statistics course from psychology, education, business, or mathematics.  If you're unsure whether or not a course will transfer, please contact us.