Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program has the following requirements for consideration for admission to the program:
- Meets all admission requirements general to the UAMS College of Health Professions
- An overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A prerequisite GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A math and science GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Successful completion of specific coursework
- Completion of the required amount of professional observation
- Meets specific technical standards
- A personal statement
- One letter of recommendation
Admission Factors
Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program is competitive and based on the following criteria:
- Academic achievement
- Academic aptitude
- Leadership and professionalism
- Written and oral communication
Required Coursework
The following 51 credits are required for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program.
All listed courses are required from an institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institution and must fulfill all UAMS College of Health Professions requirements regarding acceptance of transfer credit.
Proof of successful completion of coursework taken in a semester immediately preceding entry into the professional curriculum must be presented before registration.
A course grade of C or higher must be achieved to satisfy general education and program-specific requirements.
Applicants must have completed college algebra and three out of the five science prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better prior to the application deadline.
Admission to the program for applicants who have not completed all prerequisite courses will be conditional pending the completion of all prerequisite courses before enrollment.
All prerequisite courses must be completed by June 1.
Actual course titles may vary among institutions. If in doubt about the suitability of the following prerequisite courses, please contact the College of Health Professions Admissions Office.
Fulfillment of the prerequisite courses for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program goes not guarantee admission.
General Education Coursework Requirements
| Typical Course Title | Area | Required Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two-semester Sequence of English Composition | English/Communication | 6 |
| Fundamentals of Speech or Speech Communication1 | English/Communication | 3 |
| College Algebra or Statistics2 (or Higher-level Mathematics) | Mathematics | 3 |
| Fine Arts (Art, Music or Theatre) | Fine Arts/Humanities | 3 |
| Humanities (History, Humanities, Literature, Philosophy or Political Science) | Fine Arts/Humanities | 3 |
| History of the United States or National Government | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Psychology3 | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Sociology | Social Sciences | 3 |
| Total General Education Hours | 27 |
1 Due to rules set forth by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, Speech Communication is a required prerequisite and cannot be substituted by an additional fine arts or humanities course.
2 Statistics can be taken to satisfy the College Algebra requirement if the statistics course is offered through the institution’s Math department and is more advanced than College Algebra at that institution. Only statistics courses meeting these criteria will be accepted as a substitute for College Algebra.
3 Psychology courses may be taken to satisfy the General Psychology requirement if the course is equivalent in scope and content to an introductory psychology course. Only psychology courses that are broad in content and cover human behavior and development across the lifespan will be accepted as a substitute for General Psychology. Examples of acceptable courses include, but may not be limited to, Introduction to Psychology and Developmental Psychology.
Program-Specific Coursework Requirements
| Typical Course Title | Area | Required Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Principles of Chemistry with Lab | Science | 4 |
| Principles of Biology with Lab (a Zoology Course with Lab is Also Acceptable) | Science | 4 |
| Microbiology with Lab | Science | 4 |
| Two-semester Sequence of Human Anatomy and Physiology (Labs Not Required) | Science | 6 |
| Electives4 | General | 6 |
| Total Program-Specific Hours | 24 |
4 Applicants may select lower-level electives. No more than one course from the following group will be accepted in transfer to meet degree requirements: band, studio, physical education, military science, English as a Second Language, and manual skills.
Summary of Coursework Requirements
| Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education Prerequisites | 27 |
| Program-Specific Prerequisites | 24 |
| Total Prerequisite Hours | 51 |
Credit by Examination
College Level Examination Program Credits
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program will not accept College Level Examination Program credits to fulfill the required science coursework.
The program will accept CLEP credits awarded by other institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institutions to fulfill the other required coursework. To be considered for credit transfer, the official transcript from the awarding institution must reflect the CLEP credits.
Refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website for details about credit by examination.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Credits
Due to rules set forth by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program will not accept Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits to fulfill the required math and science coursework.
The program will accept AP or IB credits awarded by other institutionally accredited post-secondary academic institutions to fulfill the other required coursework. To be considered for credit transfer, the official transcript from the awarding institution must reflect the CLEP credits.
Refer to the UAMS College of Health Professions Future Students website for details about credit by examination.
Professional Observation
The applicant must complete at least 20 observation hours in a dental office observing a registered dental hygienist.
The professional observation form must be signed by the dental hygienist to document these observation hours. The form must be uploaded online by the dental office to ensure confidentiality. Please upload the form using the online submission form.
Personal Statement
Prospective students applying to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program must submit a personal statement between 500 and 1000 words that addresses the following three prompts:
Prompt 1: Personal and Professional Alignment
Describe your motivation for pursuing a career in dental hygiene and explain how your personal values align with the mission of our program. Discuss how your past experiences—such as academic challenges, work, or service—have shaped your commitment to public health, ethical decision-making, and teamwork. How have you demonstrated responsibility, time management, and resilience in reaching your goals?
Prompt 2: Overcoming Challenges with Purpose
Tell us about a time when you faced a significant challenge or obstacle. How did you approach the situation, and what critical thinking or decision-making strategies did you use? What did you learn about yourself in the process? Explain how this experience has influenced your desire to become a dental hygienist and prepared you to contribute meaningfully to both the profession and your community.
Prompt 3: Becoming a Professional
Dental hygienists play a vital role in public health and patient education. Reflect on the personal qualities and skills you believe are essential for success in this profession. How have you demonstrated professionalism, ethics, and effective communication in your academic, work, or volunteer experiences? In what ways have you worked with others as part of a team, and how do you manage your time and responsibilities to achieve your goals?
Letter of Recommendation
A single letter of recommendation is optional and should come from either a college professor or a supervisor. The letter should describe the applicant’s skills, qualities, and achievements. It may be uploaded to your application or emailed to CHPAdmissions@UAMS.edu.
Technical Standards
In order to be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program, applicants must possess certain physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities necessary to complete the curriculum. These requirements exist to ensure that students are able to effectively acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become competent and successful dental hygienists. Please visit the Technical Standards page for details.