Curriculum Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program is a full-time, weekday program consisting of four fall and spring semesters with one intervening summer session.
The program consists of 51 semester credits of prerequisite coursework and 69 credits in the dental hygiene curriculum, for a total of 120 credits.
Degree Plan
The following degree plan will be followed by all students in the Classes of 2025 and 2026.
Year One Fall
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DHYG 21134 | Dental Hygiene Pre-clinic | 4 |
| DHYG 21143 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene Theory | 3 |
| DHYG 21171 | Oral Embryology and Histology | 1 |
| DHYG 21181 | Periodontal Instrumentation | 1 |
| DHYG 31102 | Dental Radiography I | 2 |
| DHYG 31172 | Oral Anatomy | 2 |
| DHYG 33174 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
Year One Spring
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DHYG 31202 | Dental Radiography II | 2 |
| DHYG 31232 | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 2 |
| DHYG 31243 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 |
| DHYG 31251 | Dental Hygiene Seminar I | 1 |
| DHYG 31274 | Pathology | 4 |
| DHYG 31283 | Management of Patients with Special Needs | 3 |
| DHYG 42381 | Periodontology I | 1 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
Year One Summer
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DHYG 32342 | Dental Hygiene Clinic - Summer | 2 |
| DHYG 32382 | Local Anesthesia | 2 |
| Total Hours | 4 |
Year Two Fall
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DHYG 32483 | Dental Materials | 3 |
| DHYG 42393 | Periodontology II | 3 |
| DHYG 42433 | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 3 |
| DHYG 42442 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 2 |
| DHYG 42463 | Community Dentistry I | 3 |
| DHYG 42483 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 17 |
Year Two Spring
| Course ID | Course Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DHYG 3244 | Community Dentistry II | 2 |
| DHYG 42503 | National Board Dental Hygiene Examination Review | 3 |
| DHYG 42533 | Dental Hygiene Clinic III | 3 |
| DHYG 42542 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 |
| DHYG 42551 | Dental Hygiene Seminar II | 1 |
| DHYG 42582 | Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Practice Management | 2 |
| DHYG 42583 | Nutrition | 3 |
| Total Hours | 16 |
Curriculum Summary
| Semester | Hours |
|---|---|
| Year One Fall | 16 |
| Year One Spring | 16 |
| Year One Summer | 4 |
| Year Two Fall | 17 |
| Year Two Spring | 16 |
| Total Program Hours | 69 |
Course Completion Requirements
A grade of F or a mark of U or NC is not acceptable for progression to the next semester, nor is it acceptable for graduation if it occurs in the last semester of the program.
A grade of D in the following professional courses is not acceptable for progression to the next semester, nor is it acceptable for graduation if it occurs in the last semester of the program:
- Introduction to Dental Hygiene Theory (DHYG 21143)
- Periodontal Instrumentation (DHYG 21181)
- Dental Radiography I (DHYG 31102)
- Dental Hygiene Theory I (DHYG 31243)
- Dental Radiography II (DHYG 31202)
- Local Anesthesia (DHYG 32382)
- Dental Hygiene Theory II (DHYG 42442)
- Dental Hygiene Theory III (DHYG 42521).
For clinic courses — DHYG 21134 Dental Hygiene Pre-clinic, DHYG 31232 Dental Hygiene Clinic I, DHYG 42433 Dental Hygiene Clinic II, DHYG 42533 Dental Hygiene Clinic III — the student must complete all requirements and pass 100% of the competencies.
The requirements and competencies for clinic courses are found in the Policy and Procedures Guide and all course syllabi.
Interprofessional Education
All students in the UAMS College of Health Professions must complete all Interprofessional Education activities.
Program Completion Requirements
Students must meet the following requirements to complete the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program.
- Pass all required courses in the program with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Complete Interprofessional Education requirements.
Textbooks
The list of required textbooks is published on the UAMS Bookstore website in compliance with Arkansas Code Annotated section 6-60-601.