About the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program

The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program is to provide high-quality educational opportunities for qualified students to prepare them as graduates to assume and maintain the role of ethical, competent and progressive professional practitioners.

We are committed to providing a curriculum that facilitates instructional strategies that enhance student learning and provides graduates a learning environment that fosters a commitment to scientific inquiry, life-long learning, community service and professional development.

Additionally, we are dedicated to addressing the oral health care needs of the community by providing quality patient care, promoting community and professional oral health education through service activities and contributing to the research base in order to advance the art and science of dental hygiene and the dental hygiene profession.

The Department of Dental Hygiene in the College of Health Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences derives its purposes and functions from the established missions of the university and the college.

The mission of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is to provide excellent educational opportunities for students of the health care professions in a stimulating environment of basic and clinical research, integrated with the delivery of superb, comprehensive health care services.

This four-pronged mission, which includes education, service, research and patient care, is echoed in the mission of the College of Health Professions. The college offers education opportunities for students to prepare them as graduates to be effective and competent allied health professionals who can provide quality health care. Additionally, the college is committed to community and professional service; patient care; and research in a quest to address the health and health care educational needs of the state; and the sharing of this information with the scientific community.

The faculty are committed to creating an educational environment that is conducive to the development of dental hygiene professionals who are self-directed and who are capable of critical thinking, problem solving and responsible decision-making.

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program promotes an educational environment that is positive and supportive and is characterized by mutual respect among students, faculty, clients and staff.

The primary role of the student within this educational environment is to acquire the knowledge, skills and professional characteristics needed for planning, implementing and evaluating dental hygiene treatment. The patient or client must be informed, actively involved in treatment and provided opportunities for comprehensive dental care.

The role of the faculty is to provide the translation and linkages of theory to clinical practice. The faculty will provide guidance, role-modeling, information and positive feedback. The faculty will encourage student self-assessment and will also evaluate the process involved in performing clinical skills as well as the final outcome of dental hygiene treatment.

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 is located in central Arkansas and features a state-of-the-art Dental Hygiene Student Clinic where students provide patients with preventative dental procedures.

Portions of the program’s courses are web-assisted, but the department does not currently offer any completely online courses.

Classes, laboratory sessions and clinical sessions are scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The department does not offer evening classes.

For more information, please call the department at 501-686-5734.

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program enrolls one class each fall semester. The class capacity is 36 students.

Successful completion of the program results in the award of a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene.

Satisfactory completion of the professional course work satisfies academic and clinical eligibility requirements to apply for Arkansas licensure and national certification by the American Dental Association. Successful completion of the program does not itself ensure certification or licensure. Each student is responsible for becoming familiar with the application certification and licensure requirements.

Successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and a regional clinical board is required to obtain licensure in Arkansas.