Dental Hygiene
Career options:
The dental hygiene program provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to sit for dental hygiene licensure exams. Successful completion of these exams enables the registered dental hygienist (RDH) to practice as a dental professional in any of the following settings: - general or specialized dental office
- dental clinic
- public health
- education
- research opportunities
Potential earnings: - $36,000 to $83,000, nationwide
- $39,000 to $66,000, East Texas area
Program Costs: Due to specific individual needs, estimated costs while in the program may range from $11,000-$14,500. This estimate includes in-state tuition, books, uniforms, instruments, and supplies. Department/Contact Information:
- Office of Advising: 903.510.2662
- Carrie Hobbs, Instructor/Department Chair, Dental Hygiene
- Pirtle Technology Bldg T116 | chob@tjc.edu | 903-510-2341
Academic options: While this program is designed for direct employment, many of the courses can transfer to a four-year degree-completion program.
| DEGREE PLAN |
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PREREQUISITES
(At least two of the following courses must be taken prior to applying in order to be eligible for admission)
- CHEM 1406 Fundamentals of Chemistry * OR CHEM 1411 General Chemistry*
- BIOL 2401 Anatomy & Physiology I*,**
- BIOL 2402 Anatomy & Physiology II*
- BIOL 2420 Microbiology*
- BIOL 2401 & 2402 must be completed prior to Semester I.
- All prerequisites listed above must be completed prior to Semester III
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FIRST YEAR
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SEMESTER 1
- DHYG 1301 Orofacial Anatomy, Histology & Embryology
- DHYG 1304 Dental Radiography
- DHYG 1431 Preclinical Dental Hygiene
- DHYG 1227 Preventive Dental Hygiene Care
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SEMESTER 2
- DHYG 1311 Periodontology
- DHYG 1339 General and Oral Pathology
- DHYG 2201 Contemporary Den Hyg Care I
- DHYG 1260 Clinical I Dental Hygiene
- ENGL 1301 Composition and Rhetoric
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| SUMMER SESSION I or II |
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- Sociology Elective (3 hours)
- Speech Elective (3 hours)
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Second Year
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SEMESTER 3
- DHYG 1315 Community Dentistry
- DHYG 1235 Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist
- DHYG 2231 Contemporary Dental Hygiene Care II
- DHYG 2360 Clinical II Dental Hygienist
- Humanities/Fine Arts Elective (3 hours)
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SEMESTER 4
- DHYG 1123 Dental Hygiene Practice
- DHYG 1207 General & Dental Nutrition
- DHYG 1319 Dental Materials
- DHYG 2362 Clinical III Dental Hygienist
- Psychology Elective (3 hours)
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| TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 72 |
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*Science courses must not be older than five years upon applying to the program
** Approved college credit science course is required prior to enrolling
All courses with bold type may be taken prior to acceptance to the program.
Special admission and retention rules apply. Department specific courses must be taken in sequence and may have a prerequisite or co-requisite courses. Courses must be completed with a “C” or better for completion. Contact the program director for details.
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