Dental Hygiene

The Expanded Bachelor of Science Degree in dental hygiene degree completion program broadens the educational experiences of licensed dental hygienists who have graduated from a two-year community college program by providing a liberal arts and broad based general education component, including critical thinking, analysis, writing, researching, and reporting.

The expanded BSDH program at Eastern Washington University (EWU) offers licensed dental hygienists a seamless educational opportunity at the extended campuses located at Clark College in Vancouver, Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland, or Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom in Tacoma. Pierce College also offers courses via ITV at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima as well as Peninsula College.

Admission requirements:

• Associate degree from an accredited dental hygiene program in the U.S. or Canada
• Successful completion of the Dental Hygiene National Board examination or its Canadian equivalent
• A current dental hygiene license in the U.S. or Canada

The following curriculum is in place for the Dental Hygiene Expanded Degree Program:

• DNHY 485 Oral Health Care Research Design Practicum
• DNHY 486 Oral Health Care Project Implementation Practicum
• DNHY 487 Oral Health Care Project Evaluation & Report Writing Practicum
• DNHY 470 Research Methods
• DNHY 467 Career Strategies
• DNHY 490 Dental Hygiene Capstone
• DNHY 491 Field Practicum in Educational Theory & Application
• DNHY 492 Field Practicum in Clinical and Laboratory Instruction
• DNHY 493 Field Practicum in Teaching Methods and Assessment

To earn a BSDH from EWU, a minimum of 61 upper-division credits is required beyond the Associate Degree. Of those, a minimum of 45 credits must be earned from EWU. Once a student meets the admission requirements for the degree completion program, this curriculum is designed for completion of the needed 61* upper division credits. Depending on the site, courses are offered online, on campus (sometimes on weekends), as well as hybrid; a mix of online and on campus.

• Upper Division Dental Hygiene Coursework, these include: a community based practicum, and a clinical lab instruction practicum (no clinical coursework) --37 Credits
• Upper Division Humanities, Social Sciences, Cultural Diversity, and International Studies Course (meet university General Education (GEQRs), Cultural & Gender Diversity, and International Studies requirements) --24 Credits
• Courses are offered on a part-time basis at all three sites, and on a full-time basis (depending on enrollment).

*Students must meet University proficiencies in Math and English by completing Math 115 or its equivalent, and English 101 and 201 or their equivalent. It is strongly recommended students complete these requirements at local community colleges before entering the program.

---

Program Mission, Goals, and Competencies

The mission of the expanded Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) degree completion program is to enhance the educational experiences of dental hygienists who graduated with an associate degree. This is accomplished by providing a liberal arts and broad-based general education component which includes critical thinking, research, writing, cultural sensitivity, and ethical judgment. Graduates of this program will have practical experience intrinsic to the various expanded roles and scopes of practice in the profession of dental hygiene. The BSDH program fully prepares students to interact effectively with other health professionals in a competent, collaborative, and ethical manner.

---

Expanded BSDH program goals include:

1. Compel individuals who possess moral and ethical values/behaviors to be effective participants in an increasingly complex and interdisciplinary health care system.
2. Foster dental hygienists who are culturally sensitive and possess a strong theoretical base in the humanities, psychosocial sciences, and dental sciences.
3. Encourage dental hygienists to be life-long learners who critically think, analyze and solve problems, make sound judgments, and lead others to do the same.
4. Cultivate the communication and leadership skills of dental hygienists to enhance their functional role of practitioner as well as the expanded roles of researcher, manager, change agent, consumer advocate, and health promoter/educator.
5. Instill a commitment to contribute actively to the betterment of the dental hygiene profession through professional involvement, continued education, and advanced professional or graduate education.

---

Teaching Methods and Learning Environment

The teaching methodology employed by faculty of the Expanded Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program is one of active participatory and collaborative learning. Course content is delivered via face-to-face, online, or hybrid (a combination of both face-to-face and online) modes of instruction. Interactive Television (ITV) is utilized for some courses and campus sites. Students will experience a variety of teaching methods and learning style strategies including discussion, writing, presentation, practical experience, and traditional lecture formats, in order to develop and expand the student's capacity for professional growth.

---