Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene

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Field of Interest

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene degree prepares students to become primary care oral health professionals. A licensed dental hygienist may provide education, assessment, diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services, research, and administrative services that support overall health through the promotion of optimal oral health. Hygienists may be employed in general or specialty dental practice in private or public healthcare settings. The program also prepares students for university transfer.

The dental hygiene program offers a rigorous, intensive, science-based curriculum. Students will provide services in clinical settings and will develop a commitment to the community through offsite educational and enrichment experiences serving diverse populations. Successful students will develop and demonstrate critical thinking, as well as ethical and professional behaviors required by the field.

Applicants should possess hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, attention to detail, and the ability to persevere through a rigorous academic and clinical full-time program workload. Students in an MCCCD Dental Hygiene program will be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. The program strictly adheres to established policies and procedures regarding infection control as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association, the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2637; (312) 440-4653) grants accreditation to the Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, and Mesa Community College programs. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).

Details

Important information you’ll need when applying for admission:

Field of Interest

Health Sciences

Type

Associate in Applied Science (AAS)

Academic Plan

Dental Hygiene (DEG)

Academic Plan Code

3831

Total Credits Required

96-115.5

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Effective Term

Fall 2023

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25 or better as indicated in the Program Prerequisites.
Basic Science courses must have been completed within the last five years upon application submission or as determined by the Dental Health Professions Instructional Council.
Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in the Required Courses area within the core program.
Students should consult with an advisor prior to applying to the program.

For students pursuing a Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) or to complete an AGEC-A: MHL155 and PHI213 are recommended for the Humanities, Arts and Design area for a total of 6 credits in this area.
COM225 with the [L] designation is recommended for the Oral Communication area. PSY101 and SOC101 are recommended for the Social Behavioral area.
MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142, MAT145 or MAT146 or higher level is required for the Mathematics area.
An additional course, MAT206 or PSY230 or PSY230WL, is required to meet the Computer/Statistics area.

Note: Total credits to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene through NAU as part of the CEP program are 124-129. Some of the courses listed in the prerequisites area are for students pursuing the CEP, and thus are not counted as part of the AAS total program credits.

What You’ll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of oral health care.
Systematically assess comprehensive data on the general and oral health needs of patients from diverse populations.
Use critical decision making to interpret data and create a dental hygiene diagnosis.
Design and present a patient-centered dental hygiene care plan utilizing evidence-based research and professional standards.
Implement comprehensive dental hygiene services to achieve and maintain patients optimal health.
Evaluate the outcome of dental hygiene care during active and maintenance treatment phases and refer to appropriate healthcare providers if indicated.
Record accurate, consistent, and complete documentation throughout the process of care.
Employ effective interpersonal communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team in a culturally competent, ethical, and professional manner.
Practice professional and ethical behaviors as accepted by healthcare professionals.
Demonstrate self-assessment and self-regulation strategies for lifelong learning.
Advocate for healthy communities through the provision of community-based preventive and therapeutic oral healthcare services.

Career Opportunities

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Dental Hygienists

$93,683 Show expanded career information for Dental Hygienists

Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.

Typical Education Level

an Associate degree

Hourly Median Wage

$45.03

Annual Median Wage

$93,683

Annual Job Openings

370

Number of People Employed

3,635

4-Year Employment Growth

Increase by 13.4 %

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Admission Criteria

High school diploma or GED equivalency is required.
Completion of program prerequisites.
Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
Acknowledgement of ability to fully participate in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
Formal application and acceptance to the program is required.

After being placed in the program, the following are required:
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
Complete and submit the required proof of immunity and health declaration form signed by a licensed health care provider.
Submit to a drug screening and demonstrate negative results.
Submit current CPR card for Health Care Provider and maintain current status throughout the program.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester. See your Academic Advisor or visit NAU's website for more information about the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP).

Note: Because you are viewing this pathway map on a mobile device, some columns below have been hidden. To view all columns, please rotate your device or view this page on a device with a larger screen.

Term 1 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG101 or ENG107	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC or FYC	3
(CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA	(Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab	Prerequisites: C or better in [(CHM100 or MAT090 or MAT091 or MAT092 or higher or satisfactory math placement) and (RDG100 or RDG100LL, or higher or eligibility for CRE101 as indicated by appropriate reading placement)] or permission of the Instructor. and Prerequisites or Corequisites: CHM130. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(CHM090, or MAT090, or MAT091, or MAT092, or higher level mathematics course, or satisfactory math placement) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101 as indicated by appropriate reading placement)], or permission of the Instructor, or Department or Division Chair.	OR Acceptable higher-level CHM course: CHM151 AND CHM151LL OR CHM151AA OR CHM152 AND CHM152LL OR CHM152AA OR CHM230 AND CHM230LL OR CHM230AA OR CHM235 AND CHM235LL OR CHM235AA OR CHM236 AND CHM236LL OR CHM236AA. Students who have completed CHM138 AND CHM138LL prior to Fall 2019 have fulfilled the CHM requirement for acceptance into the MCCCD Dental Hygiene program. CHM138 AND CHM138LL completed Fall of 2019 or after, will no longer meet the MCCCD Dental Hygiene Application Admissions requirement as this class is being phased out. Please note that CHM 130 is required for participation in the CEP program through NAU.	SQ and SQ in combo w/ CHM130 or SQ	4
SOC+++	Any Sociology course with the [SB] designation		Recommend SOC101 for students pursuing the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) or to complete an AGEC-A.	SB	3
FYE101 or FYE103	Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success				1–3

Term 2 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.		FYC or FYC	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in [(ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG100LL or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113)] or a grade of B or better in ALT100 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor.	Critical course OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment; Students who are exempt from CRE101 must complete a course with an [L] designation if pursuing a CEP or to complete the AGEC-A. Exemptions for CRE101, recommend COM225 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A to meet the Oral Communicati on and the Literacy [L] designation.	L	0–3
BIO156 or BIO181	Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one-semester of college level chemistry is strongly recommended. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101. One year of high school or one semester of college-level biology and chemistry is strongly recommended.	OR One year of High School biology.	SQ or SQ	0–4
PSY+++	Any Psychology course with the [SB] designation		Recommend PSY101 for students pursuing the CEP (or to complete an AGEC-A) and selecting PSY230 or PSY230WL to meet the [CS] designation.	SB	3
MAT112 or MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 or MAT145 or MAT146	Mathematical Concepts and Applications or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review	No requisites or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103 or MAT114 or MAT115. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or Prerequisites: An appropriate District placement, or a grade of C or better in (MAT052, MAT053, and MAT055), or (MAT055, MAT056, and MAT057), or MAT085, or MAT09+, or MAT103, or MAT114, or MAT115, or MAT12+. or No requisites or No requisites	MAT14+ or Higher course with the [MA] designation is required for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A. MAT112 will meet the AAS degree.	None or MA or MA or MA or MA or MA	3–6

Term 3 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	Recommend COM225 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A to meet the Oral Communication and the Literacy [L] designation.	SB or SB or L or SB	3
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design		Recommend MHL155 OR PHI213 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A.	HU	3
BIO201	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.	Critical course Gateway course	SG	4
MAT206 or PSY230 or PSY230WL	Elements of Statistics or Introduction to Statistics or Introduction to Statistics with Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT14+, or MAT15+, or MAT187, or equivalent, or an appropriate District placement, or permission of Department/Division Chair. or Prerequisites: (A grade of C or better in PSY101 and MAT092 or higher MAT course) or (a grade of C or better in PSY101 and eligibility for MAT112 or higher as indicated by appropriate mathematics placement test score) or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (PSY101 and eligibility for MAT14+ or higher as indicated by appropriate district mathematics placement) or permission of Instructor.	MAT206 or PSY230 or PSY230WL is required for students pursuing a CEP or baccalaureate degree to meet the [CS] designation. or Student may receive credit for only one (1) of the following courses: PSY230 or PSY230WL.	CS or CS or CS	4

Term 4 - Program Prerequisites

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4 - Program Prerequisites
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Area	Credits
BIO202	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in BIO201 or BIO201XT.	Critical course	SG	4
BIO205	Microbiology	Prerequisites: C or better in (BIO156, or BIO156XT, or BIO181, or BIO181XT, or 1 yr of high school biology) and (RDG100, or RDG100LL, or higher, or eligibility for CRE101). CHM130 or higher or one year of high school chemistry suggested but not required.	Critical course	SG	4
HU	Humanities, Fine Arts & Design		Recommend MHL155 OR PHI213 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A.	HU	0–3
HCC/RES109	CPR for Health Care Provider		OR Current CPR certification at the health care provider Professional rescuer level		0–0.5

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Credits
DHE115	Emergency Medicine	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program.	2
DHE117	Dental Radiography	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Program Director.	2
DHE120	Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.	6
DHE121	Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Histology	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program.	2
DHE125	Dental Radiography Laboratory	Prerequisites or Corequisites: (DHE117 and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program) or permission of Program Director.	1
DHE127	Prevention of Dental Disease	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.	3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
DHE110 or DHE112	Pharmacology or Oral Pathology	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.	Students will enroll in DHE110 or DHE112 as offered by the college of attendance.	3
DHE119	Head and Neck Anatomy	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		3
DHE132	Dental Hygiene Theory I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (DHE120 and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program) or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: DHE133.		3
DHE133	Dental Hygiene Clinic I	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in DHE120 and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: DHE132 and current CPR card.		3
DHE201	Dental Materials	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of instructor. Corequisites: DHE202.	Required for MCC and RSC	0–2
DHE202	Dental Materials Laboratory	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: DHE201.	Required for MCC and RSC	0–1

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
DHE110 or DHE112	Pharmacology or Oral Pathology	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. or Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.	Students will enroll in DHE110 or DHE112 as offered by the college of attendance.	3
DHE212	Dental Hygiene Theory II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in DHE132 and DHE133 and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: DHE213.		2
DHE213	Dental Hygiene Clinic II	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in DHE132 and DHE133 and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: DHE212.		5
DHE225	Periodontics	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		3
DHE227	Dental Anesthesia	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in DHE119.		2

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Notes	Credits
DHE201	Dental Materials	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of instructor. Corequisites: DHE202.	Required for PC	0–2
DHE202	Dental Materials Laboratory	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor. Corequisites: DHE201.	Required for PC	0–1
DHE219	Practice Management	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		2
DHE229	Community Oral Health	Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Hygiene Program or permission of Instructor.		3
DHE232	Dental Hygiene Theory III	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (DHE212 and DHE213) and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: DHE233.		2
DHE233	Dental Hygiene Clinic III	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (DHE212 and DHE213) and admission to the Dental Hygiene Program. Corequisites: DHE232.		5

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Program Information

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Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
FYC = First Year Composition
HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry

MA = Mathematics
SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
SG = Natural Sciences General
SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program. Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25 or better. Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in their DHE coursework.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, meet with an academic advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=181656).

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene

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