Admissions - Dental Hygiene Program

Requirements

Prospective students must complete additional application information and procedures other than those required for admission to the University in order to be considered for entry into the program. Students applying to the dental hygiene program are required to send a copy of their high school transcript and college transcripts to the dental hygiene program in addition to those transcripts sent to the University. All students are required to observe a dental hygienist for a period of two or more hours. Students enter the professional sequence of the curriculum upon successful completion of 35 hours of SPECIFIC University Core and science courses. Students have the opportunity to enter the baccalaureate degree program by alternative pathways.

Students may be admitted into the program as:

Freshman: directly from high school. Prerequisites are met at SIUC. Professional sequence begins in Sophomore year.

Sophomores: can either transfer into the program from another college or university or take the prerequisites at SIUC. Either way, the 35 hours of prerequisites must be completed before entering the sophomore year.

Degree completion: any student having earned an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene may apply for degree completion via the Capstone option. This guarantees completion of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in 60 hours or less.

Thirty-six students enter the professional sequence in the fall of the sophomore year. Courses which are required to be completed prior to entering the professional sequence of the program include the following or approved substitutes: ENG 101 and 102-English Composition; MATH 108-College Algebra; SPCM 101-Speech Communications; PSYC 102-Introduction to Psychology; SOC 108-Introduction to Sociology; MICR 201-Elementary Microbiology; AHC 141-Introduction to Physiology and Human Anatomy; FN 101-Food and Nutrition; and CHEM 140a-Chemistry. Students must complete these courses with a C or higher in order to enter the professional sequence.

Students are accepted into the professional sequence based on: Number and GPA of math and science courses completed in high school; number and GPA of math and science courses completed in college; and, overall completed number of college courses and GPA.

Applications for admission are available in the fall (for example, applications for Fall 2006 are available in Fall 2005). Applications should be submitted by January 15 in order to receive full consideration for admission.

All applicants must submit:

High School Transcript (applies to applicants entering as freshman and sophomores)
ACT scores (again, applies to applicants desiring to enter as freshman or sophomores)
College transcripts (not applicable to applicants in high school)
Observation of a dental hygienist form (available in application packet)

Applications online: (pdf) or you may stop by our office in the Applied Science Building, Room 18 (across the street from the SIU Arena). You may also call (618) 453-8869, email or write to:

Program Representative-Dental Hygiene
Department of Health Care Professions
College of Applied Science and Arts
Mailcode 6615
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 62901-6615

Thank you for your interest in our program! We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Contact a program representative to learn more about the Dental Hygiene Program

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