Associate in Science Degree (CIP# 1351060200)
Limited-Access
This Dental Hygiene Program is designed to prepare students for careers as dental hygienists. Graduates are eligible to take the National Dental Hygiene Board Exam and Florida or regional examinations for licensure as registered dental hygienists. Graduates also will be eligible to receive certification in expanded duties recognized by the Florida State Board of Dentistry.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (800)-232-6108 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
Dental Hygiene is a limited-access program. Admission to Valencia does not imply acceptance to the Dental Hygiene Program; students must apply and be accepted to the program. General admission procedures for this program are found in the Admissions section of this catalog. The School of Health Sciences provides information about specific admission criteria.
Estimated program expenses are given in the Financial section of this catalog.
Admission requirements that must be satisfied prior to submitting an application to the A.S. degree program in Dental Hygiene are:
- Review the general admission requirements for Health Sciences programs in the Admissions section of this catalog.
- Submit a completed Valencia Application for Admission; satisfy the requirements for degree-seeking status and be in active student status.
- Satisfy the college entry testing requirements and satisfactorily complete all mandatory courses in reading, Professions of Caring (HSC 1004) for students pending acceptance to a health sciences program, or New Student Experience (SLS 1122), mathematics, English, and English for Academic Purposes in which you are placed.
- Complete the Dental hygiene Prerequisites for Admission with minimum grade of C.
- Have a minimum overall college GPA of 2.5 (including transfer work). NOTE: Transfer students with completed coursework at Valencia College also need to have a minimum institutional/Valencia GPA of 2.0 at the time of applying (in addition to the minimum overall college GPA of 2.5).
- Satisfy the designated entrance test requirements for Health Sciences programs.
- Submit the completed Valencia Dental Hygiene Program application with the application fee by the deadline.
A student who fails or withdraws from any course with a subject prefix of DEH or DES will not be permitted to continue in the Dental Hygiene Program. A student may petition the Dental Hygiene Program one time to be allowed to repeat a course with a subject prefix of DEH or DES. If the student is unsuccessful in this repeat, he/she will not be allowed to continue in the Dental Hygiene Program. Procedures for the readmission petition process are found in the Dental Hygiene Student Handbook.
Students are strongly encouraged to consult their campus based Student Success Coach for assistance in determining the best education plan for their career goals.
Alternative Ways to Earn Credit toward this Degree
Graduates of specific programs at Orange Technical College and Osceola Technical College, as well as other institutions may be eligible to receive college credit for courses in this program. You may also be eligible to receive credit toward this degree if you have earned one of the approved Gold Standard industry certifications. To learn more about Valencia's award of credit options, visit https://valenciacollege.edu/academics/programs/as-degree/credit-industry-certification-agreements.php. Eligible students should contact the Student Success Coach in their academic department for more information about the requirements for the award of credit.
Start Right
Degree-seeking students enrolling at Valencia for the first time will have a limited range of courses from which to choose for their first 18 college-level credits. Within the first 18 college credit hours, you will be required to take ENC1101 (3 credits), and if applicable, Professions of Caring (HSC 1004) for students pending acceptance to a health sciences program, or New Student Experience (SLS 1122), and a mathematics course appropriate to your selected meta-major (3 credits). The remaining courses will be chosen from the General Education Core Courses in humanities (3 credits), science (3 credits), or social science (3 credits), and/or the introductory courses within the A.S. degree programs. For specific courses see the Foundation Courses on the “Program Requirements” tab.
For course sequencing recommendations, see your campus based Student Success Coach or access the Course Planning Guide on the Health Sciences webpage https://valenciacollege.edu/academics/programs/health-sciences/dental-hygiene/.
Potential Careers
Salary & Earnings Information
For career information related to this program, please visit O*Net OnLine.
Contacts
Future Students
To learn more about this program, contact Enrollment Services at enrollment@valenciacollege.edu or 407-582-1507 or visit valenciacollege.edu/dental-hygiene/.
Current Students
Active Valencia students who are pending program acceptance may meet with the pending Student Success Coach in the campus Student Services department. For Information Sessions, Admission Guides, Program Applications, and the most updated information, visit the website at: https://valenciacollege.edu/academics/programs/health-sciences/ Accepted, in-program students will meet with their assigned Student Success Coach after confirming acceptance.
Your Student Success Coach contact information can be found in Atlas. Log into Atlas, click on the Courses tab, and check your Academic Profile information to find a link to your Coach.
Program Outcomes
1.Perform entry level skills competently as described by the scope of practice for dental hygiene.
2.Integrate oral and written communication to coordinate accurate and safe patient care.
3.Prepare a safe dental healthcare environment.
4.Analyze patient data and evidence-based research to support clinical decisions.
Plan of Study Grid | Prerequisite for Admission |
|---|
| BSC 2093C | HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I +*~ | 4 |
| BSC 2094C | HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II +*~ | 4 |
| MCB 2010C | MICROBIOLOGY +*~ | 4 |
| ENC 1101 | FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I +*~ | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Year I |
|---|
| Summer Term |
|---|
| DES 1020 | DENTAL ANATOMY +* | 2 |
| DES 1020L | DENTAL ANATOMY LAB + | 1 |
| DEH 1000 | INTRODUCTION TO DENTAL HYGIENE () + | 1 |
| DES 1800 | INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PROCEDURES | 1 |
| +*~1 | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 8 |
| Fall Term |
|---|
| DEH 1003 | FUNDAMENTALS OF DENTAL HYGIENE +* | 2 |
| DEH 1003L | DENTAL HYGIENE INSTRUMENTATION + | 2 |
| DES 1200 | DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY + | 2 |
| DES 1200L | DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY LABORATORY + | 1 |
| DES 1800L | INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL PROCEDURES LAB + | 1 |
| DES 1100 | DENTAL MATERIALS +* | 2 |
| DES 1100L | DENTAL MATERIALS LAB + | 1 |
| | Credit Hours | 11 |
| Spring Term |
|---|
| DEH 1130 | ORAL HISTOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY + | 2 |
| +~ | 3 |
| DEH 1800 | DENTAL HYGIENE I +* | 2 |
| DEH 1800L | CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE I +* | 5 |
| DES 1600 | DENTAL OFFICE EMERGENCIES +* | 1 |
| DEH 1602 | PERIODONTOLOGY I +* | 1 |
| DES 1051 | DENTAL PAIN CONTROL AND LOCAL ANESTHESIA +* | 2 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Year II |
|---|
| Summer Term |
|---|
| DEH 1802 | DENTAL HYGIENE II +* | 2 |
| DEH 1802L | CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE II +* | 3 |
| DEH 2604 | PERIODONTOLOGY II +* | 1 |
| DEH 2300 | PHARMACOLOGY +* | 2 |
| DEH 2700 | DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION +* | 1 |
| | Credit Hours | 9 |
| Fall Term |
|---|
| PSY 2012 | GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY +~ | 3 |
| DEH 2400 | GENERAL & ORAL PATHOLOGY +* | 3 |
| DEH 2701 | COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH I +* | 2 |
| DEH 2804 | DENTAL HYGIENE III +* | 2 |
| DEH 2804L | CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE III +* | 4 |
| +*~ | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 17 |
| Spring Term |
|---|
| SYG 2000 | INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY +~ | 3 |
| DEH 2605 | PERIODONTOLOGY SEMINAR +* | 1 |
| DEH 2702 | COMMUNITY DENTAL HEALTH II +* | 1 |
| DEH 2812 | DENTAL HYGIENE IV +* | 2 |
| DEH 2806L | CLINICAL DENTAL HYGIENE IV +* | 5 |
| | Credit Hours | 12 |
| | Total Credit Hours | 88 |
Notes:
All accepted applicants are required to submit applications through Valencia for a criminal background check and drug testing. Applicants for Valencia’s Health Sciences Programs must be free of offenses that would disqualify them from a student clinical experience in a healthcare setting and must have their civil rights intact. This policy is in response to requirements by clinical agencies and state/federal regulations.
Specialized program courses are offered on the West Campus and may not be offered every session.
Additional education at the bachelor’s level and professional experience can enhance skills and create more career options. Students who wish to continue their education should consult with their Student Success Coach to determine the best education plan for their career goals.
