Undergraduate

Dental Hygiene, B.S. (2 + 2)

Prepare for a health career helping patients and their dental care.

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Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

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About the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene

At the University of Mississippi, dental hygiene is a 2+2 program that is not completed at the University of Mississippi-Oxford campus.  Traditionally, UM students take two years of coursework then apply to the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Program in Jackson, MS. Acceptance into the final two years of clinical coursework is competitive and class size is limited. Upon completion of the program the applicant will be qualified to sit for state licensure.

While at UM, you will be enrolled in the Allied Health Studies major and assigned an academic counselor in the Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO) who will ensure that you have the pre-requisite courses needed to apply to dental hygiene schools. Pre-requisite requirements are determined by your schools of interest. HPAO counselors not only keep you on track with pre-requisites, we provide tutoring, application assistance, and help with locating schools based on the your criteria.

Incoming freshman select the pre-dental hygiene emphasis for Allied Health Studies on their UM application. Others complete the short online form on the HPAO website to be assigned to an HPAO advisor and notified about HPAO programs and services.

The Value of an Allied Health Studies Degree

Allied Health Studies majors gain the ability to understand human behavior, communicate complex ideas, think critically, interpret data, and engage with a diverse world. These skills prepare our majors to enter any allied health profession and become leaders of the future.

What is a Registered Dental Hygienist?

Registered dental hygienists are licensed oral health care professionals. Generally, dental hygienists examine patients for signs of oral disease and provide preventive care. This care can limit the extent of cavities and periodontal disease by using a variety of diagnostic aids which includes developing a care plan in conjunction with the patient’s goals and needs, providing oral health education, and performing preventive (fluorides, sealants) and therapeutic services (non-surgical periodontal therapy) according to individual needs.

Baccalaureate graduates are employed as clinical practitioners, educators, researchers, administrators, managers, preventive program developers, consultants and in public health agencies. Registered/licensed dental hygienists practice according to the requirements of individual state dental practice acts.

For more information regarding dental hygiene field, visit Explorehealthcareer.
To learn about the job outlook, visit Occupation Outlook Handbook.

Health Professions Advising Office Degree Plan Allied Health Studies Checksheet for Dental Hygiene Emphasis

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Program Information

Program Type

Major

Area of Study

Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology

School

College of Liberal Arts

Duration

4 years

Degree

B.A. in Allied Health Studies

Program Location

Oxford

Emphases

Dental Hygiene

Required Credit Hours

120

Degree Requirements

Departments from across the University of Mississippi contribute courses to the B.A. in Allied Health Studies, which is organized by HPAO. The degree prepares students for application and admission to allied health professional schools.

Students in the B.A. in Allied Health Studies program complete 30-36 credit hours of courses for the major, additional requirements, and a required minor field of study.

Bisc 210: Microbiology (or any Bisc 300 level or higher)
ES 396: Allied Health Terminology OR Clc 201: Medical Terminology
Spch 102: Fundamentals of Public Speaking OR Spch 105: Business and Professional Speaking
One of the following advanced communication courses
- Spch 305: Collaborative Communication
- Writ 300: Rhetoric of Professional Communication
- Writ 310: Writing in Professional Contexts
- Writ 320: Contemporary Writing Studies
- Writ 380: Scientific Writing
- Writ 399: Special Topics
- Writ 410: Grant Writing
5 of the following electives, depending on your allied health field and interests
- Anth 349: Medical Anthropology
- IMC/Jour 585: Health Communications
- NHM 325: Family Relations
- NHM 328: Child Development
- Phil 321: Ethics
- Phil/Rel 328: Biomedical Ethics
- Soc 301/G St 303: The Family
- Soc 310: Sociology of Disability
- Soc 311: Social Problems
- Soc 333: Sociology of Delinquency
- Soc 345: Population Trends and Problems
- Soc 353: Community Development
- Soc 370/Hon 315: Population Health
- Soc 413/AAS 413: Race and Ethnicity
- Soc 427: Social Stratification
- SW 326: Gerontology
- Any 300 level or above biology course
- Any 300 level or above psychology course
- Any 300 level or above exercise science course

Additional requirements for the program are:

Psy 201: General Psychology
One of the following
- Psy 301: Developmental Psychology
- Psy 311: Abnormal Psychology
- NHM 323: Human Growth and Development

Welcome to Dental Hygiene

Whether you're learning more about what it means to be a dental hygienist or actively preparing to apply to dental hygiene school, we’re here to support your journey. Explore the dynamic profession and learn more about their role as members of the healthcare team and how to become a competitive candidate for dental hygiene school.

Use my Calendly link to make an appointment.

Tyler Edwards

Academic Advisor

Learn about the Health Professions Advising Office

Watch the video below to learn more about HPAO.

Other Allied Health Programs

Students spend 2, 3, or 4 years (depending on the program) on the Oxford campus before applying to a competitive-entry professional program for the specialized coursework and training. These students will be enrolled in the Allied Health Studies major while at UM and can choose to complete the B.A. in Allied Health Studies before enrollment in the professional school program.