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

At the University of Mississippi, the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene is offered as a 2 + 2 program: the first two years are completed at the Oxford campus as part of the Allied Health Studies major (dental hygiene emphasis), followed by two years of professional clinical training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, MS.

During the first phase, students complete approximately 60 credit hours—including general education and prerequisite science courses. Note that UMMC requires all science courses for the dental hygiene program to be taken in person/face-to-face; online science courses will not satisfy the requirement.

After completing those two years, students submit an application to UMMC's Dental Hygiene program, which accepts one cohort each fall. Acceptance is competitive and class size is limited. Upon completion of the program the applicant will be qualified to sit for the state licensure exam.

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 prerequisite courses needed to apply to dental hygiene schools. Prerequisite requirements are determined by your schools of interest. HPAO counselors not only keep you on track with prerequisites, we provide tutoring, application assistance, and help with locating schools based on the criteria. 

Incoming freshman select the 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 include preventive services (such as fluorides and sealants) and therapeutic services (such as non-surgical periodontal therapy).

Baccalaureate graduates are employed as clinical practitioners, educators, researchers, administrators, managers, preventive program developers, consultants and public health agency professionals. 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.