Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Dental Hygiene (B.S.)


Student Learning Outcomes  

Program changes as of Spring 2023.

61 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours


Admission Requirements:

Application for admission to the USD Dental Hygiene professional program is required. Applications are scored based on GPA, ACT composite score, recommendations, and an interview; up to 32 students are selected annually. Application materials are due by February 1 prior to the fall semester of the year for which a student is applying.

Application materials may be found on the Department website at www.usd.edu/dh. They include an application form, Technical Standards form, 3 recommendation forms, ACT composite score, dental office observation/experience, and transcripts.

Pre-admission Requirements, Including Department Specified General Education Requirements (50 hours)


Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to admission into the professional curriculum. These courses may be taken at other institutions; however, it is important to obtain approval from the Department Chairperson prior to taking these courses off campus in order to ensure their transferability. Students should apply for selection into the program by February 1 prior to the fall semester of the year they desire entry. Students must consult department advisors for assistance with their schedules. An asterisk (*) denotes courses that will be used in scoring application.

General Education requirements (9 hours)


  • Arts and Humanities fulfilling SGR Goal #4  (6 cr.)-3 credit hours must be in Fine Arts and 3 credit hours must be in Humanities.
  • Advanced Composition Course in addition to ENGL 101, SGR Goal #1  (3 cr.)

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs


USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification


The educational curriculum for your academic program may or may not meet educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, please review that state and your program on USD’s Licensure-Track Programs webpage.  Licensure-Track Programs

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the USD’s State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization