Dental Hygiene (A.S., B.S.)

Prerequisite Courses (31-32 credit hours)

• CHEM 106 - Chemistry Survey (C)
• CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Laboratory (C)
• CHEM 107 - Organic and Biochemistry Survey (C)
• CHEM 107L - Organic and Biochemistry Survey Laboratory (C)
• ENGL 101 - Composition I (C)
• ENGL 210 - Introduction to Literature (C)

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• MATH 102 - College Algebra (C)

• Or

• MATH 104 - Finite Mathematics (C)

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• MICR 230 - Basic Microbiology
• PHGY 220 - Human Anatomy/Physiology I
• PHGY 220L - Human Anatomy/Physiology Laboratory
• PHGY 230 - Human Anatomy/Physiology II
• PHGY 230L - Human Anatomy/Physiology II Laboratory
• PSYC 101 - General Psychology (C)

Pre-admission Requirements

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 15 prior to the fall semester of the year they desire entry. Students must consult department advisors for assistance with their schedules.

The South Dakota Board of Regents Proficiency Examination

All students seeking undergraduate degrees must achieve satisfactory performance on The South Dakota Board of Regents Proficiency Examination, the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP). Students pursuing an Associate degree must take the examination as soon as they have passed 32 credit hours (Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree are required to take the exam as soon as they have passed 48 credit hours at or above the 100-level). This includes credits which are transferred in as well as those taken on campus. The examination is scheduled once each semester, during the first two weeks in November and the last two weeks of March. The CAAP Exam consists of four test components: writing skills, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning. The purpose of the examination is to ensure the standards and quality of the education that students receive and to provide the University with information for improving the general educational curriculum. The examination also provides students with information that allows them to compare their performance to that of other students across the United States. Passing this set of exams in necessary to graduate and complete a degree program.

For additional information see http://catalog.usd.edu/content.php?catoid=5&navoid=157

DENTAL HYGIENE MAJOR, B.S.

61 MAJOR HOURS, 128 DEGREE HOURS

The following is an example of the curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. University and College core requirements may be completed prior to entry into the professional curriculum or may be taken following the two years of the professional curriculum depending on when the student is accepted into the dental hygiene program.