The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene requires two years of liberal arts study, with a minimum of 60 semester hours, followed by two years of study focusing on basic and dental sciences, dental hygiene science and theory, community health and pre-clinical and clinical experiences. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible for national, regional and state board licensing examinations. Classes enter once each year in the fall semester.

Dental hygiene curriculum

Admissions information
For information on admission requirements for this program, please visit www.dentistry.vcu.edu/prospective/dh/requirements.aspx

Dental hygiene curriculum

Junior year, fall semester	Credits

ANAT 301 Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Hygienists	3.0
ANAT 302 Microscopic Anatomy (Dental Hygiene)	2.0
DENH 301 Dental Hygiene Theory I	5.0
GENP 311 Oral Anatomy and Occlusion	3.0
MICR 365 Infection and Immunity (Dental Hygiene)	2.0
ORPT 301 Dental Radiology	1.0
PERI 326 Periodontics I	1.0

	17.0

Junior year, spring semester

DENH 302 Dental Hygiene Theory II	2.0
DENH 312 Preventive Oral Health Education	3.0
DENH 327 Clinical Dental Hygiene I (seminar)	4.0
DENH 342 Nutrition	3.0
GENP 302 Dental Materials	2.0
ORPT 324 Oral Pathology	3.0
PERI 329 Periodontics II	3.5

	20.5

Senior year, fall semester

DENH 401 Dental Hygiene Theory III	2.0
DENH 411 Community Dental Health	2.0
DENH 437 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (capstone)	5.0
GENP 307 Research Methods and Study Designs	2.0
ORSG 431 Management of the Medically Compromised Dental Patient and Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office	3.0
PHTX 441 Pharmacology (Dental Hygiene)	5.0

	19.0

Senior year, spring semester

DENH 402 Dental Hygiene Theory IV	2.0
DENH 412 Community Dental Health Practicum	2.0
DENH 422 Current Issues, the Law and Ethics	2.0
DENH 447 Clinical Dental Hygiene III (capstone)	6.0

	12.0