Dental Hygiene - Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene prepares graduates to become licensed prevention specialists within the dental health team by providing oral assessments and health education, exposing radiographs, removing hard and soft deposits and stains from teeth, administering local anesthesia and nitrous-oxide analgesia, placing temporary restorations, polishing teeth, and applying topical fluoride.  The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for enhanced roles and responsibilities of dental hygienists in administration, business, education, management, public health, research, and related fields.  

In order to qualify for admission to the program, the applicant must have met all of the following conditions and submit a Program Application:

1. A high school diploma or equivalent, or General Education Development (GED) test with a score of at least 45 overall and with no subtest lower than 35.

2. Have a minimum cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher.

3. Have completed the following program prerequisites with a letter grade of "C" or better. Biology 20, Human Anatomy, and Biology 22, Human Physiology, (or equivalent), or Biology 21A and Biology 21B (or equivalent); Chemistry 3A, Introduction to General Chemistry (or college equivalent); Chemistry 3B, Organic and Biological Chemistry; Biology 31, Microbiology;

English 1A, Reading and Comprehension; Mathematics 11, Elementary Statistics, or transfer level math; Communication 1 or 2, Introduction to Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication; Psychology 2, General Psychology; and Sociology 1A, Introduction to Sociology. 

4. Completion of a minimum of 60 transferable lower division semester units

General Education Requirements: In addition to all courses required for the Dental Hygiene major and Licensure, students must complete one of the two different general education patterns with a letter grade of "C" or better:

Option 1 - CSU GE - California State University General Education, OR

Option 2 - IGETC - Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum

Program Information:

All Dental Hygiene courses in the program are taken in a cohort, i.e., all students take the same courses each semester.

The program requires four full-time semesters for completion of a Bachelor's Degree. Students must complete the required 9 units of upper division general education at Fresno City College.

Classes, clinical training, and related activities are conducted on the Fresno City College campus. Mandatory external rotations and observations take place at off campus sites affiliated with the program. 

Students accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program will be required to complete a background check and drug screen.

Students must be in good physical and mental health and have no physical impairment, which would preclude the performance of all dental hygiene duties.

The successful completion of the Dental Hygiene Program requires the completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree. Graduates who pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and a regional clinical licensing examination may apply for state Licensure.

The number of students to earn the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene is projected to be 40 annually.

Fresno City College has conducted a significant analysis of statewide and regional workforce data and unmet workforce needs to justify the necessity of offering a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene. Results from surveys and data collection provide evidence of regional, statewide, and national demand for dental hygiene clinicians and educators requiring a bachelor's degree.

A letter of support from the volunteer chairman of the Advisory Committee, Ronald Sani, DDS, Chief of Dentistry, Community Regional Medical Center of Fresno, documents the impact on access and equity that a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene would provide for students in the region.

Students eligible for the Dental Hygiene program are academically prepared to transition to other associate degree programs at Fresno City College and other associate degree-earning institutions and transfer to other four-year institutions.

Year 1

Focus on General Education Certificate of Achievement CSU-GE. In preparation for applying for the Dental Hygiene program, students work closely with counselors to complete the CSU General Education pattern. As a requirement to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene, students must complete all current CSU GE coursework. This coursework prepares students to obtain the following:

• Associate Degree in any subject from Fresno City College

• Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Hygiene at Fresno City College

• Undergraduate/General Education Transfer to a California State University

• Undergraduate/General Education Transfer to other colleges and universities

Year 2

Focus on Undergraduate Requirements for Dental Hygiene AS Degree in Pre-Allied Health. All Fresno City College courses numbered 1-99 are transferable to California State Universities. When completing the prerequisites and general education courses needed to apply to the Dental Hygiene program, students will have obtained over 60 units of transferable general education courses. This coursework prepares students for the following:

• Eight of the program undergraduate courses can be used to fulfill prerequisite requirements for associate degrees in other allied health programs at Fresno City College, including Nursing, Respiratory Care, and Radiologic Technology

• Students will be eligible to apply to dental hygiene and other allied health programs at a community college or university

• Fulfills pre-requisite requirements for admission to California State University, Fresno nursing program

• Units transfer to Health Care Administration bachelor degree programs at Fresno Pacific University, the University of Phoenix, and Grand Canyon University

Year 3 and Year 4

Focus on Upper Division Coursework BS Degree in Dental Hygiene.

Students will have access to graduate education after completing the bachelor’s degree, including the following:

• Master’s degree programs at local institutions such as California State University, Fresno, and Fresno Pacific University include business administration, science, education, leadership, and public health. Fresno City College has worked with local and regional private colleges such as the University of Phoenix for students majoring in Health Administration and Grand Canyon University for students majoring in Public Health. Agreements have been established to articulate dental hygiene coursework. Efforts will continue to develop and enhance pathways for students.

Fresno City College Bachelor of Science Degree Learning Outcomes:

1. Educate students in the ethical, legal, evidence-based, and competent practice of dental hygiene.

2. Prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and values to provide optimal and compassionate care and disease prevention for diverse populations.

3. Promote professional growth, development, and an appreciation of scholarly activity that contributes to the advancement of the profession. 

The Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene prepares graduates to become licensed prevention specialists within the dental health team by providing oral assessments and health education, exposing radiographs, removing hard and soft deposits and stains from teeth, administering local anesthesia and nitrous-oxide analgesia, placing temporary restorations, polishing teeth, and applying topical fluoride.  The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for enhanced roles and responsibilities of dental hygienists in administration, business, education, management, public health, research, and related fields.  

In order to qualify for admission to the program, the applicant must have met all of the following conditions and submit a Program Application:

1. A high school diploma or equivalent, or General Education Development (GED) test with a score of at least 45 overall and with no subtest lower than 35.

2. Have a minimum cumulative college grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher.

3. Have completed the following program prerequisites with a letter grade of "C" or better. Biology 20, Human Anatomy, and Biology 22, Human Physiology, (or equivalent), or Biology 21A and Biology 21B (or equivalent); Chemistry 3A, Introduction to General Chemistry (or college equivalent); Chemistry 3B, Organic and Biological Chemistry; Biology 31, Microbiology;

English 1A, Reading and Comprehension; Mathematics 11, Elementary Statistics, or transfer level math; Communication 1 or 2, Introduction to Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication; Psychology 2, General Psychology; and Sociology 1A, Introduction to Sociology. 

4. Completion of a minimum of 60 transferable lower division semester units

General Education Requirements: In addition to all courses required for the Dental Hygiene major and Licensure, students must complete one of the two different general education patterns with a letter grade of "C" or better:

Option 1 - CSU GE - California State University General Education, OR

Option 2 - IGETC - Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum

Program Information:

All Dental Hygiene courses in the program are taken in a cohort, i.e., all students take the same courses each semester.

The program requires four full-time semesters for completion of a Bachelor's Degree. Students must complete the required 9 units of upper division general education at Fresno City College.

Classes, clinical training, and related activities are conducted on the Fresno City College campus. Mandatory external rotations and observations take place at off campus sites affiliated with the program. 

Students accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program will be required to complete a background check and drug screen.

Students must be in good physical and mental health and have no physical impairment, which would preclude the performance of all dental hygiene duties.

The successful completion of the Dental Hygiene Program requires the completion of the Bachelor of Science Degree. Graduates who pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and a regional clinical licensing examination may apply for state Licensure.