Dental Hygiene (DHY.APP)

Program Outcomes

Program outcomes represent broad areas of knowledge and skills developed over the duration of the program through a wide range of courses and experiences. These learning outcomes represent what a student should be able to know, think, or do upon successful completion of their program at Oakland Community College.

  • Students will apply legal and ethical principles to assigned case studies.
  • Students can analyze, interpret, synthesize, and evaluate information before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.
  • Students can apply the information to engage in innovative problem solving strategies.
  • Students will use critical thinking to apply theoretical knowledge to the practice of dental hygiene.

Program Plan 2023-2024

Full Time - Fall Start

**Students should meet with an OCC counselor before attempting this plan of study**

Year 1 - Fall

Courses
BIO 1511 Life Science                                                                                                                                                                               4
  or BIO 1530 Biology I: Molecular & Cellular      4
COM 1600 Fundamentals of Speech 3
PSY 2510 Introduction to Psychology 3
  TOTAL CREDITS  10

MILESTONE: Attend Dental Hygiene information session. Student must show proof of high school diploma or GED to a Highland Lakes Counselor.

Year 1 - Winter

Courses
BIO 2630 Human Anatomy and Physiology                                                                                                          4
*CHE 1000 Introduction to Chemistry 4
ENG 1510 Composition 3
SOC 2510 Sociology 3
  TOTAL CREDITS  14

* CHE 1000 is optional

MILESTONE: Student must provide documentation of 10 hours job shadowing with a Registered Dental Hygienist and 5 hours of observation in the OCC Dental Hygiene Clinic before they apply to program.

Year 1 - Summer 

Courses
BIO 2640 Human Anatomy & Physiology II                                                                                                4
CHE 1320 Survey of Organic & Biochemistry                          4
  TOTAL CREDITS  8

MILESTONE: Schedule, take, and pass the DHY HESI with a 75th percentile in each section. One retake is permitted.

Year 2 - Fall

Courses
BIO 1570 Microbiology of Health & Disease                                                                                                                                       3-4
  or BIO 2710 Microbiology 4
Gen Ed Fine Arts/Humanities 3
  TOTAL CREDITS  6-7

MILESTONE: Apply for program with a Highland Lakes Counselor by December 15th.

Year 2 - Winter

Courses
HEA 1510 Nutrition                                                                                                                                  3
  TOTAL CREDITS  3

Year 2 - Summer

Courses
None                                                                                                0
  TOTAL CREDITS   0

Year 3 - Fall

Courses
DHY 1230 Oral, Head, and Neck Anatomy                                                                                                    3
DHY 1240 Dental Histology & Embryology                                                         3
DHY 1250 Clinical Techniques 5
DHY 1140 Dental Office Procedures 3
  TOTAL CREDITS  14

Year 3 - Winter

Courses
DHY 1260 Dental Radiology                                                                                                                                 3.5
DHY 2210 Oral Pathology 3
DHY 1281 Clinical Dental Hygiene I                                                             4
DHY 1310 Periodontics 2
  TOTAL CREDITS  12.5

Year 3 - Summer

Courses
DHY 2250 Dental Materials                                                                                                                                             3
DHY 1282 Clinical Dental Hygiene II                                                         2.5
DHY 1350 Local Anesthesia 1.5
  TOTAL CREDITS  7

Year 4 - Fall

Courses
DHY 1380 Dental Therapeutics                                                                                                                                            2
DHY 2280 Dental Health Education 2
DHY 1283 Clinical Dental Hygiene III                                                          5
  TOTAL CREDITS 9

Year 4 - Winter

Courses
DHY 2240 Dental Specialties                                                                                                                                          2
DHY 2220 Dental Public Health 1
DHY 2320 Dental Law 1
DHY 1284 Clinical Dental Hygiene IV 5
DHY 2340 Dental Hygiene Board Review (elective)                           1
  TOTAL CREDITS 10

                                                                                                                                                            Total Credits 

84.5