Admission Requirements

• Associate degree in Dental Hygiene
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Completed University of Bridgeport application
• Transcripts from any colleges/universities attended
• Proof of high school completion or its equivalent
• Personal Statement of 500 words

Your academic portfolio will be evaluated individually to see how your previously earned credits can be applied and transferred to the online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program. An academic advisor from UB’s Fones School of Dental Hygiene will work with you to define a program plan that ensures your success. The University of Bridgeport accepts 60-90 approved transfer credits towards this program. In total, 121 credits must be accrued, with a minimum of 31 credits completed at UB, in order for a degree to be granted.

Dental Hygiene Core (19 Credits)

DHYG 301	Dental Hygiene Practice Management
DHYG 302	Instructional Strategies for the Health Professional
DHYG 303	Advanced Clinical Concepts
DHYG 304	Dental Hygiene Internship
DHYG 305	Dental Hygiene Research
DHYG 315	Statistical Reasoning

General Education Requirements

Most of our students will complete 19 credits in dental hygiene core courses, 18 credits in general education core, and 9 credits of electives. Your program will be unique based upon your transfer credits. General education course requirements and elective course details can be found in the UB Catalog.

Internships

In completing the Bachelor’s Degree, students enroll in DHYG 302 Instructional Strategies for the Health Professional and DHYG 304 Dental Hygiene Internship. These two courses prepare the student for and lead them into an internship experience in education or community locations. These two courses create opportunities for innovative experiences while being mentored for practical experience beyond clinical practice.

The internship allows you to apply your studies in a professional setting that aligns best with your goals. Under the guidance of the course instructor, you will select a field site in an alternative practice setting (not private practice). With the help of the site’s primary mentor, you will set goals and objectives that allow you to become an integral member of the organization and provide you with 50 hours of direct observation, participation, and supervised teaching or fieldwork.

Areas of focus

• Student teaching in dental hygiene and dental assisting programs
• Community and hospital health clinics
• Dental product companies
• Local health departments
• Dental research companies

Internship affiliations include the following student teaching/internship locations

• Fones School of Dental Hygiene
• Stratford, CT Health Department
• Porter and Chester Institute, CT
• Norwalk Hospital Dental Clinic, Norwalk, CT
• Community Health Centers, CT
• Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ
• North Hampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA
• Centrix Dental, Inc., Shelton, CT
• Open Door Family Medical Center, Ossining, NY

Learning Outcomes and Careers

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene online degree program, you will:

• Communicate effectively through written, oral, and electronic means
• Apply scientific inquiry to foster critical thinking and reflective reasoning in all initiatives
• Participate in domestic and global collaborative efforts that allow for expanded and/or alternative career opportunities
• Develop, lead, and manage programs and strategies responsive to the diverse cultural and ethnic values and traditions of the communities served
• Instill the desire to pursue graduate-level education

You will be equipped to demonstrate professionalism, ethical behavior, evidenced-based decision making, competent client care, health promotion, and disease prevention.

Careers

A career in dental hygiene offers multiple employment opportunities in a variety of settings. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) acknowledges that completion of a bachelor’s degree enhances the hygienist’s ability to succeed in the following fields:

• Educator
• Researcher
• Administrator/Manager
• Advocate
• Clinician
• Public Health Dental Hygiene

Our bachelor degree-completion program prepares you to advance your career options even further through studies in UB’s Master of Science in Dental Hygiene degree program. Additionally, UB offers continuing education opportunities for dental hygienists seeking to maintain continuing education credits for licensure and skill enhancement in your chosen career.

Career Assistance

UB's Center for Career Development helps graduates prepare for entrance into the workforce. Our comprehensive career counseling and resource center is dedicated to helping you become an active participant in your own academic, professional, and career development. Services provided include basics like resume and cover letter building, interview preparation, negotiation, goal assessment, and personal branding.