Admission Requirements

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Program Prerequisites

To be completed prior to matriculation:

• Active dental hygiene license
• Bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene or a related field from an accredited institution
• Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher

All accepted students are subject to a background check through an external agency. Further information will be distributed by your advisor.

Required Materials

• Application
• Official transcripts for bachelor’s degree and/or dental hygiene degree from the US or Canada (from all institutions of higher education)
• Two Recommendation Letters
  • Letters must be signed and come from employers, professors or professional associates (i.e. clinical supervisor or dental hygiene director)
• Personal Statement
  • In 500 words, detail why you are seeking this degree, how you expect to apply your degree to your professional career after graduation and why you seek to pursue your degree through University of Bridgeport
• Photocopy of US or Canadian dental hygiene license in good standing

International Applicants

Please consult the International admission requirements page, or for specific queries, contact your admissions officer.

Deadlines

Completed application and all supporting documents must be received by March 31 for summer entry.

Concentrated Practicum

The concentrated practicum allows you to apply your studies in a professional setting that aligns best with your goals.

You will work with the course instructor and practicum site to determine the details of the 75-hour commitment. The work activities are structured based on your interest and decided learning outcomes, with appropriate evaluation mechanisms determined by the site facilitator and the course instructor.

Areas of focus

• Student teaching in clinical, laboratory, and didactic settings
• Research
• Public health
• Consumer Advocate
• Publishing
• Administrative

Field Site Opportunities

University of Bridgeport’s Fones School of Dental Hygiene has over 100 facilities currently used for the concentrated practicum and student teaching, with new sites added each year as student interest and geographical locations increase.

Students are able to take advantage of field site agreements with a continuously expanding set of schools, including:

• NHTI Concord’s Community College
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
• College of DuPage, Illinois
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Tunxis Community College, Connecticut
• Monroe Community College, New York

Orientation

Part Two – Online: You will also be required to participate in an Online Orientation prior to attending the on-campus orientation. During the Orientation, students learn how to navigate the learning management system (LMS). Successful completion of the Online Orientation is required of all new students in the online program.

First Year

DHYG 500	Leadership (Summer)
DHYG 501	Grant and Contract Writing (Summer)
DHYG 502	Evidence-based Research (Fall)
DHYG 506	Global Healthcare (Fall)
DHYG 508	Curriculum Development and Management (Spring)
DHYG 515	Statistical Reasoning (Spring)

Second Year

DHYG 503	Clinical and Didactic Educational Concepts (Summer)
DHYG 516	Concentrated Practicum (Summer)
DHYG 504	Dental Hygiene Student Teaching (Fall)
DHYG 512	Public Health (Fall)
DHYG 513	Seminar in Contemporary Dental Hygiene Issues (Spring)
DHYG 520	Master's Capstone (Spring)
DHYG 521	Capstone Extension (as needed)

 

Learning Outcomes and Careers

Upon completion of the Dental Hygiene MS degree program, you will:

• Utilize scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and research methodology in developing contemporary theory and best practice
• Cultivate the incorporation of existing and emerging health informatics and technology within one’s profession
• Contribute to and facilitate development of programs based on population need, diversity, and social and cultural sensitivity
• Promote inter-professional collaboration within an integrated delivery system of health care
• Forge the pathway toward expanding the professional landscape of dental hygiene

Careers

Enhance your career with foundations in education and public health

The Dental Hygiene MS program at UB’s Fones School of Dental Hygiene provides you with a foundation in both education and public health so you may gain the expertise necessary to fulfill your career goals across multiple industries.

You will benefit from learning both a theoretical and practical approach to educational methodologies and their application to dental hygiene academia. Emphasis is placed on curricular assessment, development, implementation and evaluation. You will gain experience and understand the role and responsibilities of faculty in didactic, clinical, and laboratory course development through the utilization of instructional technology and applicable learning domains.

In addition, you will be immersed in public health, focusing on the overall health and oral health needs of diverse populations, ways to improve direct access of care, and learning about the leadership roles of the dental hygienist responsible for administering and implementing dental public health programs. Experience and knowledge will be gained in program development, grant writing, research, and methodologies effective in improving oral health.

• Dental Health Educator
• Dental Hygiene Program Director
• Public Health Advocate
• Corporate Researcher
• Product Developer
• Dental Health Services Director

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.

A Solid Foundation for Career and Academic Opportunities

The Fones School of Dental Hygiene has built a reputation of excellence since it was established as the world's first dental hygiene school in 1913. Graduates from UB with advanced degrees in dental hygiene have gone on to secure the following positions or pursued further education in the following:

• Doctoral Work
• Military
• Myofacial Therapy
• Non-Profits
• Dental Hygiene Program Directors
• Independent Practice
• Research
• Education (both on-campus and online)
• Publishing
• Public Health Service Corporations
• Hospital-based Dental Hygiene
• Dental School