Mar 29, 2025  
2024-2025 UMA Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 UMA Catalog

Dental Hygiene, BS

Delivery Area: Bangor - BS completion - Statewide

Admissions Requirements:

Transfer students who have completed 12 credit hours or more (excluding remedial or developmental courses) from a regionally accredited institution will be considered for admissions if they have a 2.75 grade point average or higher and grades of C- or better in courses applied toward degree credit.  The program will evaluate individually other qualified applicants who do not meet these criteria. Admissions to the Dental Hygiene program is selective.

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements:

  • Minimum Credit Hours range from 120-122 credits
  • Writing Intensive Course
  • Minimum Cumulative UMA G.P.A.: 2.50
  • 30 Credit Hours of Residency Courses
  • 9 Credit Hours of Upper-Level Major Residency Courses
  • Pass all courses applied toward degree credit with a C- or higher on first attempt or a student will be dismissed from the program

Clinical Course Prerequisites:

Immunization and CPR Requirements

The programs teach and utilize the Center for Disease Control Infection Control Guidelines. (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html) and therefore dental hygiene students are strongly encouraged to have a physical examination, including eye exam and completing specified immunizations and titers, specifically: Hepatitis B Vaccine Series with Titre indicating immunity; Varicella vaccine, history of the disease, or titre showing immunity; Tetanus within the past 10 years; Flu vaccine each year enrolled in the clinical coursework. Students are also strongly encouraged to obtain and maintain medical insurance coverage and have the COVID-19 vaccine. Students must obtain and maintain certification in healthcare provider level cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or equivalent.

*The CDC recommends repeating the Hepatitis B vaccine series and titre if the initial titre does not indicate immunity. If after a second series, the titre does not indicate immunity, the individual is considered a non-responder. Non-responders should be considered susceptible to Hepatitis B Virus and should be counseled by their own healthcare provider regarding the risks of working in the healthcare field as a non-responder. Being a non-responder does not preclude students from participating in the dental hygiene program or profession, however, it is imperative that dental hygiene students be aware of their immune status to properly manage post exposure incidents.

Background Checks:

Applicants to the Dental Hygiene program should be aware that a criminal background check may be required while enrolled in the program or as a condition of professional employment. Internship sites may limit or deny clinical privileges to those who have a prior or current criminal record. If denied clinical privileges, the student is at risk of not being able to obtain the number of clinical hours required for graduation. Students will be expected to provide clinical internship sites with a current background check at the request of the interning site(s), with associated expenses the students’ responsibility.

Program Major Requirements (69 or 71 Credit Hours):

All courses must be passed with a “C-” or better.

Choose one track below for 6 credits or 8 credits

(choose one track: 6 credit track (DEH 400  and/or DEH 494  ) or the 8 credit “EFDA” certificate track (DEA 370  , DEA 371L  and DEA 381 )

Complete six credit hours from the following course options (6):

Complete eight credit hours from the following course options (8):

Other Program Requirements (51 Credit Hours):

Complete one of the following Communications electives (3):

Complete one of the following Cultural Diversity electives (3):

Complete one of the following Fine Arts electives (3):

Complete two of the following Humanities electives (6):

Complete one of the following Computer Information Systems courses (3):

Advising Notes:

  • A cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.75 is required to transfer into the program and a cumulative 2.50 UMA G.P.A. to remain in the program unless offered Dental Hygiene Academic Contract. Please see the UMA catalog for the program’s probation policy.
  • A student who falls below the minimum cumulative 2.50 UMA G.P.A. while enrolled in the Dental Hygiene program may be placed on Dental Hygiene Academic Contract. 
  • Students dismissed from the Dental Hygiene program may transfer/apply to another degree program at UMA for which they may be eligible.
  • Students in the bachelor’s degree program who did not complete the DEH 304 Dental Anxiety and Pain Management course or have not obtained a license/authority to administer local anesthesia must show proof of having successfully completed a local anesthesia continuing education course which includes both lecture and clinical components.
  • Students should meet with their faculty advisor to verify readiness for graduation prior to submitting a graduation card.

General Education:

It is the intention of the University of Maine at Augusta that every degree graduate will be prepared to function in our society as an effective and informed citizen.  To this end, the faculty has designed a set of minimum expectations that students are expected to satisfy.  The aspirations are defined by core skills, competencies, and abilities as well as knowledge based learning experiences that are the grounds for the General Education Requirements.  To learn more, visit  www.uma.edu/academics/general-education/