Why a Baccalaureate Degree? | Advancing technology, new systems of health care delivery, changing oral disease patterns, an aging population and a more informed health-conscious public have changed the nature of dental practice in recent years. For dental hygienists, the baccalaureate degree has become increasingly important for adapting successfully to these changes and for advancing professionally. Our innovative Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Program prepares graduates for positions of responsibility in dental hygiene. A variety of career opportunities exist for the baccalaureate-trained hygienists in clinical practice, education, management/ administration, research and public health/community oral health care. |
The Program | The Degree Completion Program provides the opportunity for dental hygienists who hold an associate degree or certificate to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene. The program guides students in developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for positions of responsibility in a variety of health care, educational, research and community settings. The programs approach to learning is student-centered, individualized and flexible. The faculty strives to develop creative, thinking professionals who are capable of assessing their own performance and directing their own professional growth. Students have the opportunity to share experiences, knowledge and skills; work cooperatively with colleagues; and explore a variety of resources to help them reach their full potential as health care providers. Graduates report renewed enthusiasm for dental hygiene and increased opportunities and satisfaction in both traditional and nontraditional employment settings. Many graduates pursue advanced education after completion of the program.
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The Curriculum
| The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to enroll either full- or part-time. The total degree requirement is 120 semester credits. Students may apply a maximum of 90 semester hours of approved transfer credits (toward the 120 total) in dental hygiene and general education courses. Length of time to complete the program varies, depending on the number of transfer credits and course load. The last 30 credits consist of 18-24 hours taken in the Department of Dental Hygiene and 6-12 hours of upper level electives which must be approved by the Degree Completion Program Director and which must be taken at a University of Maryland campus. Some elective credits may be available via distance education online Students update and expand their knowledge and skills in dental hygiene practice, communication, management, research, educational and community/institutional health. In cooperation with faculty advisors, they may design and implement one or more independent projects within the Dental School or at community sites. Degree completion students may select teaching, research, management, clinical practice or other practicums to meet their learning goals. Through these courses and projects, students gain expertise and confidence in areas of career interest.
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Degree Completion Class Schedule 2007 Transfer Credits General Requirements | Semester Credits | English Composition | 6 | | | General Psychology | 3 | General Sociology | 3 | Speech | 3 | Statistics | 3 | Humanities and Social Sciences
(At least three credits from each category) | 12 | Sub-Total | 30 | Science Requirements | | One lower division course in each of the following (credit hours may vary for each course): - Chemistry (General, Organic or Biochemistry)
- Anatomy/Physiology
- Microbiology
- Nutrition
| 15 | Dental Hygiene courses | variable credit hours | Electives | variable credit hours | Maximum Total transfer credits | 90 | Upper Division Dental Hygiene Requirements at UMB | | Seminars I & II | 4 | Perspectives of Dental Hygiene Practice | 3 | Educational Program Development | 2 | Health Care Management | 2 | Introduction to Oral Health Research | 3 | Issues in Health Care Delivery | 2 | Dental Hygiene Practicums I & II | 2-8 | Upper Division Electives* | 6-12 | Total | 30 | *Offered at UM, off-campus | |
To learn more about the Degree Completion Program, students should contact Ms. Sheryl Syme. Sheryl L. Syme, RDH, MS
Director, Degree Completion Program
410.706.7773
ssyme@umaryland.edu Academic Common Market The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a program consisting of sixteen Southern states that participate in a higher education consortium. ACM affords students an opportunity to enroll in certain out-of-state bachelor’s and graduate degree programs that are not offered within the student’s home state’s public college or university, at reduced tuition rates. The following states are partners in the ACM consortium: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida (graduate programs only), Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina (graduate programs with restrictions) Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (graduate programs only), Virginia, and West Virginia. Therefore, if you have not earned a previous bachelor’s degree, reside in one of these states and a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene is not offered in your home state, and if you wish to come to the University of Maryland, Baltimore to obtain your Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene, you may want to explore your eligibility for a ACM tuition waiver with your home state’s higher education commission. The Delaware ACM, see link above, has been successfully utilized by eligible Degree Completion students residing in Delaware. DCTAG Program for Washington, DC Residents The DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) is a grant that allows you to attend any public institution in the nation as if you're a resident of the school's state. You pay the low in-state tuition and the grant pays the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition up to $10,000 a year. With a maximum of 5 award years that can amount to a lifetime of $50,000, this grant makes affordable college tuition a reality. This program has been successfully utlized by eligible Degree Completion students residing in Washington, DC
| The Committee on Dental Hygiene Recruitment and Admissions reserves the right to modify the prerequisites when additional courses are necessary to improve an applicant's preparation for entering the dental hygiene program. Admission and curriculum requirements are subject to change without prior notice.Students who complete the preprofessional curriculum are not guaranteed admission The University of Maryland, and all of its branches and divisions, subscribes to a policy of equal educational opportunities for all people of all ages, races, creeds and ethnic origins. The Committee on Dental Hygiene Recruitment and Admissions carefully reviews all applications in a confidential process.
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Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program | Program | Application Deadline | Application Fee | Selection Process | Bachelor of Science Degree Completion | May 1 | $65 | Competitive |
| Applications for the Degree Completion Program are reviewed by the Committee on Dental Hygiene Recruitment and Admissions using the following criteria: completeness of application, Dental Hygiene GPA, overall GPA, overall academic record (including repeats, failures, withdrawals, etc.), interest in enhanced dental hygiene education, written and verbal communication skills, prior dental hygiene work experience, professional demeanor, professional involvement, the ability to interact with others, interest in and knowledge of the dental hygiene profession, quality of written pre-interview short answer responses and service to the community. Once a completed application is received by the Office of Admissions and Career Advancement and if deemed appropriate by the Committee on Dental Hygiene Recruitment and Admissions, applicants will be invited for an interview before May 1, 2008. |
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Admission Requirements - Graduate of a dental hygiene program accredited by the ADA Commissions on Dental Accreditation or the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
- Dental Hygiene licensure in at least one state.
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
These documents should be placed in one master envelope and addressed to: University of Maryland Dental School
Office of Admissions and Career Advancement
650 West Baltimore Street, Room 6407
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Attn: Degree Completion Dental Hygiene Program Admissions
The Office of Admissions can be contacted at: DHadmissions@dental.umaryland.edu
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