Table of contents Introduction to Graduate Study in the Division of Dental Hygiene | Introduction to Graduate Study in the Division of Dental Hygiene Master of Science degree students in the Division of Dental Hygiene at the University of Maryland, Baltimore are invited to join a process of learning for understanding and competence. You will be encouraged to be actively involved in learning that prepares you for independent, critical thinking and professional leadership. Whether you are pursuing an advanced degree by taking courses full- or part-time, or actively involved in research, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are expected to meet the highest standards of achievement. WELCOME! Our program offers a combined emphasis on scholarship and professional preparation and exhibits the necessary compatibility and tension between theory and practice. Students will meet faculty in the Division who similarly combine research and involvement with the practical realities of professional practice and teaching. Student independence and initiative are highly valued in the Division. This is especially true in student-advisor relations and the student's transition from taking courses to conducting research. Students are encouraged to make active use of the resources available through their faculty advisor. Identifying and defining research problems, designing and conducting research, and analyzing data require higher levels of knowledge/ability and confidence than are entailed in completing courses. The faculty stands ready to offer advice on how these changes in orientation can be negotiated in your quest for your Master's degree. Students in our program are carefully selected. They come from varied backgrounds, reflecting the Division’s intention to attract as students outstanding men and women without regard to race, ethnicity, social class, or nationality. Our students are experienced, busy professionals with clear goals and expectations. This website offers the initial information and counsel you will need to pursue graduate study in the Division successfully. Kathryn Battani, RDH, MS
Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director |
Dental Hygiene Today - Keeping Pace with a Changing World
| These are dynamic times for health care and particularly for dental hygiene. In the last decade alone, the roles of dental hygienists have changed to keep pace with new technology, new systems of health care delivery, an increasing geriatric population and a more informed public. The Master of Science Degree Program in Dental Hygiene at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Dental School, University of Maryland, Baltimore is an innovative program designed to educate the leaders of dental hygiene for today and tomorrow. An increasing number of leadership positions for dental hygienists have created a demand for graduate education in research, management, teaching and community/institutional health. As one graduate student stated, "Dental Hygiene is a changing profession and I selected Maryland because I wanted to involve myself in a program that would facilitate this change and help me see the difference that I can make." |
THE PROGRAM
| The Master of Science Degree Program in Dental Hygiene is designed to prepare dental hygienists to assume positions of responsibility beyond those assumed by the baccalaureate graduate and to provide a foundation for doctoral level study. The program is student-centered, individualized and flexible. The faculty is committed to facilitating the development of creative, thinking professionals who are competent to pursue careers in teaching, research, administration, management or public/community health care. Self-evaluation and self-direction are encouraged throughout the program. Students have the opportunity to share their experiences, knowledge and skills, work cooperatively with colleagues, and explore a variety of resources to help them reach their maximum potential as health care professionals. Program concentrations include education, management and community/ institutional health. Students in the community/institutional health concentration may choose to focus on acute/hospital care, chronic/geriatric care, or community health issues.
Within each concentration, practical career-oriented applications of knowledge and theory are emphasized. For example, one student in the education concentration designed a practicum in which she managed the laboratory and clinical component of the radiology course. A student in the community/institutional health concentration designed an instructional brochure for dentists and hygienists on the oral care and management of the cancer patient. Another student in the health concentration conducted thesis research on the incidence of fever in the granulocytopenic cancer patient following dental hygiene scaling. Students and faculty agree that these learning experiences help to develop and strengthen the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to pursue specialized career goals.
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Admission Guidelines and Criteria
| Admission to the Master of Science Program in Dental Hygiene at the University of Maryland, Baltimore resides with the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School. Complete information on application and admission procedures are found in the catalog of the University of Maryland Graduate School: http://www.graduate.umaryland.edu/catalog/index.html Below is a brief outline of the process. |
Application for Admission | Application Deadlines:
Fall Admission: June 30
Spring Admission: November 30 Prior to applying to the Master of Science degree program, the Graduate Program Director strongly encourages scheduling a pre-advising meeting (either over the phone or in person) to discuss the applicant’s academic and career goals. Questions about the program can be answered at this time. Contact Katy Battani, Graduate Program Director at kbattani@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7773.
To apply:
| - Must be a graduate from an accredited entry-level dental hygiene program (possess a certificate or associate degree in dental hygiene
- Must have a baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene or a related field; and
- Must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate education
*Other assessments may be requested by the Program Director if needed.
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The Division of Dental Hygiene admissions committee determines admission based on your academic record,recommendation letters, and your personal goal statement. The Graduate Program Director then forwards the recommendation for admission or non-admission to the Graduate School. The Graduate School notifies you of your admission status:
| - Admission in full graduate status;
- Provisional status; or
- Not admitted.
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Once admitted, students must be in continuous registration with at least one credit for fall and spring semesters. Students DO NOT have to enroll during summer sessions.
*Note: The Division DOES NOT require the Graduate Records Examination or the Miller Analogies test. |
Other Graduate School Policies Related to Admission
| A number of other policies of the Graduate School governing admissions should be kept in mind. Chief among these are: - Students must complete the program in (5) years.
- A student is admitted only for a specified objective e.g., a Master of Science degree. If a change of objective or degree level is desired, a new application must be submitted.
- A student's admission terminates when the original objective has been obtained (e.g., when a student admitted for a Master's degree completes the requirements for that degree); if a student wishes to continue for a doctorate in another Department, a new application must be submitted.
- Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (B) of better in all graduate courses taken and must satisfy all additional Division and Graduate School program requirements.
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Academic Advisement | Academic advisement is a unique process that facilitates the clarification of student goals, encourages continuity of learning and promotes a quality educational program. In the Division of Dental Hygiene, the advisement process is viewed as a shared responsibility between student and faculty. The Graduate Program Director will act as Primary Advisor for all full-time and part-time dental hygiene graduate students. |
The Curriculum | Full-time students can expect to complete the graduate program in approximately 18-24 months. Part-time students usually complete the program in 24 to 36 months. Students must complete a total of 30 semester credits to graduate. Students, under the guidance of a committee, design and conduct original research for a total of six credits. Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Curriculum |
Interested individuals may contact:
Kathryn Spears-Battani, RDH, MS
Acting Director, Graduate Program
410.706.7773
Email: kbattani@umaryland.edu |
