Dental Hygiene
Applications
About The Program Master of Science Program in Dental Hygiene | Dental Hygiene |
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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.
