The advantages of the UCDH 20 month Bachelor's of Science Degree (BSDH) in Dental Hygiene 

The Utah College of Dental Hygiene takes great pleasure in announcing their accelerated and innovative Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) degree program.  The UCDH accelerated baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene has many advantages, and allows students to earn their BSDH Degree in only 20 months on campus as opposed to the traditional four to five years that is often common in other college and university settings. The UCDH BSDH program is based upon one year (12 months, 33 credit hours) of pre-requisite and general education coursework that is completed prior to beginning at UCDH, and less than two years (20 calendar months, 89 credit hours) in the UCDH dental hygiene program.  This unique program and curriculum structure awards a total of 122 credit hours that can all be compressed into three total calendar years.  This means that you can graduate sooner, make money faster, and begin your career as a dental hygienists as soon as possible! Please note that UCDH does not offer Associate Degrees.  We are a Bachelor's degree only program. 

At a glance advantages*:

UCDH has been educating dental hygiene students since 2005 and currently has over 400 dental hygiene graduates.  Over 94% of our graduates have worked as registered dental hygieneists (RDH) in over 24 states since our founding in 2005!    

No waiting lists to begin the program, and all eligible applicants receive an interview.

Earn a Bachelor's Degree (BSDH) at UCDH in about the same time as it normally takes to earn a traditional  Associate's Degree (AS/AAS) from another college or university!

If a graduate so desires they can continue their educational pursuits elsewhere to earn graduate and doctoral degrees!

Graduates with a Bachelor's Degree can become instructors and teach dental hygiene students!

There are many more career options, and jobs,  for hygienists who have earned a Bachelor's Degree!

All of the classes offered within the UCDH curriculum tie directly into the science and/or practice of dental hygiene and other related dental sciences.  This is done so that your education can be more relevant and can assist you in your day to day practices.  All UCDH full-time instructors are either licensed dentists or hygienists.      

The prerequisite courses for the program are listed below.  It is acceptable for you to take the statistics course from psychology, education, business, or mathematics.  If you're unsure whether or not a course will transfer, please contact us.

UCDH Bachelors Degree (BSDH) Prerequisite Courses:

*Copyright 2011 Careers Unlimited L.L.C.  Information subject to change without notice.  Complete accuracy of information relating to other dental hygiene programs is not guaranteed.  Readers are encouraged to verify other dental hygiene program requirements, degrees awarded, and curriculum offerings.

The UCDH BSDH program requires completion of 122 credit hours (which includes a minimum of 33 credit hours of prerequisite & general education coursework).  The curriculum is structured into semesters, each of which is equivalent in academic rigor and in time to a traditional semester.  One credit hour equals fifteen hours of study for lecture components or thirty hours of study for laboratory, clinical and independent study components.  Breaks are scheduled between all semesters.

The accelerated schedule is not the only innovation for the program.  The program is structured to allow students to pursue additional study to enhance their role as clinical dental hygienists or to pursue careers in other aspects of professional dental hygiene.  The disciplines on which students may focus include advanced clinical practice, education, public health, administration/management, advocacy, and research.

You may wonder why you should consider a BSDH degree.  Graduates who have been awarded a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene not only enjoy a well-rounded academic background and the respect that goes along with a baccalaureate degree, but the BSDH also allows entry into positions in teaching, administration, public health, business, and additional areas that other types of dental hygiene education do not. In a baccalaureate program there are opportunities for growth that no other form of dental hygiene education can provide. The UCDH program has a strong clinical program as might be expected, but is also designed to allow the student to excel in the areas of sound decision-making, community and public health, research, and specialized areas of clinical practice dental hygiene practice. 

The UCDH BSDH program will allow the student to gain substantial knowledge of all aspects of dental hygiene and ensure that the curriculum effectively will prepare students for the professional roles and functions they will be expected to perform in the workplace, as defined by current state law or regulation.  It also will allow the student comprehensive learning about the specific role(s) of the dental hygienist that are of most interest to the individual, which may lead to alternative career pathways within the profession. Wherever a student's dental hygiene related interest might lie, the goal is to provide maximum opportunities to explore and learn through this innovative baccalaureate degree program.

The prerequisite courses for the program are listed under the prerequisite heading.  It is acceptable for you to take the statistics course from psychology, education, business, or mathematics.  If you're unsure whether or not a course will transfer, please click here to contact us.