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For Current UH Manoa Students and Transferring College Students

Program Description

The program admits students to the Bachelor of Science degree program following completion of prerequisite and the majority of general education courses. With the Bachelor of Science degree, students are prepared to sit for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE-written exam) and Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS-patient based exam). Once the student successfully passes both exams, they will be eligible for licensure.

Fast Facts

  • Two-step application process.
  • Outstanding faculty committed to advancing health care delivery.
  • Cohort program designed to be completed in 3 years.
  • Individual academic advising and support throughout the program.

Program Outcomes

The graduate of the Bachelor of Science program is prepared to:

  • provide comprehensive individualized patient care in a competent, confident, safe, compassionate, ethical and legal manner.
  • integrate evidence-based practice with problem solving, and critical thinking skills to inform clinical judgment and decision making.
  • demonstrate ability to collaborate with patients and other healthcare professionals through effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • ensure personal and professional growth through life-long learning and participation in professional dental hygiene organizations.
  • assess the oral health care needs of the various cultures in the community and develop relevant action plans to be implemented in a variety of healthcare settings.
  • demonstrate clinical skills and didactic knowledge to successfully pass national and regional state board examinations.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to meet general education and other requirements, with an individualized progression plan for each student. The program includes courses on oral anatomy, dental hygiene, pathology, radiography, health education, community health, and advanced clinical practice, leading to a total of 120 credits for program completion.

Upon admission, each student will receive a personalized review of completed coursework to create an individualized progression plan for program completion including general education requirements.

Prerequisites
31 credits
Fall
15 credits
PHYL 141 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3)
PHYL 141L Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (1)
PSY 100 Survey of Psychology (DS) (3)
MICRO 130 General Microbiology (DB) (3) *
MICRO 140L General Microbiology Lab (DY) (2) *
ENG 100 Composition I (FW) (3)
* Courses only offered during the fall semester
Spring
16 credits
PHYL 142 Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (3) **
PHYL 142L Human Anatomy & Physiology (DB) (1) **
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (DS) (3)
COMG 151 or 251 Personal and Public Speech (DA) (3)
FSHN 185 Science of Human Nutrition (DB) (3)
CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (DP) (3)
** Courses only offered during the spring semester
General Education and Other Requirements
22 credits
General Education
16 credits
DL Course: ENG 270, 271, 272, or 273 (3) ***
FS Course (3) **
FG Course: 2 Course from different groups (A/B/C) (6) ***
H-Focus Course: (3) ***
General Elective: (1) ***
*** See UH General Catalog for qualifying courses. These specific courses may be taken out of suggested sequence.
Other Requirements
6 credits
PHRM 203 (3) – Must be taken prior to entering Year 2
Statistics Course: MATH 115, PSY 225, SOCS 225, or NREM 310 (3) – Must be taken prior to entering Year 3
Year 2
23 credits
Fall
10 credits
DH 231 Oral Anatomy and Tooth Morphology (2)
DH 231L Oral Anatomy and Tooth Morphology Laboratory (2)
DH 238 Basic Dental Hygiene I (WI) (2)
DH 238L Basic Dental Hygiene I Laboratory (2)
DH 250 General Histology (2)
Spring
13 credits
DH 240 Basic Dental Hygiene II (2)
DH 240L Basic Dental Hygiene Laboratory/Clinic (3)
DH 251 Oral Histology and Embryology (1)
DH 281 Dental Radiography (2)
DH 281L Dental Radiography Laboratory/Clinic (1)
DH 366 General Pathology (2)
DH 389 Pain Control and Local Anesthesia in Dentistry (2)
Year 3
26 credits
Fall
13 credits
DH 361 Health Education and Promotion (2)
DH 367 Oral Pathology (1)
DH 369 Dental Materials (1)
DH 369L Dental Materials Laboratory/Clinic (1)
DH 375 Clinical Dental Hygiene I (2)
DH 375L Clinical Dental Hygiene I Clinic (4)
DH 390 Periodontology 1 (WI) (2)
Spring
13 credits
DH 370 Expanded Functions in Dental Hygiene (2)
DH 370L Expanded Functions Laboratory/Clinic (1)
DH 380 Clinical Dental Hygiene II (2) (WI)
DH 380L Clinical Dental Hygiene II Clinic (WI) (3)
DH 391 Periodontology II (WI) (2)
PUBA 301 Health Care Administration (West Oahu) (3)
Year 4
18 credits
Fall
12 credits
DH 473 Community Health (WI) (3)
DH 475 Advanced Clinical Dental Hygiene I (2)
DH 475L Advanced Dental Hygiene I Clinic (4)
NURS 363 Introduction to Nursing Research (E) (3)
Spring
6 credits
DH 480 Advanced Clinical Dental Hygiene II (O) (2)
DH 480L Advanced Clinical Dental Hygiene II Clinic (4)

Total Number of Credits: 120 credits

Effective Spring 2024

Updated: June 16, 2022

Contact

Picture of Martin Oishi, DDS
Martin Oishi, DDS
Assistant Professor & Dental Hygiene Advisor

Contact for enrolled dental hygiene students.

Department of Dental Hygiene
School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2445 Campus Road, Hemenway Hall 200-C
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone: (808) 956-5705
Fax: (808) 956-5707

Email: oishim@hawaii.edu

no picture available
Pam Sunahara, MEd, RDH
Instructor & Dental Hygiene Advisor

Contact for enrolled dental hygiene students.

Department of Dental Hygiene
School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2445 Campus Road, Hemenway Hall 200-C
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone: (808) 956-5706
Fax: (808) 956-5707

Email: pshimizu@hawaii.edu

Picture of Kristine Osada, MEd, BSDH, RDH
Kristine Osada, MEd, BSDH, RDH
Dental Hygiene Program Administrator & Instructor

Contact for applicants to the Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene program. Also, contact for enrolled dental hygiene students.

Department of Dental Hygiene
School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2445 Campus Road, Hemenway Hall 200-B
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Phone: (808) 956-8821
Fax: (808) 956-5707
Email: kmsato@hawaii.edu

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