Dental Hygiene Admissions

All prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher and be within allowable time limit.

• BIOL-107 or 200, 4 credits, completed within 5 years of start of clinicals
• ENGL-121, 3 credits
• MATH-138, 4 credits

Prerequisites taken at other institutions must officially be on file and evaluated by the application deadline.  See the Transfer Credit tab.

All corequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher.

The following courses may be taken with the clinical courses, but it is strongly recommended that all courses be completed PRIOR TO starting clinicals due to the demands and time commitment needed for success in clinical coursework.

• BIOL-106 or 203 AND 204, 4 or 8 credits, must taken within 5 years of 1st clinical course if completed prior to clinical admission.
• CHEM-103 or 101, 4 credits, must be completed within 5 years of 1st clinical course if completed prior to clinical admission.
• NUTR-211, 3 credits
• PSYC-101, 3 credits
• SOCI-101, 3 credits
• COMM-101, 105, or 110, 3 credits

Official transcripts AND the request to have credit evaluated must be on file by the supplemental application deadline.

• Students must contact their prior institutions to request that OFFICIAL transcripts be sent directly to HCC.  Transcripts that are opened or emailed to students are not considered official.
• Use the Transcript Evaluation Request Form to request that HCC evaluate your prior credit for your current degree program.

• All prerequisite and corequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
• A cumulative HCC GPA of 2.25 or higher is required.

Complete 16 hours shadowing a dental hygienist and turn in a signed Dental Hygiene Clinical Observation Form by the application due date of January 15.​

The Howard Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic does not provide opportunities for potential students to observe in order to meet the 16 hours of required observation.  Observation hours must take place in a community dental office.

All items need to be completed and submitted by the application deadline of January 15th for Summer clinical admission:

• Only students accepted to HCC and with active myHCC accounts are eligible to submit the supplemental application.  If you are not already an HCC student, please Apply for Credit Programs.
• Submit official transcripts and Transcript Evaluation Form if you transferring credit from another institution.
• Prerequisites must be completed with the required grades and within the specified time limits.
• Submit the Supplemental Allied Health Application (only available during the application cycles of September 15 to January). Sign in to the application account using your personal email (not your HCC email) and find the Supplemental Allied Health Application under the section for Current Students.
• A one-time $25 supplemental application fee, payable by credit card, due at the time of submission of online supplemental application.  The fee is waived for active military, active military spouses and veterans with appropriate documentation--DD214 or PCS orders. A promo code will be provided to eligible applicants when applying.
• Two residency documents are required for Howard County residents only

The supplemental application for clinical admission may be found in your application account, under "Current HCC Student" during the cycle below:

• September 15 to January 15

For consideration, all prerequisites must be completed and transferred (if applicable) by the deadline.

Priority is given to applicants who have completed all prerequisite and corequisite courses and have submitted the required Dental Hygiene observation hours by the application deadline.   

• A randomized lottery is used when qualified applicants exceed available seats.
• Qualified applicants are randomly selected and offered a seat or placed on a waitlist.
• Priority is given to students that have ALL prerequisites and corequisites completed and by the application deadline.
• Lottery selection order:
  • Howard County residents
  • Maryland residents (out-of-county)
  • Out-of-state residents
• Waitlisted applicants are admitted as seats open.
• The waitlist does not roll over to the next year; students must reapply each year. 

Only students admitted through the supplemental application cycle may enroll in clinical coursework.

• DHYG-102, Histology and Embryology, 2 credits, Summer
• DHYG-100, Dental Hygiene Theory and Clinic I, 4 credits, Fall
• DHYG-106, Oral Anatomy and Tooth Morphology, 3 credits, Fall
• DHYG-111, Dental Radiology, 3 credits, Fall
• DHYG-150, Dental Hygiene Theory and Clinic II, 5 credits, Spring
• DHYG-208, Dental Materials, 3 credits Spring
• DHYG-209, Periodontics, 2 credits, Spring
• DHYG-104, General and Oral Pathology, 3 credits, Fall
• DHYG-200, Dental Hygiene Theory and Clinic III, 4 credits, Fall
• DHYG-210, Pharmacology and Pain Management, 2 credits, Fall
• DHYG-207, Dental Public Health, 3 credits, Spring
• DHYG-250, Dental Hygiene Theory and Clinic IV, 4 credits, Spring
• DHYG-257, Dental  Hygiene Ethics and Jurisprudence, 1 credit, Spring

• Admissions questions can be directed to admissions@howardcc.edu or you can make an appointment with an admissions coach.
• Questions about clinical courses can be directed to the Health Sciences clinical liaison office at hsdcc@howardcc.edu