DH Program Planner

DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS) DEGREE
Health Sciences Pathway – Program Code #280
Program Planner 2024-2025

PRE- AND CO-REQUISITE COURSEWORK

CLINICAL COURSEWORK

*As of Fall 2022, ALL students are required to show proof of health insurance. HCC does not provide or sponsor health insurance for students.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:

• If not already an accepted student to Howard Community College (HCC), please submit HCC’s online application for admission, Apply for Credit Programs. Select the Dental Hygiene area of study, as well as the program code—280.
• Submit official college transcript(s) and Transcript Evaluation Request Form, if transferring courses from other academic institution/s.
• Submit the Dental Hygiene Supplemental Application with one-time fee of $25 and two documents verifying residency (Howard County residents only). The online application for Summer admission may be found at www.howardcc.edu/dentaladmissions between September 15 and January 15.
• Submit documentation showing completion of a minimum of 16 hours observation or the interviews of four dental hygienists in a dental office setting.
• All pre- and co-requisite courses must be completed with a ‘C’ or higher unless otherwise stated.
• A cumulative HCC GPA of 2.25 or higher is required.
• Please visit www.howardcc.edu/dentaladmissions for more information and to access program documents.

SELECTION OF STUDENTS:

• Randomized digital lottery systems are held whenever the number of qualified new applicants exceeds the number of available seats.
• Priority is given to applicants with pre- and co-requisites completed by the application deadline.
• Within the lottery, students are selected in the following order:
  1. Howard County residents
  2. In-state, out-of-county residents
  3. Out-of-state residents
• Applicants' names are randomly selected, and each qualified applicant is offered a seat or assigned a waitlist number based upon order of selection.
• As seats become available, waitlisted students will be admitted into the program.
• A waitlist will be maintained but will not roll over to the next year. Students on the waitlist who do not receive a seat will need to submit a new supplemental application during the next application period.

PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

The Dental Hygiene Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”). The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312)440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: ada.org/en/coda.

QUESTIONS:

Admissions Voicemail: 443-518-4230, email: admissions@howardcc.edu or visit the Office of Admissions and Advising located in the RCF Building, Room 242.

PLEASE NOTE:

A Drug Screening and Criminal Background Check will be required prior to enrollment in any nursing/allied health clinical course in order to ensure the safety of patients in the clinical setting. Students who do not comply with the drug screening and criminal background check are ineligible for placement in clinical agencies and therefore are not able to progress in the clinical nursing/allied health program. Students with a criminal background may be unable to progress in the clinical nursing/allied health program. It is the students’ responsibility to know whether they are eligible for licensure. If a student has a criminal background, it is the students’ responsibility to explore whether the background will prohibit them from being licensed and employed in the health care industry. HCC faculty and staff are NOT able to provide legal advice. If you have any questions about your existing criminal background, you may wish to discuss this with legal counsel.

The college reserves the right to change unilaterally, without notification, any requirement, fee or program if it is deemed necessary.