The Degree Completion Program provides the opportunity for dental hygienists who hold an associate degree or certificate to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene. The program guides students in developing the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for positions of responsibility in a variety of health care, educational, research and community settings. The programs approach to learning is student-centered, individualized and flexible. The faculty strives to develop creative, thinking professionals who are capable of assessing their own performance and directing their own professional growth. Graduates report renewed enthusiasm for dental hygiene and increased opportunities and satisfaction in both traditional and nontraditional employment settings.
Many graduates pursue advanced education after completion of the program.
The total degree requirement is 120 semester credits. Length of time to complete the program varies, depending on the number of transfer credits and course load. The last 30 credits consist of 18 hours taken in the Department of Dental Hygiene and 12 hours of upper level electives which must be approved by the Degree Completion Program Director and which must be taken at a University of Maryland campus. In cooperation with faculty advisors, they may design and implement one or more independent projects within the Dental School or at community sites. Degree completion students may select teaching, research, management, clinical practice or other practicums to meet their learning goals.