The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) degree completion program is to enhance the educational experiences of dental hygienists who graduated with an associate degree. This is accomplished by providing a liberal arts and broad-based general education component which includes critical thinking, research, writing, cultural sensitivity, and ethical judgment. Graduates of this program will have practical experience intrinsic to the various expanded roles and scopes of practice in the profession of dental hygiene. The BSDH program fully prepares students to interact effectively with other health professionals in a competent, collaborative, and ethical manner.

BSDH program goals include:
  • Compel individuals who possess moral and ethical values/behaviors to be effective participants in an increasingly complex and interdisciplinary health care system.
  • Foster dental hygienists who are culturally sensitive and possess a strong theoretical base in the humanities, psychosocial sciences, and dental sciences.
  • Encourage dental hygienists to be life-long learners who critically think, analyze and solve problems, make sound judgments, and lead others to do the same.
  • Cultivate the communication and leadership skills of dental hygienists to enhance their functional role of practitioner as well as the expanded roles of researcher, manager, change agent, consumer advocate, and health promoter/educator.
  • Instill a commitment to contribute actively to the betterment of the dental hygiene profession through professional involvement, continued education, and advanced professional or graduate education.