Within a multidisciplinary, multicultural curricular framework that integrates theory, research, and practical experience, the competency-based program links the goals and career aspirations of the student with relevant learning experiences, technologies, and resources to facilitate career advancement. Through specialized skills training, graduates are prepared to assume leadership roles necessary for quality professional dental hygiene care and advancing knowledge and practice.

Solutions to complex health problems need the participation of dental hygienists educated in community health, research, management, education, public policy, and advocacy, just to name a few. Therefore, the program offers distinct specialty areas in which students may specialize: education, administration/management, research, marketing, community health, global health and modeling and simulation. Although graduate education focuses on developing a specialty, such specialization is viewed as secondary to generating evidence-based knowledge and theory through research. Demand for master’s level dental hygienists in these key areas of specialization continues to be strong and students are able to develop competencies essential in today’s employment market.