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University of Pittsburgh    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Dental Hygiene, BS


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Opportunities for health care professionals are becoming available as a result of the changes in health care delivery formats. To prepare dental hygiene graduates for employment opportunities created by these changes, the University of Pittsburgh’s College of General Studies and the School of Dental Medicine have developed a course of study that leads to a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene. This degree is intended for those students who have graduated from accredited dental hygiene programs with a certificate or associate’s degree. (See School of Dental Medicine listings in this bulletin for information about the Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program.) The Bachelor of Science degree enhances the already completed professional training and provides important exposure to the liberal arts. The combination of basic sciences, clinical experiences, and liberal arts strengthens the career opportunities for dental hygienists in business, sales, dental hygiene education, and research.

A distinct advantage of the Bachelor of Science degree is that hygienists can practice their profession following receipt of their certificate in dental hygiene and be employed while completing the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Class schedules can be tailored to work schedules. Classes are available in the evening, during the day, on Saturday, and through CGS Online. Attendance can be on a full-time or part-time basis.

Program Requirements


The following program requirements must be met to receive the Bachelor of Science degree:

  • Students must earn a minimum of 131 credits to complete the Bachelor of Science degree. 15 credits should be completed using 1000-level course work. These credits, when combined with the 15 credits for DENHYG 1544, 1545, 1547, 1549, and 1689 completed in the dental hygiene program, meet the CGS requirement for 30 credits of 1000-level course work. The courses must be completed within five years of enrolling in the program.

  • Students who are transferring from certificate/associate degree hygiene programs to the CGS dental hygiene Bachelor of Science degree program complete up to 40 credits of CGS general education, dental hygiene track, and elective course work.

  • At least 30 of the required credits must be completed at the University of Pittsburgh in order to fulfill the CGS residency requirement. Contact CGS Advising for information about credits that transfer from other institutions or if you completed your dental hygiene certificate at Pitt before 1995.

Required Courses


The required courses are listed below.

CGS General Education Courses


Our General Education Requirements changed for students entering as of Fall 2018 (2191) term.

Listed below are the revised CGS General Education Requirements for dental hygiene students for Fall 2018 and afterward. (If you were admitted to the CGS Dental Hygiene Program prior to Fall 2018, your general education requirements are listed here.)

Note: 9-15 credits in courses below must be at the 1000-level depending on the student’s area of concentration in the major.  One of the courses taken below must also satisfy a ‘Diversity’ General Education requirement.

Writing (6 credits)

  • Two “W” courses

Mathematics (3 credits)

  • Algebra or CS course

Humanities and Arts, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences (15 credits)

  • 6 credits in 2 courses that satisfy 2 of the 3 following general education requirements: The Arts, Creative Work, Philosophical Thinking or Ethics.
  • 3 credits in a course that satisfies the Social Science general education requirement.
  • 3 credits in a course that satisfies the Literature general education requirement.
  • 3 credits in a course that satisfies the Historical Analysis general education requirement.

Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding (9 credits)

  • 3 credits in a course that satisfies the Global Issues general education requirement.
  • 3 credits in a course that satisfies the Specific Geographic Region general education requirement.
  • 3 credits in a course that satisfies the Cross-Cultural Awareness general education requirement.

Dental Hygiene Tracks


Students must choose a concentration in health management, education, or research.

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