2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Dental Hygiene, BS
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Return to: College of General Studies
About the Online Degree Completion Program
Since 1996, Pitt’s Dental Hygiene program has been a leader in expanding access to advanced education for practicing hygienists. Originally launched as a correspondence-based bachelor’s completion program, we have continually evolved to meet the needs of working adults.
Beginning Fall 2026, the program will transition to a fully online, asynchronous format, making high-quality dental hygiene education accessible to more students nationwide.
Program Highlights
- Complete your BS in as few as three terms (full-time)
- Flexibility to take up to five years (part-time)
- Courses taught by experienced dental hygiene faculty
- Career-focused curriculum: education, public health, corporate/industry, leadership, and more
- Designed for licensed dental hygienists seeking advancement opportunities
Students will enroll in one of four tracks:
- Allied Health Education
- Health Mangement
- Community Engagement, Outreach and Leadership
- Interprofessional Health Informatics
What You Can Do With This Degree
As the dental hygiene profession expands, so does the need for practitioners with advanced education. The Pitt Dental Hygiene BS Degree Completion Program prepares graduates for emerging roles in:
- Corporate and Industry
- Education
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
Students can also tailor their degree by choosing from four concentrations, aligning their studies with their career goals. Join a community of dental hygiene professionals committed to advancing oral health and improving access to care through leadership, education, and service.
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Program Requirements
The following program requirements must be met to receive the Bachelor of Science degree:
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Specialization Tracks: 6 credits each. Students choose one track.
- Allied Health Education
- Health Management
- Community Engagement, Outreach & Leadership
- Interprofessional Health Informatics
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General Education: 34 credits
- Mathematics - 3
- Diversity - 3
- Humanities, Social & Natural Sciences - 15
- Global Awareness & Cultural Understanding - 9
- Writing-Intensive - 6 (may overlap with other courses)
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Transfer Credits: up to 75% of degree credits
- DENHYG coursework - 79
- AS degree General Education - 12
- Other dental hygiene courses evaluated individually
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Total Credits to Graduate: 131
Contact Krista Stokes, CGS dental hygiene academic advisor, for information about transferring credits from other institutions or if you completed your dental hygiene certificate at Pitt before 1995.
Required Courses
The required courses are listed below. See the complete list of courses that satisfy requirements.
Dental Hygiene Tracks
Students must choose a concentration in health management, allied health education, community engagement, or interprofessional health informatics.
Health Management
Gain practical management skills to lead dental teams in clinical, educational, or corporate settings. Topics include leadership, conflict resolution, interviewing, project management, and employee assessment.
Allied Health Education
Prepare for a career as a dental hygiene educator in classroom or clinical settings. Courses combine theory, instructional design, and hands-on teaching experience.
Community Engagement, Outreach, & Leadership
Prepare for public health and community-based roles. Learn program development, implementation, and assessment while working with diverse populations.
Interprofessional Health Informatics
Learn to manage and analyze health data to improve communication, research, patient care, and education in interprofessional settings.
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Return to: College of General Studies
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