Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science Degree

The Dental Hygiene program of Southern University at Shreveport awards an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. The students learn to perform clinical services that contribute to the maintenance of good oral health. The program's offerings include learning experiences from a variety of disciplines to provide a diverse foundation for science and dental hygiene.

General Information

It is necessary for students accepted into the program to purchase required uniforms. Additionally, students must purchase instrument kits estimated at $4,000.00 the first year and $1,980.00 the second year and buy books that average $700 per year. Dental Hygiene Clinical students also are required to pay lab fees of $250.00 each semester; which are paid at the time that tuition is paid.

Students accepted into the program must have transportation to various clinical facilities. It may be necessary for travel to extramural clinical sites outside of the Shreveport – Bossier City area.

Due to the potential for exposure to communicable diseases, students who are accepted into the program are required to have current immunizations: including the Hepatitis A & B vaccines. Students are required to have the influenza vaccine annually; as well as be tested for Tuberculosis and the HIV virus annually. Students not accepted into the program do not need to meet this requirement. The student is responsible for the cost associated with vaccinations and blood testing.

Students having prior criminal convictions must submit information regarding conviction to the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry and to the dental hygiene program prior to enrollment in the program. Depending on the conviction, a student may be denied access to clinical training facilities and/or a license to practice dental hygiene.

Students accepted into the program must have proof of current CPR certification. This certification must be the Course “C” or Health Care Provider certification that includes Adult, Child, and Infant CPR, rescue breathing and choking.

All students accepted into the dental hygiene program must meet performance standards for admission. Those accepted must be physically and mentally capable of successfully performing all tasks safely, accurately and expeditiously. Please see program director if you have any questions regarding performance standards. After proper instructions have been given, the SUSLA Dental Hygiene Program reserves the right to verify performance level.

Please note: there are other fees associated with the Dental Hygiene Program. Please check with program faculty for a complete list.

Dental hygienists work in a variety of settings; including governmental clinics, private dental offices, in research, sales, public health departments, schools, and in higher education. The salaries dental hygienists earn vary from state to state and even region to region.

Students who earn admission to this dental hygiene program will be required to submit to drug testing prior to enrollment each year as well as incidental testing where accidents occur, or where student behavior is such that it may jeopardize the safety and well-being of patients, peers or faculty (See program director for full copy of policy).

Admissions Policies, Procedures, and Criteria

Applicants must minimally complete 12 credit hours at Southern University at Shreveport or be enrolled in 12 hours at the time of application to the program. You must successfully complete the following courses:

English

SENL-101SFreshman English I

3

Math

SMAT-121SPre-Calculus Algebra

3

Microbiology

SBIO-212SMicrobiology Lecture

3

-
And

SBIO-212LSMicrobiology Lab

1

Anatomy and Physiology

SBIO-221S

3

-
And

SBIO-221LSHuman Anatomy/Physiology Lab

1

Anatomy and Physiology

BIOL-222SHuman Anat & Physio Lec II

3

-
And

BIOL-222LSHuman Anatomy/Phys Lab II

1

Chemistry

SCHE-110SGeneral Chemistry Lec

3

Dental Hygiene

DHYG-101S

1

Communication

SCOM-101SFundamentals of Speech

3

Psychology

SPSY-201SGeneral Psychology

3

Social Science

SSOC-201SIntroduction to Sociology

3

Applicants must complete and submit an application and include a $65.00 money order (non-refundable) application fee, made payable to the Student American Dental Hygienists Association). Applicants must submit an official unopened transcript from all colleges and universities attended including Southern University at Shreveport.

Applicants Must:

  • Obtain application packet for the dental hygiene program and complete by March 31st of the year admission is sought.
  • All selections will be made once a year following the end of the Spring semester. A personal interview with the Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee is required.
  • Student must complete a minimum of twelve (12) semester credit hours at Southern University at Shreveport. No exceptions will be made to this regulation.
  • Student must have earned a minimum of a 2.8 uncorrected cumulative grade point average (4.0) scale in all previous college coursework. Student must have earned a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average (4.0) scale in the required science courses for the program.
  • Students admitted to the dental hygiene program will be bound by all rules and regulations set forth by Southern University at Shreveport and the Dental Hygiene Program. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.

An official copy of the candidates scores on the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) test (admission exam). Minimum required score is 70%.

  • Student must earn grade of “C” or better in all required general education.
  • Please keep in mind that not being accepted does not mean that the student is not qualified, it means that the student did not earn the points to be in the top twelve (12) admitted to the program.
  • During the Dental Hygiene process of scoring admission applications, students will gain points by having successfully completed more than the minimal prerequisite requirements.

Eligibility and Admission Criteria

If the number of eligible students applying to the dental hygiene program exceeds the number of available positions, students with the highest scores in all admission criteria will be selected. If there is more than one student qualifying for the last position (identical GPA’s) the student scoring higher on the TEAS test will be selected. A total of twelve (12) students will be admitted to begin clinical in the fall semester each year. Students will only be admitted once each year.

Pre-Requisites

Fall Semester

SENL-101SFreshman English I

3

SBIO-212SMicrobiology Lecture

3

SBIO-212LSMicrobiology Lab

1

SBIO-221S

3

SBIO-221LSHuman Anatomy/Physiology Lab

1

SSOC-201SIntroduction to Sociology

3

DHYG-101S

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

SCOM-101SFundamentals of Speech

3

BIOL-222SHuman Anat & Physio Lec II

3

BIOL-222LSHuman Anatomy/Phys Lab II

1

SCHE-110SGeneral Chemistry Lec

3

SMAT-112S

3

SPSY-200S

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

DHYG-120S

1

DHYG-121S

2

DHYG-122SDental Anatomy

1

DHYG-123S

2

DHYG-125SFundamentals-Dental Radiology

2

DHYG-134SOral Histology & Embryology

1

Total Credit Hours:9

Spring Semester

DHYG-126S

2

DHYG-127S

2

DHYG-128S

2

DHYG-129S

1

DHYG-131S

2

Total Credit Hours:9

Summer Semester

DHYG-130S

1

DHYG-214S

2

DHYG-216S

1

DHYG-217S

1

Total Credit Hours:5

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

DHYG-230SDental Materials

2

DHYG-232SPeriodontics II

1

DHYG-234SClinical Dental Hygiene III

3

DHYG-236SClinical Dental Hyg Lec III

1

DHYG-238SLocal Anesth/Pain Control

1

Total Credit Hours:8

Spring Semester

DHYG-240SClinical Dental Hygiene

4

DHYG-242SClinical Dental Hygiene Lec IV

2

DHYG-252SEthics, Jurisp & Practice Mgmt

1

DHYG-254SSeminar/Directed Study

2

Total Credit Hours:9

Total Credit Hours: 71

Advisors: Lynne Eatman; Terri Johnson