Degree Programs

hygiene white coat ceremony


Bachelor of Science Degree

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, composed of 128 credits opens the world of opportunities in the profession of Dental Hygiene. It is the foremost degree to advance your professional capabilities and secure many employment opportunities in various roles for the dental hygienist. These roles may include the administrator, clinician, corporate, educator, entrepreneur, public health and researcher.

BS degree with a Dental Hygiene Concentration includes unique internship opportunities in areas of focus, such as education, research, public health, healthcare management, specialty clinical rotations, and pharmaceutical sales, marketing & business development. The classes offered within this concentration are unique in that they familiarize the students with varied aspects of healthcare beyond the clinical scope of practice. In the field of dental hygiene, a BS degree will create more innovative employment opportunities within the field of dentistry and dental hygiene and additional healthcare venues. Two required internships must be completed and are carefully selected by the student with faculty advisement.

The Department of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting offers BS students the opportunity to apply for a scholarship when enrolling in our internship courses.

This degree can be completed along a "typical" four-year college curriculum. This degree is an excellent opportunity to secure your position in the future. The BSDH Dental Hygiene curriculum is a four-year dental hygiene program that allows the student to obtain a BS degree while also receiving dental hygiene education.

This curriculum is offered full-time on campus or hybrid in the last year. The first-year curriculum includes courses in general education, basic sciences, and clinical sciences. The second and third years include dental hygiene theory, with a clinical component. The fourth year includes classes in advanced dental hygiene theory, with additional core education requirements to complete the necessary degree credits. Students can begin their studies in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. 

This curriculum is for a dental hygienist who has completed an associate degree in dental hygiene from an accredited dental hygiene program and wishes to complete a BS degree. A student who completed an initial degree in dental hygiene at another institution may transfer up to 96 credits with a grade of "C" or better. At least 32 credits must be taken through NYU. Students who completed 78 credits for the Associate in Applied Science degree at NYU’s Dental Hygiene program must complete 128 total credits for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Students can begin their studies in Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. Most classes are offered online, with 100% online possible programming, and can be completed full-time or part-time.

Students must complete all NYU Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program core courses for degree eligibility. These may include courses not required for the candidate's AAS degree but necessary for the NYU Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program.

For out-of-state residents who will not be taking the New York State Pain Management course through the Dental Hygiene Program at NYU Dentistry, students must submit official completion of certification of local anesthesia/nitrous oxide training. This must be in the form of an official state continuing education certificate showing successful completion of the individual state-mandated course. Continuing education credits do not count as transfer credits. Students must still have earned a total of 128 credits for degree conferral of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from NYU Dentistry.

This BSDH Dental Science Concentration curriculum is specifically designed to meet the core dental hygiene curriculum while incorporating the prerequisite courses required for application to dental schools. This degree can also add valuable course content for application to other health-related professions such as pharmacy, health sciences, or research. The graduate qualifies for licensure as a dental hygienist while also completing coursework towards other degrees after the BS degree.

For incoming students with possible transfer credits, the BS degree may be completed in a shorter period. All BS curriculum options will be discussed at the time of the applicant’s information-sharing session/interview with an admissions counselor once official transcripts are reviewed. Please review our transfer credit policies.

 

Associate of Applied Science Degree

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree Program in Dental Hygiene is comprised of lecture courses in dental and health sciences along with clinical and hands-on experience. The 78 credit curriculum is offered as a "fast-track" 17-month program (PDF), a two-year program (PDF) or a three-year program (PDF). Dental hygiene students are prepared to perform competently in providing preventive and therapeutic patient oral health care. The dental hygiene program, located within the NYU College of Dentistry, allows students to work side by side with dental (DDS) students, dental faculty and dental hygiene faculty in the clinical portion of the curriculum. By working in these clinical settings with culturally diverse patients, dental hygiene students gain invaluable knowledge and experiences.

NYU Dentistry offers an accelerated degree within its dental hygiene program for advanced students, creating a path for dentists with international dental degrees who want to pursue careers in dental hygiene. Students will earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in dental hygiene in the 12-month program.

NYU Dentistry offers an accelerated, continuous, 17-month, Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in dental hygiene.

The Fast-Track AAS degree program, the first of its kind in New York State, is designed specifically to enable highly motivated students to gain access to the same innovative, high quality education as that offered by the traditional two-to-three year course of study, but in a more concentrated period. The course of study commences in January and runs continuously, including summer courses, through the following May.

Please review the AAS Fast Track curriculum (PDF).

The two-year curriculum plan is the most traditional of the AAS degree program. It is also the most condensed of the plans with semesters averaging 18-20+ credits (full-time status at NYU is 12-20 credits). Students navigate through the 78-credit program over two academic years of study. Some students may have courses that are eligible for transfer, which could lessen the student’s academic load; however, due to course sequencing, this track still requires a two-year commitment.

Please review the AAS Two-Year curriculum (PDF).

The three-year extends the full-time two year Associate curriculum, allowing students to complete the required 78 credit program through a less intense full-time credit load. Semesters average 12-15 credits. Some students may have courses eligible for transfer, which could lessen the student’s academic load; however, due to course sequencing, this track requires three years for degree completion. This offers the flexibility that many students need to balance life/ work responsibilities during the week.

Please review the AAS Three-Year curriculum (PDF).

The NYU dental hygiene program is further enhanced by clinical rotations and outreaches. As part of the clinical requirements, students rotate through specialty areas such as orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implant dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and hospital clinics, while improving their clinical expertise. Domestic and international outreach opportunities in underserved areas are available to students in their second year. Selected students continue to work closely with dental students and other faculty members, providing comprehensive dental treatment to those who may not have access to care.

Upon completion of the 78-credit curriculum, students are qualified to take the clinical board examinations and the dental hygiene national boards, which are requirements for state licensure.

The programs in dental hygiene are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of approval without reporting requirements. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. For more information please visit the Commission’s website.