Dental Hygiene

The University of Wyoming and Sheridan College offer a cooperative program of dental hygiene education which, when completed, results in two degrees. An Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene is awarded by Sheridan College following completion of the prerequisites and dental hygiene prescribed study. A Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree is awarded by the University of Wyoming following completion of the Associate of Applied Science in dental hygiene, the University Studies Program, and other requirements of the University of Wyoming, for a total of 128 credit hours including 48 upper level hours, 30 of which must be from the University of Wyoming.

The program is structured to the following guidelines:

1. Prerequisite courses (pre-dental hygiene) consist of prescribed general education requirements. These requirements may be met by attending any accredited post-secondary educational institution.

2. The professional program in dental hygiene consists of two core years and is offered only at Sheridan College in cooperation with UW.

3. During the core professional program, specified dental hygiene courses are offered cooperatively at Sheridan College; lower-division courses are offered by Sheridan College, upper-division courses by UW.

4. A prerequisite minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for acceptance into the program.

Because the prerequisites may be satisfied at any accredited post-secondary educational institution, students pay tuition at the institution in which they are enrolled. Sheridan College tuition and fees are charged during the first year of the dental hygiene program; University of Wyoming tuition and fees are charged in the second year of the program and for remaining requirements taken through UW.

The American Dental Association has awarded full accreditation to the Associate of Applied Science degree in dental hygiene at Sheridan College. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board of Dental Hygiene exam, as well as regional and state exams for licensure, as “registered dental hygienists.”

Applicants should visit www.sheridan.edu/programs/dental.asp for specific prerequisites and application materials. Applications are due to Sheridan College by March 1 of the year they wish to enter the program. Class sizes are limited. Admission is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The primary objective of the program is to assure that graduates have knowledge and abilities necessary to successfully practice dental hygiene.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a cumulative grade point of 2.75 (on a 4 point scale). Science courses must be current within five years at the time of application to Dental Hygiene professional program. Completion of the prerequisite courses does not guarantee admission to the professional program.

Students interested in the bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene should contact the Undergraduate and Preprofessional Advising Office in the Health Sciences Center, rooms 110 and 112, or phone (307)766-6704 or (307)766-3499. Email: denthygiene@uwyo.edu; www.uwyo.edu/hs/dentalhygiene.

Students admitted to the dental hygiene program fall 2005 and beyond will need to complete ENGL 4010, Technical Writing in the Professions, for their WC.