Degree Requirements

1. Entry-to-Practice Option

Successful applicants to the Dental Hygiene Degree Program via the Entry-to-Practice Option will complete a full-time four-year program that includes didactic and clinical instruction. The Faculty expects that students will register in a full course load to complete the degree in four years. Upon successful completion of the degree, a student will be eligible to apply to register to practice as a dental hygienist. Students admitted via this option will complete their studies at the UBC Vancouver Campus through on-campus, distributed learning, and community outreach instructional delivery.

 

First Year  
DHYG_V 106Basics of Oral Microbiology3
DHYG_V 108Oral Health Sciences I3
DHYG_V 110Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice I6
CHEM_V 121Structure and Bonding in Chemistry4
BIOL_V 155Physiology and Introductory Anatomy6
BIOL_V 180Thinking Like a Life Scientist2
DHYG_V 106Basics of Oral Microbiology3
ENGL_V 100 level 3
WRDS_V 150Research and Writing in the Humanities and6
 Social Sciences 
PSYC_V 101Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology3
PSYC_V 102Introduction to Developmental, Social, Personality,3
 and Clinical Psychology 
Total Credits 36

 

Second Year  
DHYG_V 206Head and Neck Anatomy3
DHYG_V 208Oral Health Sciences II12
DHYG_V 210Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice II18
STAT_V 203Statistical Methods3
Total Credits 36

 

Third Year  
DHYG_V 310Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice III18
DHYG_V 325Applied Pharmacology3
DHYG_V 400Policy Analysis and Change3
DHYG_V 401Oral Epidemiology6
DHYG_V 435Oral Medicine and Pathology3
DHYG_V 461Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Quantitative Research3
Total Credits 36

 

Fourth Year  
DHYG_V 405Oral Microbiology and Immunology3
DHYG_V 410Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice IV18
DHYG_V 412Oral Health Care Trends and Topics6
DHYG_V 462Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Qualitative Research3
Electives1 6
Total Credits 36
1 Of the 6 elective credits required in the program, all must be chosen from offerings within or approved by the Faculty. Elective credits must be taken in Year 4 Winter session or in the Summer session between Year 3 and Year 4. Courses taken prior to entry to the program will not be credited toward elective requirements.

2. Dental Hygiene Degree Completion (Category 1 or 2) Option (for Dental Hygiene Diploma Graduates)

Category 1 - Students who have completed 30 credits of university transfer prerequisites

Students must complete the following courses to be eligible to apply for graduation. Coursework includes core and elective courses:

 

DHYG_V 401Oral Epidemiology6
DHYG_V 405Oral Microbiology and Immunology3
DHYG_V 412Oral Health Care Trends and Topics6
DHYG_V 435Oral Medicine & Pathology3
DHYG_V 462Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Qualitative Research 3
DHYG_V 480Social Entrepreneurship in Oral Health Care3
Electives1 6
Total Credits 30
1 Electives must be UBC courses (transfer credit is not permitted). All elective courses must be chosen from offerings within, or approved by, the Faculty.

Category 2 - Students who have NOT completed 30 credits of university transfer prerequisites

Students must complete the following courses to be eligible to apply for graduation. Coursework includes core and elective courses:

 

DHYG_V 400Policy Analysis and Change6
DHYG_V 401Oral Epidemiology6
DHYG_V 402Dental Hygiene Practice I6
DHYG_V 412Oral Health Care Trends and Topics6
DHYG_V 405Oral Microbiology and Immunology3
DHYG_V 480Social Entrepreneurship in Oral Health Care*3
DHYG_V 435Oral Medicine & Pathology3
DHYG_V 461Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Quantitative Research 3
DHYG_V 462Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Qualitative Research 3
ENGL_V 301Technical and Business Writing (or equivalent)3
PHIL_V 333Biomedical Ethics (or equivalent)3
Electives1 15
Total Credits 60
* or DHYG_V 433 for students who have already taken this course and were enrolled in the DC Category 2 program prior to 2024W.
1 If DHYG_V 401 (5) not taken.
2 Electives may be taken in areas of interest such as health promotion, residential care, geriatrics, community health, adult education, health care ethics, interprofessional education, behavioural sciences, economics, etc. Some core courses and electives may be taken on campus or through distance education at UBC, BC Open University, or other recognized universities. Permission of the Program Director is required for all non-UBC courses.
3 Faculty of Dentistry courses subject to sufficient enrolment include: DENT_V 407 (6) - Oral Health Care in Residential Care Settings.
4 Interprofessional courses are highly recommended. Visit Health Disciplines for a complete list of IHHS courses.

3. International Degree Completion

Students must complete the following courses to be eligible to apply for graduation. Coursework includes core and elective courses:

 

DHYG_V 400Policy Analysis and Change6
DHYG_V 401Oral Epidemiology6
DHYG_V 402Dental Hygiene Practice I6
DHYG_V 405Oral Microbiology & Immunology3
DHYG_V 412Oral Health Care Trends and Topics6
DHYG_V 480Social Entrepreneurship in Oral Health Care*3
DHYG_V 435Oral Medicine & Pathology3
DHYG_V 461Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Quantitative Research 3
DHYG_V 462Critical Appraisal and Professional Writing in Qualitative Research 3
ENGL_V 301Technical & Business Writing3
PHIL_V 333Biomedical Ethics3
Electives1 15
Total Credits 60
*or DHYG_V 433 for students who have already taken this course and were enrolled in the DC Category 3 program prior to 2024W.
1 Electives must be UBC courses (transfer credit is not permitted). All elective courses must be chosen from offerings within, or approved by, the Faculty.

The Faculty will recommend to Senate the granting of the Bachelor of Dental Science (Degree in Dental Hygiene) to students who have satisfactorily completed the academic requirements.

 


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