Admission Details

Admissions InformationPrerequisite CoursesPreprofessional CurriculumProgram Requirements and Professional CurriculumTechnical StandardsBlood-borne Pathogen Policy StatementProgram Cost EstimatesScope of PracticeDental Hygiene Application

 

A dental hygiene male student and female instructor in the dental hygiene clinic looking at patient records on a laptop.

Program Features

The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene program at Wichita State University is designed to educate students with the competencies necessary to prepare students to take the national, regional and state examinations for licensure in the state of their choice.

  • Only entry-level dental hygiene bachelor’s program in Kansas. Graduates work in clinical practice with more career options in education, administration, public health and research.
  • Hands-on practice with dental patients. Students receive clinical experience through our on-campus Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation Dental Hygiene Clinic.
  • Network with potential employers. Students have the opportunity to receive educational training through several local clinical affiliates, such as the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Wichita-Sedgwick County Health Department, Hunter Health Clinic, HealthCore Clinic, and GraceMed Clinic
  • Passionate Faculty. Students will learn from experienced faculty who are experts in their field and passionate about teaching.

Gain experience and training through clinical practice and expert faculty.

Program FAQ's

  • Entry Point. This program is offered in the fall.
  • Program Length. The program lasts for two years.
  • Study Plan Options. Students receive full-time study.
  • Clinical Observation. To be admitted, students need to observe a Registered Dental Hygienist for four hours in a clinical setting to apply for the 2023 cycle. This is for students who will start the program in Fall 2024.
  • Application Deadline. The deadline for application is the first Friday in November.
  • Class Size. The class size is 36 students.
  • Acceptance Ratio. 3:1 ratio of acceptance.
  • Minimum GPA to apply. To be eligible for the program, students need to meet the following academic criteria: have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all college courses and earn at least a C grade in each prerequisite course.
  • Degrees required. Students need to have a high school diploma or GED.
What exams are required to obtain a dental hygiene license?

To obtain a license to practice dental hygiene, students must pass three types of exams: National Boards, Clinical Boards and the State Jurisprudence Exam. These exams test student knowledge, skills and ethics in dental hygiene.

How will a credit/no credit or pass/fail grade on my transcript affect my admission?

The Department of Dental Hygiene will not penalize students who had to take a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit grade for the Spring 2020 semester due to their college or university policy. The department prefers letter grades for course prerequisites, but accepts Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit grades as well. (Spring 2020 only)

A Fail or No Credit grade will be considered lower than a “C” and will not meet the admission criteria for the department.

Students who had the option of choosing a letter grade or a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit grade in the Spring 2020 semester should be aware of how a course without a letter grade might affect their overall science GPA and cumulative GPA.

Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit grades could also have implications for applying to graduate or dental programs. A CR notation on a transcript may not mean the same thing at different schools. This could cause confusion when students apply for graduate or dental school.