Curriculum (Class) Schedule

Dental Hygiene is a five-semester, daytime program leading to an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. The curriculum is based on the North Carolina Community College System Curriculum Descriptions and Common Course Library; the curriculum code for Dental Hygiene is A45260. 

Courses within the curriculum must be taken in the order presented in the program planning guide, listed below as the "Curriculum By Semester". General education courses (all non-DEN courses) may be taken prior to entry into the program; if not, they must be completed no later than the semester in which they are listed in the guide.  A grade of "C" or better is required for all curriculum courses in the Dental Hygiene Degree.

Curriculum By Semester

Course Number and Title Hours Per Week
Class Lab Clinical Credit
First Semester        
BIO 163 Basic Anatomy and Physiology I 4 2 0 5
DEN 110  Orofacial Anatomy 2 2 0 3
DEN 111  Infection/Hazard Control 2 0 0 2
DEN 112  Dental Radiography 2 3 0 3
DEN 120  Dental Hygiene Preclinic Lecture 2 0 0 2
DEN 121  Dental Hygiene Preclinic Lab 0 6 0 2
Total:   12 13 0 17
Second Semester        
BIO 175 General Microbiology 2 2 0 3
ENG 111  Writing and Inquiry 3 0 0 3
DEN 124  Periodontology 2 0 0 2
DEN 130  Dental Hygiene Theory I 2 0 0 2
DEN 131  Dental Hygiene Clinic I 0 0 9 3
DEN 223  Dental Pharmacology 2 0 0 2
DEN 224  Materials and Procedures 1 3 0 2
Total:   12 5 9 17
Summer Term        
CHM 130 General Organic & Biochemistry 3 0 0 3
COM 120  Interpersonal Communication 3 0 0 3
DEN 140  Dental Hygiene Theory II 1 0 0 1
DEN 141  Dental Hygiene Clinic II 0 0 6 2
Total:   7 0 6 9
Third Semester        
PSY 150  General Psychology 3 0 0 3
DEN 123  Nutrition/Dental Health 2 0 0 2
DEN 125  Dental Office Emergencies 0 2 0 1
DEN 220  Dental Hygiene Theory III 2 0 0 2
DEN 221  Dental Hygiene Clinic III 0 0 12 4
DEN 222  General and Oral Pathology 2 0 0 2
Total:   9 2 12 14
Fourth Semester        
DEN 230  Dental Hygiene Theory IV 1 0 0 1
DEN 231  Dental Hygiene Clinic IV 0 0 12 4
DEN 232  Community Dental Health 2 3 0 3
DEN 233  Professional Development 2 0 0 2
SOC 210  Introduction to Sociology 3 0 0 3
Humanities Fine Arts Elective* 3 0 0 3
Total:   11 3 12 16
         
Total Graduation Requirement: 73 Semester Credit Hours
         
*Preferred Course:  HUM 115  Critical Thinking        

**Please see an advisor for alternative Humanities/Fine Arts Elective courses that may be accepted prior to registering for the course
This program planning guide is for advising purposes and is subject to change.
Only the Registrar can clear students for graduation.