Acceptance into the Degree Completion Program may be accomplished by: (A) Meeting the requirements for admission after completion of the 79 credit hours associated with the AAS degree in Dental Hygiene at TSU. (B) Meeting the requirements for admission after graduating from another Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)accredited AAS degree program anywhere in the country with a minimum of 79 credit hours. In both cases above, proof of Tennessee Dental Hygiene Licensure is mandatory.
All applicants must submit the following data to the Department of Dental Hygiene by the final application deadline June 15th.
- A 2.5-grade point average in clinical dental hygiene courses and a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, from an accredited dental hygiene program. (Applicants with grade point averages higher than the minimum may be given priority in acceptance.
- Two letters of recommendation from dental hygiene faculty persons who taught the applicant. One letter must attest to the clinical competencies of the applicant.
- Official college transcript(s).
- National Board Certification and/or Tennessee licensure to register for core advanced DHYG courses (DHYG 3010, 4020, and 4120).
Admission to Advanced Standing Students from other dental hygiene programs:
Must earn, in residence, a minimum of 24 of the last 30 hours offered for the AAS degree in Dental Hygiene at TSU. To receive consideration for advanced standing, the following requirements are necessary:
- Matriculation in an accredited dental hygiene program.
- Official transcripts from each school.
- Satisfactory scholastic and disciplinary records from the dental hygiene program from which the applicant is withdrawing. No students are accepted if failures have resulted in dismissal or academic probation in another dental hygiene program.
- A statement of honorable dismissal from the dean or director of the program from which the applicant is withdrawing.
- If the interval since attendance has exceeded two years, the applicant may be required to take examinations recommended by the Curriculum Committee or to retake courses.
- Admission to advanced standing may necessitate auditing or taking credit courses which the Curriculum Committee may deem it necessary to ensure adequate preparation for continued matriculation in the dental hygiene program.
BS Degree Completion Retention/Progression
Grades less than a “C” earned in dental hygiene courses are considered non-passing. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 for each academic year. Students who earn a non-passing grade in a dental hygiene course(s) are unable to progress with their entry cohort due to the documented poor studentship.
Students who earn one (1) non-passing grade in any supporting science course or any Dental Hygiene course will not be permitted to take the next sequential course(s). The student must take the course when it is next offered; and subsequently, forfeits their position in the current class.
Students will be dismissed from the professional program for any of the following reason(s):
- Failure to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above.
- A grade less than “C” in 2 or more major field courses.
- A grade less than “C” in more than one clinical experience.
- A grade less than a “C” in a course that has been repeated.
- Withdrawal from any Dental Hygiene course or failure to register for any semester without prior written approval from the Department.
Students who have been dismissed from the Dental Hygiene program are not eligible for reconsideration/readmission.
