picture of dental hygiene builing on the ISU-Pocatello campus
Last updated on August 30, 2023.

Idaho State University

Program Size
32
Program Length
24 months
Application Deadline
January 15, 2024
Program Start
August 19, 2024

Program Contact

Jennifer Sterbentz, MA Administrative Assistant 2
Idaho State University Dept of Dental Hygiene 921 S. 8th Ave, Stop 8048 Pocatello, Idaho 83209
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About Us

The Department of Dental Hygiene offers a unique program in Idaho which provides quality educational experiences for undergraduate and graduate dental hygiene students.

The first class of eight students was accepted in the fall of 1961. Since that time, the program has expanded to accept 30 students in each of the two professional classes. A graduate program resulting in a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene began in 2005.

Philosophy

The fundamental philosophy of Idaho State University Department of Dental Hygiene is threefold. First, its members are committed to excellence in all academic endeavors. Second, the program is progressive in instituting ongoing changes to prepare for the future of dental hygiene. Third, as a component of the university's primary emphasis area, the program serves statewide and regional needs by providing access to quality education in the discipline as well as meeting the employment demands and oral health needs of the public.

Program Information

Program Type Entry Level
Teaching Method In-Person
Degree Awarded Bachelor
Program Size 32
Program Length 24 months
Application Deadline January 15, 2024
Program Start Date August 19, 2024
Credit Hours Required to Graduate 74 dental hygiene credits
Supplemental Application No
Supplemental Fee No
Accepts International Students Yes
Supports Student Visa No
Program Website isu.edu

Application Requirements

Required Standardized Tests

Prerequisite Instructions

The following courses are required before starting our dental hygiene program. Not all of these courses need to be completed before you apply, but you must have 6 or fewer of our prerequisites and/or general education courses left to complete and must have at least 4 of our 6 science courses completed by the time you apply. 

Core Courses: 

DENT 2201 Principles of Dental Hygiene (available only through ISU)-2 credits

ENGL 1101 or 1101P Writing and Rhetoric I-3 credits

ENGL 1102 Writing and Rhetoric II-3 credits

COMM 1101 Principles of Oral Communication-3 credits

PSYC 1101 Introduction to Psychology

SOC 1101 Introduction to Sociology

MATH 1153 or 1153P Statistical Reasoning-3 credits

BIOL 2227 and 2227L or 3301 and 3301L Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab-4 credits

BIOL 2228 and 2228L or 3302 and 3302L Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Lab-4 credits

BIOL 2233 and 2233L Principles of Microbiology and Lab-4 credits

CHEM 1101 or 1111 and 1111L Introduction to Chemistry-3 credits

CHEM 1102 and 1103L Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry and Lab-4 credits

NTD 2239 and 3340 Nutrition-3 credits

General Education Objectives (needed if you do not have or will not have an associate of arts, associate of science or higher degree by the time you would start the program)

Objective 4-Six (6) credits selected from two different categories: Humanities, Fine Arts or Foreign Language

Objective 7-(Critical Thinking) or Objective 8-(Information Literacy): Three (3) credits

Objective 9-(Cultural Diversity): Three (3) credits

 

 

Letters of Evaluation Instructions

No Letters of Recommendation are Required for this Program

Other Requirement Instructions

Minimum criteria for an application to qualify for consideration

  • Completion of at least one advising appointment with a dental hygiene faculty or staff advisor
  • 4 required science courses completed before January 15th
  • 6 or fewer prerequisite and general education courses to complete after January 15th
  • Completion of DENT 2201 by summer 2024 (can count as one of the 6 or fewer courses to be completed after January 15th)
  • Minimum GPA in the prerequisites of 2.8
  • Minimum GPA in the required sciences of 2.8

Please contact Jennifer Sterbentz at 208-282-3796 or jennifersterbentz@isu.edu to schedule your advising appointment.

 

Additional Information

Currently there is no formal requirement for dental office experience prior to being admitted to the Dental Hygiene program; however, it is beneficial for the applicant to be familiar with the work environment in which most hygienists are employed. Students are encouraged to observe in a dental office that employs a dental hygienist to become familiar with the dental team and the practice environment.