If you’re a licensed dental hygienist, you have a flexible, 100% online pathway to a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. Our bachelor’s degree-completion program builds upon your associate’s degree, giving you an opportunity to expand your career options and salary potential. The program is designed to accommodate the needs of working adults and can be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Online courses mean you can do the work any time of day, allowing you to balance your educational goals with your career and family responsibilities.
If you haven’t completed an associate’s degree, you can enroll in our on-campus Dental Hygiene program and, once selected into the program, may begin working on your associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at the same time. If you’re enrolled in a dental hygiene associate’s degree program at another institution, concurrent enrollment with our bachelor’s degree-completion program is available.
Acceptance in this major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission.
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You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.
Customize your path by pairing an online-friendly minor with your bachelor's degree.
Check out the credential/licensure chart to see if your credential or licensure qualifies for college credit.
Student
Dental Hygiene
Pavel is a tomorrow maker. He's driven to succeed and a leader among his peers.
Alumni
Dental Hygiene
Karen’s bachelor's in dental hygiene opened a world of possibilities.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
Mar 1
Undergraduate Open House
Saturday, March 19 AM - 3 PM
Apr 6
Undergraduate Open House
Sunday, April 69 AM - 3 PM
Thanks to the Military Tuition Assistance Program, more tomorrow makers can find their futures at Penn College. Through this special offering, qualified active military personnel are eligible to pursue college credits tuition free.
Internships are key for career preparation. Apply your know-how in the workplace and learn about the industry first-hand. Students may elect to complete an internship as part of their capstone project.
Sealant Saturday, a service learning project, allows students to practice their technique while delivering free dental services to community children.
The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination 5-year pass rate chart compares the pass rate of Penn College first-time takers to the national average. See pass rates.
Dental Hygienists seeking entrance must have (1) obtained a passing score on the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination, (2) graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program, and (3) a current dental hygiene license in any one state. Penn College students currently enrolled in the associate-degree Dental Hygiene major may be eligible to declare a dual degree with this bachelor-degree major; please see the program director for information. Alternatively, students currently enrolled in the second year of a CODA-accredited associate degree dental hygiene program at another institution may be eligible for concurrent enrollment; eligibility will be based on additional requirements beyond College admission. Questions about the concurrent enrollment option may be directed to the Dental Hygiene program director. All students entering the major will be treated as transfer students, including students who have graduated with Penn College's associate-degree major.
No minimum GPA requirements beyond those established within the College’s Academic Probation Policy.
The following grading system applies to all dental (DEN) courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades:
A= 90-100
B= 80-89.99
C= 75-79.99
D= 74.99 and below
Students must have earned a grade of 'C' or better in courses to be transferred. A maximum of 47 credits in dental hygiene courses may be transferred from an associate degree level curriculum as a block of credits, rather than as individual course credits. In addition, all general education courses that meet College requirements will be eligible for transfer according to College policy. At least 36 credits of the final four semesters of the student's profile must be satisfied by Penn College courses. Courses taken more than 10 years ago will be evaluated to determine if they meet current course requirements.
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College. The school dean must approve exceptions. Students desiring transfer into this bachelor-degree major must work closely with an adviser to choose appropriate, transferable courses to be eligible for selection.
International health credentials/licensure, sciences courses, and most math courses will not be accepted to satisfy requirements of this major. Please see additional information for international students applying to the School of Nursing & Health Sciences majors.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
Program Review Executive Summary: Dental Hygiene
Students must meet Essential Functions for the Dental Hygienist established by the Dental Hygiene Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements. Some clinical sites may have additional health and immunization requirements that are not part of the current program requirements, for example, COVID-19 vaccination.
Dental Hygiene Clinic Notice of Privacy Practices
Official notice of our privacy practices as it pertains to the use and disclosure of patient health information.
Blood Borne Pathogens Statement
Dental hygienists and dental hygiene students may be exposed to contagious diseases, therefore strict compliance with Center of Disease Control (CDC) and OSHA standards are maintained. Policies on blood borne and infectious diseases are available upon request from the Penn College Dental Hygiene Program.
International students who are studying in the United States on an F-1 visa must be enrolled in a full course of study in-person. Students are not permitted to enroll in an entirely online degree. Online degrees are available to international students pursuing the degree from their home country. Students must still meet all admissions criteria for admission to the college and any special admissions requirements that govern pursuit of their chosen major.
Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
