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Dental Hygiene
To begin, connect with an advisor who can guide you through program options and next steps, including the application process.
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene degree prepares students to become primary care oral health professionals. A licensed dental hygienist may provide education, assessment, diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services, research, and administrative services that support overall health through the promotion of optimal oral health. Hygienists may be employed in general or specialty dental practice in private or public healthcare settings. The program also prepares students for university transfer.
The dental hygiene program offers a rigorous, intensive, science-based curriculum. Students will provide services in clinical settings and will develop a commitment to the community through offsite educational and enrichment experiences serving diverse populations. Successful students will develop and demonstrate critical thinking, as well as ethical and professional behaviors required by the field.
Applicants should possess hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, attention to detail, and the ability to persevere through a rigorous academic and clinical full-time program workload. Students in an MCCCD Dental Hygiene program will be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and infectious diseases. The program strictly adheres to established policies and procedures regarding infection control as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association, the Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (211 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60611-2637; (312) 440-4653) grants accreditation to the Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, and Mesa Community College programs. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.
This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Dental Hygiene (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3831
Total credits required
96-111.5
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
Admission criteria
High school diploma or GED equivalency is required.
Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
General education courses must be completed to apply for an available space to begin the core dental hygiene courses.
Acknowledgement of ability to fully participate in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
Formal application and acceptance to the program is required.
After being placed in the program, the following are required:
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
Complete and submit the required proof of immunity and health declaration form signed by a licensed health care provider.
Submit to a drug screening and demonstrate negative results.
Submit current CPR card for Health Care Provider and maintain current status throughout the program.
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25.
Basic Science courses must have been completed within the last five years upon application submission or as determined by the Dental Health Professions Instructional Council.
Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in the Required Courses area within the core program.
Students should consult with an advisor prior to applying to the program.
For students planning to pursue a Bachelor's completion pathway or to complete an AGEC-A: MHL155 and PHI213 are recommended for the Humanities, Arts and Design area for a total of 6 credits in this area.
COM225 with the [L] designation is recommended for the Oral Communication area. PSY101 and SOC101 are recommended for the Social Behavioral area.
An additional course(s) may be required to meet NAU Degree completion requirements.
What You'll Learn
- Adhere to state and federal laws, recommendations, and regulations in the provision of oral health care.
- Systematically assess comprehensive data on the general and oral health needs of patients from diverse populations.
- Use critical decision making to interpret data and create a dental hygiene diagnosis.
- Design and present a patient-centered dental hygiene care plan utilizing evidence-based research and professional standards.
- Implement comprehensive dental hygiene services to achieve and maintain patient's optimal health.
- Evaluate the outcome of dental hygiene care during active and maintenance treatment phases and refer to appropriate healthcare providers if indicated.
- Record accurate, consistent, and complete documentation throughout the process of care.
- Employ effective interpersonal communication with patients, families, and the healthcare team in a culturally competent, ethical, and professional manner.
- Practice professional and ethical behaviors as accepted by healthcare professionals.
- Demonstrate self-assessment and self-regulation strategies for lifelong learning.
- Advocate for healthy communities through the provision of community-based preventive and therapeutic oral healthcare services.
Career Statistics
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | Critical course | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | |
| (CHM130 and CHM130LL) or CHM130AA |
(Fundamental Chemistry and Fundamental Chemistry Laboratory) or Fundamental Chemistry with Lab | OR Acceptable higher-level CHM course: CHM151 AND CHM151LL OR CHM151AA OR CHM152 AND CHM152LL OR CHM152AA OR CHM230 AND CHM230LL OR CHM230AA OR CHM235 AND CHM235LL OR CHM235AA OR CHM236 AND CHM236LL OR CHM236AA. Students who have completed CHM138 AND CHM138LL prior to Fall 2019 have fulfilled the CHM requirement for acceptance into the MCCCD Dental Hygiene program. CHM138 AND CHM138LL completed Fall of 2019 or after, will no longer meet the MCCCD Dental Hygiene Application Admissions requirement as this class is being phased out. Please note that CHM 130 is required for participation in the CEP program through NAU. |
SQ and NSI in combo w/ CHM130; or NSI, SQ | 4 | |
| SOC+++ | Any Sociology course with the [SB] designation | Recommend SOC101 for students pursuing the Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) or to complete an AGEC-A. | SB | 3 | |
| FYE101 or FYE103 |
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success | 1–3 |
Term 2
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | FYC, WCM or FYC, WCM | 3 | ||
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | Critical course OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment; Students who are exempt from CRE101 must complete a course with an [L] designation if pursuing a CEP or to complete the AGEC-A. Exemptions for CRE101, recommend COM225 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A to meet the Oral Communicati on and the Literacy [L] designation. |
L | 0–3 | |
| BIO156 or BIO181 |
Introductory Biology for Allied Health or General Biology (Majors) I | OR One year of High School biology. | SQ or SQ | 0–4 | |
| PSY+++ | Any Psychology course with the [SB] designation | Recommend PSY101 for students pursuing the CEP (or to complete an AGEC-A) and selecting PSY230 or PSY230WL to meet the [CS] designation. | SB | 3 | |
| MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 or MAT145 or MAT146 |
College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics or College Mathematics with Review or College Mathematics with Review | MAT140 or MAT141 or MAT142 or MAT145 or MAT146 or Higher course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area is required for students pursuing to complete the AGEC-A. | MA, QNR or MA, QNR or MA, QNR or MA, QNR or MA, QNR | 3–6 |
Term 3
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230 |
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication | Recommend COM225 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A to meet the Oral Communication and the Literacy [L] designation. | SB, SCB or SB, SCB or L, OCM or SB, SCB | 3 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommend MHL155 OR PHI213 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A. | HU | 3 | |
| BIO201 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | Critical course Gateway course | NSI, SG | 4 |
Term 4
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO202 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | Critical course | NSI, SG | 4 | |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | Critical course | NSI, SG | 4 | |
| HU | Humanities, Fine Arts & Design | Recommend MHL155 OR PHI213 for students pursuing the CEP or to complete the AGEC-A. | HU | 0–3 | |
| HCC/RES109 | CPR for Health Care Provider | OR Current CPR certification at the health care provider Professional rescuer level | 0–0.5 |
Term 5
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHE115 | Emergency Medicine | 2 | |||
| DHE117 | Dental Radiography | 2 | |||
| DHE120 | Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene | 6 | |||
| DHE121 | Dental Anatomy, Embryology and Histology | 2 | |||
| DHE125 | Dental Radiography Laboratory | 1 | |||
| DHE127 | Prevention of Dental Disease | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHE110 or DHE112 |
Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist or Oral Pathology | Students will enroll in DHE110 or DHE112 as offered by the college of attendance. | 3 | ||
| DHE119 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 | |||
| DHE132 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 | |||
| DHE133 | Dental Hygiene Clinic I | 3 | |||
| DHE201 | Dental Materials | Required for MCC and RSC | 0–2 | ||
| DHE202 | Dental Materials Laboratory | Required for MCC and RSC | 0–1 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHE110 or DHE112 |
Pharmacology for the Dental Hygienist or Oral Pathology | Students will enroll in DHE110 or DHE112 as offered by the college of attendance. | 3 | ||
| DHE212 | Dental Hygiene Theory II | 2 | |||
| DHE213 | Dental Hygiene Clinic II | 5 | |||
| DHE225 | Periodontics | 3 | |||
| DHE227 | Dental Anesthesia | 2 |
Term 8
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHE201 | Dental Materials | Required for PC | 0–2 | ||
| DHE202 | Dental Materials Laboratory | Required for PC | 0–1 | ||
| DHE219 | Practice Management | 2 | |||
| DHE229 | Community Oral Health | 3 | |||
| DHE232 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 | |||
| DHE233 | Dental Hygiene Clinic III | 5 |
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- FYC = First-Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts & Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- NSI = Natural Sciences
- OCM = Oral Communication
- QNR = Quantitative Reasoning
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SCB = Social and Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
- WCM = Written Communication
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program. Students must complete the Basic Science courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better and General Education courses with a GPA of 3.25 or better. Students must earn a grade of 75% or better in their DHE coursework.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award at https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=16456107.
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Dental Hygiene
While you’re on the waitlist, take time to explore courses, short-term programs, and scholarships that can help you reach your goals and keep you moving forward.
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