Dental Education

Policies

Admission to Program

Application for admission to the Dental Hygiene program is a separate process in addition to being admitted to the University.  It is highly recommended to meet with a Dental Hygiene advisor to formulate a plan of study as soon as possible. Requirements for application for admission to the dental hygiene program include:

1. Completion of at least 36 semester credits.
2. A minimum career grade-point average of 2.9.
3. Successful completion of prerequisites of CMST 100 or CMST 102, ENG 101, PSYC 101, SOC 150 or SOC 101, BIOL 220, STAT 154 or SOC 202, DHYG 100, DHYG 219 or DHYG 225 and two of these three  courses: BIOL 270, BIOL 330, CHEM 106 or CHEM 111

Transfer students are exempt from the application requirements to complete DHYG 219 or DHYG 225 prior to applying to the program. However, both DHYG 219 and DHYG 225 must be completed prior to starting the program in the fall. Transfer students accepted into the fall DHYG class and first attending Minnesota State University in the fall to start the DHYG program will have DHYG 100 waived.

The application form may be obtained from the Dental Hygiene Department website ahn.mnsu.edu/dental/program/. The number of students admitted to the Dental Hygiene major is limited to 20 students each fall semester.  Applicants are accepted primarily based on academic achievement in prerequisite courses with an emphasis placed on the science prerequisites.

P/N Grading Policy. All courses required for Dental Hygiene must be taken for a letter grade and a letter grade of “C” or higher must be achieved. A grade of “D” or “F” in a Dental Hygiene course will result in academic suspension from the program. Completion of didactic course numbers DHYG 326 forward requires successful completion of previous Dental Hygiene courses obtaining a “C” or better in order to continue in the Dental Hygiene program. Students must achieve a “C” or higher in DHYG 219 and DHYG 225. A grade of “D” or “F” in either of these courses will result in academic suspension from the program and the student’s position in the fall class will go to another individual on the waiting list.

Costs. At the beginning of the program students will purchase scrubs and lab coats. Students are responsible for purchasing two kits of instruments and supplies during the program. The first kit fee is attached to DHYG 313 in the fall of the junior year. The second kit fee is attached to DHYG 331 in the spring of the junior year. Upon acceptance to the program a deposit towards the first kit fee is required.

Risks: Dental hygienists are at risk for exposure to blood borne pathogens (BBP). Accepted students are highly encouraged to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B and will also to have their blood tested following any exposures to BBP through needle sticks, cuts or splashes that occur at the Minnesota State Mankato Dental Clinic or any off-site clinical sites. Accepted students are required to have a Mantoux test prior to starting the fall semester.