Dental Assistant - Certificate of Completion
Doña Ana Community College 2026-2027 Catalog
(28 credits)
NOTE: Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all required courses/Technical Requirements and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0.
Students must complete all University certificate requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 28 credits. Developmental coursework will not count toward the degree requirements and/or elective credits.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| COMM 1130G | Public Speaking 1 | 3 |
| or COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | |
| or ENGL 1110G | Composition I | |
| BIOL 1130G | Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) 1 | 4 |
| or BIOL 2210 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | |
| or BIOL 2225 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | |
| or BIOL 353 | Pre-Professional Human Anatomy | |
| or BIOL 354 | Physiology of Humans | |
| or SPMD 2225 | Anatomy and Physiology II | |
| Technical Requirements | ||
| DAST 1515 | Bio-Dental Science III | 4 |
| or DHYG 2213 & DHYG 2214 & DHYG 2215 & DHYG 2223 | Oral Histology and Embryology and Head and Neck Anatomy and Tooth Anatomy and Morphology and General and Oral Pathology | |
| DAST 1519 | Clinical Procedures I | 2 |
| or DHYG 2210 & DHYG 2220 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Seminar and Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar I | |
| DAST 1519L | Clinical Procedures I Laboratory | 3 |
| or DHYG 2212 & DHYG 2222 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene and Clinical Dental Hygiene I | |
| DAST 1123 | Dental Radiology | 2 |
| or DHYG 2216 | Dental Radiology | |
| DAST 1123L | Dental Radiology Laboratory | 1 |
| or DHYG 2216L | Dental Radiology Lab | |
| DAST 1111 | Dental Materials | 2 |
| or DHYG 2225 | Dental Materials | |
| DAST 1111L | Dental Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| or DHYG 2225L | Dental Materials Laboratory | |
| DAST 2990 | Dental Assisting Practicum | 4 |
| or DHYG 2232 & DHYG 2996 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III and Special Topics in Dental Hygiene | |
| DAST 2222 | Community Dental Health | 2 |
| or DHYG 2234 | Research Methodology | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
- 1
Must be completed before a student can apply to the Dental Assistant program.
(28 credits)
A Suggested Plan of Study
The contents of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. This is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Individual student academic plans may vary. Please contact your academic advisor to create a plan that works for you. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
NOTE: Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all required courses/Technical Requirements and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0.
Students must complete all University certificate requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 28 credits. Developmental coursework will not count toward the degree requirements and/or elective credits.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| SPRING | ||
| Area I: Communications - Oral Communications | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication or Public Speaking or Composition I | ||
| BIOL 1130G | Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) or Human Anatomy and Physiology I or Human Anatomy and Physiology II or Pre-Professional Human Anatomy or Physiology of Humans or Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| DAST 1515 | Bio-Dental Science III or Oral Histology and Embryology and Head and Neck Anatomy and Tooth Anatomy and Morphology and General and Oral Pathology | 4 |
| DAST 1519 | Clinical Procedures I or Preclinical Dental Hygiene Seminar and Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar I | 2 |
| DAST 1519L | Clinical Procedures I Laboratory or Preclinical Dental Hygiene and Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 3 |
| DAST 1123 or DHYG 2216 | Dental Radiology or Dental Radiology | 2 |
| DAST 1123L or DHYG 2216L | Dental Radiology Laboratory or Dental Radiology Lab | 1 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| FALL | ||
| DAST 1111 or DHYG 2225 | Dental Materials or Dental Materials | 1 |
| DAST 1111L or DHYG 2225L | Dental Materials Laboratory or Dental Materials Laboratory | 2 |
| DAST 2222 or DHYG 2234 | Community Dental Health or Research Methodology | 2 |
| DAST 2990 | Dental Assisting Practicum or Clinical Dental Hygiene III and Special Topics in Dental Hygiene | 4 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |