Dental Hygiene - Associate of Applied Science
Doña Ana Community College
2025-2026 Catalog
(104 credits)
Note: Students must earn a final grade of C- or better in ENGL 1110G Composition I and MATH 1220G College Algebra per DACC guidelines; however, the Dental Hygiene program strongly recommends students earn a C or better in those courses. Students must earn a C or better in all other required General Education and Core Requirements. In addition, students admitted to the program must receive a final grade of 77% or higher to remain in the program. Clinical courses have additional requirements that must be met in addition to the minimum grade of 77%.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 101 credits. (See footnote 6) Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits but may be needed to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
All General Education and Core Requirements must be met before formally applying to the program.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Select one course from four of the following six content areas for a total of 12-14 credits 1,2 | ||
| This degree requires courses from Areas I, II, III and IV; students do not need to take additional courses to complete the General Education requirements. | ||
Area I: Communications | ||
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 3 | 4 |
| or ENGL 2130G | Advanced Composition | |
| or ENGL 2221G | Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | |
Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra (Core Requirement) 3 | 3 |
| or MATH 1350G | Introduction to Statistics | |
| or MATH 1250G | Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus | |
Area III: Laboratory Sciences | ||
| CHEM 1120G | Introduction to Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory (non majors) (Core Requirement) 3 | 4 |
| or CHEM 1215G | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | |
| or CHEM 1225G | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | |
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| PSYC 1110G | Introduction to Psychology (Core Requirement) 3 | 3 |
| General Education Elective | ||
| COMM 1130G | Public Speaking (Core Requirement (either)) 3 | 3 |
| or COMM 1115G | Introduction to Communication | |
| Core Requirements | ||
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| BIOL 2310 & 2310L | Microbiology and Microbiology Lab 3 | 4 |
| or BIOL 311 & 311 L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | |
| or BIOL 2320 & BIOL 2310L | Public Health Microbiology and Microbiology Lab | |
| or BIOL 479 & 479 L | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | |
| BIOL 2210 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences 3 | 4 |
| or BIOL 353 & 353 L & BIOL 354 & BIOL 354 L | Pre-Professional Human Anatomy and Pre-Professional Human Anatomy Laboratory and Physiology of Humans and Laboratory of Human Physiology | |
| or SPMD 2210 | Anatomy and Physiology I | |
| BIOL 2225 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II 3 | 4 |
| or BIOL 353 & 353 L & BIOL 354 & BIOL 354 L | Pre-Professional Human Anatomy and Pre-Professional Human Anatomy Laboratory and Physiology of Humans and Laboratory of Human Physiology | |
| or SPMD 3210 | Anatomy and Physiology II | |
| CHEM 2120 | Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry 3 | 3 |
| or CHEM 313 & BCHE 395 | Organic Chemistry I and Biochemistry I | |
| or CHEM 314 & BCHE 396 | Organic Chemistry II and Biochemistry II, Lecture and Laboratory | |
| NUTR 2110 | Human Nutrition 3 | 3 |
| or NUTR 3110 | Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Technical Requirements 4 | ||
| DHYG 110 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DHYG 112 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lab | 3 |
| DHYG 114 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHYG 116 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHYG 117 | Dental Anatomy | 2 |
| DHYG 118 | Dental Radiology 5 | 3 |
| or DAS 115 | Dental Radiology | |
| DHYG 120 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 |
| DHYG 122 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHYG 124 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHYG 126 | Periodontology | 3 |
| DHYG 132 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DHYG 134 | Dental Materials 5 | 3 |
| or DAS 117 | Dental Materials | |
| DHYG 210 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 |
| DHYG 212 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHYG 214 | Dental Pharmacology | 3 |
| DHYG 215 | Medical and Dental Emergencies | 2 |
| DHYG 217 | Research Methodology | 2 |
| DHYG 218 | Pain and Anxiety Management | 2 |
| DHYG 219 | Pain and Anxiety Management Clinical | 1 |
| DHYG 220 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 3 |
| DHYG 222 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHYG 224 | Principles of Practice | 2 |
| DHYG 225 | Dental Public Health Education | 3 |
| DHYG 255 | Special Topics in Dental Hygiene (Clinical course must be taken twice for a total of 2 credits) 6 | 1 |
| Total Credits | 103 | |
- 1
Each course selected must be from a different area and students cannot take multiple courses in the same area.
- 2
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
Courses are identical to those offered at New Mexico State University Las Cruces (main) Campus.
- 4
All DHYG classes are restricted to students who have been accepted into the Dental Hygiene program.
- 5
Substitution of DAS 115 and DAS 117 permitted only for students who completed the DACC DAS program spring/summer 2024 and thereafter.
- 6
This is a clinical externship course that is taken twice, once in the fall and once in the spring semesters of the student's last year in the program. (This will result in a total of 101 credits).
(104 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 ENGL 1110G Composition I and MATH 1220G College Algebra per DACC guidelines; however, the Dental Hygiene program strongly recommends students earn a C or better in those courses. Students must earn a C or better in all other required General Education and Core Requirements. In addition, students admitted to the program must receive a final grade of 77% or higher to remain in the program. Clinical courses have additional requirements that must be met in addition to the minimum grade of 77%.
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements and elective credits to total at least 101 credits. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits but may be needed to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
All General Education and Core Requirements must be met before formally applying to the program (approximately 25 credits).
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| FALL | ||
| Area I: Communications - English Composition Level 1 | 4 | |
| Composition I or Advanced Composition or Writing in the Humanities and Social Science | ||
| Area II: Mathematics | 3 | |
| College Algebra or College Algebra or Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus | ||
| Area III: Laboratory Sciences | 8 | |
| Introduction to Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory (non majors) or General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors or General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences or Pre-Professional Human Anatomy and Pre-Professional Human Anatomy Laboratory and Physiology of Humans and Laboratory of Human Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology I | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| Area III: Laboratory Sciences | 11 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II or Pre-Professional Human Anatomy and Pre-Professional Human Anatomy Laboratory and Physiology of Humans and Laboratory of Human Physiology or Anatomy and Physiology II | ||
| Microbiology 3 or General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory or Public Health Microbiology or Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry I and Biochemistry I or Organic Chemistry II and Biochemistry II, Lecture and Laboratory | ||
| NUTR 2110 or NUTR 3110 | Human Nutrition or Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| General Education Elective - Area I: Communications - Oral Communications | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication or Public Speaking | ||
| Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| FALL | ||
| DHYG 110 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DHYG 112 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lab | 3 |
| DHYG 114 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHYG 116 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHYG 117 | Dental Anatomy | 2 |
| DHYG 118 or DAS 115 | Dental Radiology or Dental Radiology | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| DHYG 120 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 |
| DHYG 122 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHYG 124 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHYG 126 | Periodontology | 3 |
| DHYG 134 or DAS 117 | Dental Materials or Dental Materials | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| DHYG 132 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DHYG 218 | Pain and Anxiety Management | 2 |
| DHYG 215 | Medical and Dental Emergencies | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| FALL | ||
| DHYG 210 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 |
| DHYG 212 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHYG 214 | Dental Pharmacology | 3 |
| DHYG 217 | Research Methodology | 2 |
| DHYG 219 | Pain and Anxiety Management Clinical | 1 |
| DHYG 255 | Special Topics in Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| DHYG 220 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 3 |
| DHYG 222 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHYG 224 | Principles of Practice | 2 |
| DHYG 225 | Dental Public Health Education | 3 |
| DHYG 255 | Special Topics in Dental Hygiene | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 104 | |
DACC-UNM BSDH Degree - Total Credits Required - 128 cr.
Please meet with your DACC Dental Hygiene Advisor for more information.
Note: Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all general education and core requirements. Students must receive a final grade of C (77%) or better in all other courses including the UNM courses in order to remain in the program.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1120G | Introduction to Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory (non majors) * | 4 |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I (UNM ENGL 1120 - Composition II (3 credits)) * | 4 |
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra * | 3 |
| BIOL 2210 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CHEM 2120 | Integrated Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 2225 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| BIOL 2310 & 2310L |
Microbiology and Microbiology Lab |
4 |
| NUTR 2110 | Human Nutrition * | 3 |
| UNM Curriculum - Foreign Language (Area 6) (3 credits) * | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| COMM 1115G or COMM 1130G |
Introduction to Communication * or Public Speaking |
3 |
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology * | 3 |
| PSYC 1110G | Introduction to Psychology * | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| DHYG 110 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DHYG 112 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Lab | 3 |
| DHYG 114 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHYG 116 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHYG 117 | Dental Anatomy | 2 |
| DHYG 118 | Dental Radiology | 4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| DHYG 120 | Dental Hygiene Theory I | 3 |
| DHYG 122 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHYG 124 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHYG 126 | Periodontology | 3 |
| DHYG 134 | Dental Materials | 3 |
| UNM DEHY 407 - Problems (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| DHYG 132 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DHYG 218 | Pain and Anxiety Management | 2 |
| DHYG 219 | Pain and Anxiety Management Clinical | 1 |
| UNM DEHY 440 - Extramural Experience (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 5 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| DHYG 210 | Dental Hygiene Theory III | 2 |
| DHYG 212 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHYG 214 | Dental Pharmacology | 3 |
| DHYG 215 | Medical and Dental Emergencies (UNM DEHY 335 - Dental Office Emergencies to replace DACC DHYG 215 (2 credits)) ** | 2 |
| DHYG 217 | Research Methodology (UNM DEHY 410 Dental Hygiene Research Methodology to replace DACC DHYG 217 (3 credits)) ** | 2 |
| UNM - Arts and Design General Education (Area 7) (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| DHYG 220 | Dental Hygiene Theory IV | 3 |
| DHYG 222 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHYG 224 | Principles of Practice (UNM DEHY 407 Problems to replace DACC DHYG 224 (3 credits)) ** | 2 |
| DHYG 225 | Dental Public Health Education (UNM DEHY 422 - Dental Public Health to replace DACC DHYG 225 (3 credits)) ** | 3 |
| UNM DEHY 400 - Current Issues in Dental Hygiene (3 credits) ** | ||
| Semesters 9 & 10 - SUMMER/FALL | ||
| UNM DEHY 407 - Problems (3 credits) ** | ||
| UNM DEHY 440 - Extramural Experience (3 credits) ** | ||
| UNM Humanities/Diversity General Education (Area 5) (3 credits) * | ||
| UNM General Education Student Choice Elective (Area 8) (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 103 | |
- *
Course can be taken at UNM or DACC, must meet UNM General Education Requirement if taken at DACC (please use transfer equivalency tables to determine articulation).
- **
UNM course, satisfying UNM 30 hour residency requirement. Course must be taken at UNM.