Dental Hygiene - Associate of Applied Science
Doña Ana Community College 2026-2027 Catalog
(102 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 (or Higher (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 | |
| or ACOM 1130G | Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | |
| 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 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 2225 | 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 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Technical Requirements 4 | ||
| DHYG 2210 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Seminar | 3 |
| DHYG 2212 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DHYG 2213 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHYG 2214 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHYG 2215 | Tooth Anatomy and Morphology | 2 |
| DHYG 2216 | Dental Radiology 5 | 2 |
| or DAST 1123 | Dental Radiology | |
| DHYG 2216L | Dental Radiology Lab 5 | 1 |
| or DAST 1123L | Dental Radiology Laboratory | |
| DHYG 2220 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar I | 3 |
| DHYG 2222 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHYG 2223 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHYG 2224 | Periodontology | 3 |
| DHYG 2225 | Dental Materials 5 | 2 |
| or DAST 1111 | Dental Materials | |
| DHYG 2225L | Dental Materials Laboratory 5 | 1 |
| or DAST 1111L | Dental Materials Laboratory | |
| DHYG 2226 | Medical and Dental Emergencies | 2 |
| DHYG 2227 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DHYG 2228 | Pain and Anxiety Management | 2 |
| DHYG 2228L | Pain and Anxiety Management Clinical | 1 |
| DHYG 2230 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar III | 3 |
| DHYG 2232 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHYG 2233 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| DHYG 2234 | Research Methodology | 2 |
| DHYG 2996 | Special Topics in Dental Hygiene 6 | 1 |
| DHYG 2240 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar IV | 3 |
| DHYG 2242 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHYG 2243 | Principles of Practice | 2 |
| DHYG 2244 | Dental Public Health Education | 3 |
| Total Credits | 101 | |
- 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 DAST 1123 Dental Radiology/DAST 1123L Dental Radiology Laboratory and DAST 1111 Dental Materials/DAST 1111L Dental Materials Laboratory permitted for students who completed the DACC DAS program spring/summer 2024 and thereafter, and those who completed the courses in Fall 2026 or after and are transfers from Central New Mexico (CNM), Luna Community College (LCC), UNM-Gallup, and Santa Fe Community College (SFCC).
- 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 102 credits).
(102 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 Higher (Core Requirement)) or Introduction to Statistics 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 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 | ||
| Credits | 11 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| General Education Elective - Area I: Communications - Oral Communications | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication or Public Speaking or Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | ||
| Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| SOCI 1110G | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| FALL | ||
| DHYG 2210 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Seminar | 3 |
| DHYG 2212 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DHYG 2213 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHYG 2214 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHYG 2215 | Tooth Anatomy and Morphology | 2 |
| DHYG 2216 | Dental Radiology 5 | 2 |
| DHYG 2216L | Dental Radiology Lab 5 | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| DHYG 2220 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar I | 3 |
| DHYG 2222 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHYG 2223 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHYG 2224 | Periodontology | 3 |
| DHYG 2225 | Dental Materials 5 | 2 |
| DHYG 2225L | Dental Materials Laboratory 5 | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| DHYG 2226 | Medical and Dental Emergencies | 2 |
| DHYG 2227 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DHYG 2228 | Pain and Anxiety Management | 2 |
| DHYG 2228L | Pain and Anxiety Management Clinical | 1 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| FALL | ||
| DHYG 2230 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar III | 3 |
| DHYG 2232 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHYG 2233 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| DHYG 2234 | Research Methodology | 2 |
| DHYG 2996 | Special Topics in Dental Hygiene 6 | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| SPRING | ||
| DHYG 2240 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar IV | 3 |
| DHYG 2242 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHYG 2243 | Principles of Practice | 2 |
| DHYG 2244 | Dental Public Health Education | 3 |
| DHYG 2996 | Special Topics in Dental Hygiene 6 | 1 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 102 | |
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 |
| UNM Curriculum - Foreign Language (Area 6) (3 credits) * | ||
| Credits | 11 | |
| 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 2210 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene Seminar | 3 |
| DHYG 2212 | Preclinical Dental Hygiene | 3 |
| DHYG 2213 | Oral Histology and Embryology | 2 |
| DHYG 2214 | Head and Neck Anatomy | 3 |
| DHYG 2215 | Tooth Anatomy and Morphology | 2 |
| DHYG 2216 | Dental Radiology | 3 |
| DHYG 2216L | Dental Radiology Lab | 1 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| DHYG 2220 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar I | 3 |
| DHYG 2222 | Clinical Dental Hygiene I | 4 |
| DHYG 2223 | General and Oral Pathology | 3 |
| DHYG 2224 | Periodontology | 3 |
| DHYG 2225 | Dental Materials | 2 |
| DHYG 2225L | Dental Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| UNM DEHY 407 - Problems (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| SUMMER | ||
| DHYG 2227 | Clinical Dental Hygiene II | 2 |
| DHYG 2228 | Pain and Anxiety Management | 2 |
| DHYG 2228L | Pain and Anxiety Management Clinical | 1 |
| UNM DEHY 440 - Extramural Experience (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 5 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| DHYG 2226 | Medical and Dental Emergencies | 2 |
| DHYG 2230 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar III | 2 |
| DHYG 2232 | Clinical Dental Hygiene III | 5 |
| DHYG 2233 | Pharmacology | 3 |
| DHYG 2234 | Research Methodology | 2 |
| UNM - Arts and Design General Education (Area 7) (3 credits) ** | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| DHYG 2240 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Seminar IV | 3 |
| DHYG 2242 | Clinical Dental Hygiene IV | 5 |
| DHYG 2243 | Principles of Practice | 2 |
| DHYG 2244 | Dental Public Health Education | 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 | 100 | |
- *
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.