Program learning outcomes
The Goals/Program Outcomes of the Dental Hygiene Program at Harper College are to:
- maintain admission policies that ensure admission of a qualified student body who
have the potential to achieve the program outcomes.
- provide career education that prepares qualified, entry-level dental hygiene professionals
who are competent to provide safe, ethical and comprehensive oral health services
to a diverse population as defined by the Harper College Dental Hygiene Graduate Competencies
for the Entry-Level Dental Hygienist.
- maintain a contemporary program that provides a dynamic, integrated and interprofessional
curriculum which reflects relevant, evidence-based dental hygiene practice.
- provide quality individualized patient-centered dental hygiene care.
- provide service to the Harper College and surrounding communities, and serve as a
resource of oral health knowledge and education for the health care community.
- promote professional growth and develop leadership in dental hygiene education by
engaging in professional development activities.
Student Learning Outcomes/Graduate Competencies For The Entry-Level Dental Hygienist
Students who successfully complete this program are able to:
Patient Care
- utilize the dental hygiene process of care in provision of comprehensive, quality
patient care.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- provide individualized patient educational services to promote health maintenance
and disease prevention
- individually and/or in collaboration with health care professionals, apply the dental
hygiene process of care in planning and providing oral health related programs to
the public
Professionalism and Ethics
- use evidence-based research to critically evaluate the validity of foundational knowledge,
information, products and/or techniques and their relevance to the practice of dental
hygiene.
- apply principles of ethical reasoning, ethical decision making, and critical thinking
as they pertain to the academic environment, research, patient care and dental hygiene
practice, and demonstrate professional responsibility as it applies to the legal and
regulatory concepts in the provision and/or support of oral health care services.
- perform self-assessment, monitor knowledge and performance, and take corrective action
to address deficiencies.
- demonstrate cultural sensitivity and the interpersonal and communication skills required
for effective functioning with diverse population groups and other members of the
health care team.
- demonstrate professional growth by participating in professional activities and continuing
education.
Program length
The dental hygiene curriculum is sequenced over six-semesters. Students complete one
fall and spring semester (17 weeks each) in the first year and two eight-week summer
sessions and one fall and spring semester (17 weeks each) in the second year with
graduation in May.
Courses in dental hygiene, i.e., course numbers with the DHY prefix must be taken in the semester sequence published in the Catalog. SPE 215 and SOC 101 can
be taken before they are scheduled in the curriculum but not after. See curriculum
above.
Schedule
Dental Hygiene classes, labs and clinics are scheduled Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7:30
p.m. and some Saturdays or evenings. General education or science classes are sometimes scheduled in the evenings as
well.
Resources
Next steps
For more information about dental hygienist training at Harper, contact Admission
Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.
