BS in Dental Hygiene

4 Years Online Bachelors Program

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Program Overview

The BS in Dental Hygiene at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) prepares students for professional dental hygiene practice while also developing knowledge in dental hygiene education, management, research, and patient care. The program suits students interested in oral health and community care, with coursework covering dental hygiene practice, advanced periodontics, clinical work, research methods, ethics, management, and healthcare systems.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students build their academic and healthcare foundation through courses such as English Composition I, Fundamentals of Speech, Medical Terminology, and Chemistry & Society. These subjects develop communication, scientific, and healthcare knowledge that supports later professional dental hygiene study.

Year 2: Students begin developing specialized dental hygiene knowledge through subjects such as Introduction to Dental Hygiene Management, Multicultural/Geriatrics/Interprofessional Collaboration, and Research Methods. The curriculum also introduces management, research, communication, and patient-care perspectives relevant to modern dental hygiene practice.

Year 3: Students deepen their professional preparation through Advanced Periodontics, Dental Hygiene Clinic IV, and Advanced Periodontics Clinic V, combining advanced clinical knowledge with practical application. Coursework in Teaching Strategies in Dental Hygiene and Readings in Dental Hygiene Education also develops skills relevant to education and professional development.

Year 4: Students complete advanced professional and research-focused work through Senior Board Seminar, Dental Hygiene Practicum, Dental Hygiene Practicum Lab, and Research Project. The final stage strengthens clinical readiness while giving students experience with research, professional practice, education, and dental hygiene management.

Focus Areas: Dental hygiene practice, advanced periodontics, dental hygiene education, dental hygiene management, community oral health, research, multicultural and geriatric care, interprofessional collaboration, healthcare systems, and professional ethics.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates develop the knowledge and practical preparation required for dental hygiene practice while gaining capabilities in research, education, management, communication, ethics, patient care, and working with diverse populations.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Not stated on the current official SIU pages located for this response. The official SIU catalog identifies the Dental Hygiene faculty and the university’s Dental Hygiene curriculum, but I would not assign an accreditation claim without an official SIU source confirming it.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the BS in Dental Hygiene at Southern Illinois University Carbondale develop hands-on clinical skills through supervised dental hygiene practice, progressing from foundational laboratory work to treating patients in clinical settings. The program emphasizes direct patient care, dental radiography, preventive services, instrumentation, and community-based experiences, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in realistic healthcare environments.

Practical learning opportunities include:

Dental Hygiene Clinic: Students gain direct clinical experience providing dental hygiene services to patients under faculty supervision, developing skills in assessment, instrumentation, preventive care, and patient education.
Dental Hygiene Laboratory: Dedicated laboratory instruction allows students to practice dental hygiene instrumentation and clinical procedures before applying those skills in patient-care settings.
Dental Radiography: Students receive practical training in dental radiographic techniques, developing the skills needed to obtain and interpret diagnostic images as part of comprehensive patient assessment.
Clinical Patient Care: The curriculum provides progressively advanced clinical experiences where students apply dental hygiene procedures and develop professional patient-management skills.
Community Dental Hygiene Experiences: Students have opportunities to apply preventive oral-health knowledge beyond the university clinic through community and public-health experiences, including work with populations that may have limited access to dental care.
Interprofessional Learning: The program's healthcare-focused environment gives students opportunities to develop communication and collaboration skills relevant to working with dentists and other healthcare professionals.
SIU Dental Hygiene Program Facilities: The program provides the clinical and laboratory environments needed for students to develop professional dental hygiene competencies through hands-on instruction and supervised practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BS in Dental Hygiene at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are prepared for clinical practice as well as careers in public health, education, research, administration, and entrepreneurship. SIU reports that nearly 100% of its dental hygiene students have jobs or are enrolled in a graduate program before graduation, while the program’s additional certifications can further broaden employment opportunities.

Typical Job Roles: Dental Hygienist, Public Health Dental Hygienist, Dental Hygiene Educator, Dental Hygiene Researcher.

Career Development, Employment & Professional Opportunities:

Employment Preparation: Departmental internships provide real-world experience with different patient populations and situations outside the classroom, while helping students develop practical competence and familiarity with dental workplace practices.
Employment Outcomes: SIU states that nearly 100% of dental hygiene students have employment or graduate-study placements before graduation, demonstrating a strong transition from the program into professional or further academic pathways.
Salary & Job Outlook: SIU cites a median salary of approximately $81,400 for dental hygienists and an 11% projected employment growth rate by 2028, based on the sources referenced by the university.
Professional Certifications: Students complete the Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) certification, including approximately 120 hours of modules during the junior and senior years, giving graduates additional preparation for community and underserved-population settings.
Laser Certification: SIU also provides specialized dental laser training and certification, with Heartland Dental University supporting the 2026 cohort’s certification examination, adding a practical credential relevant to clinical employment.
Community & Industry Connections: Students gain experience through internships and community-based dental care, including work with children in local school districts and underserved patients throughout Southern Illinois.
Accreditation Value: The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). SIU states that the degree meets the educational requirements to sit for dental hygiene licensure/certification examinations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the Northern Mariana Islands, although individual state boards may impose additional requirements.
Graduation Outcomes: The program prepares graduates for the seven professional roles identified by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association: clinician, corporate, public health, researcher, educator, administrator, and entrepreneur.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Dental Hygiene, graduates can pursue a master’s degree in dental hygiene or other health-related fields, supporting progression into education, research, administration, public health, or specialized healthcare careers. SIU also offers an Education and Management specialization for qualified dental hygienists seeking further preparation in education and healthcare management.