If you are a dental hygienist with a bachelor’s degree and ready to advance your career, this program will allow you to do so. An MSDH degree opens opportunities for dental hygienists to teach in dental hygiene programs (especially at universities or dental schools) and prepares graduates for positions in teaching, administration, management and oral health research. The American Dental Education Association reported that 75% of dental hygiene faculty teaching in 2016 were over the age of 40, and that over 50% would be approaching retirement age within 5-10 years, creating a significant need for dental hygiene educators.
The MSDH program consists of 33 credit hours of upper-level course work, and it is a hybrid program that allows students to complete 73% of coursework online. The on-campus courses may be taken at UTSD or at another participating dental hygiene program campus as approved by the Program Coordinator. Students may enroll full- or part-time, but must complete the program within five years. Faculty will work with students to accommodate their individual interests and needs.
The Academic Catalog contains detailed information on program requirements, application procedures, and tuition.