florida's only Dental Hygiene Bachelor's Degree offered completely online
SPC's Dental Hygiene B.A.S. Degree is the first and only bachelor's degree program in dental hygiene in Florida and is one of the largest degree completion programs in the nation. This online program can help licensed dental hygienists improve their career opportunities in such areas as practice management, education or sales.
Dental Hygiene Program Partnership at SPC
Students may be enrolled concurrently with an accredited A.S. Dental Hygiene program or follow the traditional pathway into SPC's Dental Hygiene B.A.S. program upon becoming a registered dental hygienist. Dual enrolled students in our Program Partnership are accepted contingent on the recommendation of their A.S. Dental Hygiene Program Director and faculty. Our partners include Florida SouthWestern State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Santa Fe College, St. Petersburg College, and Valencia College.
Graduates of our programs work in public health clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, managed care facilities, dental hygiene academia, dental and pharmaceutical sales and management.
This academic program prepares you for the following careers. All job data is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Dental Hygienists
Salary Data
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metro Area Average
Florida Average
Projected employment for Florida
2023 Employment
13,410
2033
15,600
Percent Change
16
Projected Job Openings
1160
Features of the Dental Hygiene B.A.S. Degree program
- This degree completion program is for licensed dental hygienists who want to progress from their associate to bachelor's degree.
- The program is offered completely online and has no campus or residency requirements.
- Classes are very interactive with discussion boards that foster professional camaraderie.
- Students are accepted during the fall and spring and progress through the program in 24 months with the same students in their cohort.
- Courses are offered one at a time for six to eight weeks, followed by one week off.
- The capstone course is 14 weeks and integrates your career interests through teaching, mentoring, interning and observing.
what You Will Learn in the Dental Hygiene B.A.S. Degree
- Contemporary issues and trends in the practice
- Leadership and management skills that enhance your career
- Educational concepts and teaching presentations
- Research methodologies and analysis of current publications
- Advanced ethics, communication skills and effective interprofessional health care practice
Dental Hygiene Bachelor of Applied Science
DENH-BAS
Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2024 (640)
The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2024 (640), and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term.
Program Summary
This program is offered as a Fully Online program. SPC’s Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene is the first and only bachelor's degree program in dental hygiene in Florida and is one of the largest degree completion programs in the nation. This online program can help licensed dental hygienists improve their career opportunities in management, sales, public/community health, interprofessional health care disciplines, and academia. This degree completion program is for licensed dental hygienists who want to progress from their associate to bachelor's degree. - Offered completely online program - no campus or residency requirements - Discussion boards foster professional camaraderie - Courses are offered one at a time for six to eight weeks - Students are accepted during the fall and spring and progress through the program together in a cohort - A capstone course, which lasts 14 weeks, integrates career interests through teaching, interning or observing.
Graduation Requirements
All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C".
GENERAL EDUCATION: All students must complete the 36 credit general education requirement in order to graduate from this program. A.S. degree holders may need to complete an additional 15-21 general education credits to complete the thirty-six (36) credit hour general education requirement.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: If you have not completed two consecutive years of the same foreign language in high school or 8 credits in college, you will need to complete 8 credits of foreign language before completing the B.A.S. program. Students must successfully complete all BASDH core courses and Electives, as well as meet all requirements for their AA degree (to include foreign language).
CIVIC LITERACY: As per Florida Rule 6A-10.04213, baccalaureate degree students entering a Florida College System (FCS) or State University System (SUS) institution in the 2021-2022 academic school year and thereafter must demonstrate competency through successful completion of a civic literacy course AND by achieving a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE).
Academic Pathways
The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items:- the recommended order in which to take the program courses
- suggested course when more than one option exists
- which semester each course is typically offered
- if the course has a prerequisite
- courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program)
Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester.
Program Leadership Information
please contact:
Healthadvising@spcollege.edu
Florida CIP Code
1351060200 - Dental Hygiene
Federal CIP Code
51.0602 - Dental Hygiene/Hygienist.
Earn your associate and bachelor's degree AT SPC
SPC's Dental Hygiene Associate in Science degree transfers to our bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene.
Health Continuing Education
We also offer health and dental hygiene continuing education through SPC's Workforce Institute.
