Wichita State University
Dental Hygiene Degree Checksheet
DENTAL HYGIENE, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (BS), 2026-2027
PRE-PROGRAM COURSE REQUIREMENTS (PREREQUISITES)
All prerequisite courses must be complete by the end of the spring semester prior to starting the professional program.
SCIENCE PREREQUISITES
Minimum grade of C (2.0) required in each course.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 103±* | Introductory General, Organic and Biochemistry/Lab | 5 |
| BIOL 223±* | Human Anatomy and Physiology/Lab | 5 |
| or HS 290±* | Foundational Human Anatomy and Physiology | 5 |
| BIOL 220±* | Microbiology/Lab | 4 |
| or BIOL 330± | General Microbiology/Lab | 5 |
| PHS 331± | Dietetics and Nutrition | 3 |
| HS 301± | Pharmacology | 3 |
± Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, and Nutrition courses taken more than 10 years ago must be repeated . Pharmacology taken over 5 years ago must be repeated.
ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES
Minimum grade of C (2.0) required in each course.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101* | College English I | 3 |
| ENGL 102* | College English 2 | 3 |
| COMM 111*^ | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH 111* | College Algebra | 3 |
| PSY 111* | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 111* | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| MLS 203 or MLS 303 | Medical Terminology | 2-3 |
*These courses may fulfill general education requirements.
^Interpersonal communication courses taken during or after summer 2015 at a Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) public institution can satisfy the communications requirement for both Wichita State’s general education and Dental Hygiene programs. However, interpersonal communication courses completed at Wichita State or at non-KBOR institutions will not meet the communications requirement for Wichita State’s general education program, except in the cases where a student then completes the Kansas Systemwide General Education curriculum at a KBOR institution outside of Wichita State and the transcript is notated as such.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
www.wichita.edu/generaleducation
The General Education Program at Wichita State follows the 34-35 credit-hour KBOR systemwide GE program framework. Kansas transfer students who have the “KS Systemwide General Education Completed” notation on their transcript do not need additional general education courses (outside of pre-program requirements) at Wichita State. Additional credit hours (open electives) to fulfill graduation requirements (see below) may be necessary.
The general education coursework below is waived for students who have earned a prior bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
| Discipline Area (Bucket) | Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGLISH (Bucket 1) | ENGL 101 | College English I | 3 |
| ENGLISH (Bucket 1) | ENGL 102 | College English 2 | 3 |
| COMMUNICATION (Bucket 2) | COMM 111 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MATH & STATISTICS (Bucket 3) | MATH 111 | College Algebra | 3 |
| NATURAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES-lab required (Bucket 4) | CHEM 103/Lab | Intro Chemistry/Lab | 5 |
| SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (Bucket 5) | PSY 111 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (Bucket 5) | SOC 111 | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| ARTS & HUMANITIES (Bucket 6) | (Choice-Subject 1) | 3 | |
| ARTS & HUMANITIES (Bucket 6) | (Choice-Subject 2) | 3 | |
| INSTITUTIONALLY DESIGNATED (Bucket 7) | HS 290/Lab | 5 | |
| INSTITUTIONALLY DESIGNATED-FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR1 (Bucket 7) | (Choice-First Year Seminar or other GEN ED) | 3 |
1If you are not required to take a first-year seminar, select another general education course (your choice) to fulfill “other Gen Ed”. (Additional dental hygiene prerequisites may complete requirement.)
GRADUATION REQUIRMENTS
- Earn credit for 120 cumulative hours.
- Earn a minimum of 45 credit hours of upper-division coursework (numbered 300 or higher) at a 4-year institution (university).
- Complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Wichita State.
- Complete all general education requirements.
- Maintain an overall GPA and WSU GPA of 2.00 or higher.
- Your last 24 of 30 credits or last 50 of 60 credit hours must be taken at Wichita State.
- Complete an Application for Degree two semesters before you plan to graduate.
- All transcripts of other college work must be sent to WSU before a degree is posted, even if these courses are not needed to meet WSU degree requirements.
PROGRAM APPLICATION AND ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Visit www.wichita.edu/dh for application, instructions, and more information.
Visit www.wichita.edu/chpinfosessions to find upcoming dates for Dental Hygiene information sessions.
Application available September 1.
Application deadline: First Friday in November.
The program starts a class of 38 every fall.
- Admission is competitive.
- Admission decisions are made by Dental Hygiene Admissions Committee.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Admission to Wichita State as a degree-bound, active, undergraduate student.
- Overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
- If courses taken at Wichita State, Wichita State GPA must be 2.0 oir higher.
- Minimum letter grade of C (2.0) in each prerequisite course.
- All prerequisites must be complete by the end of the spring semester prior to starting the program.
- Only 6 credits of general education or elective hours left to complete after the spring
semester prior to starting program.
- Clinical observation: complete a minimum of 8 hours shadowing a registered Dental Hygienist in clinical practice.
SELECTION CRITERIA
See the Dental Hygiene program website for additional information: www.wichita.edu/dh
The following criteria are considered when selecting applicants:
- Overall GPA. Competitive GPA is 3.6 or higher.
- Repeats of science courses impact application.
- Health care related direct patient care work experience. (Six months or more @20 hours per week.) Examples: Dental Assistant, CNA, EMT, Medical Assistant, Massage Therapist
- Previous associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or CDA (Certified Dental Assistant) from an accredited institution. Speak with your CHP Advisor about earning an Associate of Arts through WSU.
- Survey questions.
- Clinical observation form.
- Interview with Dental Hygiene faculty. Top 72 applicants are selected for interview.
Please note: If admitted into the professional dental hygiene program, a social security number is required to conduct a valid background check.
PROFESSIONAL UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM (58 credit hours)
See Dental Hygiene Degree Map for semester-by-semester layout of pre-program and professional program courses.