Pre-Dental Hygiene

Pre-Dental Hygiene
Through hands-on clinical learning, research, outreach and community service activities, our well-rounded four year educational program leads to a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene. At Detroit Mercy Dental, we proudly graduate practice-ready Registered Dental Hygienists who provide patients with the best quality of care. Learn more about the practice of dental hygiene.

Program Overview

Freshman and Sophomore Years - Pre-Dental Hygiene Program:

Students enroll as a pre-dental hygiene major and take courses in Detroit Mercy’s pre-dental hygiene curriculum and natural sciences at the University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols campus. Coursework will be used as a foundation for the Professional Program. Students will work closely with their advisor to satisfy all requirements throughout these two years.

Students are encouraged to apply to the Professional R.D.H. Program no later than March 1; all applicants are notified of their admission decision during the following spring semester. Successful applicants will begin the dental hygiene program in May of the junior year.

Junior and Senior Years - Professional R.D.H. Program:

The Professional R.D.H. Program requires two years of full-time study, including the summer term following the junior year. It includes dental and dental hygiene sciences, pre-clinic laboratory, clinical experiences and research methods.
The Practice of Dental Hygiene

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    Admission

    To to be admitted as a freshman to the University of Detroit Mercy, applicants must meet the general entrance requirements of the University. Quality of high school academic performance and course difficulty is more essential than meeting minimum requirements; it is particularly important for the applicant to demonstrate strength in subjects directly related to the dental hygiene program.

    For highest consideration of acceptance into the Pre-Dental Hygiene program, the following well-balanced college preparatory prerequisites are recommended:

    Recommended prerequisites
    Subject Units
    English 4
    Mathematics 3
         Algebra*
    History and/or Social Studies 2
    Natural Science including lab 2
         Biology*
         Chemistry*
    Speech, Foreign Language, Music, Art, etc.  1+

    *additional recommendations

    GPA of 2.7 or better is encouraged for acceptance

    Applicants with a high school GPA of 2.7 or better are directly admitted into Pre-Dental Hygiene and appointed an advisor from the School of Dentistry to help select appropriate courses.

    Those with a high School GPA below 2.7 will be admitted to the Academic Interest and Major Exploration (AIME) where an advisor will be assigned and will collaborate with the Pre-Dental Hygiene Program to keep students on track to compete for acceptance into the Professional R.D.H. Program.

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    Transfer Students

    The dental hygiene program gives full consideration to students who wish to transfer from any accredited college or university.

    Students wishing to transfer from other schools after their freshman year must complete courses equivalent to those offered at the University of Detroit Mercy. See the Transfer Guide and/or Transfer Credit System for university and community college courses equivalent to those offered at the University of Detroit Mercy.

    Prospective transfer students should contact an advisor in the Pre-Dental Hygiene Program prior to applying for admission:

    Assistant Director, Dental Hygiene Admissions
    Mira Haas, B.S.D.H.
    313-494-6628
    abuamsmi@udmercy.edu

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    Curriculum

    Click to view the two-year pre-dental hygiene curriculum.
Cost of Attendance

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