Entry-Level Track

Program Goals, Objectives, Competencies and Learning Outcomes

Goals and Objectives

The mission of the Dental Hygiene Program is to educate students to be eligible for licensure as dental hygienists. This education will include courses in basic, social and dental sciences, liberal arts, dental ethics and jurisprudence, and public health with an emphasis on the clinical aspects of dental hygiene practice. This education will provide the students with a foundation to pursue life long learning.

The goals of the Dental Hygiene Program are designed to prepare the dental hygiene student upon graduation; (1) to provide comprehensive dental hygiene care in a variety of dental health care settings to individuals from diverse socioeconomic, educational and/or cultural backgrounds; (2) to assume responsibility for oral health wellness and disease prevention in the realm of dental hygiene care for individuals and the community; (3) to develop a graduate who practices and promotes ethical and legal considerations in patient care; and (4) to educate students to actively pursue continuing and advanced education.

Program Competencies

Dental Hygiene Process of Care: Dental hygiene graduates must be competent in assessing the oral health needs of diverse populations and providing comprehensive dental hygiene care for persons of all ages/stages of life.

Health Education Strategies: Dental hygiene graduates must be competent in health education strategies for the prevention of disease & the promotion of  health for individual clients and the community.

Infection and Hazardous Waste Management: Dental hygiene graduates must be competent in infection & hazard control procedures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

Legal and Ethical Principles: Dental hygiene graduates must be competent in the  ethical & legal principles underlying the practice of dental hygiene.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

I. Professionalism

The Foothill College Bachelor of Science degree graduate will demonstrate their competence in their role as health professionals at the local, state, and national levels. The graduate will possess the ethics, values, skills, and knowledge integral to all aspects of the profession.

Outcomes Assessment

• National Board exam scores
• RDH licensing exams
• E-portfolio capstone project

Related Institutional Learning Outcomes

• Communication
• Creative, critical and analytical thinking
• Computation
• Community/global consciousness and responsibility

II. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The Foothill College Bachelor of Science degree graduate will be competent in the performance and delivery of oral health promotion and disease prevention services in public health, private practice and alternative settings. The graduate will be able to exercise evidence based practice, critical thinking and communicate effectively in all professional employment settings.

Outcomes Assessment

• National Board exam scores: Professional Responsibility and Liability section
• State of California Law & Ethics for the RDH exam scores
• E-portfolio law & ethics project

Related Institutional Learning Outcomes

• Communication
• Creative, critical and analytical thinking
• Computation
• Community/global consciousness and responsibility

100% of dental hygiene graduates will submit a comprehensive e-folio demonstrating competency in the four domains: DH Process of Care, Health Education, Infection & Hazard Control and Ethical/Legal practices.