The Dallas Campus Associate of Science (A.S.) in Dental Hygiene program prepares graduates to enter the dental profession as competent, ethical, and practice‑ready clinicians. The program emphasizes evidence‑based practice, patient‑centered care, and the development of professional competencies aligned with state regulations and national accreditation standards.

Dental hygienists in Texas provide preventive, therapeutic, and educational oral health services under dentist supervision as defined by state law. The Dental Practice Act is found in Chapters 251 through 267 of the Texas Occupations Code. These regulations outline permitted duties, supervision requirements, and professional standards for dental hygienists statewide. Additional information is available through the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners at https://tsbde.texas.gov/laws-rules/dental-practice-act-tsbde-rules/

Graduates of the Dallas Campus A.S. in Dental Hygiene program enter a strong statewide employment market. Dental hygienists in Texas are employed in private dental practices, group practices, corporate dental organizations, public health clinics, community health centers, specialty practices, and mobile or outreach programs serving underserved populations. Workforce demand remains steady due to provider shortages, expanding access‑to‑care initiatives, and continued growth in both urban and rural dental markets. Employment data and statewide workforce information can be accessed through the Texas Department of Health and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners. More information can be found at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-hygienists.htm

Transfer credit for major courses from other dental hygiene programs are not accepted, except for equivalent coursework completed at the South College Dallas Campus.

The South College Dental Hygiene program supports students’ ongoing education and professional development by offering a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) program. The BSDH program is designed to meet the continuing education needs of graduates with an associate’s degree in Dental Hygiene. The program offers students a foundation of knowledge that will prepare them for the emerging roles within the dental hygiene profession. Foundation courses include a focus on teaching, research, and public health. 

Emphasis is placed on broadening the career paths for practicing hygienists. South College graduates from the Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 are eligible to be admitted to the bachelor program. All associate’s degree courses are transferable to the South College BSDH program. 

The Dallas Dental Hygiene curriculum provides a comprehensive sequence of didactic, laboratory, and clinical courses designed to meet the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards and Dallas regulatory requirements. Students progress through foundational sciences, preclinical skill development, and supervised clinical practice in a structured, competency‑based format. Dallas Curriculum Link: https://catalog.south.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=8&poid=2092&returnto=409

The South College Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program is a competitive program with 50 students admitted twice a year with 5 alternates. Students are admitted based on the following point system. A ranked list of applicants is generated and sent to the Dental Hygiene Program Director. Incomplete applications are not reviewed or considered. 

In the event of a tie, the following is used to break the tie. 

Students who have been unsuccessful in a South College Dental Hygiene program, or another dental hygiene program(s), will be reviewed on an individual basis. Students who present transcripts indicating failure from two dental hygiene programs will not be considered for admission or readmission to the South College Dental Hygiene program. 

After a student is offered admission to the Dental Hygiene program and the offer accepted, a criminal background check and drug screening will be required. If a criminal background check reveals the applicant would not be eligible for licensure, he/she may be withdrawn from the program and an alternate moved into their place. This is handled on a case-by-case basis. 

Ranking is based on the following criteria.