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    Florida State College at Jacksonville
   
 
  May 30, 2023
 
2022-2023 Catalog [Aug. 2022-Aug. 2023] 
  
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2022-2023 Catalog [Aug. 2022-Aug. 2023]

Dental Hygiene (2300) (A.S.)


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Associate in Science

This is a Limited Access program.

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Associate in Science (A.S.) Degree in Dental Hygiene is to create competent, ethical, and confident entry-level dental hygienists who are prepared to immediately seek employment in dental offices in Northeast Florida and beyond. This is accomplished with a combination of classroom and laboratory instruction at the College and clinical instruction in the College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic and affiliated dental clinics in the community. A primary goal of the program is to instill in our graduates a commitment to professional development through life-long learning and service to the community. Students who successfully complete the Dental Hygiene program will be prepared to take both the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the state licensing examinations. The curriculum meets the requirements of the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

The Program

The associate degree program in dental hygiene requires a minimum of two years of college education. The program includes courses in liberal arts (such as English and social psychology), basic sciences (such as anatomy, microbiology, and pathology), and clinical sciences (such as dental hygiene instrumentation, dental radiology, and dental materials).

A minimum grade of C must be maintained in all natural science and dental hygiene courses in order to continue in the Dental Hygiene program.

The Career

Dental hygienists are licensed preventive oral health professionals who provide educational, clinical, and therapeutic services. They support total health through the promotion of optimal dental health. A dental hygienist clinician works with the licensed dentist and other dental auxiliaries as a member of an oral health care team. A dental hygienist must obtain a license by completing both computerized and clinical examinations before practicing.

Certification/Licensing

Upon completion of the program, graduates must take computerized and clinical examinations prior to licensing. You must be state licensed in order to work as a dental hygienist.

This program prepares students to take the State of Florida licensing exams, thus preparing students to work in the state of Florida only.

Upon completion of coursework, Florida State College at Jacksonville does not guarantee employment or salary in a given field of study. Any jobs or salaries mentioned are given as examples of potential employment not a representation of guaranteed income. Graduates may need to seek employment outside the local area.

Program Accreditation

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. The Commission’s web address is: ada.org/en/coda.

Application Procedure

Acceptance into the Dental Hygiene program is based upon academic performance and other criteria. One class is admitted each fall term. To be considered as a qualified applicant, individuals must complete the following by the application deadline:

  1. Complete an application for Florida State College at Jacksonville.
  2. Have a complete dental hygiene application on file.
  3. Complete the Health Education Systems, Inc. Admissions Test (HESI-A2) and include the results in the dental hygiene application file.
  4. Submit a completed Dental Hygiene Observation form.
  5. Forward official college transcripts to the dental programs office. 
  6. Transcripts must be received from both high school/GED® and any postsecondary education. They must be official and sealed directly from the awarding institution. Transcripts may be delivered electronically to studentrecords@fscj.edu or by mail to: FSCJ Admissions Office, P.O. Box 40515, Jacksonville, FL 32203-0515.
  7. Complete the required prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C.

Prior to contact with patients, students must furnish proof of immunizations, including hepatitis B, and demonstrate that they are negative for tuberculosis. Contact the program manager for additional information.

GED® and GED Testing Service® are registered trademarks of the American Council on Education (ACE). They may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of ACE or GED Testing Service® at ged.com. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC® under license from the American Council on Education.

Application Deadline(s)

The application deadline is May 15 of each year with classes starting in the fall term.

Need More Information? Contact:

(904) 646-2300

Curriculum


General Education Coursework

Credit Hours: 16

Professional Coursework

Credit Hours: 12

Dental Hygiene Coursework

Credit Hours: 60

Dental Hygiene is a Limited Access program. Students may not enroll in the following courses unless they have been admitted to the dental hygiene program.

Total Credit Hours: 88

Record of Conviction of a Crime


Effective July 1, 2009, pursuant to Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes, health care review boards shall refuse to renew a license, certificate or registration, issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant has been convicted or plead guilty or nolo contendere, regardless of adjudication, to a felony violation of: chapters 409, 817, or 893, Florida Statutes; or 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, unless the sentence and any probation or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the application, terminated for cause from Florida Medicaid Program (unless the applicant has been in good standing for the most recent five years) or terminated for cause by any other State Medicaid Program or the Medicare Program (unless the termination was at least 20 years prior to the date of the application and the applicant has been in good standing with the program for the most recent five years). The Florida nursing or allied health licensure or certification application requires disclosure of any criminal history and the disposition of all cases prior to board review. Being convicted of, or having entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any of the listed felonies in Florida Statute 456.0635 or termination for cause from the statutorily-described Medicaid programs will preclude an applicant from obtaining a nursing or allied health license or certification in the state of Florida. Entry and acceptance into the nursing or allied health program does not guarantee licensure or certification in the state of Florida.

Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen


Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screen and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

Some practice settings may have additional requirements including health insurance, a volunteer application, references, additional fingerprinting and background check (e.g. the Jessica Lunsford Act for school environments), drug testing, flu shot, Covid-19 testing/vaccine and/or an interview prior to the start of the clinical experience. The additional requirements are the responsibility of the student, including expenses.

The cost of the background check(s) and drug screen(s) is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline.

Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into Limited Access or Selective Access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition and fees.

A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.  It is the students’ responsibility to renew their annual physical examination as well as tuberculosis (TB) test.

Graduation Requirements


In order to be awarded the associate in science degree, students must have met the following requirements:

  1. Fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
  2. Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) at Florida State College at Jacksonville in courses eligible toward the Associate in Science degree programs, excluding developmental education courses (A.S. Florida State College at Jacksonville GPA).
  3. Earned an all-college cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale on all courses attempted. This includes Florida State College at Jacksonville college-credit semester hours and transferred credits (excluding developmental education) in lower division courses (All college cumulative).
  4. Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total hours required for the program in residence at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Credit by examination and credit for prior learning do not count toward this residency requirement.
  5. Complete the required semester hours, as specified by the degree, of which a minimum of 15 semester hours must be General Education requirements.
  6. Demonstrated competency in civic literacy in accordance with s. 1007.25, Florida Statutes (F.S.) at bit.ly/FS-gen-ed-courses and State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.02413, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) at bit.ly/FR-civic-lit-comp. Pursuant to guidelines established by Senate Bill 1108, competency is demonstrated by completion of one of two civic literacy courses (either AMH 2020  or POS 2041 ) with a grade of C or higher AND by achievement of the standard score on a state-approved assessment.
  7. Earned a grade of a C or higher in each course used to satisfy the general education requirements and any other area designated with a C or higher requirement.
  8. Fulfill all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before graduating.
Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.
  • A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
  • Students who enter under the (2022/2023) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2022/2023 academic year. The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
  • Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite and/or corequisite courses which are listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
  • Students who place into developmental education courses are required to complete designated developmental education courses with a grade of C or higher regardless of program of study.
     

Baccalaureate Transfer


The Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degree programs are intended primarily for students who desire to complete an Associate in Science degree or an Associate in Applied Science degree and become employed. Students who decide to pursue baccalaureate transfer study must meet certain course and test requirements. For details, visit the Transfer Services page at fscj.edu/transferservices or refer to the Baccalaureate Transfer Guide at fscj.edu/transferguide.

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