Dental Hygiene
Become a dental hygienist
Harper's Dental Hygiene Program is a full-time, five-semester career program leading to an Associate in Applied Science degree. It is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. This is a limited enrollment program.
In 2016 and 2017, 100% of the graduates of Harper’s Dental Hygiene Program passed both the American Dental Association’s National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and the Commission on Dental Competency Assessment’s Clinical Board Examination.
Prepare for a health profession
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare you for entry into this profession. Coursework in the AAS may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. This is a limited-enrollment program.
Harper also offers institution-specific transfer information to help prepare you to transition to a four-year university. To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor.
Resources
- Admission Criteria and Process
- Catalog Course Descriptions
- Program Highlights and Accreditation
- Organizing Framework of the Dental Hygiene Program
- Competencies for Dental Hygienists
- Important Factors to Consider Before Applying (pdf)
- Estimated Costs (pdf)
- Program Participation Requirements
- Skill Development and Successful Progression Through the Program
- Workplace Success Skills (pdf)
- Dental Hygiene Graduation Requirements
- Success of Harper Dental Hygiene Students (pdf)
- Dental Hygiene Faculty
- Dental Hygiene Clinic
- Self-assessment Questionnaire (pdf)
- Career Information
- Job Placement Resource Center
Next steps
For more information about starting your career as a dental hygienist, contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.
Last semester was not easy for Navin Cabrera, a dental hygiene student. He wasn’t succeeding. He was falling asleep in class and his grades were suffering. Read More
“Are you okay?” Three little words that made all the difference. That’s what Harper Counselor Shari Pergricht asked Lilly Vasquez one day during a counseling appointment. “I just broke down in tears,” recalled Lilly. Lilly had been taking classes sporadically at Harper, as time and money permitted. She could only be away from home for a short period of time without raising her husband’s suspicions. He didn’t approve of her getting an education; he was emotionally, physically and psychologically abusive. Married for 20 years and the mother of three children, Lilly felt trapped. Read More