Admission Information
ADMISSION PHILOSOPHY: Admissions to the ULM Dental Hygiene Program is competitive. The Admissions and Academic
Standards Committee is charged with reviewing the applicants and accepting those who
possess the best credentials. (the Dental Hygienist must exhibit a combination of
scientific skills and healthcare knowledge, technical abilities, communication and
interpersonal skills, as well as professional attitudes and behaviors required to
deliver the care expected from today’s healthcare provider.)
The ULM Dental Hygiene Program has a responsibility for the welfare of patients treated
in our clinics, as well as a responsibility to graduate the best possible dental hygiene
professional. Therefore, the ULM Dental Hygiene Program maintains certain minimum
technical standards for admission. It is the responsibility of the candidate to review
the technical standards The committee attempts to select the best possible students
based on the criteria set forth.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants are selected based on the criteria below:
- Application to the University, if not already enrolled
- Dental Hygiene Application Materials- All Dental Hygiene application information for
admission must be submitted to the Dental Hygiene Program by February 1 of the year
in which the student wishes to apply. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Completion of the pre-dental hygiene curriculum, including a minimum of 20 science hours, and a total of 40 overall hours prior to application
- Dental Hygiene Program admissions application fee paid to LA Capitol FCU
- 2.75 uncorrected overall GPA or above in all college courses
- Submission of an official copy of the Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) administered
through the American Dental Association; Department of Testing Services; 211 E. Chicago
Ave.; Chicago ,IL 60611; ada.org 312-440-2683. The ATDH cost is $140.00.
- Submission of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended - 1
official sealed set to ULM Admissions office and 1 official sealed set to Dental
Hygiene Program (700 University Ave, 210 Caldwell Hall, Monroe, La 71209-0420 Attn:
Kim Whorton, Program Director)
- ** The ULM Dental Hygiene Admissions and Academic Standards Committee screens all
applicants to confirm the minimum requirements are met and that applicants are eligible
to move forward in the admissions process.
Several areas are considered in the admissions process:
1. Academic Ability: ULM considers dental hygiene to be a profession with a strong scientific basis. Students
entering this educational program must possess a strong background in science as well
as the ability to build on this existing base.
-
- Overall Corrected GPA: This numeric factor is calculated using the highest grade achieved
in pre-requisite courses.
- Science GPA: Calculated using all of the required science pre-requisites.
- ATDH: Recommended score of 300 or better.
2. Personal and other attributes:Dental Hygiene requires excellent “people skills”. Applicants must possess and demonstrate
the ability to communicate both in written and verbal communication skills. The competent
dental hygienist provides care using the highest professional knowledge, judgement
and ethical standards.
In addition, those interested in a career in dental hygiene should determine whether
or not they possess maturity, commitment, and flexibility required to complete the
curriculum and succeed in this profession.
Managing stress and the possession of high ethical standards are considered to be
desirable qualities. These criteria are assessed by:
- Personal interview:An applicant who meets all of the admission requirements will be granted a personal
interview with the Admissions and Academic Standards Committee
- Dental experience:Although not necessary to apply, DH 1001 is offered as an elective and experience
in a dental setting is strongly encouraged to enhance the applicant’s understanding
of dental responsibilities. If applicant qualifies for an interview, and is claiming
dental assisting experience, the verification form must be completed by dentist in
the dental office where the assisting took place and returned to the Program Director
before interviews in order to be considered.
3. TECHNICAL STANDARDS:
Motor Skills-Applicants must have sufficient motor function to conduct various diagnostic and
treatment procedures; to manipulate dental instruments and handpieces. These behaviors
require both gross and fine muscular movements and coordination as well as sight,
touch, and manual dexterity and fully functioning wrists, hands, fingers, and arms.
Candidates must be able to ensure basic life support emergency procedures, including
CPR, can be performed on all patients; transfer and position disabled patients with
the help of auxiliary personnel; position themselves in an appropriate sitting or
standing position so as to render dental care; position dental equipment including
carts, stools, and dental chairs; operate hand or foot controls using fine movements;
operate handpieces during dental treatment requiring hand movements of less than one
millimeter; utilize hand instruments on hard and soft tissues, perform all necessary
procedures required in educational exercises, pre-clinic labs, labs, and clinic.
Sensory Skills-Applicants must have functional use of the senses of vision, hearing, touch and smell
in order to effectively learn in the classroom, labs, and clinics, and ultimately
to provide oral health care in private practice.
Communication Skills-Applicants must have sufficient fluency in the English language to be able to speak,
understand, read and write as so to obtain information from lectures, textbooks; communicate
concepts; perceive and describe patient behaviors and emotional states; communicate
effectively and sensitively with patients and all members of the health care team
both orally and in writing.
**The final selection of applicants is based on rank of the final overall admissions
scores. Admission to the ULM Dental Hygiene Program is highly competitive.
Dental Hygiene