BS in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) Professional Entry-Level

In TWU's Dental Hygiene program, you will be trained by experienced TWU faculty in our on-site Dental Hygiene Clinic, which provides low-cost teeth cleanings, X-rays, oral cancer screenings, teeth whitening and a variety of other services to the community. You will be supervised by licensed, experienced dental hygienists and dentists.

Dental hygiene students have the potential to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens. Refer to the TWU bloodborne pathogen policy.

Department of Communication Sciences & Oral Health has several scholarships available only to dental hygiene students. Visit the dental hygiene scholarship opportunities site for information on specific scholarship and how to apply.

TWU's student chapter of American Dental Hygienists Association works to bring you opportunities to hear speakers on topics of professional interest, participate in service projects, attend state and national organization events and hold social activities with peers and faculty.

Applications for the Professional Entry-Level Program are accepted each year between Nov. 1 and Jan. 10 for summer entry. Applicants who are not current TWU students are strongly encouraged to apply to TWU by mid-December to be able to meet the program application deadline.

An applicant must have a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.0.

The foundational courses listed below MUST be completed before applying to the Dental Hygiene Professional Entry Program. Grades in these courses, including grades in repeated attempts, will be used to calculate a foundational GPA that will be used in the selection process. 

• English Composition I 
• English Composition II 
• Anatomy & Physiology I (or Anatomy I) + Lab 
• Anatomy & Physiology II (or Physiology I) + Lab 
• Microbiology + Lab 
• Nutrition 
• Statistics

Students must complete all prerequisite and core coursework prior to the first summer semester in the professional-entry program.

The foundational science courses and chemistry must have been completed within the past five years.

The Health Education System Inc. (HESI A2) test is required within 12 months of applying. We also encourage applicants to have shadowing hours, but that is not a requirement for admission into the program.

Current TWU students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to ensure that they are on track. More information can be found on our website and in the undergraduate catalog. If you still have questions, email csohadmissions@twu.edu.

To complete the program application between November 1 and January 10, applicants must first create their TWU Pioneer Portal account and be logged in to their TWU Google Drive account using their TWU email address and Pioneer Portal password.

The program typically receives over 140 applicants each year. Approximately 50 applicants are offered an interview, and 28 students are admitted each year.

The average foundational GPA of applicants initially offered admission to the program is 3.79 with a range of 3.44 to 4.0.

When you apply to TWU, we will evaluate your academic achievement and preparation, as well as your standardized test scores. Admission to TWU is valid for four terms, unless you have attended another higher education institution.

Check out the links below for specific admissions information:

• How to apply
• Freshman Student Admissions
• Transfer Student Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Other Types of Undergraduate Admissions

Questions about the admissions process? Contact the Office of Admissions Processing.

Office of Admissions
Texas Woman’s University
P.O. Box 425649
Denton, TX 76204-5649
oap@twu.edu
940-898-3076 or 1-866-809-6130 ext. 3076

The program admits once a year and begins in the summer semester. Applications are only accepted between Nov. 1 and Jan. 10.

Requirements

• Completion of the Health Education System Inc. (HESI A2) admission test within 12 months of applying.
• A cumulative college GPA of at least 3.0
• Good academic standing with the college or university last attended
• Completion of required foundational coursework with a C or higher before applying to the program. Foundational coursework consists of:
  • Anatomy I or A&P I (including lab)
  • Physiology I or A&P II (including lab)
  • Microbiology (including lab)
  • Nutrition
  • Statistics
  • English Composition I and II
• Completion of anatomy & physiology, microbiology, and chemistry within the past five years.
• Completion of 57 credit hours of undergraduate coursework before entering the program in the summer semester. Specific required courses are listed in the Degree Requirements and include all the courses listed under the Texas Core Curriculum and Other Requirements sections.
• Knowledge of professional ethics and the dental hygienist’s role in healthcare.
  • This requirement may be met through individual research, study and/or completing DH 1101.

Students who do not meet these requirements will not be considered for admission into the Professional Entry-Level Program.

How to Apply

• Apply to TWU (Apply Texas) by Dec. 1 to meet the program application deadline (if not currently attending)
  • Submit all transcripts (except TWU transcripts) to Admissions Processing to be fully accepted into the university.
  • Program applications will not be considered until copies of all transcripts have been received and reviewed by the Office of Admissions Processing, which may take several weeks.
  • Acceptance to TWU does not guarantee admission to the dental hygiene program.
• Take the Health Education System, Inc., (HESI A2) Admission form within 12 months of applying to the program. 
• After acceptance to TWU, complete the online Professional Entry-Level Program Application
  • The program admits once a year and begins in the summer semester.
  • Program applications are only accepted between Nov. 1 and Jan. 10.
  • Applicants enrolled in courses at a college other than TWU during the fall application semester must submit an official transcript that includes those fall grades to the Office of Admissions Processing by Jan. 10. To access the program application, students must be fully accepted to the university, have their Pioneer Portal account set up, and be logged in to the TWU Google Drive account. For technical questions, contact the TWU Service Desk.
  • The following information from the HESI A2 admission test and college transcripts will be needed to complete the program application.
    • A copy of the HESI A2 score report.
    • Course names and dates for all foundational prerequisite and Texas core curriculum courses.
    • Names of all colleges and universities previously attended and the dates attended.

About the Selection Process

• A foundational grade point average (FGPA) is computed using an applicant’s grades in the foundational courses. Both the cumulative GPA and the foundational GPA will be considered in making selections.
  • The foundational GPA will average grades from all attempts within a specified time frame for each foundational course.
• The HESI exam score will be considered in making selections. Uploading HESI scores is the responsibility of the applicant. (See detailed information below.)
• Competitive applicants will be invited for a personal interview with a selection committee.
  • Invitation to an interview does not guarantee a place in the program but serves as part of the selection process.
  • All expenses of the interview are the responsibility of the applicant.
  • Notification of interview invitation will be made by mid-February.
  • Knowledge of the role that professional dental hygienists play in healthcare, specifically oral healthcare, and awareness of the professional code of ethics of dental hygiene are critical during the interview process. Information regarding the professional code of ethics of dental hygiene can be located here: American Dental Hygienists' Code of Ethics.
• All required core and prerequisite courses must be completed prior to entry into the program in the summer semester.

Note: Selected students join a cohort for the professional-entry program, starting in the summer.

About the HESI Admissions Exam 

The HESI exam covers general knowledge needed for our program and will be available from October 17th to December 16th of each application period.

Deadline to take the HESI Exam for the 2022–2023 application period is December 22, 2022.
This firm deadline gives you time to get your score and submit it with your application.

You will be tested on general knowledge from the:

• 7 non-Dental Hygiene (DHYG)-specific courses listed on our degree plan

Eligible students will take the following components of the HESI exam for application to the BS in Dental Hygiene (Professional Entry-Level program): 
Science, including:

• Anatomy & Physiology I & II
• Microbiology
• Chemistry

Reading/Grammar/Vocabulary

• Reading Comprehension 
• Vocabulary and General Knowledge

Learner Profile:  

• Learning Style (14 items) 
• Personality Profile (15 items) 

We recommend that you take the HESI exam within the application year, prior to applying to the program (year you plan to apply) in order to prevent loss of test scores or possible expiration.

You will be awarded points based on the scores received from the HESI exam. These points will be added into the calculation of the Overall Rating. The HESI exam scores will be considered in the selection process, along with GPA, and interview (if selected). 

How to Register for the HESI Exam

Step 1. Create a one-time registration with Elsevier, the exam sponsor, for HESI–Student Access.

1.    Go to the Evolve home page
2.    Select I'm a student
3.    Select Register for Distance Testing under HESI Secured Exams
4.    Select Register for this now on the HESI Registration page to put HESI Registration in your cart
5.    Select Redeem/Checkout
6.    If you are a returning user, enter your Evolve username and password on the right side of the screen and click “Sign In.” If you are new to Evolve, enter your name, email, desired password, and click “Continue.”
a.    Enter your name, email address and an account password to create your Evolve account. The name affiliated with your My Evolve account must coordinate with the name on your photo ID.
7.    Read the Registered User Agreement
8.    Select Yes, I accept
9.    Select Submit

Once you have registered, the HESI Assessment–Student Access link will appear under the My Content section in your Evolve account.

Step 2.   Register for the HESI (HP A2 V-1) exam

For details: HESI Assessment Instructions (PDF)

• To request an accessible copy of this document, please call us at 940-898-2025 or email us at DH@twu.edu
• Log into your Evolve Student Account and click on the Student Access link under “HESI Assessment”.
• Click the Distance Testing tab and select “Register for a Distance Exam”:
• Enter TWU’s department ID (205984) and select your exam. Do not use the school’s department ID as your student ID.
• Confirm that your first and last name match your government‐issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport). Your ID must contain a photo and signature.
• You will receive an email within 1‐3 business days with your eligibility ID and directions for scheduling and paying for your exam.
• Please review all instructions on the Prometric website page titled “Information Review.”

Step 3.    Take the HESI exam

• On testing day, you will be required to bring a Valid government‐issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport), Evolve username & password.
• The proctor will be confirming that your signature and first & last name match your ID before you are allowed to enter the testing center and take the exam.
• You will be able to see your grades at the testing site.
• Some testing sites may let you print the results.
• Click on the My Exams tab on Evolve to access your results.

Note: The HESI exam is required to be taken face-to-face through Prometric. TWU Testing Centers do not offer this exam.

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

Application Deadlines

Spring: October 1

Admission Requirements

To apply to the program, students must

• be enrolled in the B.S. in Dental Hygiene program at TWU.
• have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
• have successfully completed all required coursework to date in the B.S. in Dental Hygiene program.

How to Apply

Students interested in applying to the accelerated program are encouraged to contact the B.S. in Dental Hygiene Program Director prior to applying.

• Complete the B.S. Dental Hygiene/M.S. Health Studies Accelerated program application
  • Applicants must submit the following materials:
    • A one-page personal statement letter indicating the reasons for pursuing a master's degree
    • Professional resume indicating academic background and relevant experience for graduate study
    • The names and email addresses of two faculty and/or employers who will provide recommendations for graduate school
• Once admitted by the program, apply to the Graduate School. Students cannot enroll in graduate-level coursework until accepted by the Graduate School.
  • Apply for admission to the M.S. in Health Studies Dental Hygiene emphasis program
    • NOTE: the start date indicated on the graduate application must be for the semester following graduation from the bachelor's degree.

Accelerated Graduate Program Policy Guidelines

Students may apply to the accelerated graduate degree program once they have attained advanced junior standing with at least 72 undergraduate semester credit hours (SCH). Upon admission to an accelerated program, students with senior standing (90 earned SCH) may enroll in graduate courses for credit. Approved courses will apply to both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Conditions

• Undergraduate students may enroll in no more than 6 SCH of graduate coursework in each semester or term.
• Minimal criteria for admission will include a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. The program may set higher GPA requirements as outlined on their TWU graduate program website at the time of graduate application.
• Once admitted to an accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the remainder of their baccalaureate degree, or their admission to the accelerated graduate program may be revoked. Academic components may set additional requirements for their programs.

Graduate Application Process

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

This academic program may have additional graduate admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the graduate program's website.