The bachelor of science in dental hygiene at Pacific's Hillsboro Campus is a two-year program designed for students who have completed prerequisite coursework. The program provides a broad educational experience along with technical skills, developed in state-of-the-art facilities. The dental hygiene program provides students with a variety of clinical opportunities, caring for diverse patient populations.

Highlights

• Learn from faculty who care deeply about your learning and success
• Enjoy broad educational experiences that emphasize communication skills, critical thinking, cultural awareness, community service and professional leadership
• Study in state-of-the-art classroom and clinical facilities at Pacific’s interdisciplinary Hillsboro Campus
• Work alongside graduate students in physical and occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, professional psychology, pharmacy, healthcare administration, and athletic training
• Provide care to diverse patient populations in the 16-chair Dental Hygiene Clinic, with an emphasis on providing care for patients with limited access to dental care
• Complete clinic enrichment experiences in a variety of healthcare settings which include a dental school, public health clinic, community hospital, Indian Health Services dental clinic, managed care clinics and a long-term care facility

Mission

The mission of the School of Dental Hygiene Studies at Pacific University is to provide an outstanding education for our students, compassionate care for our patients and exemplary service to the community and the profession.

Preparation

Graduates of the School of Dental Hygiene Studies earn a bachelor of science in dental hygiene. Graduates have flexibility and choices for work within the dental health field that are not available with an associate’s degree. They also have a foundation to pursue careers in education, public health and management. The average dental hygiene hourly wage in Oregon is $37.64 and average annual salary is $78,720 (Bureau of Labor Statistics-Oregon, 2016). In 2016, the national median hourly wage was $35.05 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).