 Dental Hygiene is the sole undergraduate major offered by Ohio State's College of Dentistry and prepares students to become licensed dental hygienists. Through their academic experience, students will learn how to provide quality care to patients in a professional manner, use the latest research and evidence-based practices to make appropriate decisions about patient care, understand the importance of community service and outreach, and value leadership and professional development. In the Dental Hygiene major, students take courses in both Dental Sciences and Dental Hygiene Sciences, while also completing clinical rotations in one of the on-campus or off-campus clinical sites, including the College of Dentistry, the Nissenger Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Kashakton Clinic. During the final term, students complete a practicum in an off-campus or non-traditional work setting in order to diversify their portfolio of work experience. Upon graduation in completion of the licensure examination with a passing score, registered dental hygienists work in a multitude of settings, including private practice, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools, and public health clinics. Dental hygienists also work in related fields as researchers, educators, and administrators. Admission to the Dental Hygiene major is competitive and application-based. Applicants must have a post-secondary GPA of at least 2.7 in order to be eligible for admission, although actual GPAs of admitted applicants are generally much higher, historically averaging around 3.4 or 3.5. In addition, applicants must have completed certain prerequisite courses prior to admission and have a minimum of 20 hours of observation with at least two dental hygienists at two different dental practices. Administs typically apply during their second year through the Graduate and Professional Admissions website. To learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, visit their website or schedule a meeting with a Dental Hygiene advisor by calling 614-292-2228. As always, you are welcome to meet with any advisor in University Exploration if you have follow-up questions. You can schedule an appointment with us by calling 614-292-0646 or stopping by our office in 352 Denney Hall.