Graduate Program in Dental Hygiene Education

Admission into the program is a competitive process. The minimum requirements are:

• A bachelor’s degree (based on a four-year curriculum) from an accredited institution and graduation from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Dental Association completed before graduate study begins or its international equivalent with an accredited institution
• Successful completion of the National Dental Hygiene Board Examination (NBDHE)
• Current dental hygiene licensure in a least one US state
• An average grade of B (cumulative GPA 3.0) or better

Along with these minimal requirements, admission decisions are based on a number of factors, including academic degrees and records, written statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work and research experience. All admission recommendations are made by each individual program or department.

Applications for admission to the program are made online through the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School. Detailed instructions for graduate applicants are available on the Graduate School Admissions Information site. Candidates should apply for the fall term (mid-August start date). Applications open in October and are due in April; refer to the Graduate School site for specific deadlines.

Required application materials for all applicants applying to the Graduate School typically include:

• Graduate School online application
• Application fee (non-refundable $95.00)
• Transcripts (complete, not selected courses)
  • One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. All unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application in order for your application to be reviewed. Please do not mail transcripts as part of your admission application; we only accept unofficial uploads for application evaluation. If you are offered admission, one official transcript for each university attended will be required prior to registration.
• Current letters of recommendation
  • The email addresses of three recommenders are required within the application for electronic submission.
• Standardized test scores
  • Please see specific program listings for test score requirement information.
• Statement of purpose: Statement of Professional and Research Interests: Discuss educational, research, work, or personal experience relevant to your proposed plan of study and professional goals.
• Resume/CV
• Community Standards Questions
• Supplemental program information (any additional information or materials required by the program; must be uploaded within the application unless specified otherwise by your academic program.)

After reviewing the completed application materials, qualified applicants will be invited to have a personal interview with the Graduate Dental Hygiene Education Program Admissions Committee. A personal interview is required for admission.

Admission criteria are applied equally to all applicants regardless of race, gender, color, national origin, or religion.

This is a full-time, on-campus program that can be completed in 21 months. To graduate from the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education Program, enrolled students must complete the required amount of credit hours, as well as other academic requirements, including:

• Master’s Research Project and Thesis Alternative: Each student is required to formulate, implement and complete an original research project under the guidance of a research committee. A thesis alternative is the submission of a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal.
• Comprehensive Examinations: Successful completion of a written examination is required of each master’s candidate. The examination will cover the minor selected by the student and areas in the required core.
• Time Limits for Completion: The program begins in August annually and is designed to be completed in two years. The program must be completed within five years from the date of the first registration.
• Grades: Required grades are consistent with standards set by the UNC-CH Graduate School

Actual credit hour requirements will vary from 41-46 hours.

In addition to the required core courses, students must complete one of the specialization tracks listed below.

Core Coursework:

• DHED 715: Current Concepts in Clinical Skills
• DHED 720: Educational Concepts
• DHED 736: Clinical/Laboratory Teaching
• DHED 760: Seminar in Education and Research, I
• DENG 701: Research Design
• DHED 730: Organization and Administration
• DHED 992: Master’s Research and Non-Thesis
• DHED 860: Seminar in Education and Research, II
• DENG 702: Biostatistics
• DHED 837: Internship and Teaching Practicum in Allied Dental Education

Specialization Tracks:

• Management and Administration
• Inter-professional Education
• Clinical Education
• Clinical Education with an emphasis on Periodontology
• Public Health

The cost of attending graduate school includes tuition, fees, and health insurance, for which the student is billed directly. Tuition and fees for the master’s programs in the Adams School of Dentistry are available through the University Cashier.

Graduate students must pay tuition and fees during all years of study and training. These charges are subject to change at any meeting of the NC Board of Trustees and a yearly increase of 5-10 percent should be anticipated each year. Estimates for living expenses are available through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid.

Tuition Remission

Tuition remission, or the reduction of the out-of-state tuition rate, is awarded by the semester. To meet the general eligibility requirements, the student must be enrolled as a full time student during the semester of the award. The number of awards is limited and awards are contingent on availability of funds; having a teaching or research assistantship does not guarantee remission will be awarded. There is no application process for tuition remission. Tuition remission is not offered during the summer.

Out-of-state students and international students with permanent resident status (“green card”) are encouraged to establish legal residence in North Carolina and to apply for classification as a state resident for tuition purposes. Guidelines and application forms for establishing residency are available from the UNC-CH Graduate School.

State laws preclude international students who are not permanent residents (do not hold a green card) from establishing residency, so these students must pay the out-of-state rate in all semesters unless tuition remission is granted.

Financial aid is available in the form of student loans, grants, fellowships, teaching assistantships and stipend support.

Stipend Support

Stipends are contingent on availability of funds. Regardless of the availability of stipend support, teaching responsibilities are required as a part of the program. Some travel funds are available for graduate students to present research papers at scientific meetings.