Program Overview
If you are a dental hygienist with a bachelor’s degree and have ever considered
working outside of clinical practice, the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene might
be for you. Our 36-credit hour online master’s degree program can be earned part-time
and culminates in a thesis.
Innovative Programs
The program, specifically designed for practicing dental hygienists, uses computer-assisted
distance learning and minimal on-campus class meetings. We have 2–3 required
visits to campus over the duration of the program for orientation and thesis research
and presentation. You will learn required dates well in advance since our faculty
and staff are sensitive to your scheduling challenges.
Using the latest in online technology, some classes will occasionally include live
web conferences in the evening. A schedule for these sessions is published at the
beginning of the semester so that you can plan accordingly.
Careers
The goal of MCPHS Online is to prepare qualified dental hygiene professionals for
careers and leadership roles in state- and community-based public health administration,
dental professional education, dental industry marketing and product development,
research, and public and private health agencies and organizations.
Prerequisites
For admission to the program, an applicant must have:
- Graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program
- Earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
- One year of work experience in health care*
- Achieved a minimum score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as
detailed in the current MCPHS College Catalog
*This requirement may be waived for MCPHS graduates.
Curriculum
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
DHY701
|
Essentials of Public Health
|
3
|
|
DHY714
|
Biostatistics
|
3
|
|
DHY722
|
Health Policy and Economics
|
3
|
|
DHY703
|
Program Planning and Evaluation
|
2
|
|
DHY706
|
Social and Behavioral Foundations for Health
|
3
|
|
DHY818
|
Health Services Research
|
3
|
|
DHY827
|
Health Administration and Management
|
2
|
|
DHY840
|
Advanced Dental Hygiene Practice
|
3
|
|
DHY831
|
Thesis I
|
3
|
|
DHY832
|
Thesis II
|
3
|
|
DHY825
|
Finance and Budget
|
2
|
|
DHY895
|
Graduate Extension of Thesis*
|
0
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
30
|
*Optional; with special permission only. All graduate students continue to register
for Graduate Extension (DHY 895) until the thesis is completed and successfully
defended.
Concentration Courses
Dental Hygiene Education
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
DHY751
|
Adult Learning Theory for Dental Hygiene Education
|
3
|
|
DHY753
|
Clinical Instruction Methods and Practicum
|
3
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
6
|
Concentration Courses
Community Oral Health
|
COURSE
|
TITLE
|
SEMESTER HOURS
|
|
DHY715
|
Epidemiology for Community Oral Health
|
3
|
|
DHY829
|
Leadership in Oral Health
|
3
|
|
|
Total Semester Credit Hours
|
6
|
Tuition & Fees
Students enrolled in all graduate degree programs at MCPHS Online during the 2012–2013
academic year will pay $850/credit hour.
There are no fees for MCPHS Online students in the 2012–2013 academic year.
Financial Aid
An education is an investment. And we don’t think you’ll find a better return on
your investment than by earning your degree from MCPHS. Our Office of Student Financial
Services (SFS) is available to guide students through the process of securing funding
to cover education costs. A dedicated staff member will help you apply for financial
aid, review all sources of funding available to you and assist you with completing
the paperwork necessary for disbursement.
For more information, contact Student Financial Services at 603.314.1729.
Next Steps
If you are applying for admission to MCPHS Online for 2012, complete the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov. The MCPHS college code for the FAFSA is 002165. You do
not need to be accepted at the College in order to apply.
Admission
Once your application is received, the Admission Office will notify you of any missing
items that we require for your application to be considered complete. We review
all files on a "rolling basis" and will make a decision once all application materials
are received.
Priority Filing Date
The priority filing date for this program is June 1 each year for a fall semester
start. We continue to review applications until all available seats in the program
have been filled. MCPHS Online is now accepting applications for a fall 2012 start.
Additional Links
Questions?
Feel free to call 617.879.5022 or e-mail
us with any questions you have about the application process.
Technical, Non-Academic Standards
In conjunction with the applicable academic and accreditation standards, the faculty
in each of the programs at MCPHS has established certain abilities and characteristics
defined as technical standards. Candidates for enrollment in programs at Massachusetts
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences must meet these technical standards, which
may include but are not limited to observation, communication, sensory and motor
coordination and function, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative
abilities, and behavioral and social attributes. These standards may be met with
or without reasonable accommodations. Please carefully review the technical standards
for the program to which you have applied. The standards can be found in the MCPHS
College Catalog on the MCPHS website. If you have questions regarding technical
standards, please contact the Office of Admission immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I have to travel to MCPHS during the graduate dental hygiene program?
Almost all coursework is online, although you may need to work in your community
on some course projects. We created the program for practicing professionals and
those with family obligations so we believe that the few campus visits are essential
to the student’s success. In most cases, the dates we will be announced 6 months
in advance.
- Each student must attend an on-campus orientation before beginning the program.
Orientation is a 3-day workshop in Boston, usually in late August.
- One visit to work with the student’s thesis advisor may be necessary.
- The student must present the thesis in person at the conclusion of the program.
- Graduation, scheduled each year in May and December, is a wonderful occasion to
celebrate your success. We hope you will attend but it is an optional event.
Do I need to take the GRE or any other entrance exam?
Forsyth does not require the GRE or any other exam for admission to the graduate
program.
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Is there a minimum grade point average (GPA) for admission?
An applicant is eligible based on graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program.
There is no GPA requirement for admission to the program.
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Are international students eligible for admission?
Canadian students are automatically qualified because of dental hygiene program
accreditation. We consider applicants from other countries individually based on
the equivalency of dental hygiene education and practice and English language abilities.
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How long is the program?
The student who attends full-time, enrolls in two courses each semester, can finish
in two and a half years. Each student has the option of enrolling in one course
per semester, or part-time, which takes more time to finish but may be a better
choice for the applicant who works longer hours or has other responsibilities. Each
student must complete all required courses within six years.
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Is there financial assistance for students in the graduate dental hygiene program?
Low-cost student loans are available even for working professionals. A student may
also qualify for a monthly payment plan. For the details on these programs, contact
the Office of Student Financial Services at 617.732.2864.
Few scholarships are offered to graduate students but two professional organizations
provide opportunities. Go to the American Dental Hygienists' Association Scholarship website
or the American Dental Education Association Scholarship and Awards page
for information.
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How does an online program operate? What is expected of the student?
The student should anticipate spending about three hours per credit hour each week
on learning activities. Faculty expects each student to access the course website
no less than three times per week. For more information regarding the online education
experience, we encourage you to visit our general FAQs
section.
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What if I have other non-admission questions?
Feel free to contact the Graduate Program Director, Becky DeSpain Eden by e-mail
at becky.eden@mcphs.edu or by phone at
617.735.1594.
Why should I choose Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene to continue my education?
The Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene MS program at MCPHS follows the ADEA/ADHA Core
Competencies for Graduate Dental Hygiene Education more closely than most other
graduate dental hygiene programs. Click here
for more information about Core Competencies.
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