2023-2024 IU South Bend Dental Hygiene Application Cycle Information

GPA is based on a 4.0 scale. The Application GPA is the average GPA from all of the prerequisite courses, including repeated courses and equivalent courses. For example, if a student completed W131 with a grade of C- and with a grade of A-, the English W131 score will be an average of the grades earned.

Calculation: A perfect score of 4.0 will receive the maximum percentage awarded in each category. If a student’s GPA is less than a 4.0, the percentage earned will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if a student’s average Application GPA is 3.5, the score earned by the applicant is:

3.5 ÷ 4.0 = 0.875 → 0.875 * 30% = 26.25% earned.

The GPA score is based on grade earned and credit hours.

GPA is based on a 4.0 scale. The Science GPA is the average GPA from the prerequisite science courses, including repeated courses and equivalent courses. For example, if a student completed P261 with a grade of C- and A210 with a grade of A-, the Anatomy score will be an average of the grades earned.

Calculation: A perfect score of 4.0 will receive the maximum percentage awarded in each category. If a student’s GPA is less than a 4.0, the percentage earned will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if a student’s average Science GPA is 3.5, the score earned by the applicant is:

3.5 ÷ 4.0 = 0.875 → 0.875 * 30% = 26.25% earned.

The GPA score is based on grade earned and credit hours.

Applications will be reviewed to select the most competitive candidates to participate in a non-traditional interview on the IU South Bend campus. The interview will use a rubric to score applicants on their skills and abilities including, but not limited to: communication, critical thinking, leadership, team work, professionalism, and ability to follow directions. Applicants will be invited to a Canvas site prior to the interview to help prepare.

During the on-campus non-traditional interview, candidates will be scheduled in a campus computer lab to independently write an essay on a topic identified by the program.  The essay will be scored using a rubric with an emphasis on APA writing mechanics (grammar, spelling, and punctuation), academic tone, content, organization, and alignment with directions.

Additional communication about the essay will be provided to applicants with the on-campus interview materials.

The rubric will be used to determine each applicant's essay score.  The essay score is then used to calculate the total percentage for the essay category.

For example, if a student’s final Essay Score equates to 83% of the available rubric points, the score earned by the applicant is:

Essay Rubric = 83% * 0.10 = 8.3% earned 

Additional General Education courses beyond those listed below are required for the degree. These courses are not listed below, because the required perquisite courses used to calculate the Application GPA and Science GPA. As prerequisite courses all viable applicants are expected to have minimally completed the requirements.  For example, at IUSB SOC-S161 fulfills the Diversity in US Society Requirement.

To earn a BSDH, a student must complete a prescribed list of coursework selected to meet specific learning outcomes. Some dental hygiene courses have been developed that meet general education AND dental hygiene learning outcomes.  If a student has fulfilled the general education requirement by completing a distinct separate course, they are required to complete a course that counts for general education due to the dental hygiene learning outcomes covered in the course.  In rare circumstances will exceptions be made. Students must provide evidence of prior coursework covering specific learning outcomes (syllabus and potential course work assignments) to receive exceptions from having to complete any hygiene course.

If a student chose to complete a course earlier than sequenced in the degree map, the applicants may have to adjust semester credit load for financial aid and other student success considerations.  

Fundamental literacies

            Critical Thinking (3cr) (HSC-H322 Epidemiology and Biostatistics required for degree)

            Quantitative Reasoning (3cr)

4 Common Core Courses (must complete one at the 390/399 level)

            Human Behavior and Social institutions (3cr)

            Literary and Intellectual Traditions (3cr)

            The Natural World (3cr)

            Art, Aesthetics, Creativity (3Cr)

Contemporary Social Values

            Global Cultures (3cr)

Extended Literacies

            Health and Wellness (3cr) (HPER-N220 CODA required for the degree)

Each applicant must submit documentation of shadowing a dental hygienist for a minimum of 4 hours. Documentation must come from the office where the observation occurred and be on official office letterhead that includes practice, name, and office contact information. Documentation must clearly include date of the observation, hours completed, and identifying student information.  Observations must be of the hygienist working in the clinician role. Include the name of the hygienist on the documentation.

Applicants must submit a complete dental hygiene program application with supporting documents by February 1 for best consideration. Applications received after this date will be considered only after applications received by the deadline have been reviewed, processed, and considered. Students will be placed in the appropriate tier as determined by the post-marked date on their application materials. Tier 2 will only be processed if the waitlist from Tier 1 has been exhausted.

Tier 1: Applicants who provide a completed application and supporting documents by February 1. Supporting documents showing proof of enrollment/registration for incomplete required prerequisite courses must be provided with the application. Completion of all prerequisites by the end of spring semester will be considered first.

Tier 2: Applicants who provide a completed application February 2 or after, and/or students completing prerequisite courses during the summer session, will be considered only if needed.