Life has always been a balancing act. People juggle around their priorities with family, work, and friends. Attempting to go to school becomes a difficult task adding yet another commitment to be balanced along with the others. For many dental hygienists, furthering their studies is something that needs to be planned very carefully. Through UBC’s Dental Hygiene Degree Program, those who want to further their studies in the field are able to do so at their own pace. It is a specially designed program where students can complete their degrees through online courses offered by the Faculty of Dentistry.
Development of online courses began in 1997 through distance education funding with the planning of one course that was offered in 1999. Today the whole 3rd and 4th year curriculums can be completed online. Using WebCT, students can access their classes without having the need to be on-campus. Some courses are highly interactive, and students have opportunities to collaborate with each other as they complete their work. According to Prof. Bonnie Craig, Head of the Dental Hygiene Degree Program, they wanted to provide the flexibility in scheduling that distance education brings but still provide a sense of community to their students. As she describes it, “There are students from Ontario, some from Alberta, and some from the Lower Mainland. They will have to coordinate by themselves when they can discuss their assignments and projects. We just didn’t want them to feel that they went through a structured process.” Graduates from the program receive a Bachelor’s degree at the end of their fourth year. It is the only program of its kind in Canada.
UBC’s Dental Hygiene Degree Program is also helping to address a documented shortage of dental hygiene educators in both Canada and the United States. The Canadian Dental Hygienists’ Association passed a resolution that by 2005 all students entering dental hygiene programs would be entering baccalaureate degree programs. According to an article written in the Journal of Dental Education, the resolution triggered a number of dental hygiene schools to convert their current diploma programs into bachelor’s degrees. However, there has been some concern about the recruitment of faculty with suitable qualifications to teach undergraduate students. Because UBC’s Dental Hygiene Degree Program is an academic program, graduates of the program can pursue their MSc and PhD at UBC. Today, one out of four graduates have gone on to pursue their Masters and the first program graduate has commenced a PhD. In September 2007, the program will start its direct entry option. Interested students will be able to complete their whole four years at UBC. Graduates from this program will help to fill the shortage for dental hygiene educators. Another indicator of the program’s demand is that even though dental hygienists do not require a degree to perform their practice, student enrolment has been increasing by 50% every year. “Similar to other professions, there has been a movement towards higher education. People will always demand the best service they can find,” says Prof. Craig. She also said that most people who enroll in the program have a genuine desire to continue their education. They want to become more specialized in their field of interest.
As UBC moves forward with TREK 2010, the Dental Hygiene Degree Program embodies many of the TREK’s goals to support people, learning, research, community, and internationalization. Through the unique options offered by the Dental Hygiene Degree Program, more people will have access to higher education and will develop the skills and gain the credentials they need to educate others in the profession. Prof. Craig says that some of the students in the program are the most internally driven people she has met. In many ways, the program’s innovations bridge the gaps caused by distance and time constraints that prevent people from pursuing something they desire.
Please send me a brochure for the : UBC’s Dental Hygiene Degree Program Through Distance Education.Is this course 100% online?
How do the students do practicum for this course?Does UBC arrange it for students?
Hi Urmi,
I’ve passed your inquiry on to the Dental Hygiene program, dhygprog@interchange.ubc.ca, and they should be in touch with you shortly.
Michael
I’m very much interested. I’m glad that there is distance education
I also am very interested in this program. Michael I would greatly appreciate if you could pass my information along as well. Thank you
Thanks for your interest Sheri. I’ll pass your email onto the Dental Hygiene Program.
I would also like to receive information on this program.
Hi Jennifer,
I’ll also pass your email onto the Dental Hygiene Program.
Michael
Hi all,
I’ve noticed that a lot of people have posted comments on this article requesting information about the online Dental Hygiene Degree Program.
Feel free to look at our website for more information: http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/Education/Hygiene/AdvancedOptions.asp
If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at: dhygadm[at]interchange.ubc.ca.
-David
I too would like to know more about this distance learning program.
The link that David posted is only relevant to people who are already hygienists. What about the people that would like to become one. I for one have a H.S diploma and DEC in Social Sciences (graduated in 2001). Please send me some more info.
Thanks
Hi Sheila,
I will also pass along your email to David, and he should get back to you with more information.
Thanks for your interest.
Michael
Hi all,
If you’re not already a dental hygienist, or if you’re not about to become one soon, then you need to apply to the Entry to Practice Option of the Dental Hygiene Degree Program. More information can be found here: http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/Education/Hygiene/EntryToPractice/Admission.asp
While some of the Entry to Practice Option courses are online, the vast majority of the degree is conducted in person at the UBC Vancouver Campus. Many of the clinical courses that non-dental hygienists require are impossible to teach online. Therefore there is no way to earn your degree via distance education if you’re not already a dental hygienist.
Feel free to contact me directly via my new e-mail address at: dhygadm[at]dentistry.ubc.ca
-David
Could you please send me more information on this?!
Thanks!
Hi Jessica,
For more information on the online Dental Hygiene Degree Program, please visit http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/Education/Hygiene/AdvancedOptions.asp.
For more information about the Entry to Practice Option of the Dental Hygiene Degree Program, please visit http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/Education/Hygiene/EntryToPractice/Admission.asp.
If you have any further questions, please contact David Chaney at dhygadm@dentistry.ubc.ca
Thanks for your interest.
Michael
Is this program still available for online? I am very interested in complete this program and really like the idea that it’s online and at your own pace. As I am currently a stay at home mom and live in Victoria! If someone could pass on the brochure information that’d be great or even contact me via my email address?? Thanks!
Hi Heather,
Thanks for your interest in the program. To access more information on the online Dental Hygiene Degree Program, please visit http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/Education/Hygiene/AdvancedOptions.asp.
For more information about the Entry to Practice Option of the Dental Hygiene Degree Program, please visit http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/Education/Hygiene/EntryToPractice/Admission.asp.
Otherwise, if you have any further questions, you can contact David Chaney at dhygadm@dentistry.ubc.ca.
Thanks,
Michael
Hello
I am a practicing dental hygienist in quebec since may 2000. I am very interested in starting the dental hygiene bachelors program in sept 2017.
I started the registeration process on-line but at the end there was a message saying it is closed for registration.
I have left several telephone and e-mail to the department for info if it is possible to register or when I could do so.
I am looking forward to starting my studies on-line soon as possible.
I feel that my years of experience and passion for the dental field will definitely assist me in achieving my long term goal to continue my education in which my clients will definitely benefit from.
Good evening,
I am currently a RDH and would like to do my online degree in dental hygiene, however the website always seems to say that they are not currently accepting applications for category 2. What does this mean? Why can I not apply?
Thank you,
Cathy