Master of Science Dental Hygiene
The College of Dentistry has developed a curriculum to prepare students for careers in dental hygiene education and leadership.
The Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program focuses on individualized educational and field experiences, combined with a substantive core curriculum that gives dental hygienists the knowledge and experience to teach in a dental hygiene program - in an all online format. Students are provided with a very personalized experience throughout this program that includes close faculty attention and support, beginning with an on-campus, in-person orientation to get to know their instructors, peers, and available resources.
Degree Granted
Master of Science (MS)
Program Length
38 Semester Hours
International Students
Yes
Application Deadline
June 1
Our Program
Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Admissions Overview
-
- baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene, or an associate degree from an accredited dental hygiene program and a baccalaureate degree in a related field
- overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in undergraduate education and a minimum of 3.0 in the dental hygiene major
- a current dental hygiene license
Admission is selective and competitive. Applicants are evaluated based on academic performance, contributions to the profession, and educational and professional goals. The MS DH program uses rolling admission, which means that applications are processed and reviewed as they are received.
The Dental Hygiene Graduate Studies Committee may contact candidates who are under consideration for admission to schedule an interview. Interviews will be conducted on campus; out-of-state students can opt to schedule an interview online.
Admission criteria outlined in the Graduate School Handbook applies to the MS DH program; please review before applying.
The Ohio State University is authorized to offer the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program in all 50 states. For more information on state authorization requirements and disclosures related to online programs, please visit online.osu.edu/state-authorization/disclosures.
-
The application deadline is June 1. All of the following materials must be submitted by that date:
- Completed application. Apply at The Ohio State University Professional Admissions web site.
- Non-refundable application fee.
- An official transcript from each college or university attended, listing all courses taken, grades and degrees earned, and dates of graduation. (Ohio State students do not need to submit their OSU transcripts.)
- Proof of an active dental hygiene license.
- English proficiency requirement, if you come from a country where the first language is not English, unless you earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in an English-speaking country.
- Two letters of recommendation from persons acquainted with your academic program, scholastic ability or professional performance.
- A statement of intent describing your educational and professional goals and objectives. Explain why you are applying to the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene program and how your educational goals and research plans could contribute to our program. (300-700 words)
- A summary of relevant work, volunteer or professional experience, date and title of any publications, research experience and any professional speaking engagements.
- A list of memberships held in professional associations or honorary societies, indicating offices held or committee service, national or state meetings attended and any professional honors or awards received (include dates).
-
As part of the MS DH program, you will complete a six-credit hour internship to apply the skills you have acquired from your course work. This internship can be completed at various organizations or academic institutions willing to affiliate with Ohio State’s Division of Dental Hygiene and will give you experience in teaching, curriculum development, administration and/or other faculty roles.
-
To receive your master’s degree, you must write and defend a thesis under graduate faculty supervision. The purpose of the thesis is to show evidence of your ability to collect and evaluate information, and then to critically analyze theories in your chosen area of interest. You will be required to be on campus for your thesis defense. We strongly encourage you to prepare and submit at least one publication-ready manuscript based on your thesis research.
More about the MS DH Program
-
The MS DH program consists of courses in education, research and leadership, and includes a thesis and internship. In total, this requires 38 semester hours.
-
Visit the Division of Dental Hygiene to learn more about our faculty.
The bachelor of science in dental hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. The Commission’s web address is: coda.ada.org.
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information at odee.osu.edu/students/state-authorization#licensure. Click on the link for State Dental Boards.