Fall Term

Winter Term

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

• Course and Program Catalogue

Dental Hygiene Theory & Practice I

This 2-credit course includes a historic perspective of the dental hygiene profession, and associated legislation and concepts.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the history of the dental hygiene profession.
2. Describe dental hygiene areas of responsibility (scope of practice) in relation to general and oral health care.
3. Explain the scope of practice and regulatory mechanisms governing the practice of the oral health professions.
4. Explore local, provincial, and national organizations involved in dental hygiene regulation, examination, accreditation, and professional development.
5. Describe the Canadian Health Care Act and its associated principles.
6. Describe conceptions of health held by different communities/cultures.
7. Explore how oral health is a socially influenced condition by analyzing the social determinants of health and their possible impact on the care provided.
8. Describe risk and records management in dental environments.
9. Describe strategies for effective referrals.

General Anatomy, Biochemistry & Physiology I

This 3-credit course provides you with a basic overview of human anatomy and physiology. You will learn about the organization of the human body with a particular emphasis on the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and sensory systems. The course work will focus on developing your ability to apply this knowledge to dental hygiene practice.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this section, you will be able to:

1. Describe the sciences of anatomy and physiology of the human body.
2. Explain how the chemical levels of organization of the human body impact homeostasis.
3. Examine the structures and functions of human cells and tissues.
4. Describe the structures and functions of the integumentary system.
5. Examine osseous tissue, and the structures and functions of the skeletal system including articulations.
6. Examine skeletal muscle tissue, and the structures and functions of the muscular system.
7. Describe the structures and functions of neural tissue.
8. Examine the structures and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
9. Examine the structures and functions of the general and special senses.

Dental Hygiene Practice I

These practice hours will involve working in a variety of simulations and with student partners in a clinical environment to gain the basic abilities to be able to start providing care with people in the next term.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the clinical experiences, you will be able to:

1. Apply safe practices and infection control principles in the clinical environment.
2. Demonstrate proper operator and client positioning, ergonomic techniques, and use of magnification to improve posture and performance.
3. Conduct comprehensive oral health assessments on peers, including health histories, vital signs, and extraoral examinations.
4. Perform basic oral assessment procedures using probes and explorers, following standard measurement and assessment protocols.
5. Demonstrate correct instrument grasp, stroke techniques, and identification of key instrument features using manikins.
6. Perform scaling techniques with sickle scalers and universal curettes, applying correct angulation, strokes, and surface adaptation.
7. Demonstrate basic instrumentation and sharpening skills for periodontal debridement in a preclinical setting.
8. Exhibit professionalism and uphold ethical standards in all simulated practice situations.

The College of Dentistry's Dental Hygiene program will be the province's only three-year Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene and is available for direct entry from high school.

This program will make use of cutting-edge technology, such as haptic dental simulators, that allow the student's first procedures to be completed in a 100 per cent virtual reality environment before students transition into a clinic environment in their second year.

Utilizing the College of Dentistry's Clinic Building, this program will occur on weekday evenings to allow all students the freedom to access their daytime hours for the other responsibilities in their lives. All lectures, pre-clinic and clinical activities will take place in the Clinic Building reducing the need for students to rush from one part of campus to another.

Once the program is in its second year, the college will expand clinic hours so that more members of the communities the college serves will be able to access dental hygiene and other oral health care services allowing for an expanded education for students and more opportunities for the community to receive crucial health care services.

• Grade 12 standing or equivalent.
• English Language Arts A30 and B30 or English Language Arts A30 and Francais Immersion 30 or English Language Arts B30 and Francais Immersion 30 or Literature 30 and Composition 30; Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30; one elective from social sciences/natural sciences or humanities at the 30 level (no deficiencies allowed) or equivalents.
• Minimum average of 75% on the prerequisite courses.
• Proficiency in English.

• Minimum average of 60% on 18 or more transferable credit units or the cumulative weighted average from a recognized and/or accredited post-secondary institution; average calculated on all attempted courses (without breaking up an academic session) which are transferable to the University of Saskatchewan.
• English Language Arts A30 and B30 or English Language Arts A30 and Francais Immersion 30 or English Language Arts B30 and Francais Immersion 30 or Literature 30 and Composition 30; Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30; one elective from social sciences/natural sciences or humanities at the 30 level (no deficiencies allowed) or equivalents.
• Proficiency in English.

• Proof of age (21 or older).
• A written submission demonstrating capacity to undertake university-level studies.
• Less than 18 credit units of transferable post-secondary coursework.
• Transcripts of any secondary or post-secondary coursework.
• Resume.
• Proficiency in English.
• Prerequisite subjects listed in the above sections.

• Academic average – 80% weighting (Average is calculated on the prerequisite courses or on 18 or more transferable credit units)
• Written Statement – 20% weighting

• Special admission package – 100% weighting

Applicants are admitted at the discretion of the college. The admission decision is based on the applicant's written submission and demonstrated academic potential.

To be eligible as a Saskatchewan resident, applicants must have resided in Saskatchewan for at least four years immediately prior to September 1 of the year admission is being sought. For 2026–2027, applicants must have resided in Saskatchewan since Sept. 1, 2022. Applicants who have left the province, but previously lived in Saskatchewan for an accumulated period of 15 years (permanent residency), will be considered residents. Applicants who have previously lived in Saskatchewan for an accumulated period of less than 15 years and who do not qualify under the four-year requirement will receive credit of one year toward the four-year requirement for every four years of residency in the province. There are no exceptions to the four-year Saskatchewan residency rule.

In order to support a claim as a resident of Saskatchewan, the following proof and circumstances will be taken into account:

• Date of issue of your Saskatchewan Health Card¹ and either the date of issue of your Saskatchewan Drivers' License² or Saskatchewan Income Tax Forms confirming taxes paid in Saskatchewan.
• Applicants who have completed four years of full-time study at a Saskatchewan post-secondary institution immediately prior to the year admission is being sought are considered Saskatchewan residents. Official transcripts must be submitted by the document deadline to support this claim.
• Reasons for any break in continuity of residence, which includes attendance at an out-of-province educational institution, summer employment where applicable and any other reason deemed to be relevant.
• Saskatchewan high school transcript (if you are NOT currently registered at the University of Saskatchewan) or
• Resident of the Yukon, Northwest or Nunavut Territories.

1. If the date of issue of your Saskatchewan Health Card is newer than the original date of issue, a letter from Saskatchewan Health confirming the date of issue is required.
2. If the date of issue of your Saskatchewan Drivers License is newer than the original date of issue, a Drivers Abstract is required.

Regular Admission

Admission is based on successful completion of secondary level standing with a minimum overall average of 75% in the required subjects; or admission is based on the successful completion of at least 18 credit units of transferable university-level coursework at a recognized and/or accredited post-secondary institution, with an average of at least 60%.

Special (Mature) Admission

Special (Mature) Admission is available to applicants who do not qualify for Regular Admission. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older by the first day of classes, be entering their first year of study, and have successfully completed less than 18 credit units of transferable university-level coursework. Applicants must submit a special admission package including proof of age, a written request for Special (Mature) Admission that demonstrates reasonable probability of academic success and a summary of work and personal experience since leaving school. Academic transcripts must be submitted if any Grade 12 or post-secondary courses have been completed.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and proud to support academic opportunities for Indigenous students. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous students provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous membership/citizenship at USask is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy.

This program has seats designated for Indigenous candidates and verification of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation is required if you wish to be considered for one of these seats.

Please visit the Indigenous Membership/Citizenship Verification channel in PAWS and proceed through the verification system.

You can learn more about learn more about deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin at indigenous.usask.ca. If you have any questions or require additional information about deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin please contact: indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca.

Regular Admission

Admission is based on successful completion of secondary level standing with a minimum overall average of 75% in the required subjects; or admission is based on the successful completion of at least 18 credit units of transferable university-level coursework at a recognized and/or accredited post-secondary institution, with an average of at least 60%.