Dental Hygiene Program Workshop Handout
STUDENT SELECTION PROCEDURES
Students seeking admission to the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program are advised to attend an information workshop. Information about these workshops can be found at: https://careers.cypresscollege.edu/programs/registered-dental-hygiene/ (Click on the link for “Workshop Handout”). The following is a summary of the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program student selection procedures. Since selection criteria may change, it is recommended that you contact the Health Science Dental Hygiene Counselor periodically and/or visit our website for current information.
Initial application may be made after completion of the following prerequisite courses and general education requirements are completed with a “C” or better at the time of application. Once a passing grade is achieved, courses may not be repeated for a higher grade.
Science Prerequisites
Science prerequisites must be completed within five (5) years of filing the application and with an overall GPA of 3.0.
CHEM 101C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors I (4.0 units)
CHEM 201C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors II. (4.5 units)
BIOL 220C – Medical Microbiology. (4.0 units)
BIOL 231C – General Human Anatomy. (4.0 units)
BIOL 241C – General Human Physiology. (4.0 units)
General Education Prerequisites
PSY 101C – Introduction to Psychology (3.0 units)
COMM C1000 – Human Communication (3.0 units)
SOC 101C – Introduction to Sociology (3.0 units)
ENGL C1000C/C100E/ or ESL 110C – English Composition (4.0 units)
Math -College level Math meeting GE requirement (3.0 units)
HRC 100C – Nutrition (3.0 units)
Ethnic Studies * -See Ethnic Study course options (3.0 units)
General Education Requirements
Arts + – Category 3A (3.0 units)
Humanities +- Category 3B (3.0 units)
* Individuals with Cypress College catalog rights prior to Fall 2025, see a Health Science Counselor.
+ May be waived based on completion of an associate degree or higher at an accredited institution in the U.S.
Dental Hygiene 100C (DH 100C)
Passing this course is required for all accepted and alternate students to be eligible to start the program in the fall. This course will be offered at Cypress College in the summer following the application period – Dates TBD. Failure to pass DH 100C prohibits future applications.
RANK ORDER LIST:
Ranking will be based on a 55-point system in accord with the procedures listed below in Section I-III. The Rank Order List will contain the names of all currently eligible applicants ranked by points from highest to lowest. In the event of applicants with identical points, rank order will be determined by assigning priority based on grade point average (GPA) of all program pre-requisite courses. When ties still occur, rank is then determined by date and time of submission of the program application. A candidate will be able to advance the position on the Rank Order List once a year by reapplying and editing their application (during the application period) and submitting evidence for additional points in the categories that follow. Approximately 80% of the accepted cohort roster will come from the Rank List.
LOTTERY LIST:
Approximately twenty percent (20%) of the cohort will be selected randomly from the Lottery List. The Lottery List will contain the names of all currently eligible applicants with the following:
- 3.0 GPA or higher of the combined Science and General Education pre-requisites
- Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) experience (200 hours), an RDA License, or an RDA certificate
- Attended college full-time for four consecutive semesters
- Customer service experience (200 hours)
- Prerequisite Program Course Points (16 points maximum)
Points will be awarded for overall GPA of the prerequisite program courses. A minimum passing grade of “C” must be achieved. Once a passing grade has been achieved, courses cannot be repeated for a better grade.
4.0 = 16 points, 3.6 = 12 points, 3.2 = 8 points, 2.8 = 4 points
3.9 = 15 points, 3.5 = 11 points, 3.1 = 7 points, 2.7 = 3 points
3.8 = 14 points, 3.4 = 10 points, 3.0 = 6 points, 2.6 = 2 points
3.7 = 13 points, 3.3 = 9 points, 2.9 = 5 points, 2.5 = 1 point
- Additional Sciences Points (5 points maximum)
One point for each additional Biology or Chemistry course, with a lab, with a grade of ‘C’ or better and not being used to meet a Dental Hygiene prerequisite. Not to exceed five points.
III. Study Skills Course (3 points)
Three points for completing a college level study skills course, with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Example: ENGL 137.
- Dental Assisting License/Certificate or Dental Fieldwork Experience (15 points)
Fifteen points for completing a Dental Assisting certificate program or having a Dental Assisting license or having 200 hours of direct patient care dental office experience.
- Work must include 200 or more documented hours of direct patient care dental office experience completed within the past 5 years. Letter from current/former employer verifying employment on company letterhead.
o The letter must be on organization letterhead with an original signature and must include the applicant’s name, (must match name on application), start date and end date (if applicable), employment status (full-time/part-time), number of hours per week (or total hours worked to date), job title, department if applicable, and example of duties including patient interaction.
- Overall GPA for all cumulative college courses attempted (16 points maximum)
All coursework attempted from all accredited colleges, regardless if the coursework applies to the Dental Hygiene program application, will be used to calculate overall GPA.
4.0 = 16 points , 3.6 = 12 points, 3.2 = 8 points, 2.8 = 4 points
3.9 = 15 points , 3.5 = 11 points, 3.1 = 7 points, 2.7 = 3 points
3.8 = 14 points , 3.4 = 10 points, 3.0 = 6 points, 2.6 = 2 points
3.7 = 13 points, 3.3 = 9 points, 2.9 = 5 points, 2.5 = 1 point
Total Points 55 maximum: ________________________
STUDENT SELECTION PROCEDURES
Students seeking admission to the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program are advised to attend an information workshop. Information about these workshops can be found at: https://careers.cypresscollege.edu/programs/registered-dental-hygiene/ (Click on the link for “Workshop Handout”). The following is a summary of the Cypress College Dental Hygiene Program student selection procedures. Since selection criteria may change, it is recommended that you contact the Health Science Dental Hygiene Counselor periodically and/or visit our website for current information.
Initial application may be made after completion of the following prerequisite courses and general education requirements are completed with a “C” or better at the time of application. Once a passing grade is achieved, courses may not be repeated for a higher grade.
Science Prerequisites
Science prerequisites must be completed within five (5) years of filing the application and with an overall GPA of 3.0.
CHEM 101C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors I (4.0 units)
CHEM 201C – Chemistry for Health Science Majors II. (4.5 units)
BIOL 220C – Medical Microbiology. (4.0 units)
BIOL 231C – General Human Anatomy. (4.0 units)
BIOL 241C – General Human Physiology. (4.0 units)
General Education Prerequisites
PSY 101C – Introduction to Psychology (3.0 units)
COMM C1000 – Human Communication (3.0 units)
SOC 101C – Introduction to Sociology (3.0 units)
ENGL C1000C/C100E/ or ESL 110C – English Composition (4.0 units)
Math -College level Math meeting GE requirement (3.0 units)
HRC 100C – Nutrition (3.0 units)
Ethnic Studies * -See Ethnic Study course options (3.0 units)
General Education Requirements
Arts + – Category 3A (3.0 units)
Humanities +- Category 3B (3.0 units)
* Individuals with Cypress College catalog rights prior to Fall 2025, see a Health Science Counselor.
+ May be waived based on completion of an associate degree or higher at an accredited institution in the U.S.
Dental Hygiene 100C (DH 100C)
Passing this course is required for all accepted and alternate students to be eligible to start the program in the fall. This course will be offered at Cypress College in the summer following the application period – Dates TBD. Failure to pass DH 100C prohibits future applications
RANK ORDER LIST:
Ranking will be based on a 55-point system in accord with the procedures listed below in Section I-III. The Rank Order List will contain the names of all currently eligible applicants ranked by points from highest to lowest. In the event of applicants with identical points, rank order will be determined by assigning priority based on grade point average (GPA) of all program pre-requisite courses. When ties still occur, rank is then determined by date and time of submission of the program application. A candidate will be able to advance the position on the Rank Order List once a year by reapplying and editing their application (during the application period) and submitting evidence for additional points in the categories that follow. Approximately 80% of the accepted cohort roster will come from the Rank List.
LOTTERY LIST:
Approximately twenty percent (20%) of the cohort will be selected randomly from the Lottery List. The Lottery List will contain the names of all currently eligible applicants with the following:
1. 3.0 GPA or higher of the combined Science and General Education pre-requisites
2. Registered Dental Assisting (RDA) experience (200 hours), an RDA License, or an RDA certificate
3. Attended college full-time for four consecutive semesters
4. Customer service experience (200 hours)
I. Prerequisite Program Course Points (16 points maximum)
Points will be awarded for overall GPA of the prerequisite program courses. A minimum passing grade of “C” must be achieved. Once a passing grade has been achieved, courses cannot be repeated for a better grade.
4.0 = 16 points, 3.6 = 12 points, 3.2 = 8 points, 2.8 = 4 points
3.9 = 15 points, 3.5 = 11 points, 3.1 = 7 points, 2.7 = 3 points
3.8 = 14 points, 3.4 = 10 points, 3.0 = 6 points, 2.6 = 2 points
3.7 = 13 points, 3.3 = 9 points, 2.9 = 5 points, 2.5 = 1 point
II. Additional Sciences Points (5 points maximum)
One point for each additional Biology or Chemistry course, with a lab, with a grade of ‘C’ or better and not being used to meet a Dental Hygiene prerequisite. Not to exceed five points.
III. Study Skills Course (3 points)
Three points for completing a college level study skills course, with a grade of ‘C’ or better. Example: ENGL 137.
IV. Dental Assisting License/Certificate or Dental Fieldwork Experience (15 points)
Fifteen points for completing a Dental Assisting certificate program or having a Dental Assisting license or having 200 hours of direct patient care dental office experience.
· Work must include 200 or more documented hours of direct patient care dental office experience completed within the past 5 years. Letter from current/former employer verifying employment on company letterhead.
o The letter must be on organization letterhead with an original signature and must include the applicant’s name, (must match name on application), start date and end date (if applicable), employment status (full-time/part-time), number of hours per week (or total hours worked to date), job title, department if applicable, and example of duties including patient interaction.
VI. Overall GPA for all cumulative college courses attempted (16 points maximum)
All coursework attempted from all accredited colleges, regardless if the coursework applies to the Dental Hygiene program application, will be used to calculate overall GPA.
4.0 = 16 points , 3.6 = 12 points, 3.2 = 8 points, 2.8 = 4 points
3.9 = 15 points , 3.5 = 11 points, 3.1 = 7 points, 2.7 = 3 points
3.8 = 14 points , 3.4 = 10 points, 3.0 = 6 points, 2.6 = 2 points
3.7 = 13 points, 3.3 = 9 points, 2.9 = 5 points, 2.5 = 1 point