Allied Health

Chair: Mark Kacerik RDH, M.S. Rosa A. Mo, Ed.D., R.D.N.

The Department of Allied Health is the home of the clinical and allied health professional programs in healthcare. Students in these programs combine a strong foundation in human biological science with practical real-life learning and field experience.

Dental Hygiene

Director: Marie Paulis, M.S.

Associate Professors: Sandra D'Amato Palumbo, M.P.S., Quinnipiac University; Mark Kacerik, M.S., University of Bridgeport; Renee Garcia-Prajer, M.S., University of Bridgeport

Assistant Professor: Gwen Grosso, M.S., University of Bridgeport, Marie Paulis, M.S., University of Bridgeport

The cornerstone of the university's dental hygiene program is the bachelor of science degree. This program enables the student to be involved in dental hygiene course work throughout all four years of the curriculum. The course of study integrates science prerequisites and general (core) education requirements with foundational and advanced-level dental hygiene courses. Graduates of the bachelor of science program will be prepared not only to seek employment in private dental offices but also to pursue employment in a variety of other health care settings such as dental hygiene and dental business/industry, nursing homes, centers for the developmentally disabled, hospitals, home health care agencies, correctional facilities, and community health centers. Bachelor of science degree students also have the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue education at the graduate level.

Students who wish to exit the program at the end of three years of study may earn an associate in science degree in dental hygiene. This program prepares graduates for necessary board examinations and employment primarily in the dental office setting. The associate degree program integrates science prerequisite courses and foundational dental hygiene courses into a three-year curriculum. Graduates of the program are positioned to practice as dental hygienists and, if desired, complete the bachelor's degree by participating in one additional year of study.

In addition to the programs described above, the University of New Haven offers a dental hygiene degree completion program. This curriculum is designed for practicing dental hygienists who are graduates of associate degree programs. The degree completion program enables dental hygienists to transfer credits from an accredited dental hygiene program and utilize their academic and work experience as the basis for completing course work leading to the bachelor of science degree.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for all prospective University of New Haven students, it is recommended that applicants to the dental hygiene program demonstrate satisfactory performance in the sciences and mathematics. It is strongly recommended that applicants have completed both high school biology and chemistry with laboratory and two years of college preparatory mathematics. An in-person or telephone interview with the department director or a faculty member is recommended; letters of recommendation supporting the student's ability to pursue a rigorous science-based curriculum and desire to contribute in the health care delivery system are strongly encouraged. Admission to the program is limited. All students enrolled as freshman in the dental hygiene program or in the clinical course sequence must be full time. For additional admission criteria regarding the dental hygiene program contact the Department of Admissions.

Professional Accreditation and Licensure

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and by the United States Department of Education.