Division of Health Professions and Sciences

Chair: Rosa A. Mo, Ed.D., R.D.

The Division of Health Professions of the College of Arts and Sciences is the home of science-based professional programs in health care. Combining a strong foundation in biological science with practical real-life learning and field experience, programs are offered in dental hygiene, nutrition and dietetics. The Division also offers a graduate degree in Human Nutrition, described in the Graduate Catalog.

Dental Hygiene

Director: Sandra D'Amato Palumbo, M.P.S.

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

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

The cornerstone of the UNH 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, UNH 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 UNH 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.

Students in the program are provided with application materials for the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination (written) and the Northeast Regional Board Examination (NERB/clinical). Both the National Board Examination and a clinical examination are required for program graduates to apply for dental hygiene licensure in Connecticut and most other states.

Nutrition and Dietetics

Director: Georgia Chavent, M.S., R.D., CSSD

Assistant Professor: Georgia Chavent, M.S., Columbia University; R.D., Medical College of Virginia

Lecturer: Rosa A. Mo, Ed.D., Columbia University; R.D., Yale-New Haven Hospital

Physics

Coordinator: Matthew Griffiths, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: Matthew Griffiths, Ph.D., University of Edinburgh; Saion Sinha, Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Physics is concerned with the most basic aspects of our knowledge of the natural world. It is a subject in which experiment and theory evolve constantly to provide a precise and simple description of the physical phenomena around us in terms of a relatively small number of physical laws and theories.

As a fundamental science, physics is at the root of almost all branches of science and technology. It has provided the microscopic basis for chemistry, has stimulated important developments in mathematics, is the basis of most branches of engineering and, during the past decade, has proved to be increasingly valuable to the life sciences.

Consequently, a basic knowledge of physics is excellent preparation for diverse careers: research in University and government laboratories, industrial research and development, applied science and engineering, biological and medical sciences, research in environmental problems, and teaching at all levels from the elementary school to the University. It also prepares students for careers in non-physics-related fields such as philosophy, business, and law.

The University does not currently offer a bachelor’s degree in physics. The Department does, however, offer a minor in physics suitable for majors in any of the University’s colleges and departments. A physics minor is particularly valuable for students in chemistry, environmental science, biology, forensic science, fire science, or occupational safety, as well as for any student planning to teach science at the elementary or secondary level.