Goals and Program Competencies

The philosophy of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Program was developed to reflect the philosophy of Cerritos College.  The Dental Hygiene Department believes the program should provide opportunities for the student to reach her/his greatest potential in the profession of dental hygiene so she/he may achieve a sense of dignity, value, and personal worth in the community and in the world of work regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.   

The goals of the dental hygiene program are as follows: 

  1. To graduate an individual who is competent in providing preventive, educational, and therapeutic dental health services to diverse populations.
    1. Graduates must be competent in providing dental hygiene care for the child, adolescent, adult, geriatric, and medically compromised patient.
    2. Graduates must be competent in providing the dental hygiene process of care which includes assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation.
    3. Graduates must be competent in providing dental hygiene care for all types of periodontal disease including patients who exhibit moderate to severe periodontal disease.
    4. Graduates must be competent in providing appropriate life support measures for medical emergencies that may be encountered in dental hygiene practice.
    5. Graduates will incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of patient care services.
  2. To instill within the student a philosophical appreciation of ethical and moral values suited to the laws of the community as outlined by governing bodies and professional associations.
    1. Graduates must be competent in applying ethical, legal, and regulatory concepts to the provision and/or support of oral health care services.
  3. To encourage the student to develop professional behavior that is founded in evidence-based decision making, self-directed learning, and self-assessment to enhance professional competence.
    1. Graduates must be competent in the application of self-assessment skills to prepare them for life-long learning.
    2. Graduates must be competent in the evaluation of current scientific literature.
    3. Graduates must be competent in problem solving strategies related to comprehensive patient care and management of patients.
  4. To defend the value of systemic health through oral health and the patient’s role as a co-therapist.

View the dental hygiene application