Department of Allied Health

Academic Complex
Office 235, Phone: (270) 745-2427
Fax: (270) 745-6869
Website: www.wku.edu/chhs/cms/index.php/departments/allied-health

Dr. Lynn Austin, Head

Associate Professors: L. Austin, B. Bush, R. Tabor
Assistant Professors: T. Dean, J. Evans
Instructor: K. Whitley
Optional Retiree: W. Howard

Program Accreditation: American Dental Association Joint Commission on Dental Accreditation (Program of Dental Hygiene)

Allied health is defined as all the professional, technical and supportive workers in patient care, public health and health research. Allied health professions encompass a wide distribution of personnel with various levels of health education and training, which enables them to function as a member of the health care team.

The Department of Allied Health offers an Associate of Science degree in dental hygiene, a Bachelor of Science  degree in dental hygiene and a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences.

Programs of Dental Hygiene
Students with an interest in the program of dental hygiene may contact the Department of Allied Health. When planning a program of study in this department, each student should be aware of the University’s academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Specific attention should be given to the subsections in the chapter entitled (a) Academic Programs, (b) General Education Requirements and (c) Academic Requirements and Regulations. Students should be aware that this academic program might require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these regulations, students should contact the department.

Enrollment in the program of dental hygiene is limited and special admission information and other special rules, standards and requirements should be obtained directly from the department office (Academic Complex, Room 235) or from the departmental website (http://www.wku.edu/chhs/cms/index.php/departments/allied-health).

The baccalaureate degree curriculum is designed to prepare dental hygienists with a background for teaching, for organization and management, for research, as well as for clinical dental hygiene.

The dental hygiene associate degree curriculum is designed primarily to prepare the graduate hygienist to effectively practice as a respected member of the dental hygiene profession. The education also provides the student with knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable him or her to serve as a community resource in matters of dental disease prevention and sound dental health practices.

The educational experience offered prepares the graduate hygienist to effectively carry out the duties as prescribed by licensure. Hygienists are prepared for varied career opportunities, which include general practice dentistry, specialty practices, public health, military installations, hospitals or clinics, research facilities or public school dental hygiene.

Although 12-15 hours of general education courses (including Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology) are required, most beginning dental hygiene students will have successfully completed one or more years of college.

Major in Dental Hygiene with Education Track
A major in dental hygiene (reference number 524) requires a minimum of 127 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum may be completed in eight semesters and one summer term within four years. Requirements are outlined below:

• Prerequisites (for admission into the program): BIOL 131, BIOL 207/208, ENG 100, and PSY 100
• Freshman year: MATH 109/116/118, AH 290, HIST 119/120, CHHS 175, COMM 145 (or 161), BIOL 131, BIOL 131 Lab, Elective Category BII.
• Sophomore year: DH 111, DH 112, DH 201, ENG 200, CFS 111, DH 121, DH 130, DH 204, DH 210, DH 206, DH 226, CHEM 109.
• Summer school: DH 213 and DH 309
• Junior year: CFS 381, DH 202, DH 206, DH 303, DH 304, DH 307, DH 211, SOCL 100, DH 321, DH 323, DH 324.
• Senior year: ENG 300, PH 383, DH 330, DH 340, DH 350, Foreign Language, Elective Category BII, Elective Category E.

Major in Dental Hygiene without Education Track
A major in dental hygiene (reference number 524) requires a minimum of 122 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum may be completed in eight semesters and one summer term within four years. Requirements are outlined below:

• Prerequisites (for admission into the program): BIOL 131, BIOL 207/208, ENG 100, and PSY 100
• Freshman year (in addition to prerequisite classes): MATH 109/116/118, AH 290, HIST 119/120, COMM 145 ( or 161), Elective Category BII.
• Sophomore year: DH 111, DH 112, DH 201, ENG 200, CFS 111, DH 121, DH 130, DH 204, DH 210, DH 226, DH 206, CHEM 109.
• Summer school: DH 213, DH 309.
• Junior year: PH 383, DH 202, DH 206, DH 303, DH 304, DH 307, DH 211, SOCL 100, DH 321, DH 323, DH 324.
• Senior year: ENG 300, CHEM 304, HCA 340, PSY 350, Foreign Language Elective Category BII, Elective Category E.

Major in Health Sciences
The major in Health Sciences (reference number 564), requires 65-67 core health sciences credit hours, including a required concentration ranging from 21-22 hours. The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a health and human sciences related career. The program is an interdisciplinary program with three primary purposes:

1. Allowing students with a general interest in Health Sciences to pursue a B.S. while obtaining a concentration in a specific area of Health and Human Services.
2. Providing an option for students with a health related associate’s degree who wish to continue their education.
3. Permitting students to prepare for post-graduate or professional health sciences programs.

Students pursuing the major are required to select one of the following concentrations: Environmental Health Science, General Wellness Studies, Gerontology, Health Promotions, Health Services, Social Services, or an Associate’s Degree in a health field (approved by the health science advisor).  Students with an Associate’s degree from a health related program receive a 19 hour waiver in the upper-division hour requirement for the health science major.

Required courses for the Health Sciences core are: CFS 111, PSY 199, BIOL 120/121, BIOL 131, CHEM 304, AH 190, 290, PHYS 231/232, PE 311, PH 381, PH 383 OR SOCL 300, PH 447 OR PHIL 322, HCA 340, HCA 446/447 OR CIS 243.

One of the below mentioned concentrations is required:

• Environmental Health Science – (22 hours) Required courses include: ENV 280, 375, 380, 480 or 460, PH 385 and 7 hours of electives.
• General Wellness Studies – (22 hours) Required courses include: PE 122, 211, 212, 221, 222, 310, 312, 313, 324.  At least two credit hours of the open electives need to be upper-division.
• Gerontology – (21 hours) Required courses include: BIOL 344, PSY 423, PH 443, SOC 342. In addition, 9 hours of electives must be chosen with approval of the academic advisor from the following (6 credit hours of electives must be upper-division): GERO 100, CFS 311, CFS 495, ECON 365, CD 489, FIN 261, HCA 345, HCA 440, HCA 471, PH 444, PH 463, PH 464, PHIL 426 OR SWRK 326.
• Health Promotions – (22 hours) Required courses are: SFTY 171, PH 261, 365, 384, 402, 461, 467, and 469.
• Health Services - (21 hours) Required courses are: HCA 344, 440, 441, 442, HCA 345 or 346, MGMT 210 and ECON 202.
• Social Services – (21 hours) Required courses are: SWRK 101, 205, 330, 331, and 395.  Students are also required to take 2 social work electives (6 hours) in consultation with their social work advisor.

Associate Degree in a focused health area would also be acceptable and needs to be approved by an academic advisor. Students with a completed A.A. or A.S. degree from a KCTCS college have completed WKU general education requirements. All other students need to meet with an advisor.

* Students must earn a “C” or better in each course in the major. Additionally, in accordance with university policy, an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better must be attained upon completion of required curriculum.

Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene
The associate degree in dental hygiene (reference number 226) requires a minimum of 79 semester hours and leads to an Associate of Science degree. The curriculum may be completed in five semesters and one summer term. Requirements are outlined below:

Prerequisites (prior to fall semester first year): 12-16 hours including the following BIOL 131 and BIOL 207/208, ENG 100, and PSY 100. First semester students take CFS 111, CHEM 109, DH 111, 112, 201, 210. Second semester students take DH 121, 130, 204, 206 and 226. Summer school students take DH 213 and 309. Third semester students take COMM 145, DH 211, 302, 303, and 307. Fourth semester students take any General Education Category B-I or B-II course, SOCL 100 and DH 321, 324.