Dental Hygiene Admissions

Students must have taken the seven prerequisite courses from an accredited institution to qualify for entry via this pathway. Prerequisites and recommended courses align with those of the previous path.

1. Complete the Dental Hygiene Application through the admissions
2. At a minimum, science GPAs of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale are required. Applicants must report both a science and a cumulative GPA over 3.00 (although >3.25 will be generally competitive) on a 4.00 scale.
3. Two letters of recommendation are required. One must be from either a predental advisory committee or a science professor; the DHP prefers other letters to be written by either a dental or medical professional or someone who can attest to the applicant's integrity and ethical Letters written by immediate family members will not be accepted. All letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to the School by those completing the letters. The Office of Admissions will not accept letters submitted by students.
4. Complete 30 documented observation/shadowing hours before entering the DHP
5. Applicants must demonstrate a genuine understanding of, and interest in, the humanitarian ethos of health care, particularly dental medicine.
6. Applicants should reflect a people and service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities. 
7. Applicants should reflect proper motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous salaried work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
8. Applicants must possess the oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues. Directions for the required essay submission will be provided before scheduling an interview.
9. Applicants must pass the LMU-CDM criminal background check.
10. Applicants must be drug-free, as evidenced through required drug testing (completed upon offer of admission).

Admissions criteria are weighted with an emphasis on academic performance (approximately 3/4 of the final score), including science GPAs, non-science GPAs, cumulative GPAs, number of hours completed per semester or quarter, and institution(s) attended. Motivation, experience, recommendations, community service experience, and the interview evaluation (about 1/4 of the final score) also contribute to candidate rankings. The ranking formula, the weighting, and the scoring will be analyzed and reviewed before each admission cycle by the Admissions Committee (Applicant Ranking Plan).

Candidates for admission must have sufficient abilities and skills in five areas: I) Observation; II) Communication; III) Motor; IV) Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative; and V) Behavioral and Social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitations in certain areas, but candidates should perform in a reasonably independent manner (Technical Standards).

1. Observation: The candidate must be able to make observations at a distance and close at hand Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by the functional use of all other senses.
2. Communication: The candidate must communicate effectively, efficiently, and sensitively in both oral and written forms and perceive nonverbal
3. Motor: The candidate must coordinate both gross and fine muscular movements, maintain equilibrium, and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and
4. Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem-solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record, and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required to utilize his/her intellectual abilities fully, the exercise of good judgment, the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective The candidate must tolerate physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. The candidate must adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness, and ability to function as an effective team player, and interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.

Students must attest to the ability to meet technical requirements. Any student seeking accommodation must follow LMU's established process through the Department of Accessible Education Services.