The BSDH online degree completion program offered by East Tennessee State University
is one of the oldest and most successful of its kind. The Tennessee Board of Regents and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission granted
final approval for the BSDH Online allowing acceptance of the first class in the fall
of 2001. As of 2021, the program has 240 graduates.
The completion degree is designed for students who have earned an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene and want an expanded knowledge base in their chosen profession.
Students completing this program will gain additional expertise in current approaches to supportive periodontal therapy and soft tissue management, meeting the needs of geriatrics and other underserved populations, community and rural health program design implementation and evaluation, pain management, teaching strategies for health professionals, and skills needed to responsibly build an evidence-based practice.
Additionally, students become part of a community of lifelong learners enriching each
other's learning experiences. The program is research and writing based, giving students
the opportunity to build oral and written communication skills as well as technology
skills that will benefit them as practitioners, in advancing or changing career paths,
or furthering their education.
In order to graduate with a Bachelor's degree, students must complete all general
education core requirements in addition to the online dental hygiene courses. Courses
from other universities and colleges may be transferred to ETSU. Scheduling an appointment
with an advisor will help you determine what courses may transfer.
Award Winners
Five of our BS completion degree students have presented posters at national conferences having been chosen as student merit award winners by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry.
- Laura Teran - presented in Little Rock, AR in 2006 - presented a bilingual dental education program for a multi-cultural kindergarten
- Barbara George - presented in Little Rock, AR in 2006 - re-invigorated a smoking cessation program for young adults at a Job Corp
- Cathy Holtman - presented in Pittsburgh, PA in 2011 - presented an outreach dental education project for underserved young moms.
- Angela Haynes - presented in Huntsville, AL in 2013 - provided dental screenings, hygiene services, and patient education to developmentally disabled adults, and worked with a local dentist to provide all the participants the treatment they needed on an on-going basis.
- Jessie Hewlett - presented at Kansas City, MO in 2015 - provided dental screening and education and coordinated volunteers to provide treatment services for a group of women battling addiction and/or domestic violence.
We are proud to have our students' outstanding work in their communities recognized nationally.
Read What Our Graduates are Saying About Us
EduMed.org ranks the best schools for online programs in Nursing & Allied Health for
2025
EduMed.org has ranked the nation’s top schools for online learning in nursing and allied health for the 2024 – 2025 academic year.
EduMed.org, a leader in student-focused college and career information online, has released its annual rankings of the top schools for online degrees and certificates in nursing and allied health. The rankings include more than 100 health-related subjects and cover program levels from entry-level diplomas through advanced doctorate degrees. East Tennessee State University’s programs offer the best combinations of quality, affordability, online learning and student outcomes.
Take a look at the full rankings to see where ETSU placed:
Best Online RN to BSN Bridge Programs in Tennessee – https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/nursing-rn-programs/rn-to-bsn/tennessee/
Best Online Nursing Programs in Tennessee – https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/nursing-rn-programs/tennessee/#four-year-rankings
Best Online Dental Hygiene Programs – https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/dental-hygiene-programs/#four-year-rankings
Best Online Human Services Bachelor's Degrees – https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/human-services-degrees/bachelors/
“This year, we enhanced our methodology by adding new data points for students to
consider, particularly those focused on student outcomes,” said Wes Harris Ricketts,
founder of EduMed.org. “Our goal was to highlight the schools that truly set their
students up for success – both academically and beyond. This involved a much closer
examination of key factors such as graduation rates, timely program completion and
post-graduation career placement services.”
EduMed’s shift to more outcome-driven rankings comes at a time when the topic of nursing student attrition remains front-and-center. According to the National League for Nursing (NLN), the nationwide dropout rate for baccalaureate nursing programs is between 20 and 25 percent. In California, the Board of Registered Nursing reported an average 10 percent attrition rate statewide for BSN programs in 2022, with some schools exceeding 50 percent.
“These challenges are not exclusive to nursing,” said Ricketts. “Students in other health-related fields often face similar struggles. Reducing attrition begins with making education more affordable, accessible and student-centered. Schools that go the extra mile by offering comprehensive support give students the confidence and motivation to complete their programs and thrive in their careers.”
EduMed.org researched and analyzed more than 7,700 accredited schools using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and from the schools themselves. The website’s data science team then applied a proprietary algorithm to rank all qualifying schools for each healthcare discipline. Primary data points include:
- Number of online programs
- Average in-state tuition
- Percent of total students taking at least one distance education class
- Amount of institutional grant aid awarded to students
- Student/faculty ratio
- Percent of full-time student completion – 6 years
- Academic counseling
- Career placement
To be eligible for ranking consideration, a school must hold active regional accreditation and have at least one partially online program in the ranking subject.
About EduMed
EduMed.org set out in 2018 to support higher education in healthcare. Our free resource materials
and expert-driven guidebooks help students find scholarships, financial aid and top
degree programs in nursing, healthcare administration and dozens of other allied health
disciplines. Since the site's official launch in 2019, EduMed.org has been featured
by more than 100 premier colleges and universities across the U.S.
Accreditation
East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education
specialist, and doctoral degrees. East Tennessee State University also may offer credentials
such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation
of East Tennessee State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA
30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's
website (www.sacscoc.org).