Dental Hygiene

Faculty Spotlight

Brandi Townsley, Assistant Professor

"I graduated from this program in 2014 and then that fall I started in the clinic, teaching, and I just fell in love. I really believe in student-centered teaching. I try to meet the students where they are.

You have to remember that these students are individuals, and they have complex lives. They have complex goals. It’s not a one-size-fits-all."

Brandi Townsley is an Assistant Professor and program coordinator for ETSU's online Dental Hygiene degree completion program. As an experienced educator and alum of the program, Brandi wants to help students tackle the same challenges she did. View Brandi Townsley’s full interview for our I Am ETSU Online: Educator Edition series.

Tennessee Dental Hygienists' Association Agreement

Members of the Tennessee Dental Hygienists' Association are eligible for in-state tuition status through an agreement between ETSU and TDHA.  In order to take advantage of this agreed-upon rate, students must:

• Obtain a Tennessee license.
• Become a member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association and the Tennessee Dental Hygienists' Association.
• Contact the Tennessee Dental Hygienists' Association liaison, Rita Bills, at ritabills@bellsouth.net.

Steps to Apply

• Step 1 - Create your ETSU Application Account

  Step 1   Create your ETSU Application Account by choosing the "Sign Up" option

  

• Step 2 - Sign into the ETSU Application Portal

  Step 2  Sign in to the ETSU Application Portal and select "Start a New Application"

  

• Step 3 - Complete the Remaining Fields

  Step 3   Choose "Undergraduate," select your student type, select your start term, then choose  Dental Hygiene and complete the remainder of the form.

  

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Take me to the application portal

Cost

TN Residents	*GA, KY, NC, SC, VA	*Other USA States	**eRate	All International
$487 per credit hour	$517 per credit hour	$627 per credit hour	$558 per credit hour	$1,265 per credit hour
The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details. - Tuition discounts are available for border county students. - Additional fees may be required. - The **eRate applies to students living out of state and taking all web-based courses. - Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options. Students may also use theTuition and Fees estimator. - The information presented in the Tuition and Fees estimator is only an estimate; it is not an actual statement of costs - *First-Time Freshman and Transfer Students only. Currently enrolled students should visit the tuition and fees charts if considering a major change.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should a student pursue this program at ETSU? 

  The Online Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Program was one of the first of its kind when it went online in 2001, and now there are hundreds of graduates scattered all over the United States. With a fully online model and a graduation rate of over 80%, this program is ideal for working professionals. 

  The department is highly invested in the success of its students and works to prepare them to continue their education. Many graduates have pursued master's degrees, while others have even earned their doctorate, paving the way for future generations of scholars and professionals.

• What accreditations apply to this program?

  This program is an extension of the on-campus entry-level dental hygiene program which is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association.
  
  

  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).
  
  

  
  
  

• What are my job prospects with this degree?

  A B.S. degree opens doors for clinical dental hygienists. Opportunities might include teaching (both clinical and didactic courses) at a community college, teaching clinical courses for a B.S. Dental Hygiene program, sales and education for dental companies, and public health.

• Do I need to have a background in this field? 

  The student must be a licensed dental hygienist, have completed an associate degree in dental hygiene at an accredited dental hygiene school in the United States or Canada, and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all transferable credits. 

• Are the courses for this program asynchronous or synchronous?

  All courses are online asynchronous.

• Are there any on-campus requirements?

  No, there are no on-campus requirements. However, students are required to attend a Zoom session for the program orientation. The Zoom orientation is always in August, before the start of the fall semester. The Zoom orientation lasts approximately three hours and students are required to attend the full three-hour session. 

• Does this program require an internship or fieldwork?

  No, there are no internship or field work requirements. 

• Is this program designed to meet the needs of adults who work full-time and/or have family obligations?

  This program is designed for the working professional. Almost all B.S. Dental Hygiene students are enrolled part-time while juggling work and familial responsibilities. After the student completes the first course, they may go at their own pace and can opt out of the program and come back in as needed.

• What is the program's time to completion?

  Students may take as many or as few classes as they choose each semester. For full-time students, the program can be completed in four (4) semesters. For part-time students, the time to completion depends on the student's constraints and needs.

  It takes all students enrolled in this program at least four semesters to complete their degree. Students must take at least 30 credits with ETSU, so a good estimate for part-time students would be to determine how many credits they want to take each semester and then determine how many semesters it will take to complete 30. 
  
  

• When can I start this program? 

  The program offers a fall start term with an application deadline of July 1. 

• Are there scholarships available?

  Please visit the ETSU's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers scholarship information for all student levels. By submitting the Universal Scholarship Application, students can be considered for a variety of university scholarships. Learn more on the ETSU Scholarship website.