UNM Online

Disclosures

The University is required by federal regulation 34 CFR 668.43 to inform students that obtaining this degree may not be sufficient to meet the licensure requirements of your state licensure agency. Since only state agencies have the authority to determine if an individual satisfies the criteria for certification or licensure, UNM cannot assure the attainment of any certificate or license for an individual.

UNM strives to stay informed about the current state requirements for certification or licensure as these are subject to change. Prior to applying for admission, refer to our Professional Licensure Disclosure (PLD) webpage and contact the relevant licensing agency in your state. Also refer directly to the program you are interested in for additional details.

All online and distance education is protected by federal regulations and policies. For details on how, refer to the following resources: State Authorization, Disclosures, Accreditation and Complaint Resolution.

Admissions

Tuition and Fees

The total cost per credit hour is $428.12 base tuition. There is a student technology fee charged each semester. It is $150 in the Fall, $150 in the Spring, and $20 in the Summer. There may be additional costs, depending on the class, for textbooks, supplemental course materials, and proctoring fees.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission, all applicants must have: 

• A current American dental hygiene license.

• Proof from a school that is both Regionally and CODA-accredited that you possess either:
  • a bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene OR…
  • an associate degree/certificate in Dental Hygiene AND a bachelor’s degree in any science. 

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
• Three letters of recommendation
• Adherence to the ADEA Professionalism Values

International Students: If you earned a degree in either Dentistry or Dental Hygiene from an institution outside of the United States or Canada, please reach out to our International Admissions & Recruitment Office, or email them at geo@unm.edu.

Application Procedures

The following must be completed by the deadlines listed below, for consideration for admission to the Dental Hygiene program for the Master of Science degree:

• Application to the University of New Mexico Graduate Studies. A $60 fee (for domestic students) is associated with this application.
  • Official college transcripts should be provided. 
  • Two to three letters of recommendation submitted via the Graduate Studies Application.
• Application to the Division of Dental Hygiene. 
  • Send the following to dentalhygiene@salud.unm.edu, subject your name, program and year you will be applying.
    • Photocopy of National Dental Hygiene Board Examination results.
    • A copy of a current American dental hygiene license.
    • A photo for your student file at the Division.
• A non-refundable application fee of $125 must be included with your application payable online at TouchNet.
• Interview with the Program Director (Once applications are received by the Division, students are contacted to schedule this interview.)

Applications are reviewed once all required procedures are complete. Applications submitted without pieces will be incomplete and will not be considered.

Application Deadlines

• Fall semester application deadline: July 31.
• Spring semester application deadline: November 30.
• Summer semester application deadline: April 30.

All applicants will be notified of their admission status. Selection will be given to qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, qualified disability, or military involvement. All qualified applicants will have equal opportunity for admission.

Degree Requirements

Degree Information

In order to graduate with a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene from UNM, a student must:

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
• Satisfactorily complete all graduate courses
• All graduate work, including transferred coursework, must be completed within a seven-year period

About the Program

This program requires the successful completion of at least 30 credit hours of graduate-level course work (500-level) and the completion of a thesis or project. It offers innovative courses and an online curriculum.

Dental Hygiene Required Courses

Dental Hygiene Elective Courses

NOTE: The University of New Mexico cannot confirm whether this program leads to licensure or advanced certification in your home state. Prior to applying for admission, contact your state dental board to assure that, upon completion of the program, you are qualified to obtain a license or other form of certification. If you need assistance contacting the licensing agency in your state, contact UNM Online at (866) 869-6040. 

Learning Outcomes

In your online coursework, you will build upon the knowledge gained in your baccalaureate work, including emphasis on the following areas:

• Enhance decision-making skills by participating in graduate-level dental hygiene courses
• Develop problem-solving skills for independent dental hygiene practice
• Contribute to the dental hygiene scientific body of knowledge
• Conduct research and theory development in the dental hygiene sciences
• Participate in graduate dental hygiene internship experiences in educational settings, rural areas, industry and community outreach sites