Program Mission and Goals

The mission of the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program is to provide quality technical education leading students toward the profession of Dental Hygiene and to enhance the quality of life in our community through the direct provision of Dental Hygiene services, including patient education, disease prevention, and therapeutic intervention to patients of all walks of life. This mission is accomplished by partnering with students to achieve academic excellence, participating in community service, offering comprehensive patient-centered care, and utilizing critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making skills. The mission and goals of the Dental Hygiene Program are closely related to Amarillo College's mission of transforming our community and economy through learning, innovation, and achievement. The educational objectives of the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program are based on creating a partnership with students to assist them in achieving academic excellence. The following goals are measured and evaluated to help ensure the program is fulfilling its mission:

Goal #1: To graduate students who demonstrate entry-level dental hygiene practitioner skills through excellent academic and clinical instruction.

• PSLO #1: Dental hygiene students will systematically plan and manage patient treatment by applying the Dental Hygiene Process of Care.
• PSLO #2: Dental hygiene students will recognize medical and dental conditions requiring special precautions or considerations.
• PSL0 #3: Dental hygiene students will analyze and interpret assessment data to formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis.

Goal #2: To graduate students who serve as a valuable resource for quality, comprehensive, patient-centered dental hygiene treatment to the community.

• PSLO #4: Dental hygiene students will demonstrate mastery in providing oral healthcare to individuals at all stages of life and for all periodontal classifications.
• PSLO #5: Dental hygiene students will develop health promotion and disease prevention activities for diverse populations.

Goal #3: To graduate students who apply critical thinking skills and exhibit ethical conduct in the healthcare setting.

• PSLO #6: Dental hygiene students will critically, scientifically, and effectively synthesize information.
• PSLO #7: Dental hygiene students will critically analyze published reports of oral health research and apply this information to dental hygiene practice.
• PSLO #8: Dental hygiene students will demonstrate professionalism and self-responsibility and adhere to an ethical code of conduct throughout the program.

Goal #4: To graduate students who are evaluated as having met the No Excuses mission of the institution by demonstrating internal and external success.

• PSLO #9: Dental hygiene students will participate in required remediation as indicated, complete entrance and exit skill evaluations, and participate in a focused national board review through HESI.

Goal #5: To graduate students who contribute actively to the profession through professional involvement and continued education.

• PSLO #10: Dental hygiene students will provide planned educational services using appropriate interpersonal communication skills and strategies to promote optimal health through community and service learning.

Program Competencies and Evaluation Mapping Matrix

The Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Program has established graduation competencies that define the knowledge, clinical skills, critical-thinking abilities, and professional values expected of students at program completion. These competencies align with professional standards and guidance from the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, and American Dental Education Association. They address professionalism and ethics, health promotion and disease prevention, patient-centered care, community involvement, and continued professional growth.

The curriculum introduces, reinforces, and evaluates these competencies through progressively advanced classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinical experiences. Students develop entry-level competence through written examinations, laboratory and clinical performance evaluations, case-based assignments, reflective activities, projects, and formal competency assessments.

The program regularly reviews its graduation competencies and assessment methods. Students receive information about performance expectations and evaluation requirements through the Program Handbook, course syllabi, Clinic Manual, faculty advisement, and program website. The competency-to-curriculum mapping identifies where each competency is introduced, developed, and evaluated throughout the program.

Competencies and Where They Are Measured

• Competency 1: Demonstrate systematic planning and management of patient treatment by applying the Dental Hygiene Process of Care.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 1227 – Preventive Dental Hygiene Care: Preventive Periodontal Plan Project
    • DHYG 1260, 1360, 2260, 2360 – Clinical Dental Hygiene I–IV: Clinical Evaluations
• Competency 2: Recognize medical and dental conditions requiring special precautions or considerations before dental hygiene treatment.
  • Measured in: 
    • DHYG 2201 – Dental Hygiene Care I: Special Needs Research Paper
    • DHYG 1360 – Clinical II: Case Study Project
    • DHYG 1227 – Preventive Dental Hygiene Care: Interdisciplinary Communication Case Study
    • DHYG 1331 – Preclinical: Medical History Assignment
• Competency 3: Analyze and interpret assessment data to formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis.
  • Measured in: 
    • DHYG 1227 – Preventive Dental Hygiene Care: Periodontal Plan Project
    • DHYG 1260, 1360, 2260, 2360 – Clinical I–IV: l Clinical Evaluations
• Competency 4: Provide oral healthcare across all life stages and periodontal classifications.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 2360 – Clinical IV:
      • Child, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric, and Special Needs Competency Evaluations
      • Early, Moderate, and Advanced Periodontal Disease Management Competencies 
• Competency 5: Develop health promotion and disease prevention activities for diverse populations.
  • Measured in: 
    • DHYG 1227 – Preventive Dental Hygiene Care: Cultural Diversity Project
    • DHYG 1215 – Community Dentistry:
      • Community Service-Learning Project
      • Interdisciplinary Communication Project
• Competency 6: Critically and effectively synthesize scientific information.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 1207 – General and Dental Nutrition:
      • Abstract Paper
      • Nutritional Counseling Project
    • DHYG 1360 – Clinical II: Nutritional Counseling Evaluation
    • DHYG 2260 – Clinical III: Tobacco Cessation Evaluation
    • DHYG 2360 – Clinical IV: Case Presentation
• Competency 7: Analyze and apply oral health research to dental hygiene practice.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 1215 – Community Dentistry: Epidemiology Research Paper
    • DHYG 2201 – Dental Hygiene Care I: Special Needs Research Paper
• Competency 8: Demonstrate professionalism, self-responsibility, and ethical behavior.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 1331, 1260, 1360, 2260, 2360 – Preclinical & Clinical I–IV:
      • Ethics and Professionalism Chapter Assessments
• Competency 9: Participate in remediation, demonstrate clinical competence, and complete the HESI capstone review.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 1331 – Preclinical: Instrument Practicum (Typodont)
    • DHYG 1260 – Clinical I: Instrument Entrance/Exit Exams
    • DHYG 2260, 2360 – Clinical III & IV: Clinical Mock Board Evaluations
    • DHYG 1304 – Radiology: Exit Exam
    • DHYG 2360 – Clinical IV: HESI Capstone Exam
• Competency 10: Deliver educational services using effective communication strategies through service learning.
  • Measured in:
    • DHYG 1215 – Community Dentistry:
      • Student Self-Project
      • Community Service Learning