Degree Completion Program - ASDH to BSDH

• Contact the program via email: DentalHygiene@wlac.edu

• A virtual information sessions are offered upon request.  Check with the program director.

  • Information Sessions Schedule

• Send one official transcripts from the college/ university which awarded Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene directly via email: DentalHygiene@wlac.edu
• Send another official transcripts from all the colleges and universities outside the LACCD system to the West Los Angeles College Admission Office. The counseling office will use the official transcripts to determine course equivalency and evaluate the General Education Requirements: CalGETC, Associate Degree & IGETC / CSU, and CALGETC certificate. Instructions on how to submit the transcripts digitally from other colleges and universities can be found on the Admission and Records Grade Transcript page.

Admission to the Dental Hygiene Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Pathway requires to fulfill following criteria:

• Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program
• Cumulative College GPA 2.75- Transcripts from all colleges (Copy from LACCD)
• Licensed Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in California
  • Recent graduates awaiting licensure may qualify. Applicants must provide their national board test results, a letter from their program director confirming program completion, and official transcripts.

Course fees are $130 per unit ($46 regular course fee, plus $84 upper division course fee). Upper Division Coursework Fee (California Education Code (CEC), 78042(g)(5); CCR, title 5, section 58520 –additional upper division course fee of $84/unit for semester colleges charged on all upper division courses that are part of an approved Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program.

BS Degree completion program tuition cost will be 40 units x $130 = $5,200.

* Classes may require books or additional material.

Please see the out-of-state and international student's tuition rates on the Financial Aid Tuition & Fees page. The upper-division course fee of $84 will be added to the lower division enrollment fee.

Applicants can apply anytime during the year.  Upon receiving the application, the program director will evaluate the transcripts from the ASDH program, other colleges attended for GE courses, and the RDH license from California or eligibility to become an RDH before starting the BSDH completion program.  Please allow two to three weeks to review the application submitted.

Applications are accepted via email. Submit the application form, a copy of the RDH license, and official transcripts from all institutions attended to DentalHygiene@wlac.edu first. Upon acceptance into the dental hygiene program, another official transcript must be submitted directly to the admissions office.  Please follow the instructions for how to send an official  the admission and record office. 

Application filing procedures must be followed carefully: Download Application Form 

Suggestions: Submit your application at least one month before the next start of the semester or intersession dates.

START DATES: 

• Fall 2025: September 2, 2025
• Winter 2026: January 5, 2026
• Spring 2026: February 9, 2026

The review process takes between two to three weeks. Applicants will receive an email notification upon completion of the review process.  If you did not hear from anyone after three weeks, please contact the program via email.  The program director, Lisa Kamibayashi, kamibalt@wlac.edu

Lower Division GE requirements: 80 units

• GE Transfer certificate (General Education Requirements: CalGETC, Associate Degree & IGETC / CSU)
• Must complete the following lower division GE before or during the program.
• ENGLISH 103 - Critical Thinking (3 units) or equivalent
• MATH 227 0R 227-S - Statistics (4 units) or equivalent
• 40 units from Dental Hygiene courses from an Associate of Science degree (from a regionally and the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accredited institution.

Upper Division GE electives: 3 units

• Anthropology 322 Cultural Anthropology (3 units) * Prerequisite course: Anthropology 102 (3 units) 

OR

• CHICANO 505 Chicana/o/x Art, Literature, and Film (3 units)

Upper Division Required Core Courses: 21 units

• English 420 Research Design and Methodology (3 units) *Prerequisite course: English 103 (3 units)
• DEN HY 323 Dental Practice Management and Leadership (3 units)
• DEN HY 452 Law and Ethics for Dental Hygiene (2 units)
• DEN HY 460 Dental Hygiene Leadership Study and Practice (3 units)
• DEN HY 450 Advanced Periodontal Seminar (1 unit)
• DEN HY 462 Survey of Oral Health Care Systems (3 units)
• DEN HY 461 Teaching Methodology for Health Professions (3 units)
• DEN HY 463 Health Careers Research and Practice (3 units)

Credit for Prior Learning: 16 units

• Biology 408 Pharmacology (3 units)*
• DEN HY 421 Dental Hygiene Capstone (5 units)*
• DEN HY 304 Dental Health Education and Practicum (2 units)*
• DEN HY 305 Community Dental Health (3 units)*
• DEN HY 355 Preventive Dentistry and Nutrition (3 units)*

* The Curriculum Committee approves the courses above to grant credit to any students who pass the assessment approved by the proper authorities (Dental Hygiene National Board Examination, the Western Regional Examination Board (WREB), the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS), and other examinations approved by the Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC)

Total upper division units: 40 units - Total program units: 120 units

(80 units Lower Division Courses plus 40 units Upper Division Courses)

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is college credit awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gained outside of a college classroom. The credit that is earned through CPL must be approved by faculty through an assessment or proof of certification. Visit the CPL website to learn more about the CPL process: Credit for Prior Learning.