Applying to the dental hygiene program

To be eligible to apply to the dental hygiene program, you must be admitted to IU Fort Wayne as a degree-seeking student. Admission to the IUFW Dental Hygiene Program is competitive and limited to 24 full-time students per year. To be accepted into the program, you must: 

1. Submit the following information to the IUFW Dental Hygiene Program Office by February 1st of the year in which you are applying for program enrollment:
   1. Completed, signed IUFW Dental Hygiene Program Application. Note: Copies of applications from other programs WILL NOT be accepted.
   2. Complete the IUFW Curriculum Information Form.
   3. Submit official transcripts of ALL college work.  Note: IU, Purdue and IUFW students can submit unofficial transcripts. Final transcripts must be received by the Dental Hygiene Program no later than May 25, unless a course is completed after May 20, but before June 1.
2. Complete all prerequisite courses by June 1^st  with a grade of "C-" or better.

Prerequisite courses

Reading, Writing, & Inquiry I (ENG W131)       

Funds of Speech Communications (COM 11400)       

Living Chemistry (CHM 10400) w/lab (CHM 29000)

General Chemistry I & II w/lab (CHM 11100/11200)  (acceptable for 10400 and 29000)   

Elementary Psychology (PSY 12000)      

Principles of Sociology (SOC S161)        

Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/lab (BIOL 20300)      

Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/lab (BIOL 20400)  

Microbiology for Allied Health Professionals w/lab (BIOL 22000)                          

NOTE: Microbiology (BIOL 22000) w/ lab must be completed prior to beginning the Dental Hygiene professional program. Since Microbiology is not calculated into the prerequisite GPA for admission, it may be completed during summer sessions prior to admission into the dental hygiene program. However, the student’s acceptance is based on successful completion of Microbiology with a grade of “C-“or better prior to the beginning of Fall semester. Failure to complete this required course with a “C-“ or better will result in the student being withdrawn from the professional program and the position given to the next qualified applicant.

Special requirements for admission

• Prerequisite courses may not be taken on a pass/fail option.

• Required courses may be repeated only once to improve the grade. Whether higher or lower, the second grade will replace the first grade in a repeated course. A maximum of two prerequisite courses may be retaken to improve the grades and GPA ranking. These requirements apply to courses taken at colleges and universities.

• All prerequisite courses must be completed by June 1st for Fall admission into the program. No exceptions will be made for completion of summer courses. Grade point average (GPA) from prerequisite courses will be the primary consideration in determining a candidate's rank in the class selection process.

• A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0/4.0 is required for all applicants. However, because admission into the program is competitive, a prerequisite GPA of 3.3 or higher is recommended.

• Each year human anatomy, human physiology and microbiology constitute a large portion of the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination. Therefore, credits in these three courses must be completed within five years of admission into the program. Credits in all other prerequisite courses will be accepted for ten years. Outdated courses must be retaken.

Criteria for selection

Priority consideration will be given to students who have completed the required pre-dental hygiene courses at IUFW or another Indiana University or Purdue University campus.

Eligible applicants are ranked according to their prerequisite GPAs. Selection for admission is based on the successful completion of all required prerequisite courses by June 1^st. Since the number of applicants always exceeds the number of spaces available, a GPA of 3.3 or higher is recommended. The average minimum GPA of students accepted into the program over the past five years is 3.4/4.0.

Prospective students are encouraged to apply to other dental hygiene programs in the state to increase their chances of acceptance into a dental hygiene program. Other accredited dental hygiene programs are located at:

• IUPU Indianapolis - (317) 274-7801
• IU South Bend - (574) 237-4154
• IU Northwest - (219) 980-6770
• Ivy Tech East Central - (800) 589-8324 ext. 2371
• Ivy Tech North Central - (574) 289-7001
• University of Southern Indiana - (812) 464-1702

IMPORTANT: Admission is conducted independently at each  campus. You must send a separate program application and all supporting materials to each campus where you wish to be considered for admission. Please contact each individual campus for their application form and specific admission requirements.

If not selected for admission the first time you apply, you must submit a new application for any subsequent year in which you wish to re-apply for admission. In general, applicants are encouraged to raise their prerequisite GPAs before submitting a new application. Contact the IUFW Department of Dental Education at (260) 257-6819 for specific information about the re-application process or to request an appointment with a Dental Hygiene Program advisor.

Once you have been accepted

• Applicants accepted to the program will be required to attend our program orientation in July
• Applicants must return the acceptance form by the deadline stated in the acceptance letter
• Provide proof of
  • A recent physical examination (the summer before the program begins)
  • A recent TB testing (the summer before the program begins)
  • Receiving the three Hepatitis B immunizations (before the program begins) and a Hepatitis B titer (blood test)
  • Receiving the Hepatitis B vaccination series with the titer blood test is a process that takes 7-8 months to complete.
  • Receiving the Hepatitis B lab titer (anti-HBs blood test), which proves your immunity must be received by October 1 of the current year. The titer results should be Positive (to indicate positive immunity to HBV), not Negative. If the titer results are Negative, it will be necessary to repeat the vaccination series and titer test. (refer to your healthcare provider for more information.) 
• Applicants who have served in the military must submit military papers in order to receive credit for courses taken.
• Students in the professional dental programs must pass a drug screening test, if requested.