Cypress College to Offer Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2023
Contact: Marc Posner
(714) 484-7006
CYPRESS, Calif. – Cypress College was recently approved to offer a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene, the second baccalaureate-level credential offered at the institution.
Enrollment for the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene will begin in fall 2025, with the first graduating class anticipated for spring 2027. Graduates will be career-ready to work as dental hygienists, an industry expected to grow by 13% over the next five years. All of the college’s dental hygiene graduates were able to secure work in their field, earning regional living wages amounting to an average of $99,000, according to Dental Hygiene Department Co-Director and Professor Julia Cherney.
Cypress’ program offers a degree with “the same rigor as a four-year institution but at a much lower cost,” Cherney said.
Cypress College’s ability to offer bachelor’s degrees benefits both the institution and the community, said Cherney. “It expands educational opportunities, allowing students to pursue higher levels of education without having to transfer to a four-year institution,” noting that relocation costs are often prohibitive for many would-be transfer students.
Cypress College President Dr. Scott Thayer credited many, including Cherney and Co-Director Kendra Contreras, the Dental Hygiene Department Faculty and its Advisory Committee, and others, for their hard work in ensuring this program would come to fruition. He also noted the efforts of Vice President of Instruction Dr. Kathleen Reiland, Dean of Health Science and Kinesiology and Athletics Colin Preston, and Mortuary Science Department Coordinator Jolena Grande, who is responsible for starting the college’s first baccalaureate degree program, which is in Funeral Service.
“We are so proud and excited for this next chapter in Cypress College’s Dental Hygiene program,” Thayer said. “This program will continue to serve the needs of our students and community for years to come, providing regionally relevant education to meet the growing needs of our workforce demand.”
Cherney said the program will be designed with the working professional in mind, with flexible schedules, and will also offer an additional completion pathway for dental hygiene associate degree graduates from an accredited dental hygiene program. Cypress College will offer enrollment first to its dental hygiene associate program alumni.
College officials expect enhanced community engagement with local employers and an expanded training capacity within the field overall. Neither California State University (CSU) nor the University of California offers a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene.
To learn more about the program, visit careers.cypresscollege.edu/programs/registered-dental-hygiene/.
About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.
Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College provides a pathway for each of our students, offering 56 university-transfer majors, 174 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 98 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Eligible first-time students qualify for free tuition through Cypress College’s Charger Experience promise program. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.
Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 116-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.
Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.
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