DHY 256 - Dental Hygiene Professional Management

Description
This course focuses on the criteria for assessing the work environment, dental practice management, and employment seeking skills. The student will also acquire skills for assuming professional association membership and leadership roles in the dental office.

Credit Hours: 1
Contact Hours: 1
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: DHY 240 and DHY 241 and DHY 242 and DHY 244 and DHY 246 and DHY 249
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): DHY 251 and DHY 254 and DHY 255 and DHY 259
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: No
Course Fees: $5.00
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Dental Hygiene, A.A.A.S.

General Education Requirement:
None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA
Course Learning Outcomes:

The student will introduce themselves to potential employers and other team members in a professional, confident manner.
Students will conduct themselves in a professional, confident, and ethical manner as part of a dental team, communicating and listening while maintaining tolerance for others. (CODA standard 2-15)
The student will be able to identify the responsibilities and benefits of life-long learning through continuing formal education and self-directed learning opportunities. (CODA standard 2-21)
Given guidelines for writing letters of application and resumes, the student will compose personal letters and resumes that they can present to prospective employers, and seek outside sources to critique as well as self-evaluating said documents. (CODA standard 2-15 and 2-21)
Given guidelines for applying for a position as a dental hygienist, the student will conduct himself/herself in a professional, confident manner during an interviewing role-play to be critiqued by self and other professionals. (CODA standard 2-21)
Students will compare and contrast the responsibilities and benefits of professional association membership versus choosing not to participate in such organizations
Students will be able to define interprofessional collaboration and analyze its role within the community.

Course Outline:
I. Introduction to DHY 256

Professional Behavior and Appearance
Personal Introductions

II. Professional Documents

Cover Letters & Resumes 
LinkedIN

III. Employment Opportunities

Degree Completion
Job Searching and Professional Subbing
Travel Programs and Other Professional Opportunities

IV. Professional Experiences

Effective Communication
Professional Association Memberships

V. Interviewing

“Dressing for Success”
Preparing for different types of Interview Questions
Identifying questions to ask potential employers during the interview process
Working Interviews, Benefits, and Negotiating Salary

VI. Mock Interviews

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
No
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture / Discussion Facilitation 50-65%
Small group work and discussion 15-30%

Role playing for interviewing 15-25%
Mandatory Course Components:
None
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: NA

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
Program Requirement- Offering designed to meet the learning needs of students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 1
People Soft Course ID Number: 102172
Course CIP Code: 51.0601
Maximum Course Enrollment: 32
High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
If yes, with which high schools?: NA
Non-Credit GRCC Articulation Agreement With What Area: No
Identify the Non Credit Programs this Course is Accepted: NA

School: School of Health & Exercise Science
Department: Dental Auxiliaries
Discipline: DHY
Faculty Credential Requirements:
Program Accreditation Requirement (list below), Certification/License Requirement (list below), Other (list below), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Professionally qualified through work experience in field (Perkins Act or Other) (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
Must be a Registered Dental Assistant, Registered Dental Hygienist, or Dentist.
DH CODA Standard 3-7 states: The full time faculty of a dental hygiene program must possess a baccalaureate or higher degree. Part-time faculty providing didactic instruction must have earned at least a baccalaureate degree or be currently enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program. All dental hygiene program faculty members must have: a) current knowledge of the specific subjects they are teaching. b) documented background in current educational methodology concepts consistent with teaching assignments. c) Faculty who are dental hygienists must be graduates of dental hygiene programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Master's degree in Education or a related credential is preferred. A minimum of 2 years of related work experience (4,000 hours) is required to satisfy Perkin's Vocational Act requirements.

Major Course Revisions: N/A
Last Revision Date Effective: 20220215T18:41:47
Course Review & Revision Year: 2026-2027