Mar 24, 2026

2026-2027 Catalog

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2026-2027 Catalog

Dental Assisting, AAS

LOCATIONS:

Anderson - Columbus - Kokomo - Lafayette - Sellersburg

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE

APHY 101 - Anatomy and Physiology I CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
APHY 102 - Anatomy and Physiology II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
ENGL 111 - English Composition CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3 #
MATH 123 - Quantitative Reasoning CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychology CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
SOCI 111 - Introduction to Sociology CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3

Select one of the following:

COMM 101 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3 #
COMM 102 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3 #

REQUIREMENT TOTAL: 21

OTHER INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

IVYT 112 - Student Success - Health Sciences And Nursing CREDIT HOURS MIN: 1
DENT 132 - Expanded Functions for Dental Assistants CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3 ^

REQUIREMENT TOTAL: 4

PROGRAM SPECIFIC CORE

HLHS 101 - Medical Terminology CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3 #
DENT 102 - Dental Materials and Lab I CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
DENT 116 - Dental Emergencies/Pharmacology CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2
DENT 117 - Dental Office Management CREDIT HOURS MIN: 1
DENT 122 - Clinical Practicum CREDIT HOURS MIN: 1
DENT 123 - Dental Anatomy CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
DENT 124 - Preventive Dentistry/Diet and Nutrition CREDIT HOURS MIN: 1
DENT 125 - Preclinical Practice III CREDIT HOURS MIN: 4
DENT 128 - Coronal Polishing and Caries Prevention for the Dental Assistant CREDIT HOURS MIN: 1
DENT 129 - Dental Materials and Lab II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
DENT 171 - Dental Terminology CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3

Select from the Following:

DENT 115 - Preclinical Practice I and II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 4
OR
DENT 113 - Preclinical Practice I CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2
AND
DENT 114 - Preclinical Practice II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2

Select from the Following:

DENT 118 - Dental Radiography CREDIT HOURS MIN: 4
OR
DENT 120 - Dental Radiography I CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2
AND
DENT 121 - Dental Radiography II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2

Select from the Following:

DENT 130 - Clinical Externship I and II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 5
OR
DENT 133 - Clinical Externship I CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2.5
AND
DENT 134 - Clinical Externship II CREDIT HOURS MIN: 2.5

REQUIREMENT TOTAL: 38

TOTAL CREDITS: 64

SYMBOL KEY

# Courses must be successfully completed before admittance to the program

^Capstone Course

DEGREE OUTCOMES

Demonstrate competence in Dental Assisting functions, including essential, chairside, and advanced/expanded skills, as well as the use and manipulation of dental materials.
Integrate in-depth knowledge of didactic content related to general dentistry, dental specialties, chairside assisting, dental-related environmental hazards, preventive dentistry, and the management of dental and medical emergencies.
Analyze in-depth knowledge of oral anatomy and related sciences, including oral histology, oral embryology, the development, form, and function of oral structures, oral diseases, and pharmacology as they relate to dental assisting procedures.
Evaluate human anatomy and physiology, including the structure and function of organ systems, medical terminology, disease concepts, dietary considerations for dental patients, and the scientific principles underlying dental radiography and biomedical sciences.
Integrate effective communication, critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, and knowledge of social and behavioral sciences, along with competence in dental practice management as applied within the professional dental assisting environment.
Assess knowledge and competence in producing diagnostic dental image surveys on manikins and in exposing diagnostically acceptable full-mouth surveys on a minimum of two patients within the program or a contracted facility.