Dental Hygiene

Dental hygientist working on a patient

Dental Hygiene Program Overview

Berkshire Community College (BCC) has entered into an articulation agreement with Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). The agreement stipulates that BCC students may complete all 27 credits of their general education classes at BCC and are guaranteed a transfer of those credits to STCC towards an Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene degree, provided that students have earned a minimum grade of C in all equivalent courses. Once accepted into STCC, an additional 44 credits are required to complete the associate degree.

Students must meet the STCC Dental Hygiene admissions criteria and apply to STCC to be accepted into the program. It is not an automatic process and the program is competitive for admissions.

BCC courses that transfer seamlessly to STCC include:

  • Anatomy & Physiology I - BIO201,
  • Anatomy & Physiology II - BIO202,
  • Microbiology - BIO207;
  • English Comp - 3 Credits
  • Communications - 3 Credits;
  • Intro to Psychology - PSY107;
  • Introduction to Nutrition - AHS150; and
  • Intro to Sociology - SOC105.

Apply to BCC

Learn how to apply to STCC's Dental Hygiene program

Contact Us

Lori Moon, Dean of Nursing
lmoon@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-4720

What is a Dental Hygienist?

Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases and provide other preventive dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. 

The STCC Dental Hygiene program educates students to become vital members of the dental health profession. The two-year basic core curriculum leading to an associate in science degree follows the guidelines adopted by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. The dental hygiene graduate must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination and regional clinical licensing examinations to become eligible for state licensure. Once these examinations are successfully completed, the graduate may apply for dental hygiene licensure in any of the 50 states. Graduates may transfer credits to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree.