Course Structure and Curriculum

Course structure

The Bachelor of Arts in Dental Hygiene (BA) programme lasts three years, including exams, divided into six semesters. It has a total of 180 ECTS and is divided into three stages of study of 2 semesters each.

1st and 2nd semester: Theoretical stage of study

The theoretical stage of study to acquire the prescribed dental and scientific skills.
The aim is to develop specialist knowledge in the professional field of dental hygiene/prevention as well as interdisciplinary topics. The knowledge required to cope with exemplary situations is acquired and applied and students learn to transfer this knowledge to difficult, complex situations.

3rd and 4th semester: Preclinical and clinical stage of study

The pre-clinical and clinical stage of study serves to acquire and practice the prescribed competencies in the field of dental hygiene. The pre-clinical and clinical training addresses theory, care and treatment concepts, problems and difficult situations as well as case studies. The acquired knowledge is immediately put into practice. The focus is on the independent transfer to individual patient situations, whereby the clinical complexity gradually increases.

The pre-clinical training enhances the required safety in the use of instruments in order to exclude any harm to patients and students.  For this purpose, DPU has a total of 74 state-of-the-art phantom workstations from DENTSPLY SIRONA.

During the clinical training, the students treat patients as dental assistants under professional instruction, guidance and direct supervision according to a catalogue of services to be fulfilled. The students are made aware of effective, efficient and cost-conscious treatment methods.

5th and 6th semester: Final internship

The final year of study consists of three parts:

1. a final internship in one of the teaching practices

2. project work

3. an exam

The internship serves to deepen and expand the prescribed competences in the field of dental hygiene.

During the final internship, students consolidate and expand their knowledge and skills while working as a dental assistant/specialist dental assistant (ZMF) in order to further develop their acquired competencies.  DPU conducts supplementary and in-depth courses in the form of tutorials in order to reflect on theoretical and practical questions from dental practice (teaching practice) and to develop joint solutions.  The aim of the final internship is to safely cope with everyday working life within the framework of time and conceptual specifications.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Arts in Dental Hygiene (BA) at DPU consists of five topic blocks:

• Medical subjects
• Central subjects
• Behavioural sciences and supporting sciences
• Internships and clinical patient treatment
• Final internship, exams, project work

The following tables list the subjects assigned to the individual topic blocks, including ECTS points.