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Health Sciences, A.A.S. - Dental Assisting

Degree: Associated of Applied Science
Major: Health Sciences
Concentration: Dental Assisting

For more information, contact the Health Sciences division at 615-230-3330.

The College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree as a career ladder for persons who have successfully completed their program of study in Dental Assisting. A total of 36 hours from the certificate may be applied to the required degree hours.  This degree is designed to assist Health Sciences workers with their general and continuing education.  For more information, refer to the Health Sciences Associate of Applied Science Degrees section in the catalog. Specific core credits may be earned by current enrollment in appropriate health sciences courses.  In addition to the 15 credit hours of General Education core courses currently required for an A.A.S degree, students will complete three required courses and two elective courses from those listed in the institution’s catalog.

The Dental Assisting Technical Certificate is embedded within the Associate of Applied Science in Health Sciences, Dental Assisting concentration.  Courses in this certificate may be used to award this concentration.

All students graduating with a degree from VSCC are required to take the E-Proficiency Profile (EPP) to meet graduation requirements. More information can be found at https://www.volstate.edu/graduation/exit-exams.

Program​ Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the graduate will have developed the skills, knowledge, and abilities to accomplish the following:

  1. Students will demonstrate the basic skills to be a competent dental assistant.

  2. Students will define the terminology unique to dental assisting. 

  3. Students will illustrate comprehension of professional, ethical standards for dental assisting. 

  4. Students will apply and demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills within the parameters of dental assisting.

CIP Code: (31) 51.9999.01

General Education Requirements - Credits (15 - 17)

  • ENGL 1010 - ^English Composition I Credits: (3)
  • Humanities and/or Fine Arts  Credits: (3)
  • Natural Sciences /Mathematics  (BIOL 2010  Preferred - See Advisor) Credits: (3-4)
  • PSYC 1030 - ^Introduction to Psychology Credits: (3)

  • OR PSYC 2130 - ^Lifespan Development Psychology  Credits: (3)

  • One additional General Education course from any of the following categories: Communication , Humanities/Fine Arts , Mathematics , Natural Sciences  or Social/Behavioral Sciences  Credits: (3-4)

Professional Core Course Requirements - Credits (15)

  • ALHS 2312 - *Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Credits: (3)
  • BUSN 1380 - *Supervisory Management Credits: (3)
  • BUSN 2370 - *Legal Environment of Business Credits: (3)
  • Dental Assisting Electives (Choose from the following list or from a MATH, AHC, ALHS, Natural Sciences  course or the student may apply Dental Assisting Technical Certificate credits earned in excess of 30 credit hours as electives Credits: (6)

  • AHC 115 - *Medical Terminology  Credits: (3)

    BIOL 2020 - ^Human Anatomy and Physiology II  Credits: (4)

    MATH 1130 - ^College Algebra  Credits: (3)

    PHYS 1030 - ^Survey of Physics  Credits: (4)

Major Core Course Requirements - Credits (30)

  • DAST 1550 - *Dental Science II Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1560 - *Clinical Chairside II Credits: (4)
  • DAST 1570 - *Clinical Practicum I Credits: (1)
  • DAST 1580 - *Dental Office Management Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1590 - *Clinical Practicum II Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1600 - *Fundamentals of Dental Assisting Credits: (1)
  • DAST 1610 - *Advanced Radiology Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1620 - *Preventive Dental Assisting Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1630 - *The Compromised Patient Credits: (2)
  • DAST 1640 - *Capstone Course Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1650 - *Special Topics in Dental Assisting Credits: (3)
  • DAST 1660 - *Clinical Practice Credits: (1)

Total Degree Requirements - Credits (60-62)

Recommended Schedule

Students should follow the recommended schedules for the technical certificate and work with their advisor to schedule the remaining required courses.

DegreeWorks, along with the correct catalog, should be utilized by students for all of their educational planning.  Students can monitor their progress toward a degree or certificate and view missing requirements with the DegreeWorks audit, which is accessible through My Volstate.