The Dental Hygiene program has been at Ferris since 1967 and is the largest in the State of Michigan. The program enjoys a reputation of educational excellence, with expert faculty who are recognized at the state, national and international levels within the discipline of dental hygiene for the delivery of innovative academic and continuing education. Dental hygiene is a practice area that continues to grow with the increased consumer awareness of the importance of good oral hygiene in the prevention and detection of systemic disease processes. Dental hygiene will continue to grow based on the increasing focus on preventive dental care needs of the public. Completion of the three-year associate in applied science degree, and final written and clinical exams enables the graduate to sit for the state licensure exam. Student clinical experiences occur within the college as the students work with patients from the University, community, and local schools in the College's on campus Dental Hygiene Clinic.