62 Credits AAS3326, Academic Catalog 2025-2026
Resources
The Dental Assisting curriculum is designed to provide opportunities for the learner to develop a sound fundamental background for the practice of dental assisting. The specialized knowledge in the field of dental assisting prepares the learner and graduate to contribute to the world of dentistry for today's changing environment. This program identifies necessary competencies and integrates the curricula to support these outcomes to produce a dental assistant who is a vital member of the dental health team. The learner will become grounded and prepared to function as a Chairside and Expanded Functions clinician, a Business/Office Dental Assistant and a Laboratory Dental Assistant. Graduates of the program are capable of practicing in a general dental practice or in a dental specialty. Progression through the program is sequential. Due to the limited amount of space in the clinical area, learners will be admitted on space available basis. Successful completion of all courses in the dental assisting program require passing with a C/2.0 GPA or above.
The program is designed to meet the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation Standard for Dental Assisting with the clinical skills and competencies as designated by the State Dental Practice Act of Minnesota State Board of Dentistry. A unique aspect of the South Central College's Dental Assisting program is its location on the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus in a newly refurbished 12-unit dental clinic, with restorative facilities, shared by MSU's Dental Hygiene program.
Campus: North Mankato
Program Start Semester: Fall
Base estimate for 62 credit program
Tuition is paid on a semester by semester basis and will vary depending on the courses and total credits you take.
Tuition and Fees: $13,296
Tools and Equipment: $ n/a
Total Estimated Cost: $13,296 *
Compare the costs and you'll see that tuition at South Central College is much more affordable than other institutions.
*Based on 2025-2026 tuition and fees rates. Does not include extra expenses for online delivery, course fees, or course differential. Books, transportation, and living expenses also not included.
The course requirements listed below are specific to the current school year (noted above). If you need to view the program from previous years view our Catalog Archive.
Required Technical Courses (17 Courses)
The following courses must be completed:
DA1813 Preclinical Dental Assisting (2 credits)
Pre-Clinical Dental Assisting is designed to provide fundamental knowledge of microbiology and infection control measures. Emphasis will be placed on personal protection, risk management, sterilization, chemical disinfection, environment surface and equipment aseptic techniques. The student will develop the skills necessary to apply the techniques gained within the course to all clinical and laboratory courses. Standard precautions will be utilized throughout the entire curriculum, within all courses which apply. (Prerequisites: COMM 140; PHIL 100 or PHIL 150; HLTH 1950; HLTH 1952; Co-requisite: DA 1814)
DA1814 Chairside Dental Assisting I (4 credits)
Chairside Dental Assisting I provides laboratory and clinical knowledge and skills required for dental assisting clinical techniques and methods. Areas of emphasis are: clinical asepsis, safety, ergonomics, patient management and preparation, dental instruments and nomenclature, chairside assisting techniques, 4-6 handed dentistry, and treatment planning. (Prerequisites: COMM 140; PHIL 100 or PHIL 150; HLTH 1950; HLTH 1952; DA 1820; Co-requisite: DA 1813)
DA1815 Dental Materials (3 credits)
This course is designed to give students fundamental knowledge in dental materials, their purpose, composition, manipulation, properties, purposes, and storage as utilized in the dental practice and laboratory setting. The course includes both didactic and laboratory instruction for various material types including gypsum, impression materials, waxes, cements, and restorative materials. Safety in handling materials will be emphasized in laboratory. (Prerequisite: DA 1820)
DA1816 Radiology I (3 credits)
Radiology I is designed to provide knowledge and skills in radiation history, intra-oral and extra-oral radiographic techniques, image principles and techniques, radiographic equipment and image receptors, radiographic infection control, radiation exposure guidelines, patient and operator protection/safety, patient relations, education, and legal issues, anatomical landmarks and pathology, radiographic film mounting and viewing, radiographic interpretation, and record keeping. (Prerequisites: DA 1820 and DA 1850)
DA1823 Dental Science II (2 credits)
This course is designed to provide basic knowledge in oral pathology and pharmacology. Emphasis will be placed on methods of application, classifications and usage of knowledge in clinical settings. (Prerequisites: DA 1820)
DA1825 Dental Assisting Expanded Functions (5 credits)
Dental Assisting Expanded Functions is designed to train chairside dental assistants in the Expanded Functions for an advanced level of skills and knowledge permitted to provide intra-oral patient care procedures beyond traditional dental assisting duties. Procedures emphasized will be those legally allowed by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry for Licensed Dental Assistants. (Prerequisites: DA 1814, 1815)
DA1826 Radiology II (3 credits)
This course is a continuation of Radiology I. This in-depth course will cover the history of radiation, radiation physics, and differing radiation characteristics. The course will also include patient exposures, patient management and quality assurance. Students will also learn film techniques and processing. (Prerequisities: DA 1816)
DA1827 Dental Nutrition (1 credits)
This course is designed to provide basic background knowledge in nutrition as it pertains to dental health and preventative dental philosophies. Emphasis will be placed on preventative dentistry and nutrition benefits of dental health. The focus of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge to define nutrition, describe key nutrients, use dietary guidelines, food labeling, food pyramids, define dental diets. Emphasis will be placed on dental health and nutritional guidelines. (Prerequisite: Admitted to Dental Assisting program)
DA1828 Nitrous Oxide Sedation (1 credits)
Nitrous Oxide Sedation is designed to provide fundamental knowledge, elements, purposes, and uses of Nitrous Oxide sedation for the Dental Hygienist and Dental Assistant. (Prerequisites: DA 1814, HLTH 1950, HLTH 1952, CPR must be valid throughout the course.)
DA1845 Clinical Affiliations (8 credits)
This course is designed to give the dental assistant student practical experience in dental practices. The extra-mural experiences will be completed in local dental offers including specialty areas as available. Clinical duties and expanded functions covering all aspects of the dental practice will be utilized. (Prerequisites: Successful completion of all previous dental assisting courses. Valid Healthcare Provider CPR)
DA1850 Dental Business Technologies (3 credits)
The course is designed to introduce students to dental software and implement software skills in clinical courses. This course will also expose students to business management aspects including administrative, financial and records management. Basic computers skills are needed for successful completion of course (Prerequisites: Admission to the Dental Assisting program)
DA1855 Ethics and Jurisprudence (1 credits)
This course will focus on the rules and regulations found in the Minnesota Dental Practice Act. An understanding of ethical and legal implications for dental practitioners will prepare students to take the Minnesota Jurisprudence exam for dental practitioners. (Prerequisites: DA 1825 and DA 1860)
DA1860 Expanded Functions II (4 credits)
Expanded Functions II is designed to provide knowledge of general and specialty dentistry with associated chairside dental assisting laboratory and clinical skills. Emphasis will be placed on general and specialty dental procedures, including expanded dental procedures legally allowed by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry for Licensed Dental Assistants. (Prerequisite: DA 1814, DA 1815).
HLTH1950 CPR (1 credits)
This course covers the skills of infant, child and adult single and two rescue CPR as well as relief of foreign body airway obstruction procedures for infant, child and adult. Automated external defibrillators, bag-valve-masks and pocket masks are also used. Signs and symptoms of vascular disease are discussed. This meets the current criteria of the American Heart Association guidelines. (Prerequisites: None)
HLTH1952 First Aid (1 credits)
This course includes emergency care training for initial treatment of illness and injury. Patient assessment, bleeding control, shock management, soft tissue injury, orthopedic injury, diabetic problems, seizures, poisons, heat exposure and cold exposure are some of the topics covered in the course. This course is appropriate for anyone who may need to render immediate care. The topics covered do meet the course requirements for OSHA and MSHA first aid training.
Required Arts and Sciences (3 Courses)
To complete an AAS Degree, students must complete 17 MNTC credits from 3 of the 10 MNTC Goal Areas. Courses must be approved by advisor/faculty. The following courses are required:
COMM140 Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
In this class, participants will examine key components of interpersonal communication theory, identify the interpersonal communication skills necessary for healthy relationships, assess their own interpersonal communication effectiveness, and practice and hone interpersonal communication skills necessary for healthy home and work relationships. This course will also address relevant issues of social interaction, including how human diversity/culture (age, race, gender, etc.) affects our interpersonal communication. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 1: Communication)
ENGL100 Composition (4 credits)
Composition is concerned with developing, through theory and practice, the ability to communicate in written form for personal and professional reasons. Students will develop writing skills, analytic skills, and critical thinking skills. Students will complete readings, papers, grammar exercises, and in-class activities. Students will complete research and write a research paper. Students will learn methods of writing informatively and persuasively. (Prerequisites: Must have one of the following: (MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher) OR (READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher) OR (completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher) AND (completion of either ENGL 0090 or EAP 0095 with a grade of C [2.0] or higher) (MNTC 1: Communication)
PHIL100 Ethics in Society (3 credits)
This course studies the foundations for moral beliefs and values and the part they play in practical ethical judgments. After providing a general introduction to moral concepts and theories, the course covers a wide range of social problems through an analysis of power, privilege, and justice. The class is organized by overarching themes of race, social class, gender, and global concerns and addresses issues involving criminal justice, economic inequality, gender differences, and sexuality. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC Goal Area 7a - Human Diversity, MNTC Goal Area 7b - Race/Power/Justice, MNTC Goal Area 9 - Ethical/Civic Resp)
OR
PHIL150 Medical Ethics (3 credits)
This course examines the moral problems confronting medical providers and surveys the broader field of bioethics. After providing a general introduction to ethical concepts and theories, it focuses on specific issues relating to the American health care system, including access to care, inequality, obesity, reproductive rights, end-of-life care, disability, organ transplantation, and alternative medicine. Emphasis is placed on practical application of moral principles and critical analysis of case studies. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC Goal Areas 6-Humanities/Fine Arts and 9 - Ethical/Civic Responsibility)
Required MATH Course (1 Course)
Choose one course from the following list:
MATH115 Concepts in Math (4 credits)
Concepts in Mathematics is a general education survey course designed to spotlight the field as an important component of our cultural heritage. It introduces a broad range of topics from classical as well as modern mathematics. The emphasis is on problem solving and developing the logical skills to successfully defend solutions, while at the same time showing how mathematics is a creative human endeavor influencing how we perceive the world. Among the major topics considered are logic, set theory, axiomatic systems, number theory, number systems, analytic geometry, algebra, combinatorics, and elementary probability. (Prerequisites: Next-Generation Accuplacer QAS score of 237 to 300; or Classic Accuplacer Arithmetic score of 56 or higher AND Classic Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 76 or higher; or completion of either MATH 0085 or MATH 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher or ACT Math score of 19 or higher or MCA Math score of 1148 or higher) (MNTC 4: Math/Logical Reasoning)
MATH120 College Algebra (4 credits)
College algebra studies functions and their applications. This course focuses on linear functions, quadratic functions, polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and related equations, inequalities, and graphs. Additional topics include inverse functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices, sequences and series, and the Binomial Theorem. MATH 120 satisfies the MNTC Category 4 Mathematical/Logical Reasoning requirement. (Prerequisites: Corequisite enrollment in MATH 0098 OR Completion of MATH 0098 OR MATH 0085 OR MATH 0095 with a grade of C or higher OR Accuplacer score of 56+ in Arithmetic and 76+ in Elementary Algebra and 50+ in College Math OR Next Gen Accuplacer score 250-300 AAF OR ACT Math score 22-36 OR MCA score 1158-1164)
MATH125 Trigonometry (3 credits)
A study of the six trigonometric functions, their inverses and their applications forms the heart of this course. First, the two common methods of angle measure are derived along with the related notions of length of arc and area of a sector. Then the trigonometric functions are defined in terms of the unit circle and their properties such as domain, range, period and amplitude are explored, along with their associated graphs. This leads to a study of identities and conditional equations. Triangle trigonometry and real-world applications follow, with an investigation of associated themes such as vectors, exponential and logarithmic functions.(Prerequisites: Next-Generation Accuplacer AAF score of 250 or higher or Classic Accuplacer College Math score of 63 or higher or Completion of MATH 120 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher or ACT Math score of 22 or higher.) (MNTC 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning)
MATH130 Pre-Calculus (4 credits)
This is an accelerated course covering many topics from both College Algebra and Trigonometry. These include functions, graphs of functions, analytic geometry of the conic sections, systems of equations and inequalities, elementary matrix operations and determinants, properties and applications of exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, complex numbers, vectors, polar coordinates and elementary combinatorics. Should not be taken for credit in addition to either MATH 120 or MATH 125. (Prerequisites: Next-Generation Accuplacer AAF score of 250 or higher or Classic Accuplacer College Math score of 86 or higher, or ACT Math score of 23 or higher.) (MNTC 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning)
MATH131 Calculus I (4 credits)
This course introduces the key concepts of the derivative and the integral. Beginning with the definition of limit, the notion of continuity is developed which is perhaps the most important thread running throughout the calculus. This leads naturally to the process of differentiation and then integration, concluding with the all important Fundamental Theorem of the Calculus. Along the way, applications to classical and modern science, economics, the social sciences and other fields are explored. (Prerequisites: Next-Generation Accuplacer AAF score of 276 or higher or Classic Accuplacer College Math score of 103 or higher or ACT Math score of 24 or higher or completion of either MATH 125 or MATH 130 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.) (MNTC 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning)
MATH132 Calculus II (4 credits)
In this continuation of Calculus I, you will begin by investigating more applications of the definite integral, along with useful techniques for evaluating them. This leads in a natural way to a brief introduction to differential equations, and the evaluation of improper integrals and indeterminate forms. Next, the calculus of the transcendental functions is explored in some detail. Then the study of sequences and series is taken up, including power series and Taylor series. Important geometrical concepts such as polar coordinates, parametric equations and vectors in the plane and in space are also covered. (Prerequisites: MATH 131, with a grade of C or better) (MNTC 4: Mathematical/Logical Reasoning)
MATH154 Elementary Statistics (4 credits)
This course introduces the essential mathematical elements of statistics, applying them to a broad range of areas, including business, economics, and the physical, biological and social sciences. Topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, variability, graphical displays, normal and t-distributions, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, estimation, linear regression, correlation, and other selected statistical topics. Math 154 satisfies the MNTC Category 4 Mathematical/Logical Reasoning requirement. (Prerequisite: Corequisite enrollment in MATH 0099, OR Completion of MATH 0099 OR MATH 0085 OR MATH 0095 with a grade of C or higher, OR NextGen score of 250-300 QAS, OR ACT score of 19+, OR MCA score of 1148+, OR an Accuplacer test score of 56 or above in Arithmetic AND a score of 76 or above in Elementary Algebra)
Elective Arts and Sciences MnTC Goal 5 (3 Credits)
Select 3 credits from MnTC Goal 5: History and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Course should be chosen with Advisor approval.
PLEASE NOTE: All program plans are preliminary and curriculum may change without notice. Your catalog of record may have different requirements.
