Mar 11, 2026  
2023-2024 Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Dental Assistant (with Expanded Duties), A.A.S.


Below are the required courses for the program. Please contact the Program Chair:
Crystal Stuhr
cstuhr@southeast.edu
402-437-2740

Dental Assistant, A.A.S.


The AAS is a vocational degree with a focus on expanded duties or functions in the practice of Dental Assisting. Those individuals who have graduated from a CODA Dental Assisting Program, passed the CDA exam and become a Licensed Dental Assistant in Nebraska are eligible to complete this degree. This degree is a stackable degree, which means the diploma program credits go toward an AAS degree.

Associate Degree of Applied Science is a new program of study which has been approved by Post-Secondary Coordination Committee and Commission on Dental Accreditation.

General Education Requirement


*Completion of a CODA Accredited Dental Assisting Diploma is required (approximately 39 credit hours toward AAS)

Contact your program advisor to select General Education Courses (GELOs)  from each of the following catagories which meet your program’s graduation requirement.

Take a class from each of the GELO categories listed below.
GELO #1: Speech Communication Credits:  3
GELO #2: Written Communication  Credits:  3
AND
Take classes from the GELO categories below for a minimum of 9 credit hours. 
No two classes from the same GELO category. 
GELO #3: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
GELO #4: Global Awareness and Citizenship
GELO #5: Analytical, Quantitative, and Scientific Reasoning
GELO #6: Career and Life Skills

Total: 15 hours


Additional courses


Take one of the following courses  Credits:  3

HLTH 1050 Dental Terminology  
OFFT 1150 Basic Keyboarding  
BSAD 1010 Microsoft Applications I  

Elective Courses


Also, take elective courses (cannot be a course used toward the GELO requirement) for a
minimum of 7 credits.  

Below is a list of recommended courses:

HLTH 1011 Introduction to Nursing as a Career  
HLTH 1060 Comprehensive Medical Terminology  
SOCI 1010 Introduction to Sociology  
MEDA 1206 Medical Law, Ethics, and Cultural Communication  
PHED 1610 Standard First Aid  

Total: 10 hours

Dental Assisting Required Core Courses


The completion of the Advanced Dental Assisting course 

To be eligible for courses: must be a Nebraska Licensed Dental Assistant or by permission.

Total: 2 hours


Special Program Requirements for the AAS Degree


Special Program Requirements PRIOR to the START of Dental Assistant, A.A.S. program.

Submit at the time of completing application to the Health Sciences office (Room 230):

  1. Submit copy of a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR card. See Program Admission Checklist for specific CPR requirements.
  2. Submit a two-step skin test for tuberculosis and/or current chest x-ray.
  3. Transcripts showing completion of CODA Accredited Dental Assisting Program.
  4. Proof of Nebraska License in Dental Assisting.
  5. General Education required courses grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 minimum.

Total: 60