Julie Barnwell
Division Director of Health Sciences Division / Interim Dental Hygiene Program Director
CODA Accreditation Site Visit
Great Falls College MSU Dental Hygiene Program will undergo a CODA Accreditation Site Visit on September 28-29, 2026. To remain compliant with CODA policy, the program invites third-party comments. All submissions must be received by CODA on or before the DEADLINE, July 28, 2026 (60 days prior to site visit).
See below for details:
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) reviews third party comments and complaints to ensure sustained quality and continuous improvement of dental and dental-related education programs.
A complaint is defined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation as one alleging that a Commission-accredited educational program, a program which has an application for initial accreditation pending, or the Commission may not be in substantial compliance with Commission standards or required accreditation procedures.
Submitting Third Party Comment/Complaint Guidelines:
CODA invites comments and/or complaints from faculty, students, administrators, dental organizations, patients, and the public.
Verbal comments/complaints will not be accepted; submitters are asked to file in writing. Comments/complaints received outside the 60-day reporting window will be added to the program’s file for review at the next accreditation site visit.
All submissions must:
Submissions may:
Comments/complaints should not be sent via U.S. Postal Service. Contact CODA staff for submission guidelines.
Contact CODA
A copy of the accreditation standards and CODA’s policy on submitting comments/complaints can be obtained by contacting:
Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
Phone: 1-800-621-8099, ext. 4653 or 1-312-440-4653
Email: [email protected]
Becoming a dental hygienist offers you the chance to make a real impact on people’s health by providing essential oral care and education. Enjoy a rewarding and stable career with flexible hours and competitive salaries. Plus, work in a variety of settings, from private practices to public health clinics, ensuring every day is both fulfilling and diverse.
| Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|
| DENT 101 | Introduction to Dental Hygiene/Preclinic |
| DENT 105 | Professional Issues/Ethics in Dental I |
| DENT 223 | Clinical Dental Hygiene Theory II |
| DENT 240 | Local Anesthesia/Nitrous Oxide Theory and Lab |
Prior to enrollment, students should review the Great Falls College MSU State Authorization (NC-SARA) webpage Accreditation – Great Falls College to determine whether this program meets the licensing requirements in a specific state. All states accept the national written board exam dental hygiene students take at the end of this Program. It is important to note that all states determine their own requirements regarding clinical board tests accepted for licensure
Graduates of the dental hygiene program are qualified to work in various dental practice settings, including general dentistry, periodontal, pediatric, public health and orthodontics. With the required hours of experience and continued education, some graduates choose to apply for a Montana Limited Access Permit that allows dental hygienists to work in rural settings and meet the needs of underserved populations throughout our beautiful state.
It’s been hard. Definitely hard. But I know it’ll be worth it … The teachers are nice. They’re great … and they just all bring something different that they can kind of teach us, which is nice to get all those different backgrounds. (My classmates,) we’re like family. We all help each other out and … we always say none of us would pass if it wasn’t for the others.
