Course Descriptions

Content marketing involves planning, creating and distributing relevant and consistent content to a target audience using digital media. Emphasis will be placed on creating visual content to capture and engage an audience for both consumer and business markets.

This course covers the key elements in creating user-friendly, functional and aesthetically pleasing web pages to improve the customer experience. Emphasis will be placed on examining both the topics of user experience design (UX) and user interface design (UI) in the development of web pages for both desktop and mobile devices. Students will apply skills learned by developing web page designs using content management software for a portfolio.

This course provides information on both the technical and creative elements to improve search engine optimization (SEO) within a digital marketing strategy. Course content will include search engine techniques to improve performance in search queries through organic and paid web page optimization. Emphasis will be placed on web page design, quality content, keyword search and targeting, link building, local search, data measurement and pay-per-click advertising.

This course will cover mobile and email marketing techniques as a part of a multi-channel digital marketing strategy. Mobile marketing strategies are aimed at target audiences through websites, email, multimedia messaging service (MMS), social media and applications. Course content also will include techniques in developing effective email marketing campaigns optimized for mobile devices.

Marketing analytics is the collection and measurement of data to make better marketing decisions. In this advanced course, students will take an in-depth look at how to collect, measure and analyze the marketing performance of a digital marketing strategy. Students will develop a hands-on understanding of website, social and digital media analytic software and reporting tools.

This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge they have acquired throughout the digital marketing curriculum into a business situation. This is an application course in which students are required to demonstrate the ability to understand and solve complex digital marketing problems. Students will assess an organization's marketing problem or opportunity and create a digital marketing strategy designed to improve the overall performance of the organization.

This course includes an orientation to the history of dentistry, educational requirements, credentialing opportunities and professional associations for dental and allied dental careers. The student is provided with instruction in the use of dental equipment, instruments and supplies; principles of four-handed dentistry; concepts of infection control and instrument recirculation; management of medical and dental emergencies; and procedures related to oral diagnosis, preventive dentistry and restorative dentistry.

Dental assisting students apply skills in a clinical setting. This course prepares the student to adapt chairside skills to assist with dental specialties as they are performed in the general practice. Students will apply skills developed in Dental Anatomy, Biomaterials, Biodental Science and Dental Practice Management as they apply to the practice of dental assisting.

This course provides an introduction to anatomy and physiology, an introduction to dental histology, embryology and an overview of head and neck anatomy using the universal charting system. This course also is designed to give the student a basic concept of microbiology and disease transmission and a survey of oral pathology and pharmacology. The student will be introduced to the basic concepts of nutrition in the dental profession.

This course provides the student with instruction in the principles and applications that are related to the management of a dental office. Emphasis is placed on managing patient records through computer-generated charting, financial records, third-party payments, appointment scheduling, inventory and recall systems.

This course is designed to provide the student with instruction and practice to perform the clinical competency in the following intra-oral functions approved by the Minnesota Board of Dentistry: taking radiographic exposures, performing mechanical polishing, taking preliminary impressions and bite registrations, applying topical fluoride, placing and removing periodontal dressing, removing excess cement, monitoring nitrous oxide-induced patients, induction of nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation, removing excess bond from orthodontic appliances with rotary instruments and applying pit and fissure sealants. In addition the following intra-oral functions are taught and practiced to laboratory competency: removing sutures, preliminary adaptation of temporary (provisional) crowns, performing selected orthodontic functions, applying bleaching agents and performing approved endodontic procedures.

This is a faculty-supervised course at extramural sites with dentists and dental auxiliaries providing ancillary supervision. The student will be provided with clinical experiences by affiliations in general dentistry and/or specialized practices. Emphasis is on professionalism in performing general chairside and advanced intraoral procedures.

Dental Assisting students will be introduced to techniques and processes for exposing digital full mouth series and extra-oral digital radiographs on skulls, manikins and patients. Students will utilize these techniques and processes to expose digital radiographs and evaluate them for diagnostic value according to M State Dental Criteria for Radiographic Acceptability.

Dental Assisting students will expose digital full mouth series and extra-oral digital radiographs on patients. Lab sessions will allow students to further develop radiographic skills and enhance proficiency in radiographic techniques and evaluation.

This course introduces the student to the dental specialties of pediatric dentistry, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, orthodontics and prosthodontics, both fixed and removable. This course will provide the student with an introduction to the clinical procedures with each of the specialties listed. Students will research various dental assisting specialties by interviewing dental assistants in specialty practices.