Iowa Western Community College

Department: Science and Math

Are you the type of person that likes fast-paced, hands-on experience with the opportunity to help the public?  The Dental Assisting Program at Iowa Western is just what you’re looking for!  Your hands-on experience begins as soon as the first week of class when you’ll be working with other students in the dental clinic at Iowa Western.  This program combines the dental field with direct patient care and a little bit of arts and crafts.

Iowa Western’s faculty has 26 years of combined experience in the dental field, including positions as a chairside Dental Assistant, Dental Laboratory Technician, and Dental Office Manager.  The small class size combined with a tight-knit dental community allows for one-on-one interaction with the faculty as the students work their way through the program.  Before the student graduates, they will gain hands-on experience as a chairside assistant in area dental schools and private dental offices.  Graduates have the opportunity to work in private dental practices, specialty dental practices, dental colleges, dental product sales, insurance claims departments, and public health institutions and clinics, and dental laboratories.

The Dental Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. This accreditation ensures that the Dental Assisting program is up to date on the latest curriculum and techniques in the dental industry. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago 60611, or visit the website at www.ada.org/coda.

To learn more about the program or see what we’ve been up to, visit our program Facebook page.

If becoming a dental hygienist appeals to you, Iowa Western’s Dental Hygiene program can help you do just that. Successful candidates earn an Associate of Applied Science degree that prepares them to complete both the National Board Examination and a state or regional exam. Working with Creighton University, Iowa Western offers clinical experiences off-campus.

Graduates of Iowa Western’s Dental Hygiene program are some of the most prepared in the area, boasting a 99 percent board pass-rate on national exams, a 95 percent board pass-rate on regional and state exams, and 100 percent pass-rate on the jurisprudence exam.

After completing your Iowa Western requirements, you’ll have the option of transferring to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.

To become a licensed professional, graduates must successfully complete both the National Board Examination, a state or regional exam, and a jurisprudence exam. CPR certification is required.

The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval with reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.

Few professions can give you as much satisfaction as working with animals, but you’ll need the best training possible to succeed in this career field. Iowa Western’s Veterinary Technology study program will send you on your way after earning an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Iowa Western graduates are working in many areas of the animal science industry, including large and small veterinary clinics, animal shelters, clinical laboratories, zoos, animal research facilities, and biomedical facilities.

Iowa Western’s new state-of-the-art Veterinary Technology facility and personable instructors are two of the attractive features of this program. Students learn valuable skills in surgical labs and participate in animal care and kennel duty every day. Vaccination clinics are held on campus, giving students hands-on experience with animals of many different species. Graduates become eligible for the Veterinary Technician National Examination and the Iowa Veterinary Technician Examination to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. This field increases in demand each year.

The Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The American Veterinary Medical Association can be contacted at 1931 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173; 1-800-248-2862; www.avma.org.

Looking to begin the road to the biological science field? The best place to start is Iowa Western, where the Biological Sciences study program can prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution.

You’ll acquire knowledge in natural and physical sciences in a very intimate classroom setting. The one-on-one interaction between instructors and students makes this program very attractive. There are a variety of class offerings and times, so you can pick the one that best fits your hectic schedule.

There are opportunities for class trips to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and wildlife refuges. There also are opportunities to gain experience from visits to Creighton University’s cadaver lab.

As our nation’s population continues to age, the need for chemists will grow, and you can take advantage of this great career opportunity by enrolling in Iowa Western’s Chemistry program. By earning an Associate of Science degree, you will be prepared to transfer to a four-year institution, and eventually enter the world of plastics, medicine, pharmacology, vaccines, recombinant DNA and other related fields.

Courses in this program feature the same lab equipment as other schools but are unique in that classes are smaller than large universities and are taught by full-time instructors, not teachers’ assistants. Chemistry labs are equipped with up-to-date computers and the latest software.

Graduates of this program can immediately enter the field of pharmacy. Or you can choose to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree and become a lab technician. You can participate in this program as a part-time student, and some night classes are offered, allowing you to work during the day.

If you enjoy math and you are you thinking about a career in economics, business, engineering, or education, Iowa Western’s Mathematics program of study might be the perfect place for you to start.

In this program, you will learn the foundation needed for you to transfer to a four-year school and work towards a bachelor’s degree. In addition to all of the general education courses you will need, Iowa Western’s experienced math faculty offer a wide range of math courses including college algebra, statistics, three levels of calculus, and differential equations, to name a few. In addition, our students have the opportunity to enroll in several different physics, chemistry, and economics courses.

If you enjoy math and science and you are looking for an interesting career in the engineering field, Iowa Western’s Pre-Engineering program is a great place to get started. After completing the Associate of Science degree program, you’ll have the foundation needed to transfer to a four-year institution and complete a bachelor’s degree in the engineering field of your choice.

In this program, you will also complete a 1 credit hour Engineering Orientation course designed to introduce you to various career options in engineering, and develop an academic plan that will help prepare you for transferring on to complete your bachelor’s degree.