Clinical Application Projects (CAPs) have been developed that allow dental hygiene and nursing students to apply introductory microbiology principles and skills learned in lecture and laboratory to a problem in an appropriate clinical situation. CAPs therefore substitute for the traditional study of "unknowns". Principles and processes emphasized in microbiology and clinical areas are reinforced and interaction between basic and clinical sciences are stressed in situations familiar to students. Nursing students are provided with "unknowns" isolated from simulated patients and simulations are developed using descriptions of disease syndromes from a variety of sources. A final report is required which includes a 4-step methodology (assess situation, plan methods of attack, implement plan, evaluate results) and organism-disease relationship (symptoms, syndromes, epidemiology, and treatment). CAPs for dental hygiene students provide experiences in oral microbiology. Organisms are collected under a variety of conditions in a dental hygiene clinic to determine the level of microbial pollution in the dental clinic and microbial contamination which rotary manipulation released from a patient's mouth. The major focus is on relating microbial population of patient's mouth to the dental history of the patient. Students have responded positively to the CAPs approach. (Author/JN)