O’Hehir University
Bachelor of Science in Oral Health Promotion, Behavior and Business
The O’Hehir University Bachelor of Science Degree Completion Program in Oral Health Promotion, Behavior and Business is designed for dental hygienists and dental therapists who want to develop a broader, more applied understanding of oral health within contemporary practice.
At its core, the programme focuses on thinking differently in order to achieve different outcomes. Building on our established concept of Guided Behaviour Change, students are encouraged to explore how behaviour, environment, and systems interact to shape oral health.
This degree supports those continuing in clinical practice, as well as those moving into education, industry, or other professional roles.
For dental hygienists and dental therapists
Eligibility
Our Bachelor of Science in Oral Health Promotion, behavior and Business is a degree completion program open to licensed or registered dental hygienists and dental therapists.
By virtue of licensure or registration, most applicants will already have completed substantial academic study. In many cases, this equates to the credit requirements of a Bachelor’s degree, and often exceeds this.
The evidence for this, which was published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene can be read here
Convenient times
Class Times
Registration is open for the following classes. Each class at OHU has just five students and we begin when 5 students are registered, so the planned dates may alter depending on student registrations. The class will meet at the same day and time on a weekly basis for an hour via Zoom.
The next planned cohort start dates for Sunday mornings EST/Sunday afternoons UK:
Sunday the 4th of May 2026
Sunday the 6th of September 2026
Sunday the 6th of December 2026
The next planned cohort start dates for Monday evenings EST:
Monday the 18th of May 2026
Monday the 12th of October 2026
NB// No classes on public holidays. Missing a class or two due to prior commitments is not a problem.
Six months
Program Length
All classes start when full (5 students) meeting in video conferencing weekly at the above times and run for six months. Each graduating class or cohort of five students works together over a six-month period to fulfil the requirements of graduation.
By choice
Accreditation
The OHU BS degree completion program is not an accredited program, by choice. To read more about accreditation and why OHU choose to not pursue accreditation, please read more about accreditation here
Manageable
Tuition
Tuition for the BS Degree Completion Program is currently $4,559.00
There is a $50 non-refundable application fee.
There is a 6-month payment plan available. There is no finance charge for the payment plan. Payments begin when the class starts.
Payment plan = US $766.50 x 6
On Graduation:
e-Educational Transcript = Free. Hard copy mailed = $30
e-Diploma = Free. Hard copy mailed = $30
Hard Bound Research Portfolio Mailed = $100
Learning Approach
We do not focus on the accumulation of facts.
Instead, the programme is built around:
- Reflection in practice
- Inquiry-based learning
- Application within real-world settings
Students are encouraged to observe, question, and test ideas within their own professional environments, developing insights that are both academically grounded and practically relevant.
Our students come from all over the world. If you have an internet connection, then you will be able to successfully participate in the O’Hehir University BS Degree Completion Program.
Below are some of our graduates
Behavior change experts
Program Structure
The programme runs over six months, with students working in small cohorts of five.
Each cohort meets weekly for one hour via Zoom, creating a focused environment for discussion, reflection, and project development.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum, the programme allows for individualised learning pathways, recognising that students come from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including:
- Clinical practice
- Education
- Industry and commercial roles
This flexibility enables each student to connect their academic work directly to their own context and future direction.
A Broader Perspective
While behaviour change remains central, the programme now places greater emphasis on the wider context in which oral health is delivered.
This includes:
- The influence of systems and structures
- The realities of time, workflow, and clinical environments
- A growing awareness of the business aspects of dental practice
These elements are not taught as separate topics, but explored as part of how oral health is experienced and delivered in practice.
Still have questions?
FAQ's
Why should an RDH have a Bachelor's Degree?
Completing a Bachelor of Science Degree through O’Hehir University provides dental hygienists with the problem-solving, implementation, and communication skills necessary to advance their clinical career while increasing their competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Who can attend O'Hehir University?
Dental hygienists and dental therapists with a diploma, certificate, or associate’s degree who have graduated from accredited dental hygiene or dental therapy program and hold a license or registration to practice dental hygiene and/or therapy are eligible for entry into O’Hehir University. Preceptorship-trained dental hygienists do not qualify for our degree completion program.
Does O'Hehir University offer financial aid?
No, but some dental hygiene associations both state and national offer scholarships that may be applied to tuition for degree completion.
What You Will Do
Students undertake a behaviour change project grounded in their own professional setting.
This is not approached as a theoretical exercise alone, but as a practical exploration of how oral health is shaped in real-world conditions.
Projects are supported through:
- Reflective learning
- Peer discussion and feedback
- Academic inquiry
Each student produces a written thesis and research portfolio, contributing to the wider understanding of oral health promotion.
What are the technical requirements?
To participate in an OHU Program, you will need:
- PC or Mac
- Access to the internet.
- A webcam.
- Word processing software – Microsoft Word or Mac Pages.
Who are the O'Hehir University Professors?
You can read all about the faculty here
What is the OHU community like?
O’Hehir University is an international institution and we have a diverse cultural community within our student base and Alumni. We have graduates from many countries and many have made international friends who they visit in the real and virtual world.
Being online, there are no walls so students are part of a vast and diverse community spanning the globe. Besides O’Hehir University founders and instructors, student-to-student and alumni-to-student mentorship is an important part of the OHU educational experience. Students are able to connect online one-on-one at any time to gain advice, discuss lessons or experiences, and work together.
During conferences we always try and meet up with the OHU family and it is great to see our graduates progress in their careers. The above photo is from an OHU BS graduate soirée at ISDH 2022 in Dublin, Ireland.
From left to right; Tim Ives, OHU Co-Founder, based in UK, Carmen Lanoway, dental hygienist and public speaker based in Munich, Alison Brown, dental hygienist, adjunct faculty and MSc Student, based in UK, Rafael Rondon, dental hygienist and VP Dental Hygiene Operations at Coast Dental in USA, Trisha O’Hehir, OHU Co-Founder and President, in USA, Lancette Van Guilder (with daughter and husband), dental hygienist and public speaker in USA and Victoria Wilson, dental hygienist and public speaker in UK.