O'Hehir University
Master's Degree in Oral Health Promotion, Behavior and Business
Overview
The O’Hehir University Master’s Degree in Oral Health Promotion, Behavior and Business builds on the foundations developed in our Bachelor’s programme, supporting students to deepen their understanding and extend their impact within the field.
This programme is designed for dental hygienists and dental therapists who want to move beyond individual interventions and develop a broader perspective on how oral health is shaped, influenced, and sustained.
Oral health promotion is explored through multiple lenses, including:
- Leadership
- Coaching
- Writing
- Facilitating
- Presenting
Together, these provide a more complete view of how ideas are communicated, applied, and embedded in practice.
A Broader Lens
At Master’s level, the focus expands beyond behaviour change alone.
Students are encouraged to explore:
- How systems and structures influence outcomes
- How professional environments shape decisions and opportunities
- How ideas are translated into practice across different contexts
This creates space for a more reflective, critical, and applied understanding of oral health promotion.
Learning Approach
OHU’s philosophy of teaching and learning is grounded in:
- Reflection on current practice, values, and beliefs
- Critical thinking
- Inquiry and discussion
- Behaviour change in context
Each student brings their own experience into the programme and is an active contributor to the learning environment.
Small cohort sizes support meaningful discussion, peer review, and the development of ideas over time.
Staging
Curriculum and Chronology
To be awarded a Master of Arts (MA) Degree in Oral Health Promotion, students complete three stages (180 points total), aligned with the European model:
Part 1
Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Coaching (60 points)
Part 2
Postgraduate Certificate in Writing, Facilitating and Presenting (60 points)
Part 3
Master’s Project (60 points)
Each stage builds on the previous, supporting a progressive development of knowledge, perspective, and application.
- One certificate → Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert)
- Two certificates → Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip)
- Two certificates + project → Master of Arts (MA)
For Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists
Eligibility
Our Master’s Degree is open to licensed or registered dental hygienists and dental therapists who hold a Bachelor’s Degree.
It is not necessary to currently be in clinical practice.
Eighteen Months
Program Length
Each stage runs for six months, with weekly one-hour sessions in small cohorts.
The full Master’s Degree typically takes a minimum of eighteen months to complete.
By choice
Accreditation
The OHU Master’s 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 each six month post graduate certificate is $2,998.00 (US). The total for each of the three stand-alone post graduate certificates culminating in a Master’s Degree is $8994.00 A 6-month payment plan is available for each post graduate certificate program which does not include any finance charge. Each month would cost $499.66. Payments begin when the class starts.
What You Will Develop
The Master’s programme supports the development of transferable skills that can be applied across a range of professional settings.
These include:
- Leading and influencing change
- Communicating ideas clearly and effectively
- Facilitating learning and discussion
- Applying knowledge within complex, real-world environments
Students are encouraged to connect their work directly to their own professional context, whether in clinical practice, education, industry, or beyond.
Behaviour Change Experts
Why OHU?
O’Hehir University has supported hundreds of dental hygienists and dental therapists globally in developing their professional practice and academic understanding.
Our approach recognises that expertise is not only built through knowledge, but through perspective, reflection, and application.
Mentorship and Community
Graduates become part of an international postgraduate community.
There are opportunities to engage with mentors who are working in leadership and coaching roles, and, over time, to step into those roles themselves.
Next Step
How do I apply?
The next cohort will begin in Spring 2026. Here is a link