Established in 1910 by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, OBU is a small co-educational Christian liberal arts university in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The main OBU campus, referred to as “Bison Hill,” contains over 30 buildings on 200 acres. Located about 35 miles east of Oklahoma City and surrounded by acres of vineyards, Shawnee is rich in history and filled with great attractions. Students can visit Oklahoma’s only Egyptian mummy at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, or relax at a lavender farm where they can sip lavender lemonade and try their hand at harvest. Visitors can also learn more about the Citizen Potawatomi Nation at their state-of-the-art Culture Heritage Center. Just 30 minutes away, the major urban center of Oklahoma City provides access to internships and cultural events.
OBU has been Oklahoma’s highest rated college in the U.S. News & World Report rankings for 16 consecutive years. In addition, OBU is ranked No.2 among baccalaureate colleges in the western region in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report “America’s Best Colleges” ratings. OBU was named Oklahoma’s top-ranked university in the Forbes.com 2010 listing of “America’s Best Colleges,” as well as the state’s top college in the Forbes.com list of “America’s Best College Buys.” According to The Princeton Review, OBU is one of “America’s Best Value Colleges” as well as a 2011 “Best in the West” institution. Notable alumni include Mary Fallin, Governor of Oklahoma, and Oral Roberts, Founder and Former President of Oral Roberts University.
OBU offers programs in 84 areas of study in five academic schools, leading to the following undergraduate degrees: Associate of Arts in Christian Studies; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Science in Education; Bachelor of Business Administration; Bachelor of Music; Bachelor of Music Education; Bachelor of Fine Arts; Bachelor of Musical Arts; and Bachelor of Professional Accountancy. OBU also offers two graduate degrees through the OBU Graduate School in downtown Oklahoma City. The school currently offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree, and MBA degree with an international business focus.
All students complete a program of Common Core and Flex Core courses, and courses in an area of concentration (or major and minor courses), to bring the degree program to the minimum of 128 hours of course work. Some professional programs require more than this total number of hours. A minimum of 39 hours must be junior or senior level. In keeping with the school’s liberal arts focus, the Common Core curriculum emphasizes diverse education including history, literature, religion, science, mathematics, the social sciences, and the humanities. The Flex Core, which will vary in content according to the degree chosen, consists of a minimum of 12 hours chosen to strengthen the Common Core but also to provide flexibility to serve specific needs of the various degrees.
OBU emphasizes academic, spiritual and social growth for the betterment of the student and the world. Students have the opportunity to participate in Bible studies, weekly Chapel, class discussions, and ministry throughout the community. OBU recognizes more than 150 campus organizations with various interests and purposes including student government, academics, music and arts, politics, social service, sports, religion, and “The Bison” student newspaper. Students also have the opportunity to travel and study abroad. OBU encourages the development of global awareness, strong communication skills, and the ability to think critically and creatively. All of this occurs in a supportive, Christian community; one that’s dedicated to the highest intellectual and ethical standards.
As you study various works of literature, philosophy and science, you will encounter ideas that have shaped Western civilization and the world. By studying the liberal arts at a Christian university, you will have a chance to explore those ideas through a Christian lens. At OBU you will learn how all knowledge connects and how that framework can be informed by a thoughtful Christian worldview. All of the 113 faculty members at OBU are active Christians, and a student to faculty ratio of 15:1 enables students to better engage faculty mentors. OBU is a place where you can grow in your faith, where you can think and prepare for the future, where you can question and find answers, and where you can shine.
The OBU Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC, pronounced “rock”) is home to many campus intramural sports such as Basketball, Bowling, Flag Football, Free Throw Shooting, Racquetball, Sand Volleyball, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, and Ultimate Frisbee. The RAWC also includes cardio and weight machines, a 29-foot rock climbing wall, an indoor running track, three basketball/volleyball courts, three racquetball courts, a 25-meter indoor/outdoor swimming pool, and a snack bar. OBU athletic teams compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference of the NAIA in 17 sports: baseball, softball, men & women’s basketball, men & women’s cross country, men & women’s golf, men & women’s soccer, men & women’s tennis, men & women’s track & field (indoor and outdoor), and women’s volleyball. Four varsity sports teams are being added to the OBU athletics program. OBU will add football, men’s and women’s swimming, and women’s lacrosse incrementally, beginning with swimming in 2011-12. Lacrosse is set to begin in 2012, and football is tentatively set to begin in the fall semester of 2013. This will be the first time since 1940 that football is played on the OBU campus.
Admission of homeschooled students is based on ACT or SAT scores and a written description or transcript of the homeschool experience. The standardized test composite score must be at the level OBU requires for regular admission (an ACT composite of at least 20 or a recentered SAT of at least 950), and subscores must meet OBU guidelines for regular class placement. Applicants who do not meet the criteria stated above may be admitted on a conditional basis by the Admissions Committee. Students wishing to be considered for admission by the Admissions Committee must submit a statement (approximately 250 words) expressing the student’s goals and stating how attending OBU will help the student achieve those goals; two letters of reference from recent teachers who believe the student can successfully complete college work; and complete a personal interview with the Dean of Admissions.
OBU’s school colors of green and gold were chosen by students in the first year of classes because the green prairie located northwest of downtown Shawnee was covered with wild golden coreopsis. New students are given a green and gold beanie that is worn throughout welcome week, which is OBU’s program of orientation for all new students prior to the start of the fall semester. Whether you want to be a teacher, pastor, business professional, nurse, musician, artist, journalist, physician, or scientist, OBU prepares you in a community that is informed by Christian tradition and experience. Learn more about Oklahoma Baptist University at http://www.okbu.edu