The simple, yet heartfelt message is that you are needed in today’s classrooms, and the faculty of the Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education can and sincerely wants to help you get there. Faculty in the education program have a combined experience of 100-plus years in public school education. The employment rate for OBU teachers is a very impressive 94 percent upon graduation.
Hear from the chair of the School of Education, Dr. Elizabeth Justice, about how a degree from OBU will prepare you to be a future shaper.
Undergraduate Education Programs
Early Childhood Education
You have the opportunity to develop a foundation of knowledge and skills through experiences that will help you prepare developmentally appropriate educational programs for young children from prekindergarten through third grade.
Elementary Education
You will receive a firm grounding in the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to assist the learning of children in grades 1 through 8. OBU’s elementary education faculty stress the importance of teaching the whole child, morally and spiritually, as well as academically.
Middle School Education
You'll gain a strong foundation in content knowledge, instructional pedagogy, and classroom management skills tailored to 5th–8th grade students so you are fully prepared to teach and engage middle school students.
Special Education
In our special education program at OBU, we emphasize the importance of implementing a multisensory approach to all learners. We study a wide range of disabilities from mild to severe and provide students the instruction necessary to enhance and broaden their knowledge and tailor the program to their area of interest. When you graduate, you will be prepared and confident to conduct IEP meetings, provide strategies to improve inclusion success and implement positive behavior support in classroom settings to meet the diverse needs of K- 12 grade students.
Art Education
Whether you aspire to become an elementary art teacher that fosters creativity in young children, a middle school instructor guiding students through artistic exploration, or a high school educator nurturing the talents of budding artists, OBU can prepare you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students at every stage of their educational journey.
English Education
The English Education degree at OBU provides you with the opportunity to develop knowledge in your content, to learn about a variety of pedagogical theories and practices and to apply those theories in a classroom practicum. This major consists of 39 hours in English courses and 32 hours in education courses. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, English Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.
Mathematics Education
Our Mathematics degree at OBU is special because you receive a quality education in one of the most powerful majors available, and you receive that education in small, personalized classes. Almost all of our junior and senior level classes at OBU have fewer than fifteen students in them. This allows for direct interaction and individualized support with our energetic mathematics faculty. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, Math Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.
Music Education
Your opportunity to share your love of music with tomorrow’s future shapers will come to life in this degree. You will be prepared to become a certified and successful music teacher in both general music and either vocal or instrumental music in pre-K-12 grade public and private schools.
Science Education
The OBU science education program has been certified to meet the guidelines of the National Science Teachers Association. This program offers courses in science and education, which provide a strong content and pedagogy foundation as you prepare to teach science in public or private schools. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, Science Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.
Social Sciences Education
This program offers high quality upper division courses and advisement designed to prepare you for a wide variety of careers related to Social Sciences Secondary Education as well as providing graduates with a solid foundation for postgraduate study. These courses acquaint you with content and pedagogy knowledge and help you develop skills needed for academic and career success. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, Social Science Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.
Spanish Education
OBU’s Spanish education program blends the rich tapestry of the Spanish language with the discipline of teaching. As a student, you will be empowered with strategies to teach and communicate in Spanish. Your studies include a rich exploration of the multiple cultures and subcultures that make up the largest minority group in the United States and abroad.
Theatre Education
Strengthen and combine your passions for teaching and theatre in OBU’s Christ-centered secondary theatre education program. Surround yourself with all the facets of theatre production and classroom management in an environment that encourages the integration of faith into your career as a teacher. You will be thoroughly equipped to produce and direct middle and high school productions and to effectively manage your classroom to make it a creative learning environment.
Graduate and Certificate Programs
Master of Arts in Teaching
Designed to propel and advance your teaching career, our MA in Teaching program is personalized to your specific area(s) of interest.
Alternative Teaching Certificate
The Alternative Certification and Credentialing for Elementary and Secondary Schools (ACCESS) program provides courses to academically prepare individuals pursuing alternative certification in elementary or secondary education for the state of Oklahoma.
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Continuing in Excellence
The Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education is a recipient of the 2024 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement. OBU is one of only nine teacher education providers in the nation to receive this recognition. This is a seal of approval that confirms quality teacher preparation is of upmost priority within our program.
The School of Education consistently achieves great success in preparing classroom-ready teachers. On the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) exam for 2023-24, OBU's students outperformed state averages. The combined pass rate among OBU undergraduate students and graduate students in the ACCESS program was 97.92%. The state pass rate was 79.68%.
In addition, while the required passing score of the PPAT exam is 38 and the state average is 38.67, OBU’s average score is 43.31.
Accreditation
The Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, CAEP. The School of Education houses undergraduate programs in early childhood (grades PK-3), elementary education (grades 1-8), special education (grades PK-12), secondary English education, secondary math education, secondary science education, secondary social studies education, and both instrumental and vocal music education.
World-Class Faculty
OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.
Chair, School of Education
Lawrence C. and Marion Harris Chair of Education
Associate Professor of Education
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and ACCESS Programs
Administrative Assistant, School of Education
Mary A. White Professor of Education
Co-Provost
Chief Academic Officer
Dean of Business, Health, Science and Education
Professor of Education
Associate Professor of Education
Assistant Professor of Education
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and ACCESS Programs
Violet Sturgeon Minton Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education