A Renewed Shawnee Hall for the Next Century

Since 1915, Shawnee Hall has been as much a part of the OBU student experience as Ka-Rip and The Walk. The first structure built on the OBU campus, Shawnee Hall has served virtually every OBU student through the years in a variety of ways.

The tornado left historic Shawnee Hall tattered. However, this created the opportunity to shape the future as never before. Shawnee Hall will house the McCabe Family School of Education, the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy program, graduate Health Science lab facilities and Admissions offices. Help us rebuild this prized building and usher in a new era of education at OBU.

The first OBU Commencement was held on campus in Shawnee Hall in 1917.

Cutting-Edge Learning Spaces for the School of Education

With the completion of the Shawnee Hall rebuild, the Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education will be set to return to its iconic home, reimagined with cutting-edge academic spaces and modern offices. This revitalized hub will continue to be a shining light for teacher preparation and educational excellence, inspiring the next generation of educators.

The McCabe Family School of Education offers an expansive array of undergraduate programs, from early childhood and elementary education to specialties like art, mathematics, Spanish, and theater education. With over a century of combined teaching experience, the dedicated faculty is passionate about preparing students to succeed in today’s ever-evolving and diverse classrooms.

“By investing in teachers, OBU is investing in the future of Oklahoma and beyond.”

Dr. Elizabeth Justice
Chair, Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education

Four New Graduate Health Science Programs

OBU recently announced the upcoming launch of accelerated hybrid graduate health science programs, offering students a fast track to careers in high-demand healthcare professions.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy — January 2026
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology — Fall 2026
Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies — Early 2027
Doctor of Physical Therapy — Fall 2027

These programs, which blend virtual and on-campus learning, are designed to be accessible to students in Oklahoma and throughout the nation. The campus-based portion of the curriculum will take place in Shawnee Hall, which is currently undergoing renovations as part of the University’s Shape the Future Campaign.

These renovations are essential to creating state-of-the-art learning spaces that will support the innovative health science curriculum. Once completed, the facilities will help prepare well-equipped, faith-driven healthcare professionals ready to serve their communities.

Pending accreditation, these programs are poised to address critical shortages in healthcare professions, meeting the evolving needs of communities across Oklahoma and beyond.

“OBU’s DPT program will be grounded in holistic care, and being part of the set of graduate healthcare programs increases opportunities for interprofessional collaboration and learning for our students.”

Dr. Meredith Bailey
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation

The Critical Role of Shawnee Hall

The renovated spaces in Shawnee Hall will provide ample teaching space for the large cohorts expected in the new Health Science programs. Lab spaces can accommodate over 100 students with necessary equipment. Storage spaces for equipment are included in the renovation, allowing for the ability to use these spaces for additional purposes.