Skip to main content
OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Psychology: Pre-Counseling

In the Psychology: Pre-Counseling program at OBU, you will embark on a transformative journey of understanding the complexities of the human mind and behavior with an emphasis on preparing for a career in counseling. Our program goes beyond traditional academics, focusing on skill development and providing opportunities for experiential learning.

Sydney Collier Gardner

Class of 2024

“OBU has prepared me to pursue my goals by giving me opportunities to do research and write a thesis in my area of study. The honors program and psychology department have connected me with world-class experts who have guided me in my research.”

Benefits of the OBU Psychology: Pre-Counseling Program

The psychology: pre-counseling degree has been tailored specifically for students who know they want to pursue a career in counseling. This degree includes specialized courses in counseling theory and practice not typically found in most undergraduate psychology programs. Furthermore, the degree contains some flexibility of courses to accommodate students with a wide range of counseling interests.

Incredible Education, Affordable Cost.

OBU provides a minimum $10,000 per year scholarship to every incoming first-time freshman and $8,000 to every incoming transfer student. And you could qualify for even more financial aid! Many of our students also receive money through federal Pell grants and OBU Bison Grants.

To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be, please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is. Especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!

Program Information

Labs and Resources

Your experience will include a lab-based statistics course where you will conduct an independent research project on a topic of your choice. In the lab you will learn to use relevant statistical software to analyze data and form conclusions.

You will also learn counseling techniques in our Counseling Lab. Simulated counseling sessions occur behind a one-way mirror for the class to observe.

Research

You will have multiple opportunities to engage in research, including conducting research as part of your statistics course. You also will propose an independent research project in the Research Methods course and can carry out additional research projects by enrolling in a Research Practicum or Independent Study.

OBU students were recently recognized by the international psychology honor society, Psi Chi, as having received more Psi Chi Research awards over the past decade than any other school in the Southwest region.

Internships

OBU psychology students have several internship opportunities (we call them practicums). This includes the Shawnee Youth and Family Resource Center, Gateway Drug Rehabilitation Center, Baptist Children’s Home, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Harvest Farms equine therapy for disabled children.

Professional Networking Opportunities

As an OBU psychology student you will have the opportunity every year to attend local or regional conferences like the Southwestern Psychological Association conference. Some students go to present their research while others go to learn about current research trends and network with students and faculty from other universities. Some OBU students have been recruited into graduate programs while attending conferences.

Job Opportunities and Outcomes

With a psychology degree from OBU you have complete freedom with your choices for your future. Some of our psychology graduates enter careers immediately while others choose to go on to earn graduate degrees. OBU graduates have entered careers at adoption agencies; in community development, consumer research and counseling; as a criminal researcher, family life educator, human resources manager, social worker, teacher; or in law enforcement, among many others.

Program Options

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Bret Roark

Dr. Bret Roark

Chair, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Ralph and Marie Barby Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology

Dr. Canaan Crane

Dr. Canaan Crane

Professor of Psychology
Director, MFT Program

Dr. Camille Lafleur

Dr. Camille Lafleur

Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy

Dr. Karen Longest

Dr. Karen Longest

Associate Dean for Faculty Development,
Professor of Psychology, and
Director for the Center of Teaching Excellence

Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences