Social Sciences Education, Secondary

Our graduates are securing teaching positions across Oklahoma and throughout the country, with some even teaching internationally. Others are teaching subjects such as high school history and government, engaging in mission work, instructing English as a Second Language, or teaching in secondary (and higher) education settings. 

The School of Education is nationally accredited through CAEP, the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation. In addition, each licensure area is accredited through the state of Oklahoma. Graduates from our program are eligible to teach locally, nationally, and internationally. Faculty in the education program have a combined experience of over 100 years in public school education.  

The courses within the education program focus on learning the content, knowledge, and dispositions of an effective educator through hands-on and engaging instruction, alongside practical field experiences in the public school classroom. OBU’s teacher education program partners with districts all over the state, nation, and world to offer experiences with diverse K-12 students.  

One of the many noted strengths of the OBU Education program is the amount of field experience/practicum time that is provided across the four years of the degree program. You will be asked to complete between 85-120 hours of observation and practicum experiences in local schools prior to student teaching. Many students even have the opportunity to compete a practicum in a virtual, online setting. Field experiences allow students to tutor children, teach small groups and whole classes, and practice differentiation and classroom management. Unique to OBU and a student favorite is the creation of an Interactive Children’s Museum over a topic of history and a fun-filled science discovery STEM day with hands-on learning for children.

Through coursework, pre-service teachers are exposed to the latest research-based practices in education. Additionally, all education majors have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive investigation of a research topic of their own interest. Pre-service teachers present about their topic to their peers, and some even go on to present their research to practicing teachers at educational conferences.

OBU teacher education supports preservice teachers in understanding and utilizing latest educational technology such as Smartboards, iPads, learning management systems, and assistive technology. 

Field experiences culminate in a 14-week internship of student teaching during your senior year. Candidates can student teach in a school of choice within 50 miles of OBU. Students can also choose to student teach abroad.

Students are invited to participate in professional teacher education organizations, such as the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) and Student Professional Oklahoma Educators (SPOE), which enables them to network with other preservice and in-service educators across the state and nation. Students are also invited to travel to state and national conferences which offer professional development related to innovative, researched-based practices within the field of education.

Through the coursework and field experience in the teacher education program at OBU, students learn first-hand how to share the love of Christ in the classroom. All children are created in the image of God, each with his own unique gifts and talents. The teacher education program focuses on celebrating the uniqueness and diversity within schools and classrooms. Pre-service teachers learn to focus on each child’s strengths to offer an engaging, rigorous curriculum while striving to meet all academic, social, cultural, and behavior needs to the best of their ability.