Special Education

Graduates find jobs teaching in resource, self-contained or inclusive settings in public and private schools. Others find jobs in facilities such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, non-profit education centers, vocational and residential programs for adults with disabilities, and early childhood developmental education programs. 

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.  

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. Preservice teachers are also introduced to the OBU Planetarium as a tool for engaging learners.

Field experiences culminate in a 14-week internship of student teaching during your senior year. Efforts are made to pair you with your school of preference within 50 miles of OBU. Students also can 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.