Family Science

At OBU we want you to discover what is happening in the world around you as you strive to shape the world of your future. We believe research makes that possible. Knowing the strengths and challenges of the current world offers you a glimpse of God’s original design and what your part is in impacting its future.
In the last five years alone, our family science professors have worked diligently with OBU honors students on thesis topics related to sexuality or family dynamics. Additionally, multiple honors students have worked with faculty members to investigate more informal family process issues. Our goal is to help you to investigate family matters that will prepare you for graduate school and that provide a deeper understanding in your academic journey. 

As a family science student, you can demonstrate your commitment to communities and churches through social services and para-ministry settings, not only when you graduate, but throughout your time at OBU. You will have the opportunity to serve through internships at adoption/foster agencies, in family crisis centers, with the Boys and Girls Clubs, or as a Big Brother/Sister. You will not only learn and grow on Bison Hill, but a key aspect of your learning will be facilitated through service in settings such as domestic violence prevention/assistance programs, crisis pregnancy or parenting programs, aging service programs, church ministries and others. 

Through your family science training, you will be challenged to identify God's design and purpose in creating the family structure and to seek ways to develop healthy families in our current society. With the guidance of Christian professors and community, you can learn how faith interacts with science, society and culture. You will discover how to use your passion and knowledge to help shape a better tomorrow for individuals and families.

OBU is as committed to your future as you are and that’s why OBU provides an opportunity for our undergraduate juniors to apply for early admission into the masters of Marriage and Family Therapy program. Through an integrated program, OBU provides the opportunity for students from any discipline to begin work toward a graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy while completing an undergraduate degree. Through the program, students from any academic discipline can pursue completion of both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree within approximately six years. The integrated MFT program requires a separate application and interview, but it is a popular choice among the Family Science students.

At OBU we don’t want to just instruct you how to help others, we want you to experience what that feels like and see the impact that it has. We want to give you the opportunity to serve and then we will walk with you as that passion grows as you graduate and become a professional. One such avenue is the Association for Family Service Professionals, a group organized around providing service and education to the OBU and Shawnee community about matters related to the issues experienced in families. Another example is Normalize No, a group organized around providing support and education to students who are interested in preventing and healing from sexual assault.

The opportunities presented to you with an OBU Family Science degree can lead almost anywhere. About half of our students seek a graduate degree after graduation. They go into programs to train in social work, marriage and family therapy, nonprofit management, or seminary to name a few. The other half go directly into serving families in various ways. Many are employed in social service fields working with the population of their interest, some go into education (both formal and informal settings), and some go into an unrelated area of service or the mission field. But your journey won’t stop with your personal career as a counselor, therapist, educator, minister or otherwise. Your influence will multiply substantially in terms of being a blessing to your community. You will have the opportunity to get involved with organizations that serve families and their needs.

A compelling example is the Oklahoma Council on Family Relations, an organization that brings researchers, educators, professionals, and students together to discuss current family issues. Their mission is to provide a forum for family researchers, educators, and practitioners to share in the development and dissemination of knowledge about families and family relationships, establish professional standards, and work to promote family well-being. Five OBU graduates served on the board of directors of the OKCFR during the 2022-23 school year.

Professional Networking Opportunities

Attending OKCFR or serving on the board will help you find out more about avenues in which families can be served. Internships at a place like Legacy Parenting don’t just give you an opportunity to serve families in need, they are also used to network job and other skill development opportunities. You, alongside faculty, will share the experience of what it takes to help support and strengthen families.