Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education

The simple, yet heartfelt message is that you are needed in today’s classrooms, and the faculty of the Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education can and sincerely wants to help you get there.  Faculty in the education program have a combined experience of 100-plus years in public school education. The employment rate for OBU teachers is a very impressive 94 percent upon graduation.

Featured Program

Early Childhood Education

Early childhood is a critical development year in the life of a child. Teachers who are motivating, positive, energetic, dedicated, open and truly caring can be a big influence in their students’ lives, not just in elementary school, but for many years to come. Courses prepare students to teach PreK to grade 3.

Preparing Students for What’s Next

Our teacher education graduates are employed as educators, principals, superintendents, related services personnel, and school counselors. Graduates are serving in public, private, and classical schools across the globe. Some are also working on the mission field or in churches as preschool and children’s ministry directors or pastors. OBU teacher education graduates have been honored with the title of “Teacher of the Year” at the school, district and state level. Several graduates have attained National Board Certification.

Emily Day

Class of 2024

“I know I will be well-equipped to teach music in the classroom and to do so within the lens of how a Christian educator should conduct themselves. I am prepared to be a future shaper, and that is exactly what I plan to do.”

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!

Scholarships and Grants 

Hear from the chair of the School of Education, Dr. Elizabeth Justice, about how a degree from OBU will prepare you to be a future shaper.

Undergraduate Programs

Early Childhood Education

You have the opportunity to develop a foundation of knowledge and skills through experiences that will help you prepare developmentally appropriate educational programs for young children from prekindergarten through third grade.

Early Childhood Education

Elementary Education

You will receive a firm grounding in the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to assist the learning of children in grades 1 through 8. OBU’s elementary education faculty stress the importance of teaching the whole child, morally and spiritually, as well as academically.

Elementary Education

Special Education

In our special education program at OBU, we emphasize the importance of implementing a multisensory approach to all learners. We study a wide range of disabilities from mild to severe and provide students the instruction necessary to enhance and broaden their knowledge and tailor the program to their area of interest. When you graduate, you will be prepared and confident to conduct IEP meetings, provide strategies to improve inclusion success and implement positive behavior support in classroom settings to meet the diverse needs of K- 12 grade students.

Special Education

English Education, Secondary

The English Education degree at OBU provides you with the opportunity to develop knowledge in your content, to learn about a variety of pedagogical theories and practices and to apply those theories in a classroom practicum. This major consists of 39 hours in English courses and 32 hours in education courses. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, English Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.

English Education, Secondary

Mathematics Education, Secondary

Our Mathematics degree at OBU is special because you receive a quality education in one of the most powerful majors available, and you receive that education in small, personalized classes. Almost all of our junior and senior level classes at OBU have fewer than fifteen students in them. This allows for direct interaction and individualized support with our energetic mathematics faculty. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, Math Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.

Mathematics Education, Secondary

Music Education

Your opportunity to share your love of music with tomorrow’s future shapers will come to life in this degree. You will be prepared to become a certified and successful music teacher in both general music and either vocal or instrumental music in pre-K-12 grade public and private schools.

Music Education

Science Education, Secondary

The OBU science education program has been certified to meet the guidelines of the National Science Teachers Association. This program offers courses in science and education, which provide a strong content and pedagogy foundation as you prepare to teach science in public or private schools. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, Science Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.

Science Education, Secondary

Social Sciences Education, Secondary

This program offers high quality upper division courses and advisement designed to prepare you for a wide variety of careers related to Social Sciences Secondary Education as well as providing graduates with a solid foundation for postgraduate study. These courses acquaint you with content and pedagogy knowledge and help you develop skills needed for academic and career success. Upon completion of the BSE and the passing of Oklahoma’s Certification Exams, Social Science Education majors will have all the qualifications necessary to procure an Oklahoma teaching license for grades 6 through 12.

Social Sciences Education, Secondary

 


Graduate and Certificate Programs

Master of Arts in Teaching

Designed to propel and advance your teaching career, our MA in Teaching program is personalized to your specific area(s) of interest.

Teaching, MA

Alternative Teaching Certificate

The Alternative Certification and Credentialing for Elementary and Secondary Schools (ACCESS) program provides courses to academically prepare individuals pursuing alternative certification in elementary or secondary education for the state of Oklahoma.

Alternative Teaching Certificate

World-Class Faculty

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

Dr. Elizabeth Justice

Dr. Elizabeth Justice

Chair, School of Education
Lawrence C. and Marion Harris Chair of Education
Associate Professor of Education
Co-Director, ACCESS Program

Tina Nickerson

Tina Nickerson

Administrative Assistant, School of Education

Dr. Jeanne Akin

Dr. Jeanne Akin

Mary A. White Professor of Education

Dr. Larinee Dennis

Dr. Larinee Dennis

Co-Provost
Chief Academic Officer
Dean of Business, Health, Science and Education
Professor of Education

Dr. Rebecca Farley

Dr. Rebecca Farley

Associate Professor of Education

Annie Keehn

Annie Keehn

Assistant Professor of Education
Co-Director, ACCESS Program

Dr. Kellie D. Young

Dr. Kellie D. Young

Violet Sturgeon Minton Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education

Accreditation

The Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, CAEP. The School of Education houses undergraduate programs in early childhood (grades PK-3), elementary education (grades 1-8), special education (grades PK-12), secondary English education, secondary math education, secondary science education, secondary social studies education, and both instrumental and vocal music education.

Accreditation Information