RELIGIOUS STUDIES

(Credit Hours: 34)

The Religion Track is the most flexible program in the School of Religion. Students are able to adapt the program to focus primarily on Christian traditions or combine the study of Christianity with the study of other religious traditions such as Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism. 

This program along with courses in English, history, philosophy, the social sciences, and various electives will provide the student excellent preparation for seminary and graduate school or for various careers in faith communities, non-profits, and other community service related organizations.

General Education Requirements (PDF)

Required courses for all religious studies majors:

Additional courses required for the Religion Track:

(Credit Hours: 40)

The Religion/Philosophy track provides coursework in both the School of Religion and the Philosophy Department. This track is designed primarily for those students who want to pursue ethical and religious studies within a rigorous philosophical and theological context. The program prepares students either for advanced academic study in philosophy or religion, or seminary for those interested in ordained ministry.

The core requirements in the history of philosophy and the history of Christianity are intended to provide students with a systematic grounding in the major philosophical and theological resources of Western philosophy and the Judeo-Christian tradition.

General Education Requirements (PDF)

Required courses for all religious studies majors:

Additional courses required for Religion/Philosophy:

(Credit Hours: 36)

This program is in cooperation with Saint Paul School of Theology. It is designed to accelerate the time it takes for students to complete both the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity degrees.

Students will complete three years of undergraduate work at OCU and then begin the MDiv coursework at Saint Paul School during their senior year.

The first year of graduate course work at Saint Paul will be transferred to OCU to complete the BA. It will also fulfill the first year of the MDiv program.

Pre-Seminary Track Details

Students must select the 3+3 program in their freshmen year. (Sophomores may apply on a case by case basis). To maintain "active status" in the 3+3 Program, students must make satisfactory academic progress toward completion of a degree, including:

1. By the end of the student’s Junior Year, the student must have completed at least 100 credit hours;
2. Prior to beginning the Master's degree coursework, the student must have completed all the major’s Bachelor's degree requirements including general education requirements, leaving only Bachelor of Arts electives to be completed concurrently with the Master degree coursework;
3. The student must maintain a 3.0 GPA, as evidenced by the Oklahoma City University transcript, which shall be sent to the SPST Director of Student Recruitment Services by June 1;
4. The student must display satisfactory academic progress, which shall be confirmed by a letter from the Director of the School of Religion to the Saint Paul Director of Student Recruitment Services by April 1. This letter may also serve as one of the three recommendations listed noted below;
5. The student must exhibit potential for ordained ministry in the Christian church, as demonstrated by three letters of recommendation as specified by Saint Paul and completion of the required personal statement.

After students have met the above-listed requirements for maintaining active status in the 3+3 Program, the following three years shall be structured as follows:

1. Senior Year, students complete no less than 24 semester hours of courses as designated by Saint Paul to fulfill the first year of the MDiv degree. Students may matriculate at the Saint Paul campus located either in Oklahoma City or in Leawood, KS.
2. Upon successful completion of the Senior Year credit hours, an official Saint Paul transcript will be sent to the OCU Office of the Registrar and, provided the student has met all requirements for his/her declared bachelor's degree, the student will be awarded a BA from OKCU and will be designated an "MDiv degree seeking student" at Saint Paul. Upon official student request, a copy of the final OKCU transcript will be submitted to the Saint Paul Registrar for this change of status.
3. Students will complete the remaining 55 credit hours toward the MDiv, which will be awarded by SPST.

General Education Requirements (PDF)

Required courses for all religious studies majors:

Additional courses required for the Pre-Seminary Track:

• B.A. in Religious Education / Youth Ministry
• Minor Interfaith Studies
• Minor Religion
• Minor Religious Education / Youth Ministry or Christian Education