HR Degree Programs Offered at Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Christian University is also featured in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Human Resource MBA Degree Programs.
The main program offered by Oklahoma Christian University for future human resource (HR) professionals is the university’s Master of Business Administration (MBA). One of the concentrations in this program is human resources, but students can pick from other options too, including nonprofit organization management, project management, finance, and human services management. Students spend between one and two years in the program, depending on the concentrations they choose and the number of classes they take.
Oklahoma Christian University gives students two different options regarding how they take their classes too. They can take evening courses and come to the campus once or twice a week after finishing work for the day, or they can take online classes instead. Students who did not take any prep courses as part of their undergraduate studies will need to take those classes from Oklahoma Christian University. They’ll also take nine required core business classes, including Legal and Regulatory Issues, Ethics, Decision Making and Communication, Financial Services, Economic Issues, and Information Technology and Future. Students in the human resources track will also take three key classes: Human Resources Management, Core Human Resources: Compensation and Benefits and Strategic Human Resources: Organizational Development.
The university offers multiple opportunities for students to gain practical experience too such as the College of Business Administration (CBA) Bootcamp. This allows students to work with others as they take prerequisite courses that prepare them for the program. They can join the Student Investment Fund too, which allows them to track the stock market and make investments to see how well they do. The university also has an on-site finance lab built from a donation by the Citizens Bank Edmund. Oklahoma Christian University is one of only 20% of colleges in the world with this type of lab.
About Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Christian University is a private university affiliated with the Church of Christ. Founded in 1950 as Central Christian College, it took over the estate of Henry Vernon Foster who made his money in the oil industry. Located in the small town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the college quickly outgrew its first campus and began looking for a new location in Oklahoma, eventually settling on Oklahoma City. Construction began in 1958, and the more than 200-acre campus opened for business the following year. That moved helped the college establish its first bachelor’s degree programs and led to the college becoming Oklahoma Christian College. After earning regional accreditation and making curriculum changes, the college became the Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts, but it would shorten this name to just Oklahoma Christian University.
Also called OCU, the university was one of the nation’s first campuses to add free WiFi for students and faculty to use both in and out of their classes. It also adopted a new policy that gave each incoming a student a new laptop to use. OCU changed its policy to give students access to Apple computers and laptops and eventually gave them the option of choosing an iPad too. The university now gives students the choice between buying a computer or device or bringing their own from home. All of the more than 2,000 students enrolled in OCU must agree to follow the guiding principles established by the university and to attend religious services.
Oklahoma Christian University Accreditation Details
With regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), OCU can accept credits that any student earned from another university or college with the same accreditation. HLC accreditation is also why OCU continuing and new students can get financial aid. The MBA program and other business programs also have accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Oklahoma Christian University Application Requirements
Though OCU charges a $25 application fee, it offers waivers for many students. They just need to email the admissions department and let the university know that they cannot afford that fee. The university will send them a code that they can enter on the site, which lets them apply without paying that fee. Students can provide unofficial transcripts when they first apply, but the university requires official copies before it will let them start classes. Their transcripts must show that they maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5 to begin the MBA program.
Prospective MBA students must also fill out a recommendation request form. The form asks for the student’s name, email address and the department that will receive their applications. A second page asks for the name of the person who will recommend the student and his or her phone number and email address. Students will also describe how they know that person and whether they want their recommendations open or closed. The university will contact each individual and ask for a letter of recommendation. Students need to provide three names, a test score, and resume. OCU requires a minimum score of 285 on the GRE or 450 on the GMAT.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The cost of earning an MBA in human resources from OCU is the same for residents of Oklahoma and nonresidents. All domestic students pay $605 per credit hour, though they may pay less for any classes they take during the summer term. Students who come from outside of the United States will pay $635 per credit hour for all their classes. HR students will need to take one finance course, which charges a $40 lab fee. If they take any other finance courses, they’ll need to pay this fee again.
To get financial aid, OCU recommends that students complete the FAFSA and apply for aid as soon as possible. The Office of Financial Services at the university will process this form and let students know if they can borrow money and if they received any other aid. Graduate students can borrow unsubsidized loans of up to $20,500 per year. They will need to complete entrance counseling through the university and sign a note that guarantees they will pay off their loans. Students can complete other steps to get alternative loans or PLUS loans. OCU also has steps that they can follow when using the reimbursement plans offered by their employers. The human resources MBA program offered by Oklahoma Christian University accepts scholarships and grants that students get from other sources too.
