About OU

north oval at OU

Located halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts at the boundary between the eastern woodlands and the vast western prairie, the University of Oklahoma is a gathering place for students and scholars from across the nation and around the globe. Students are attracted primarily by the high quality of the faculty and academic programs, outstanding research facilities, and unique resources at OU. The relatively low cost of attendance adds to OU’s international appeal. Scholars also appreciate the mild Oklahoma climate, the varied cultural environment and the friendly, informal atmosphere of the University community.

Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only three comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges or programs, NCI Cancer Center designation and both an Adult and Pediatric Level One Trauma Center. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center campuses offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. OU enrolls more than 30,000 students, has more than 2,600 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 174 majors at the baccalaureate level, 191 majors at the master’s level, 86 majors at the doctoral level, 8 majors at the doctoral professional level, 9 undergraduate certificates, and 72 graduate certificates. The university’s total annual operating budget is $2.4 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

The OU Difference

You can get a college degree at any of hundreds of colleges, but you can only get an OU degree from the University of Oklahoma. Whatever your field of study, your life will be enriched by experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

Contributing to the OU difference are:

  • An outstanding and internationally recognized faculty to serve as your teachers, mentors, role models, and guides through your college years;
  • Over 170 majors at the baccalaureate level, more than 200 majors at the graduate level, and more than 70 graduate certificates.
  • Professional programs in law, medicine, dentistry, the health professions, and various master’s dual degree programs;
  • An emphasis on sound academic advising and orientation for all students;
  • A focused general education program;
  • Funded research opportunities for students;
  • A nationally recognized Honors College;
  • The opportunity to study abroad at universities on five continents; and
  • A culturally diverse campus community providing a supportive environment for students of all cultural backgrounds.

The wide variety of academic programs, the dedicated faculty, the multicultural and international student body, the unique resources, the friendly and supportive community, and the traditions developed during 130 years of striving for academic excellence all contribute to the OU difference — a difference you will benefit from and contribute to as an OU student and alumnus.

We invite you to visit the University or to contact us for further information about our wide variety of educational programs. For more information about the University of Oklahoma please see the University’s website. To arrange a visit, please write or call one of the following offices or a specific college or program listed in this catalog.

University of Oklahoma Home page: www.ou.edu

Admissions and Recruitment
(405) 325-2151 or 1-800-234-6868
Internet: www.ou.edu/admissions/
email: admissions@ou.edu

The mission of the University of Oklahoma is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society.

The University of Oklahoma recognizes, appreciates and actively pursues its special responsibility to help make Oklahoma a great place in which to live and work. The University also is part of a world community of scholars, and its activities make national and international contributions. Graduates of the University hold important leadership positions in the state and throughout the world. As the University meets its broad scholarly responsibilities, it targets many activities to bring maximum benefits to the state.

To encourage excellence, the University attracts, develops and retains outstanding faculty and staff; attracts capable students who will provide future leadership for the state, region and nation; provides superior library, laboratory, classroom, performance and computer facilities; and engages in ongoing planning, analysis and management for the effective use of its resources.

Undergraduate Education

The University uses the liberal-professional model of education to provide undergraduates with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute and succeed in a rapidly changing global society. Capitalizing upon the strengths of an outstanding faculty unique to a research university, OU offers undergraduate education in a wide array of majors to meet the interests of students and the needs of the state. Admission to undergraduate programs is selective. Students are expected to be above the average for college applicants in ability and to have the maturity to work diligently and effectively in a demanding academic environment.

The University endeavors to instill in its undergraduates the tradition of lifelong learning, the capacity for critical thinking, the ability to work effectively in groups, the flexibility to adapt successfully to a rapidly changing world, and an enthusiasm for creativity. These qualities enrich an individual’s life and enable one to contribute to the making of a better world.

University of Oklahoma graduates understand our rich human heritage; comprehend differing approaches used by the arts, humanities and sciences in creating that heritage; develop the ability to make ethical, critical and analytical judgments; and use spoken, written and symbolic language to communicate effectively.

Graduate Programs

The University of Oklahoma and the Graduate College are committed to providing the best graduate education possible for its students, an education that prepares its graduates to assume leadership positions in the fields and professions in which they are educated. Admission to the graduate programs is highly selective. Students are expected to have superior academic ability, a high level of motivation, and commitment to their discipline or profession. Strong emphasis is placed on faculty strength in teaching, research and creative activity; a critical mass of faculty and students; student quality; compatibility with other established University programs; and contributions to the state and nation’s health, cultural, scientific, social and economic needs.

Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity

National and international recognition in research, scholarship and creative activity in disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas is one of the primary goals of the University of Oklahoma. Consequently, faculty members at the University of Oklahoma are national leaders in their fields and, as such, are outstanding role models for students. They actively seek and obtain external support for research from the federal government, private foundations and corporations. Faculty at the University of Oklahoma also cooperate with faculty from other research universities and health sciences centers as well as individuals in the private sector and government agencies.

Research and creative activities enrich education and promote learning excellence for students by developing new knowledge for our society; allowing emerging issues, breakthroughs, and new information and perspectives to be shared swiftly in the classroom; and introducing students to the process of creativity and discovery. A major research university enlivens the community and, in our modern society based on information and technology, encourages and supports economic and social development in the state.

Continuing Education and Service to the Public

The University of Oklahoma meets the growing needs of the state and nation for lifelong learning by offering continuing education programs that are built on the strengths of its academic programs. As a major public university, the University of Oklahoma has a responsibility to offer a broad range of high quality educational programs tailored to meet the needs of individuals for retraining or upgrading their skills. These programs are offered at times, in locations, and in formats to best serve the needs and schedules of adult learners.

The University is committed to offering degree programs, especially at the graduate level, for place-bound students in the state’s urban areas and to supporting the state’s economic development through education and research programs.

In the area of arts and culture, the University of Oklahoma plays a unique role as a nationally recognized center in the state and Southwest for selected artistic and cultural activities. The University’s artistic and cultural activities advance knowledge; enrich the campus and community; enhance Oklahoma’s quality of life; and contribute to the state’s development, attractiveness and prosperity.

Accreditations

Achievement and maintenance of high academic standards entitle the University of Oklahoma to accredited membership in the Higher Learning Commission. See the Accreditation website for more information.