In 1890, George W. Steele, the first governor of Oklahoma Territory, approved a bill that would create three higher education institutions. One was to be agricultural and mechanical, located in Stillwater. A second was to be a normal school in Edmond that would educate teachers and the third was a university to be established in Norman, Oklahoma.
The first president of the University of Oklahoma stepped off a train in Norman in 1892, and was greeted with a bare prairie, not a tree in sight. David Ross Boyd was undaunted, however, claiming that what he saw were possibilities. He began the difficult task of building an institute of higher learning, but he also wanted to bring green to the new campus. With his own hand, he began planting trees and many of the trees that stand on the campus today are descendants of those initial trees.
The first woman graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1901. In 1903, fire destroyed the Science Hall, the first building on campus and, in 1907, a building constructed to replace the Science Hall was also destroyed by fire. In 1949, Sipuel Fisher won a court battle to attend the college and became the first black woman to enroll in the College of Law. Today, over 12,800 students attend the University of Oklahoma and the school offers 170 majors.
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Accreditation
The University of Oklahoma is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This accreditation indicates that the university provides excellent education to its students while also striving to improve on existing programs. Specific programs are also accredited by various industry-related agencies and organizations.
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Application Requirements
Students who have not earned college credit after high school graduation are admitted to the University of Oklahoma Norman Campus as freshmen. Students may apply using the university application or the Common Application. Admittance is based on GPA, ACT or SAT scores, class rank and course rigor. Community involvement is also a deciding factor in admittance. Students must provide an official high school transcript as well as official ACT or SAT scores. A letter of recommendation is required and students must complete an essay.
Students who have earned more than six hours of college credit after high school graduation are considered transfer students. Students who have earned 24 credits or less must meet high school admission requirements. Students must complete the application and provide official transcripts from high school as well as all colleges and universities attended.
Graduate students must have earned a bachelor's degree or higher at an accredited college or university. Admission is based on an evaluation of the applicant's overall record, experience, personal qualifications, program they wish to attend and the likelihood of success. Each department has their own admission requirements so students are encouraged to contact an admissions counselor before applying.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time tuition at the University of Oklahoma Norman Campus for undergraduate students is $4,188.75 for Oklahoma residents and $11,349.75 per semester. Graduate tuition is $329.85 per credit hour for residents and $917.45 for non-residents.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and college work-study programs. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for any financial aid. Students are assigned a financial aid counselor dedicated to help them manage their college costs and earn the highest amount of financial aid available to them.
Online Degrees Available
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at the University of Oklahoma is designed to prepare students for jobs in the fields of law enforcement and the justice system. Students are provided instruction in ethics, deviance and social control, criminal justice statistics as well as drugs in society with a focus on real-world methodologies and thinking. The program is $331.05 per credit hour for in-state students and $808.45 for out-of-state students. The program is offered in a completely online format. Students establish a solid foundation in the justice system and focus on current, evolving law enforcement issues that help build leadership and conflict-resolution. The program is a 120-hour program. Students must complete 30 hours in Liberal Studies and 40 hours in upper-level coursework. Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to graduate. Topics covered by the degree include:
- Comparative Justice Systems
- Deviance and Social Control
- Drugs in Society
- Ethics
- Introduction to Forensic Science
- Statistics in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
The Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree at the University of Oklahoma helps develop the critical skills necessary to advance in the criminal justice field. Students establish an advanced understanding of the justice system as well as leadership and analytical skills to help them succeed in a variety of law enforcement positions. The program is a 33-credit hour course of study that can be completed entirely online or students may choose to take a hybrid of online and on-campus courses. Topics covered include:
- Administrative Leadership
- Criminal Justice Policy Development
- Drug Abuse Policy
- Ethical Decision Making for Criminal Justice
- Restorative Justice
- Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice
Core courses required for the program include:
- Criminal Justice Policy Development
- Ethical Decision Making for Criminal Justice
- Interdisciplinary Foundations
- Introduction to Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies
- Research Methods for Criminal Justice
- Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice
In addition to the core classes, students must choose a concentration of study from the following options:
- Administration and Leadership
- Corrections Management
- Drug Abuse Policy and Management
- Restorative Justice Administration
Related Resource: 10 Most Affordable Top Ranked Master's in Human Resources Online
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus provides students with various opportunities to seek or advance their degrees while maintaining employment and arranging studies around their personal schedules.