Admission to OBU

Admission to the University

Admission of all undergraduate students to OBU is under the authority of the Director of Admissions.

The following are eligible for admission consideration:

1. Graduates of an accredited high school or academy with a minimum of a B average and/ or satisfactory scores on entrance exams, usually American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
2. Transfers from an accredited college or junior college with a minimum of a C+ average who are eligible to continue studies at the institution from which they are transferring.

Based on a review of credentials, students may be admitted on regular, conditional or probationary admission status. Students who fail to meet conditional admission requirements may be admitted to the university through the Pursuits program.

Oklahoma Baptist University reserves the right to restrict or deny admission to any person who has been suspended from a school or convicted of a felony or Class A misdemeanor or any person otherwise eligible for reasons determined to be in the best interests of the institution by the officers thereof.

The University reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission to any student with a documented disability for which the institution is not able to provide reasonable accommodation. The university also reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission to any student who fails to provide complete and accurate information on his or her application of admission. These reserved rights shall be administered in a manner strictly consistent with state and federal non-discrimination laws.

Specific admissions requirements for the School of Christian Studies and OBU College of Graduate and Professional Studies are located on their respective pages in this catalog.

Admission Documents

Admission to all undergraduate degree programs of the University requires the submission of the following documents:

1. Application for Admission
2. Transcripts
   High School Transcript. Both freshman and transfer applicants with fewer than 24 earned college credit hours are required to submit an official transcript sent from the high school to the OBU Admissions Office, bearing signature of the school official. Freshman applicants may be admitted on the basis of an incomplete but official transcript which shows grades through at least six semesters. Upon graduation, the student should request that a final, official transcript be sent to OBU, bearing signature of the school official, graduation date and eighth semester grades. In addition, it is preferable for transcripts to include class rank, standardized test scores and the school seal when possible.
   College Transcript. Transfer students must submit an official transcript from each college attended, sent directly from the institution to the OBU Admissions Office. New freshmen who have taken concurrent college work must also submit an official transcript from each institution attended. Transfers will not receive an acceptance decision until all previous college work is submitted. Transcripts issued to the student are not acceptable for admission purposes. Any student who fails to report work taken at another institution is subject to immediate expulsion from OBU.
3. Test Scores
   New freshmen must submit satisfactory scores on either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). If a student has a documented disability which affects his/ her ability to fairly complete the ACT or SAT, the student should contact his/her guidance counselor or the testing agency to inquire about special accommodations for taking the test. Transfer students with fewer than 24 semester hours are also required to submit test scores. This requirement may be waived for students over 25 years of age. Scores recorded on an official high school transcript or those reported directly from the testing agency are acceptable.

Student Health Service Record

A student health form is sent to deposited students and is required prior to matriculation. A transfer student may submit a previous college health form if it was completed within five years of enrollment at OBU.

Recommended High School Curriculum

High school graduation is required, but in addition, it is recommended that students include the following in their high school program:

English: Four units of college preparatory English. Journalism, yearbook or business English should not be used as substitutes.

Mathematics: Three units including algebra I, algebra II and geometry. Those intending to pursue the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Science in Education in science or mathematics education are encouraged to take as much mathematics as possible, including trigonometry and calculus.

Science: Three units of college preparatory science which may include one unit of general science. The other two should include biology, chemistry, physics or another laboratory science. Those intending to pursue the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Science in Education in science or mathematics education are encouraged to take three units of laboratory science.

Social Science: Three units, including courses in American history and world history. Other options include such courses as sociology, economics, psychology, geography, and state history.

Language: Two units in the same language.

Academic Electives: Two units including one unit in computer applications.

Freshman Admission Requirements

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be granted REGULAR ADMISSION:

1. Completion of OBU’s Recommended High School Curriculum (above); and
2. ACT super score of at least 20 or SAT combined of at least 103 (critical reading and mathematics sections only); or CLT of at least 66; and
3. High school GPA of at least 3.00 or class rank in the upper half.

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be considered for CONDITIONAL ADMISSION:

1. Completion of OBU’s Recommended High School Curriculum (above); and
2. ACT super score of 17 through 19 or SAT combined of 900 through 1020 (critical reading and mathematics sections only); or CLT of 57-65; and
3. High school GPA of at least 3.00 or class rank in the upper half.

Freshmen Granted Conditional Admission

1. May be limited to an enrollment of 13 hours the first semester.
2. May be required to enroll in all or part of an academic enrichment program as part of the 13-hour load.

Applicants having gained recognition of high school equivalency by passing the GED may be admitted as a regular or conditional student according to the criteria stated above, at the discretion of the Director of Admissions.

Home-Schooled Student Admissions

Admission of home-schooled students will be based on ACT, SAT or CLT scores and a written description or transcript of the home-school experience. The standardized test composite score must be at the level OBU requires for regular admission, and subscores must meet OBU guidelines for regular class placement. Special assessment or class placement may be required at the discretion of the Director of Admission.

Pursuits Program

The Pursuits Program is designed to help incoming freshmen who may not meet the regular OBU admissions standards successfully navigate the transition from high school to college. Specific emphasis is placed on the academic transition but also on the understanding of what it means to live and learn in a community of people seeking the integration of faith and learning. Each student enrolled in the program is expected to abide by a set structure of courses, placement standards and prescribed academic support services determined by the OBU faculty and staff. College credit is earned for courses completed. Regular OBU tuition and fees apply. Pursuits students are eligible to receive financial aid if qualified.

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be considered for admission to the University through the Pursuits Program:

1. Submission of a copy of a writing assignment completed for the high school senior English class that has been graded and signed by the teacher and
2. Completion of an interview (preferably with a parent/guardian present) with the Coordinator of the Pursuits program and, if applicable, other relevant University personnel.

Graduates of Unaccredited High Schools

Admission of graduates of non-accredited high schools will be based on ACT or SAT scores and the high school transcript. The standardized test composite score must be at the level OBU requires for regular admission, and subscores must meet OBU guidelines for regular class placement. Special assessments or class placement may be required at the discretion of the Director of Admissions.

Transfer Student Admission Requirements

A student transferring from another regionally accredited institution should submit official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, including high school, when applying to OBU. The student is eligible for admission:

1. If he/she is eligible to continue studies in the college from which he/she is transferring;
2. If he/she has maintained a 2.50 grade point average in his/her college studies; and
3. If his/her transcript does not include extensive remedial academic coursework. Students whose overall college grade average is below 2.50 or whose transcript includes extensive remedial academic coursework may be admitted on probation at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

All transfer grades become a part of the student’s permanent record at OBU. Incomplete grades transferred to OBU will be calculated as F grades unless the student furnishes an amended transcript showing a changed grade. Transfer grade point averages will be calculated according to OBU grading policies.

The University cannot accept course work credits from institutions not regionally accredited. Nonaccredited institutions include vocational or trade schools and other institutions whose purposes and curricula indicate their restrictive nature. However, after earning 24 credit hours in residence at OBU with a GPA of 2.00 or higher, credits earned at a college or university not regionally accredited may be applied to the student’s OBU transcript as applicable credit for a degree.

A student who has completed fewer than 24 semester hours of regionally accredited college work must meet both the freshman admission requirements and the transfer admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 college semester hours or more at an accredited college or university who do not have a high school diploma or GED scores will be admitted on the basis of their transfer credits. However, a transcript of any high school work completed may be required.

Transfer Credit Regulations

The following regulations apply to credit transferred from other institutions regionally accredited. (See also information regarding credit by examination.) The University strongly recommends that currently enrolled students consult with their advisors and their academic deans concerning the acceptability of transfer credit for a particular degree program before enrolling in courses which they wish to transfer to OBU. A student must furnish the University with official transcripts of all post-secondary work attempted. (See information regarding transfer of Religion courses under College of Theology and Ministry.)

2-Year Colleges

No more than 64 2-year college semester hours will be credited toward Oklahoma Baptist University degrees. Credit from a 2-year college will not be accepted for upperdivision courses in the major/minor or area of concentration. Credit from a 2-year college will not be counted toward the last 30 hours before graduation. Courses transferred from a 2-year college must be similar in content and organization to courses offered by Oklahoma Baptist University and must be appropriate to the degree sought, all as determined by Oklahoma Baptist University.

4-Year Colleges

Full credit will be given for work completed at regionally accredited 4-year colleges and universities provided that content and organization of courses are similar to those at Oklahoma Baptist University and that the course is appropriate to the degree sought, all as determined by Oklahoma Baptist University.

Veteran’s Training

Veterans will be allowed transfer credit for courses taken in the armed services when these courses are appropriate to the desired degree. The standard for granting of credit will be the “Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experiences in the Armed Services,” published by the American Council on Education. OBU will accept a maximum of 16 transfer hours of this type.

International Students

Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States may be admitted by the Director of Admissions.

How to Apply:

1. Submit the Student Application for Admission, and the International Student Financial Guarantee (Parts I & II), to the Office of Admissions, OBU Box 61174, 500 W. University, Shawnee, OK 74804, USA.
2. Submit an official transcript from every secondary school attended, as well as a certified copy of the results of standardized examinations and of all diplomas or certificates awarded. Your documents need to be translated into English.
3. Submit results of either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) directly from the corporation to OBU or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) directly from the corporation to OBU. The following scores are required for admission to the university:
   • A minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL written exam
   • A minimum score of 173 on the TOEFL computer-based exam
   • A minimum score of 71 on the TOEFL iBT exam
   • A minimum score of 5.0 on the IELTS exam​

TOEFL

Visit www.ets.org/portal/site/ets and www.toefl.org

IELTS

Visit www.ielts.org

Students with a TOEFL score of 61 or higher but less than 71 are encouraged to enroll in Oklahoma Baptist University’s ESL Bridge program. These students would enroll in a regular undergraduate program, but be required to take some for-credit ESL classes during the first year of study. This program is designed to help students transition to the American university environment while further developing their language skills and preparing them for academic success. For more information, please consult the “ESL Bridge” section of this catalog.

4. When a student is admitted to Oklahoma Baptist University, s/he will be sent a letter of acceptance and an I-20 (used to obtain a student F-1 visa). The admitted student should download the Student Health Service Record and the Campus Housing Application from the website, complete them, and submit them to the Office of Admissions prior to enrolling. (Married students or students over 21 years of age are not required to return the Campus Housing Application if they have alternative housing arrangements, although they may want to apply for on-campus apartment housing).
5. When a student is admitted, s/he will also receive a University Payment Plan. This form needs to be completed and returned to the University immediately, and the initial payments must be received by the University in accordance with the dates included on that document.

To Transfer to OBU

If you have earned 23 or fewer college/university hours:

1. Complete the International Student Application form.
2. Submit to OBU an official transcript, for all high-school work. If your transcript is not in English, please include an official English translation.
3. Submit to OBU an official transcript of all your college/university work.
4. Submit an official course-by-course evaluation of all foreign college transcripts performed by one of the approved agencies listed below.
5. Submit to OBU the International Student Financial Guarantee form.

If you have earned 24 or more college/university hours:

1. Complete the International Student Application form.
2. Submit to OBU an official transcript of all college or university work. If your transcript is not in English, please include an official English translation.
3. Submit an official course-by-course evaluation of all foreign college transcripts performed by one of the approved agencies listed below.
4. Submit to OBU the International Student Financial Guarantee form.

Approved English Translation Services

OBU will accept course-by-course evaluation of your college transcript from the following agencies.

World Education Services
      Visit www.wes.org

Educational Credentials Evaluators
      Visit www.ece.org

SpanTran Educational Services
      Visit www.spantran.com

If transferring from a U.S. institute, you will need to work with the international student advisor at your current school. He or she will transfer your SEVIS record to OBU.

At that time, you will want to complete two additional forms:

1. The Campus Housing Application
2. The Student Health Form

ESL Bridge Requirements for Continuing in OBU’s Undergraduate Degree Program

For an ESL Bridge student to continue in the Oklahoma Baptist University undergraduate program, the following criteria must be met:

1. Student has regularly attended and completed all ESL classes with an 80% or higher.
2. Student has passed any undergraduate electives that he or she has taken.
3. Student has completed any classes required toward his or her major with 80% or higher in those classes.

Special Students

Students who are not candidates for University degrees may be given special enrollment permission by the Office of Enrollment Management. This category might include the following:

1. students taking only Continuing Education courses;
2. high school students wishing to take courses in the concurrent enrollment program; and
3. adults who do not meet the regular admission requirements.

Special Adult Admission Category

If an applicant does not meet the minima for regular or conditional admission, if there has been a significant time interval (six years or more) since the applicant’s last academic pursuit, and if the applicant has had maturing experiences during the interval, the following option is available:

All previous college work, including work taken at Oklahoma Baptist University, may be removed from academic consideration, regardless of passing or failing quality, and the student may begin a new college career as a first semester freshman. Credit by examination may be possible in accordance with University regulations.

To be admitted under this category the applicant must sign a contract verifying the choice to remove all previous college work from academic consideration. (All work continues to show on the transcript even though it has been removed from academic consideration.)

Enrollment of Concurrent Students

Juniors and seniors in high school may enroll at Oklahoma Baptist University in concurrent courses. A senior must have a minimum high school grade point average of 3.00 and an ACT composite score of 20 (or SAT equivalent) or a junior must have a minimum high school grade point average of 3.00 and an ACT composite score of 21 (or SAT equivalent) for acceptance to the university. Seniors may take up to 6 hours of freshman level courses per semester. Juniors may take up to 3 hours of freshman level courses per semester.

Students must submit an Application for Concurrent Enrollment signed by either their high school guidance counselor or principal and current high school transcript to the Office of Admissions. Students enrolling for fall and summer courses may apply for admission the first week of May. Students enrolling for spring semester courses may apply for admission the first week of December.

Concurrent students must abide by all university policies.

Registration

OBU operates on a semester calendar, with a four-month fall term, a January miniterm, a four-month spring term, and two four-week summer terms.

Advance registration for new students, freshmen and transfers, is available during the spring and summer. Students who have been admitted to the University are notified of these advance registration opportunities. For those who cannot participate in advance registration, regular registration periods are offered at the beginning of each term.

To facilitate registration for current students, advance registration periods are made available each semester for the succeeding term, including the summer session. Each student is responsible for his/ her own course of study toward a University degree; however, faculty advisors are available for counsel, and their approvals are required on all enrollments. Faculty advisors will be assigned by the dean of the college which administers the department of the area of concentration or major. Students who have not yet decided upon an area of concentration or major will be advised by the staff of The Milburn Center for Student Success.

All students are expected to enroll during the designated enrollment periods. No registrations will be accepted after the deadlines designated in the official academic calendar.

All registrations must conform with the policies in force at the time of registration in order for any course work to be credited toward fulfillment of degree requirements.

Orientation

All students entering OBU for the first time, whether freshman or transfer, are expected to participate in the orientation program, which is designed to acquaint them with the educational opportunities and facilities of the University, policies concerning student life, special student services, and traditions.