OC adds New College, restructures colleges

As Oklahoma Christian University restructures its colleges, it welcomes the New College.

The New College is designed to house programs for nontraditional students and will provide opportunities for remote learning and allow adults to pursue a degree while they also pursue a career.

Sada Knowles serves as dean of the New College. An Oklahoma Christian alumna, she was a professor of psychology and family science at the university until she became the academic dean and interim president of Oklahoma Christian Academy in 2013. She is returning to her alma mater to lead the college in its first year.

In a recent interview with the Talon, Knowles explained the details of the New College and the programs within it.

According to Knowles, the New College was developed to reach new students and provide nontraditional routes towards higher education.

“President deSteiguer wanted to establish the New College as one area of campus that responds quickly to change,” Knowles said. “At Oklahoma Christian, our mission is to integrate faith and learning. Reaching new audiences is expanding that mission.”

Knowles said the New College is comprised of four programs, two of which will provide undergraduate degrees.

Two programs will be catered towards those in medical or education careers who seek to earn their undergraduate degree. Both programs are remote, four-year degrees which allow adults to study as they work in their field.

“We identified immediate needs in Oklahoma City,” Knowles said. “There are major workforce shortages in nursing and teaching.”

The pre-nursing to BSN program currently has 16 students enrolled in its inaugural semester. Most of these individuals are currently working at local hospitals as certified nursing assistants and are taking general education classes remotely. 

While the program is not an addition to Oklahoma Christian’s school of nursing, it still provides a degree in nursing. Integris Baptist will partner with the program.

Paraprofessionals in local schools may study for a degree in interdisciplinary studies in education through the New College. This program allows adults to take classes in teaching English as a foreign language, human development and education so they are prepared to obtain alternative teaching certification. It is designed for teaching assistants who do not have an undergraduate degree.

For individuals who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree, the New College will offer an academy of alternative certification. These online courses will allow adults to obtain an alternative teaching certification.

In addition, high school students will be able to take concurrent classes through the New College.

Knowles said she believes the New College will provide positive learning experiences for a variety of students.

“Christian education is different,” Knowles said. “So many degree programs have done well here for so long. However, the New College will allow us to increase our influence in Oklahoma.”

With the addition of a new college, the other colleges will also be restructuring. While Oklahoma Christian has five colleges, the university will be combining these into two separate colleges: the College of Humanities and the College of Professional Studies.

The College of Humanities will house the Division of Bible, Division of Education and Behavioral and Social Sciences, Division of Fine and Performing Arts and Division of Language, Literature and Communication.

The College of Professional Studies will house the Division of Business, Division of Engineering and Computer Science and Division of Natural and Health Sciences.