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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Sociology

OBU’s Sociology degree will equip you to understand the importance and influence of social structures and social interactions on both individual and group behaviors. At OBU, you will develop the analytical and relational tools needed in a complex and rapidly changing 21st-century world.

Hannah Murphy

Class of 2023

"My studies at OBU provided me a deeper understanding of various world cultures and a broader perspective through a Christian worldview. The professors in BASS invested in me and spent time discussing my career options, my future plans and committed to pray for me. Attending OBU was the best decision I could have made for a university. I discovered how to evaluate the world through a broader lens and to engage in the world with a warm heart and open mind."

Benefits of OBU Sociology Program

At OBU we are committed to integrating sociology and the Christian worldview, both at the level of theory and practice, in a manner unmatched by other programs. Also rare, and significantly important, is our sociology program’s sharp focus on global justice and human rights.

Incredible Education, Affordable Cost.

OBU provides a minimum $10,000 per year scholarship to every incoming first-time freshman and $8,000 to every incoming transfer student. And you could qualify for even more financial aid! Many of our students also receive money through federal Pell grants and OBU Bison Grants.

To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be, please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is. Especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!

Program Information

If you want to conduct research at a pace in which you can focus and truly grow from the experience, OBU is an excellent choice as we offer numerous field/qualitative research opportunities in the form of our summer courses.

At OBU we view internship experiences as work experiences. Academics will be a part of the classroom, but you put your skills and passion and knowledge into workforce action through experience in churches, civic organizations and other avenues. More specifically, some of our recent students have been blessed with internship opportunities at Community Renewal, Heritage Church, the International Mission Board and the YMCA. You can add to that list with the internship that best fits how you want to shape the future. 

Our sociology program affirms that as students and members of society, our highest calling is to seriously explore the integration of our faith and knowledge.  We consider how robust sociological perspectives align with our Christian faith to generate a unified view of social reality. In doing so, our analyses of social concerns are guided by three godly value emphases: Principled Order, Social Justice, and Humane Concern.   

As an OBU Sociology undergraduate, you will be encouraged to submit papers and present them at the annual meeting of the Christian Sociological Association. This is not only a forum where Christian sociologists can explore the implications of the Christian faith for the thinking and doing of sociology, but also a network for Christian sociologists, allowing social support, collaboration, and dialogue.

Many of our graduates carry within them an “I want to help you” motivation. And many of those graduates have carried that into community-based careers, such as working for the Oklahoma City Police Department or the Specialty Courts at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, or as a behavioral interventionist, a therapist or an education volunteer at various organizations. Others have gone on to pursue their master’s degree or Ph.D. at other prestigious universities.

Program Options

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Bret Roark

Dr. Bret Roark

Chair, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Ralph and Marie Barby Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology

Dr. Antonio Chiareli

Dr. Antonio Chiareli

Professor of Sociology and Intercultural Studies

Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences