OCUOnline Plus Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Major: Business

Major Overview:

The Business major is focused on equipping the student for management roles in both profit and non-profit organizations. The inclusion of a core of Bible/Christian Worldview classes ensures this education is morally and ethically grounded. There are several areas of major-related elective courses students can use to customize the major: Accounting, Business Management, Criminal Justice Administration, Emergency Management, Healthcare Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Logistics Management, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, and Production Management.

Major Objectives:

1. Integrate Christian principles in critical thinking and decision making.
2. Demonstrate awareness and improvement of thinking and learning strategies.
3. Apply business concepts in a business environment.
4. Analyze a business operation and provide recommendations for improvement.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 45 Core Program Requirements
• 21 General Electives

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Major: English

Major Overview:

The English major requires its majors to critically explore the aesthetic nature of literature with a genuine curiosity to uncover absolute truth, which defines a Biblical worldview. In addition, English majors will discover personal enrichment and rhetorical flexibility as they practice writing skills in various discourse forms found in public, professional, and academic contexts. Through exposure to a broad set of readings, extensive composition activity, and oral presentations, the English major provides students with the intellectual capacity and practical skills they need to attend graduate school, enter the professional workplace, or actively participate in ministry.

Major Objectives:

1. Develop an ability to think clearly, logically, critically, and creatively in the light of Biblical truth and divine creation.
2. Evidence competence in reading, writing, speaking, and listening effectively, both individually and collaboratively.
3. Develop abilities to understand, appreciate, and apply the basic terms, techniques, facts, and interpretations of literature as seen in representative passages and selected masterpieces.
4. Learn to appreciate the history and grammatical structure of the English language.
5. Formulate a Biblically based and Christ-centered outlook on language, literature, and life, including consideration of truth, standards, morality, freedom, and responsibility.
6. Demonstrate preparation for graduate work, teaching, workplace-related or personal communication activities.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 36 Core Program Requirements
• 30 General Electives

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Major: History

Major Overview:

The history major invites students to critically reflect upon the ideas, faith traditions, political movements, leaders, and cultures that shaped the West and the United States over the past three millennia and to understand the present as a continuation of the past. Through exposure to a broad set of readings and other work, the history major provides students with a background in the proper techniques for evaluating historical works, engaging in professional methods for historical research, and developing advanced writing and oral presentation skills.

Major Objectives:

1. Integrate Christian principles in critical thinking and decision-making.
2. Acquire an appropriate knowledge of historical content and knowledge of how the discipline of history influences and is influenced by the contemporary culture.
3. Critically examine concepts and theories concerning the discipline of history and the interaction of faith and history.
4. Analyze primary and secondary materials and create work that provides a reasonable interpretation of data.
5. Produce written work and/or other materials at an advanced level, appropriate for entering graduate school or a vocation.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 36 Core Program Requirements
• 30 General Electives

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Major: Interdisciplinary Studies

Major Overview:

The interdisciplinary studies major is composed of closely correlated coursework in two or more program majors. The unique feature of this option is the flexibility that allows the student to work with an advisor and several faculty members to build a customized interdisciplinary program that best suits the student’s academic objectives and calling.

Major Objectives:

1. Demonstrate competency in the knowledge and application of Biblical/theological issues and principles.
2. Exhibit general education knowledge and skills to enhance intellectual understanding and effectively communicate in current society.
3. Affirm a specific calling or career goal, which clearly articulates a plan for correlated programs of study.
4. Possess the ability to pursue further study or serve in various roles in the church or society which draws upon the knowledge and skills of the correlated programs of study.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 12 credits in Bible, Ministry, Religion or Theology electives (beyond the General Education requirements)
• 54 Interdisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Major: Political Science

Major Overview:

The major in politics and public service invites students to reflect upon the ideas, movements, leaders, and cultural influences that shaped the political landscape of the American Republic in the past and continues to alter America’s politics in the present. Going beyond an understanding of politics and political institutions, the major’s faculty seek to influence tomorrow’s leaders in public service toward an ethical vision of government action within the framework of a Christian worldview. Through exposure to a broad set of readings, experiences, and other work, the politics and public policy major provides students with a background in the structure and trends of America’s political order and prepares them for public service.

Major Objectives:

1. Integrate Christian principles in critical thinking and decision-making in political science.
2. Understand U.S. political structure and history--how politics influences and is influenced by the contemporary culture.
3. Critically examine concepts and theories regarding the interaction of faith and politics.
4. Gather and analyze data regarding political behavior and create work that provides a reasonable interpretation of data.
5. Produce written work and/or other materials at an advanced level, appropriate for entering graduate school or a vocation.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 36 Core Program Requirements
• 30 General Electives

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Pre-Grad School Track

The Pre-Grad School track offers various double major options depending on your long-term graduate school and career goals. Students who wish to pursue a position teaching in higher education might choose one major in the area they wish to someday teach along with a second major in English to prepare for the rigors of writing and critical thinking that graduate school requires. Students who wish to pursue a career in business might choose to double major in business and political science to prepare for an MBA program and a career in the profit or non-profit business field. The combinations are many, and the options are yours! Advising is available for students who wish to discuss the options and their long-terms goals.

Program Requirements for Double Major:

120 Semester Credits

• 48-54 General Education*
• 36 Core Program Requirements (For major #1)
• 36 Core Program Requirements (For major #2)
• *Some courses can count as both general education and major requirements.

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Pre-Law Track

Major Overview:

The Pre-Law track is focused on preparing students for the rigors of law school and offers three degree options that lend themselves to law school readiness: Political Science, History, and English. Choose one of the major areas for a single major or two of the major areas for a double major. The choice is yours!

Program Requirements for Single Major:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 36 Core Program Requirements
• 30 General Electives

Program Requirements for Double Major:

120 Semester Credits

• 48-54 General Education*
• 36 Core Program Requirements (For major #1)
• 36 Core Program Requirements (For major #2)
• *Some courses can count as both general education and major requirements.

Bachelor of Arts Degree – Major: Psychology

Major Overview:

The psychology major leads to a broad foundation of knowledge in the discipline of psychology. Through the integration of a Biblical worldview, students intellectually approach the study of psychology with a deep awareness of the challenges they will encounter in graduate school, the workplace, or ministry. At the completion of this major of study, students will possess a foundational understanding of human behavior and mental processes as well as basic psychology terminology and concepts used in statistical and research methods, physiological psychology, and history and systems.

Major Objectives:

1. Integrate Christian principles in critical thinking and decision making.
2. Demonstrate awareness and improvement of thinking and learning strategies.
3. Identify effective interpersonal relationship skills.
4. Summarize major counseling, developmental, and personality counseling theories.
5. Apply psychological theories to life situations.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 45 Core Program Requirements
• 21 General Electives

Bachelor of Science Degree – Major: Data Analytics

Major Overview:

OCU’s Data Analytics major prepares students for a career in data analytics within the information technology area. Through this major, students define challenges in providing useful data acquired from multiple sources and address the use of analytics to resolve cross-organizational problems.

Please see the BS in Data Analytics Degree for more information

Bachelor of Science Degree – Major: Information Technologies

Major Overview:

The information technology major prepares students for a career in the information technology field. The major integrates information technology with business and equips students to plan, implement, and support information systems.

Major Objectives:

1. Analyze users’ technology needs.
2. Evaluate current and emerging technologies.
3. Create an effective IT project plan.
4. Integrate Christian principles in critical thinking and decision-making.
5. Apply management principles to work with people and processes within an organization.

Major Requirements:

120 Semester Credits

• 54 General Education
• 45 Core Program Requirements
• 21 General Electives