University of Oklahoma
Located in Norman, Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma is the flagship campus for this university school system and the oldest continually operating university in the state. Founded in 1890, the university opened its doors and started educating students several years before Oklahoma even became a state. It offered a number of programs that provided students with the practical training necessary for working in the new industries spreading to the west. It has a strong reputation due to the number of scholars that studied on its campus. Though some call it the University of Oklahoma, it also goes by OU.
With a total enrollment of more than 31,000 graduate students and undergrads, OU is one of the largest colleges in Oklahoma. It has a long standing rivalry with the University of Texas, and both students and alumni turn out for the annual football game between the two schools. The 15 colleges in the university offer more than 150 degree programs for undergrads and a number of programs designed for graduate and doctoral students. Washington Monthly, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report all ranked OU as one of the country's best colleges, and U.S. News & World Report and QS also rank the school on a global scale. The university operates two regional campuses in other parts of Oklahoma and two study centers that cater to students in Brazil and Mexico.
University of Oklahoma Accreditation Details
Not only does the University of Oklahoma have accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), but it passed its most recent renewal in 2013, which means it will have its accreditation through 2023. The HLC does an extensive review of the university and evaluates factors like the number of graduates who find work, the history of its professors and how many students complete the programs they start. More than 20 organizations accredited more than 30 of the degree programs that the university offers too. One of the more unique forms of accreditation OU has is from the Aviation Accreditation Board International. The board accredited all its programs in aviation management. Other accreditation that OU has comes from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, American Society of Landscape Architects, Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Technology and Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
University of Oklahoma Application Requirements
The Graduate College at the University of Oklahoma is open to students who have a bachelor's degree, but you can apply for the fall semester before completing your degree. You will need to have a degree from an accredited college or university too. The online application consists of several different sections that cover the college(s) you attended, your major, the classes you took towards your degree, any professional experience you might have and details about your name, date of birth and current address. If you earned your degree from a school other than OU, you must also upload a transcript with your application.
While the university will accept an unofficial transcript as part of the online application, it does require that you provide OU with an official transcript before enrolling. This transcript must come from the most recent college you attended, arrive in a sealed envelope and have the name of the school on both the transcript and the envelope. OU may ask for some extra information from you before you can start classes such as a writing sample or a personal statement. You may need to provide some departments with your resume or an official score from an exam like the GRE also.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The University of Oklahoma is one of just a few schools that does not charge separate tuition rates for residents and nonresidents. When you enroll in one of its graduate programs, you pay the same rate, no matter where you live. This rate starts at $203.60 per credit hour, but includes fees that bring the total cost up to around $330 per credit hour. Textbooks and any other supplies that you might need add to your final cost, and you're also responsible for paying for your own living expenses, including room and board. OU has a guaranteed tuition policy that freezes your rate once you start classes to help you avoid any tuition hikes in the future.
It's important that you file for financial aid as soon as possible to see how much help you will get for the coming year. The federal government offers unsubsidized student loans for graduate students and will increase the amount you can borrow after you finish your first year of study. You may qualify for one or more grants that come from the federal or state government as well as grants for those studying certain subjects. OU also has jobs available for graduate students who live on or close to its Norman campus.
School of Library and Information Studies
The School of Library and Information Studies, which is part of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, offers a master's degree program, dual degree programs and a certificate program. Its main program is a Master of Library and Information Studies, which gives students an MLIS degree when they finish their studies. You'll need to take 36 credit hours of classes that cover everything from working in a public library and doing archival work to working in a school library and helping students find resources. To earn your degree, you will also need to do a thesis, pass an exam or submit a portfolio for review. Doing the exam requires that you take an extensive exam that asks questions about all the things you learned in your classes.
Related Resource: Top 30 Affordable Online Master's in Library Science Degree Programs
If you enroll in OU as an undergrad, you can begin taking MLIS classes during your senior year and then transition into the graduate program and finish your master's degree in just one extra year of study. OU has a dual degree option that lets you earn an MLIS degree and an MA degree in a field like history. You can also enroll in its archival studies program and earn a certificate in addition to or in lieu of an MLIS degree. The University of Oklahoma has a PhD program that you can start while working on your master's degree too.