University of OklahomaAcademics Summary

Written by Elizabeth Hurd

Students come to OU to study a wide variety of academic fields. Some of the most popular include communications, business, journalism, engineering, and foreign languages. OU has fantastic programs across these areas of study, as well as many others. The program for Native American studies is unique in the nation due to the state's high population of Native Americans. OU is less strong in education, and there are no programs for marine sciences. One of OU’s strongest academic credentials is its Honors College, which is very active on campus and provides enriched education opportunities to its students. Especially among freshmen on campus, OU seems more like a party school than a school for students focusing on their studies. However, after their first round of finals, most students find a way to balance their social and scholastic lives. The professors on campus are just about as diverse as the student population. OU does a good job of recruiting the best professors available in every field of study offered by the university, so there is no question that the professors are highly knowledgeable. Lecture classes have a reputation for being crowded and impersonal. This is often true, but OU professors are always available during their office hours for one-on-one questions. OU is also a research university, which means that all professors are required to conduct continuing research in their fields, providing a large amount of undergraduate research opportunities. Working on research projects is highly recommended for students planning professional careers or continuing on to graduate school.