New minor in advocacy is approved

By Hannah Ledford, Assistant News Editor

Last fall, Oklahoma Baptist University approved a new Advocacy minor.

Dr. Karen Longest, OBU psychology professor and contact personnel for information about the minor, describes advocacy as bettering the world around us.

“I would say that advocacy is bringing about change of some kind for something that’s important to you.”

Longest said the idea for this minor occurred during a meeting with some of her coworkers.

“We started a discussion in the Psychology department about the possibility of developing a minor in advocacy because we run across a lot of students who let us know that they really want to do something to make a difference in the world.” 

Although the minor’s origins are based in the Psychology department, the minor will be available and useful for all majors.

“I think also we were trying to find something that would let students major in a wide variety of areas, but still let them bring about change for a cause that’s important,” Longest said.

She said they expect students from a wide variety of majors to take interest in this minor.

“Dr. Roark did an interest survey when we were thinking about developing this and I think there were maybe fifteen different majors on campus of people who said ‘if you offer this I would be interested in it.’”

There will be meeting on Friday, February 24th at 10 a.m. to provide all students with information about the minor from a direct source.

The meeting will take place in the Tulsa Royalties Auditorium in the Bailey Business Center.

Carrie Myles, Executive Director of the Milburn Center, said this meeting will be a good chance for students to learn more about the requirements for this minor and the possibilities it can bring.

“The focus of the time will be oriented around reviewing the overall objectives of the Advocacy minor, the required coursework, and the ways that the Advocacy minor can help students advance their calling and career,” Myles said.

The speakers at this meeting will consist of OBU faculty, with Longest being the head speaker.

There will also be a time for students to respond with questions at the end of the meeting.

Myles agrees with  Longest in that this minor is a great opportunity for students with various majors, not just those in the Psychology department.

“There are many majors to which the Advocacy minor could be a great addition,” Myles said.

“We already have many students who find ways to use their majors and careers as an avenue for advocacy.”

Longest said this minor will soon be an option for students.

“It has been approved by OBU so it will officially become part of the catalog this fall.”

All but two of the classes required for this minor are classes that are already offered at OBU.

The two new classes, Cornerstone in Advocacy and Capstone in Advocacy, are designed to ensure students graduate with a better understanding of advocacy and how they plan to use it.

Longest and Myles both hold high hopes as to what this new minor could bring about.

“I’m excited to see the impact our students will have with the addition of more formalized and directed ways of learning how to be most effective in advocating for others,” Myles said.

This new Advocacy minor encompass the calling Christians have from Christ to live for Him and defend those who cannot defend themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9).

You can visit the Milburn Center to learn more.