Speech and Debate at OCU About the University Oklahoma City University is a coeducational, private liberal arts university located in the Uptown district of Oklahoma City. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a wide variety of degrees in the liberal arts, fine arts, sciences and business. The only Oklahoma institution listed in the top tier of the regional, master’s-level university category by U.S. News and World Report, Oklahoma City University is also listed in Forbes’ “Best Christian Colleges” & “100 Best College Buys.”
About the Team OCU Speech and Debate has a rich history that goes back to its historic debate in 1931 with Wiley College, the first debate between an all white team and an all black team south of the Mason-Dixon line. Today OCU Speech and Debate continues its vision of inclusivity. The team allows students to pursue their own interests and to compete in a broad range of areas, including Parliamentary Debate, Platform Speech Public Speaking, Limited Prep Speaking, and Individual Events. The program is open to students from any discipline, regardless of prior experience. We always put academics first and hope to locate natural synergies that promote the success of our students as well as our team. It is the quality of an OCU education that sets our team apart from the rest. The team emphasizes active research and teaches students to apply research methods across the performance -> speech -> debate spectrum. Students will come away from our program better equipped than the average student, with a stronger understanding of next-level professional and/or graduate expectations.
About the Coach Garret Castleberry, Director of Forensics, began his involvement with speech and debate in high school, including State Champion in Humorous Interpretation of Literature. At SWOSU, he served as forensics chapter president and attended multiple National tournaments in a variety of events, including 2nd Place in Reader’s Theatre in consecutive years. Prior to coming to OCU, Garret coached for several years at the University of Oklahoma. Email: glcastleberry@okcu.edu “Like” us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCUForensics • Follow us on Twitter: @OCUDebate
Visit the Campus
How to apply
To find out if OCU is the perfect fit for you, we encourage you to visit the campus for a tour and an opportunity to meet with the team and other OCU faculty and students. To arrange a visit, you can either call 800-933-7242 (ext. 2) or go to www.okcu.edu/visitors
1. Complete the university application for admission: www.okcu.edu/apply We also accept the Common Application. A $55 application fee is required. 2. Submit the required documents: official copy of your high school transcript, official copy of your ACT or SAT score report, high school counselor recommendation form, and the essay portion of the application (a 250 word personal statement answering one of the questions on the application) 3. Complete the online application for the Speech and Debate team: www.okcu.edu/speechanddebate The priority deadline for Speech and Debate awards is March 1. After that date, scholarship funds cannot be guaranteed. Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 22 ACT/1020 SAT and meet the eligibility requirements of the university. 4. Log in to your Star Page. This is a personalized guide through the admissions process that allows you to check your application status and contact your counselor and get news about campus events.
Scholarship Opportunities Debate/Crossover Scholarships Novice to Advanced ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 annually Speech Scholarships Novice to Advanced ranging from $1,500 to $4,500 annually These scholarships may be combined with University Merit and freshman Departmental scholarships. Students may also combine Speech and Debate scholarships to talent scholarships from the Performing Arts schools. Speech and Debate Awards may not be combined with other competitive scholarships from the university. University scholarships can only be stacked up to the tuition block (12-16 hours). Scholarships are only applicable toward tuition and may not cover fees, room or board.
www.okcu.edu/speechanddebate