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2 Southeastern Oklahoma State University
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Community and Location
The University is linked by tradition to the geographic region
of southeastern Oklahoma and north central Texas. Although
new programs have produced many changes in the geographic
origins and ethnic backgrounds of the student body, they are
still primarily products of small towns and rural communities
in Oklahoma and Texas. The present student body numbers
approximately 4,100, representing 35 states and 32 foreign
countries.
Located in the southeastern part of Oklahoma in the city
of Durant, the University is 15 miles from the Oklahoma/Texas
border; 90 miles north of Dallas, Texas; 148 miles southeast
of Oklahoma City; and 12 miles east of Lake Texoma (one of
the largest manmade lakes in the world with approximately
580 miles of shoreline). Durant is a city in excess of 14,500
population. It is surrounded by productive farm land, excellent
grazing land, three rivers, and a state park and recreational
area. The economy of Durant is changing from one that has
been primarily agricultural to one that is more diverse. This
change has been influenced by the recreational opportunities
at nearby Lake Texoma, which serves more than 5,000,000
visitors annually and by the presence of more than 300 business
and industrial firms.
History of Development
On March 6, 1909, the Second Oklahoma State Legislature
approved an act designating Durant as the location for a
normal school to serve the following 12 county region: Atoka,
Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, Love, Marshall, Mc-
Curtain, McIntosh, Pittsburg, and Pushmataha. Southeastern
Oklahoma State University first opened its doors to students
on June 14, 1909, as Southeastern State Normal School. The
early program of instruction consisted of four years of high
school and the freshman and sophomore college years. The
first sessions of the school were held in temporary quarters
pending completion of Morrison Hall in January, 1911, long
known as the Administration Building.
The original purpose of Southeastern was the education
of teachers for the public schools of Oklahoma. The two-year
graduates were awarded life teaching certificates. In 1921,
the institution became a four-year college and was renamed
Southeastern State Teachers College. The primary function
remained that of teacher education and the degrees of Bachelor
of Arts in Education and Bachelor of Science in Education
were authorized.
In 1939, the purpose of the college was expanded. Courses
leading to two newly authorized noneducation degrees—Bachelor
of Arts and Bachelor of Science—were added. At this time,
General Information
the college was renamed Southeastern State College. In 1954,
the curriculum was enlarged by the addition of a graduate program
leading to the Master of Teaching degree. In 1969, the
name of the degree was changed to Master of Education.
On May 27, 1968, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education designated Southeastern as an Area Community
College. While retaining previous functions, the college moved
in the direction of providing greater postsecondary educational
opportunities by expanding its curriculum to include new programs
in areas such as business, technology, aviation, and
conservation.
In 1971, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
requested that the state supported institutions of higher
education review and evaluate their functions as members of
the State System of Higher Education. Upon completion of the
review, a comprehensive “Plan for the Seventies” was prepared
by each institution and submitted to the Regents. On June 1,
1972, Southeastern submitted its plan to the Regents which
was, subsequently, approved on March 29, 1973. The Master
of Education degree was changed to the Master of Behavioral
Studies and, subsequently, the University was approved to
offer a graduate program in business which culminates in the
degree of Master of Administrative Studies. Four options of the
Master of Behavioral Studies degree were re-titled Master of
Education in August, 1979.
On August 15, 1974, the name of Southeastern State College
was changed to Southeastern Oklahoma State University
by an act of the Oklahoma State Legislature. Since 1974, Southeastern,
through institutional reorganizations, has continued to
diversify, so that, presently, there are three academic schools:
Arts and Sciences, Business, and Education and Behavioral
Sciences.
The faculty and administration of Southeastern Oklahoma
State University continue to review, evaluate, and revise its
curriculum to keep abreast with the changing times. In 1989,
Southeastern was authorized to offer a specialty degree, the
Bachelor of Music, and in 1991 the Music Education program
was re-designated as the Bachelor of Music Education. In
April 1997, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
approved a Master of Business Administration program
to replace the Master of Administrative Studies in Business,
and five existing business programs were re-designated as
Bachelor of Business Administration. A Bachelor of Arts in
Spanish was added in Febru ary 2004. A Master of Science
in Occupational Safety and Health was added in 2006 and a
Master of Education-Math Specialist degree in 2008. In the
Fall of 2010, the Master of Behavioral Studies was changed to
a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Pending approval by the Oklahoma State Regents for
Higher Education in Fall 2011, a Master of Art in Teaching and
a Master of Science in Sport Studies and Athletic Administration
will be added.