Spears Business, Langston University announce 4+1 business degree partnership

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405-744-4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University and Langston University have entered into a memorandum of understanding that establishes a new 4+1 business degree pathway for LU undergraduate students to earn their master’s degree at OSU with just one additional year of classes.

Through this partnership, qualified Langston students can seamlessly transition into one of several graduate programs at the OSU Spears School of Business. LU students will have access to graduate-level coursework during their senior year at LU, allowing them to accelerate their graduate degree completion while saving time and money.

LU/OSU 4+1 Business Degree Pathway Master’s Programs

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Science in Business Analytics and Data Science (MS BAnDS) 
• Master of Management Information Systems (MS MIS)
• Master of Quantitative Finance (MSQF)
• Master of Hospitality and Tourism Management (MS HTM) 

"We're excited to partner with Langston University to create this 4+1 pathway for their business students,” said Dr. Jim Payne, dean of Spears Business. “Our campuses are just 20 miles apart, and this kind of collaboration strengthens Oklahoma's workforce by providing more students with access to advanced business education. We look forward to welcoming Langston students into our graduate programs and helping them build successful careers in business."

The partnership furthers OSU’s stated land-grant mission of improving the lives of people in Oklahoma through education and research, while also aligning with LU’s mission to provide transformative educational opportunities and expand graduate pathways for underrepresented students in business and technology disciplines.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to creating academic pathways that strengthen Oklahoma’s business and innovation ecosystem,” said Dr. Daryl Green, dean of the School of Business at Langston University. “It gives our students a competitive advantage in pursuing high-demand careers in business, analytics and leadership.”

LU students wishing to take advantage of these new pathways must be juniors with at least 90 undergraduate hours completed at the time of applying. All students must take the GMAT exam and complete OSU’s standard graduate school application found at grad.okstate.edu/apply.

Interested participants will meet with their LU advisor to complete a general eligibility screening and discuss next steps. After meeting with their LU advisor, they will need to set up an appointment with a Spears advisor for their program of interest. Their advisors will help them navigate the process of applying to the master's program early at OSU, and they will be equipped with timelines for the next available semester.

Langston University is Oklahoma’s HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Made up of six academic schools, LU provides students with a world-class education that includes hands-on learning through impactful research and beneficial internships. The Langston University School of Business (LUSB) prides itself on producing change agents in the world of business. Nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), LUSB offers more than 10 degree programs that prepare graduates to jumpstart their career goals. In 2025, LUSB graduates ranked in the top 1% nationally on the Peregrine Business Exam.

Emboldened by its motto “the Power of Personal,” Spears Business prepares students in an environment where human connections are paramount and academic excellence is strengthened by interpersonal prowess. The results speak for themselves, as U.S. News & World Report ranked Spears Business No. 8 for its online bachelor's programs and No. 11 for its online MBA, while Fortune listed its MS BAnDS program No. 2 in the country behind only Harvard University. With 6,744 students, Spears Business is the largest college on the OSU campus.