10/02/2026
Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Midwestern State University formalized two academic partnerships Oct. 2 during a ceremonial signing at FISTA Innovation Park in Lawton, Oklahoma. The partnerships expand educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in educational leadership and pharmacy.
The agreements strengthen collaboration between the neighboring institutions by creating new pathways for students to earn advanced degrees while supporting workforce needs across Oklahoma, Texas, and the region.
A memorandum of understanding between SWOSU’s Department of Education and MSU’s West College of Education establishes a pathway for graduates of SWOSU’s Master of Education in Educational Administration program to be considered for admission into MSU’s Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program.
Under the agreement, up to 15 SWOSU graduates each academic year may apply for consideration for admission to the Ed.D. program at MSU Texas. The partnership is designed to support the preparation of educational leaders who will serve schools, colleges, and communities throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and the surrounding region.
Students seeking admission through the partnership will complete MSU’s standard graduate admissions process, including academic and professional credential reviews, writing assessments, recommendations, and an admissions interview. Admission will remain competitive and is not guaranteed.
To help make doctoral study more affordable, the agreement provides scholarship support through the MSU Texas Dr. Billie Doris McAda Graduate School for eligible SWOSU students enrolled in the Ed.D. program, subject to available funding. The scholarship is intended to help offset differences between Oklahoma resident tuition costs and Texas in-state tuition rates.
Students in the program will enroll full time and complete six credit hours each semester as they progress through the doctoral curriculum. The pathway provides advanced academic preparation in educational leadership but does not lead to principal or superintendent certification in Texas or Oklahoma.
A second agreement between the SWOSU College of Pharmacy and MSU Texas creates an early admission 3+4 program that allows qualified MSU Texas students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree through a streamlined academic pathway. Under the articulation agreement, MSU Texas students will complete three years of prescribed undergraduate coursework in either the Bachelor of Science in Biology or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program before matriculating into SWOSU’s four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Eligible pharmacy coursework completed at SWOSU will transfer back to MSU Texas, allowing students to complete requirements for an MSU Texas bachelor’s degree while simultaneously progressing toward the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Students who successfully complete the program will earn both an MSU Texas bachelor’s degree and a SWOSU Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
The agreement provides for the early admission of up to four qualified MSU Texas students to the SWOSU Doctor of Pharmacy program each academic year. Students admitted through the partnership will receive the same rights, privileges, and services as other transfer students admitted to the SWOSU College of Pharmacy. For financial aid purposes, MSU Texas transfer students admitted to the pharmacy program will be classified as professional graduate students.
University leaders said the agreements reflect a shared commitment to expanding educational access, creating innovative academic pathways, and preparing highly qualified professionals to meet workforce demands in both states.
“These partnerships create new opportunities for students while leveraging the strengths of both institutions,” said SWOSU President Joel Kendall. “Whether students aspire to become educational leaders or pharmacists, these agreements provide clear pathways to advanced degrees and rewarding careers.”
MSU Texas President Stacia Haynie added, “By working together, our institutions can offer students greater access to high-demand professional programs and help address critical workforce needs throughout our region.”
📷 Photos courtesy of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
