NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.

SBU Academy

SBU Academy logoThe SBU Academy is a transitional collegiate experience for academically talented high school juniors and seniors. The Academy offers an in-person, on-campus dual credit classroom experience on Mondays and online support for the course the rest of the week. All schools are welcome to participate; however, the format is especially useful to districts operating on a four-day school week.

Academy students learn from experienced professionals with outstanding expertise and have the opportunity to interact with current SBU college students.

The SBU Academy has a professional focus, offers a collegiate experiences, and prepares select high school students for lives of service and leadership. The Academy's purpose is to offer an early introduction to high-demand professional careers and disciplines.

Apply to SBU Academy

Program details

General Enrollment Guidelines

  • Students in the 11th and 12th grades with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) are automatically eligible for dual credit courses.

  • Students in the 11th and 12th grades with an overall grade point average between 2.5-2.99 (on a 4.0 scale) must provide a signed later of recommendation from their principal or guidance counselor and provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian (CBHE 6.3) to Dr. Tim DeClue, SBU Academy Director.

How to Apply

  1. Create an account on our Application Management login page for the SBU Academy
  2. Select "Start New Application"
  3. Complete all required fields and submit the online application
  4. Submit other required documents

For assistance with your application or more information about the SBU Academy, please contact Dr. Tim DeClue at tdeclue@sbuniv.edu or (417) 328-1704.

Courses for the Spring 2026 semester

  • EDU 2113 Educational Psychology (3 hours credit/$375)
    • Description: Study of social and behavioral theory, including the nature of educational psychology, measurement, personality, the classroom as a social system, learning and instruction.
    • Meets in-person Mondays from 9-9:50 a.m.
    • Online Tuesday-Friday
    • This course counts at SBU as General Psychology and transfers to many/most institutions as General Psychology.
    • Taught by Dr. Chuck Lentz
  • ENG 1113 English Composition I (3 hours credit/$375)
    • Description: Expository writing based on a study of essays. In addition to the writing of essays, a student will write a research paper. 
    • Meets in-person Mondays from 11-11:50 p.m.
    • Online Tuesday-Friday
    • Taught by Jennifer Hungerford
    • Must have 8 or more student enroll to offer the course
  • CIS 1144 Computer Science 1 (4 hours credit/$500)
    • Description: Introduces the concepts of computer programming and problem solving and the associated ideas of algorithms and data structures.
    • Meets in-person Mondays from 11-11:50 a.m. (lecture) & 12:30-1:55 p.m. (lab) 
    • Online Tuesday-Friday
    • Taught by Dr. Tim DeClue
  • POL 1113 American Government (3 hours credit/$375)
    • Description: Origin, organization and policy of United States government at the national, state and local levels.
    • Meets in-person Mondays from 2-2:50 p.m.
    • Online Tuesday-Friday
    • Taught by Dr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah
  • MAT 1163 Pre-Calculus (3 hours credit/$375)
    • Description: This course is a rapid and in depth review of algebra, trigonometry functions in the context that it will be used in Calculus.
    • Meets in-person Mondays from 2-3:45 p.m.
    • Online Tuesday-Friday
    • Taught by Mrs. Tarah Bohner
    • Must have 8 or more students enroll to offer the course
  • CIS 2953 Artificial Intelligence and Current Technologies (3 hours credit/$375)
    • Meets in-person Mondays from 2-3:45 p.m.
    • Online Tuesday-Friday
    • Taught by Dr. Benny Fong

Schedule

Classes will meet every Monday of the fall semester unless designated as an official holiday by the University

Sample Monday on-campus schedule:

  • 8-9 a.m. — Travel to SBU campus in Bolivar
  • 9-9:50 a.m.. — Attend first class session
  • 10-10:50 a.m. — Attend Chapel with SBU community
  • 11-11:50 a.m. — Attend second class session
  • 12-12:50 p.m. — Lunch
  • 1-3 p.m. — If enrolled in a course with a scheduled afternoon lab, attend the lab. If not, work on homework, meet with professors, or attend Academy events and field trips.

Tuition/fees

Participation in SBU Academy costs $125 per credit hour for the 2025-2026 academic year. This includes all course fees and covers the cost of lunch during the Monday in-person sessions. Students also receive access to University events (concerts, performances, etc.) and NCAA Division II athletic events.

The tuition rate for 2026-2027 will be $140 per credit hour.

Additional information

In addition to the courses offered, additional planned activities hosted on-campus in the afternoons will help expose SBU Academy students to other high-demand/high-urgency areas such as healthcare, nursing, and agriculture, for example.

Submit an online application now

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Julie Bryant

Dr. Julie Bryant

Dr. Bryant joined the SBU faculty in 2002 and currently serves as a Full Professor and is the Lewis E. Schollian Endowed Chair of Education.  She has served as SBU Faculty Senate President, was named the Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher of the Year, and she received the SBU Faculty Life Beautiful award. Dr. Bryant is a member of the Missouri State Council of the International Literacy Association, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Literacy Association for Christian Educators, and the National Association for the Education of the Young Child.  She co-sponsors the SBU Student Missouri State Teachers Association.

She graduated from SBU with her Bachelors in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, from the University of Missouri with her Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction.  Her doctoral work was completed with Liberty University in Educational Leadership and Reading.  She has authored or co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and presentations during her career.

Dr. Tim DeClue

Tim DeClueDr. Tim DeClue has served as the SBU Computer and Information Sciences Department Chair, Faculty Senate President, ABET (Accrediting Board for Engineering & Technology) Commissioner, Advanced Placement Computer Science team leader, Code.org facilitator, and authored over 20 published peer-reviewed research or experience papers.

 

Dr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah

Dr. Kwasi Ofori-YeboahDr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah is a published author with his doctoral degree from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.  Dr. Yeboah has over 30 years teaching experience at SBU and expertise in the post-cold war Africa. 

 

 

 

Dr. Craig Endres

Dr. Endres is the chair of the Department of Biology at SBU. Dr. Endres is a veteran 30+ year faculty member at Southwest Baptist University and a well-known published author in the biological sciences. Degrees - B.S., John Brown University; M.S., University of Arkansas; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Benny Fong

Dr. Fong is Assistant Professor of Education and Statistics. Dr. Fong is a recognized authority in artificial intelligence, particularly in educational applications. Degrees - B.S., California State University, East Bay; M.S., California State University, East Bay; Ed.D., Liberty University.

Mrs. Tarah Bohner

Mrs. Bohner is Adjunct Professor of Mathematics. Mrs. Bohner is an experienced high school mathematics teacher with experience in teaching high school students college algebra, pre-calculus, and calculus. Degrees - B.S., Southwest Baptist University; M.S., Georgia State University.