Gunsmithing Degree – a BACHELOR’S – Offered in OK

An article in The Oklahoman online recently shared the news that Oklahoma’s Murray State College will be soon offering a Bachelor’s level gunsmithing degree – reportedly the first of its kind in the nation.

Reporter Carmen Forman of Oklahoma Voice indicates it’s part of an effort to bring firearm and ammunition manufacturers to the Sooner State. According to the article, the program is backed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Bachelor’s Level Gunsmithing Degree

Murray State College President Tim Faltyn said, “The idea was that this is an investment in an industry that can locate in our state, and regionally, we have the ability distribution-wise to become a powerhouse in this. “

The article goes on to explain:

Murray State College has offered a gunsmithing program since 1979. Annually, the school admits 30 students to its two-year degree program at its Tishomingo campus.

By offering a bachelor’s degree in gunsmithing, the college could admit more students and offer training on industry trends, campus officials said. 

“Gunsmithing is a very old profession, but we’re seeing a major shift toward embracing modern technology,” said Chad Mercer, Murray State’s gunsmithing program chair. “The industry’s been begging for students to come out of here with some higher, more technical knowledge.”

By offering a bachelor’s degree in gunsmithing, the college could admit more students and offer training on industry trends, campus officials said. 

“Gunsmithing is a very old profession, but we’re seeing a major shift toward embracing modern technology,” said Chad Mercer, Murray State’s gunsmithing program chair. “The industry’s been begging for students to come out of here with some higher, more technical knowledge.”

Mercer’s graduates are spread out across the firearms industry. Some alumni are working in small-town gun shops. Others have taken jobs working for the military, the federal government or custom firearm companies.

“I can place 100% of my students if they’re willing to move,” Mercer said. “There’s a demand out there.”

After graduating from Murray State’s two-year program last year, Logan Hill, 27, accepted a full-time job at H&H Shooting Sports in Oklahoma City.

Hill’s friends convinced him to apply to the gunsmithing program after he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a human relations degree. Now, he splits his time helping customers in the gun shop and fixing and customizing patrons’ firearms.

He praised the hands-on training he received at Murray State, and said his enrollment in the program helped him get his foot in the door at H&H, where he worked part time on the weekends during the school year.

“I learned so much down there in just a short amount of time,” he said. “It was 100% worth every minute.”

Faltyn hopes recruiting additional firearm companies to Oklahoma keep more program graduates close to home.

According to a 2021 report from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Oklahoma has 138 gun manufacturers — up from just 33 in 2011.

Oklahoma also has the 12th-highest rate of gun deaths, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

The expansion of Murray State’s program is expected to cost about $19 million. The college will use the $10 million in new state funding to build a 47,000-square-foot building for the program, which students will use in addition to the on-campus firing range.

College officials are soliciting donations for the remaining funding that will be used to hire three new gunsmithing instructors and purchase new equipment.

Enrollment for the new program is expected to begin this fall, and students could start as soon as the spring semester.

Learn more at The Oklahoman and The Norman Transcript.