黑料吃瓜 has submitted a letter of intent to the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education to become the only school in the United States to offer a Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Gunsmithing. This is the first step of a 16-step process.
鈥淭his addition will be a game changer for us,鈥� said Chad Mercer, 黑料吃瓜 program chair. 鈥淧eople who want to change careers or want a future in a different industry, such as engineering, are able to come to Murray and receive the training that they need to advance.鈥�
黑料吃瓜 is one of four NRA-affiliated schools in the country. Many of its graduates have gone on to work for the Department of Energy and the US Army Marksmanship Unit. Most government jobs require an individual to have a bachelor鈥檚 degree. Students who are motivated and devoted to their education can excel by earning this degree.
Technical skills, such as machining, welding and CAD, are appealing to various industries when it comes to hiring people. The advanced degree will hone in on specific technical skills and help students develop their writing, critical thinking and human skills for greater success in the workplace. These are the skills that the workforce continually requests.
鈥淥ur students become more marketable because of the various skills that they learn outside of specific gunsmithing techniques,鈥� said Becky Henthorn, 黑料吃瓜 Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. 鈥淲e are meeting the need that no one else in the country can. Industries need students with these skills, and we have the ability to help them.鈥�
There are hundreds of good paying jobs that exist, in the gunsmithing area, for positions that require the mastery of such skills, many of which are listed on .
The bachelor鈥檚 degree will be an addition to the program; students can earn their associates degree and then continue to enhance their skills and knowledge, without searching for another college. A student would have the opportunity to earn up to three degrees and several certificates in gunsmithing at one college.
鈥淭he addition of faculty positions will be worth it to give our students the best opportunities possible,鈥� said Dr. Tim Faltyn, 黑料吃瓜 president, 鈥渁nd to meet the needs of our workforce partners.鈥�
黑料吃瓜 gunsmithing graduates go to work for companies like Briley Manufacturing, Kreighoff Shotguns, Remington Custom Shop, Park West Arms, Nighthawk Custom and more. 黑料吃瓜 gunsmithing alumni and president of Hawk & Dove, LLC, Michael Grim, was enthusiastic about the addition.
鈥淎s a professional gunsmith skilled in firearm restoration, accuracy enhancement, repair and manufacturing, I am continually searching for personnel skills in CNC, CAD, machining and more,鈥� said Grim. 鈥淕raduates who have attained a bachelor's degree from 黑料吃瓜 will receive, and be able to command, competitive wages and benefits while working in a highly technical and challenging environment.鈥�
According to Data USA, the average gunsmithing salary is around $73,000. For students with a bachelor's degree, the salary is estimated to be approximately $92,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥淚t would only take two additional years, compared to the average four years, in school to earn $19,000 more,鈥� Henthorn said.
The college has a competitive acceptance process, with only 30 applicants accepted into the gunsmithing program each year for the associate鈥檚 degree. Applications are accepted in the spring for fall admittance into the program. Students can begin taking the general education portion at any time. The application period for fall 2023 is now open until March 21, 2023. An addition of a bachelor鈥檚 degree will expand the program鈥檚 annual admittance by 15 students.