GUNSMITHING
BACHELOR OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
Murray State College’s Gunsmithing program was started in 1979 and provides training in custom gunsmithing and gun repair. We are the home of the first and only Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degree in Gunsmithing in the nation. Students develop the basic knowledge and skills needed to become professional gunsmiths. The two-year and four-year program teaches all aspects of building and repairing firearms.
Gunsmithing - Program Overview
Murray State College’s Gunsmithing program mission is to prepare a diverse Gunsmithing student population for a successful and productive career in the field of Gunsmithing.
Gunsmithing is a very popular program nationwide and abroad. The Gunsmithing Program teaches all aspects of building and repairing firearms. Each student will build three firearms while attending the two-year program and students get to keep what they build.Murray State College Gunsmithing students will have the opportunity to gain special skills and professionalism that will provide them with numerous fields of gunsmithing. Successful gunsmiths will be able to practice in many different areas from basic repair to specialty custom work.
Students will have the opportunity to attend various gun shows such as Vegas Shot
Show, NRA Convention and the American Custom Gunmaker’s Guild Show in Dallas, Texas
just to name a few.Gunsmithing classes are hands-on and in-person. No online gunsmithing classes are
offered at this time. Gunsmithing classes are held 8am-5pm Monday-Thursday every week. There are not gunsmithing classes on Friday.
There are general education classes that are needed to fulfill both the AAS degree
and the BAT degree, along with the gunsmithing classes. Most of the general education
classes can be taken online or transferred from another accredited institution.
The entire AAS degree in Gunsmithing Technology is two, full years (4 semesters). The BAT degree is four, full years (8 semesters). Even if the classes transfer from another institution, it is still 4 - 8 full semesters to finish the GS program, because you must take and pass classes in the fall to continue with classes in the spring. If you have taken gunsmithing classes elsewhere, some may transfer and some may not. The general education classes are similar for both degrees; however, there are eight additional general education classes (26 credit hours) for the BAT degree.
Please reference the degree sheets for the general education classes that are needed.
Areas of Study
- Stockmaking & Stock Repair
- Rebarreling
- Metal Re-finishing (various finishes)
- Repair of Firearms
- Specialty Classes
- CNC (Computer Numerical Control)
- AutoCAD (Computer Aided Design)
- Machine Shop (Lathe and Mill)
- Reloading & Ballistics
- Tig Welding
- Accurizing
- Pistolsmithing & Repair
- Riflesmithing & Repair
Monday - Thursday
- 8AM - 12PM
- 1PM - 5PM
Friday
- 8AM - 12PM
Applying to the Gunsmithing Program
Thank you for your interest in the Gunsmithing program! We have specific application procedures that are outlined below.
-
18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or GED; 18 by the start of classes in late Aug, so if applicant turns 18 in July or early Aug, they can still apply!
-
2 page MAXIMUM cover letter/short biography and work history from the past 3-5 years (See candidate checklist for more instructions and turn in to GS Department)
-
Authority Release Form for background check that must be notarized. (turn in to GS Department)
-
ACT/SAT/Placement Scores, Official Transcripts from all Colleges and High Schools and Immunization Records (please send these to the Registrar's office first, then request a copy be sent to GS Department)
- ACT/SAT is not required, however a placement test must be taken if no ACT/SAT scores. If the composite ACT score is below 19, a placement test must be taken as well. Placement tests may be taken here at MSC or another designated location such as a local college. For more information regarding this, please call 580-387-7304 or email: testingcenter@mscok.edu
-
Copy of DD-214 (Veterans only, must be discharged from active duty by start of fall semester and turn in to GS Department)
-
Attend in person Interview (applicant will be notified with interview date after all paperwork is turned in)
-
Background check *please do not complete this until notification to do so;
-
Research Assignment - BAT ONLY (See "BAT Gunsmithing Candidate Checklist" )
Applications are accepted year round; however, a maximum of 30 students are accepted for the AAS freshman class and 20 for the BAT class beginning in the fall of each year (August start). We will begin interviews for the AAS 2024 school year in November 2023! The students will be made aware of acceptance or rejection by April/May (June if necessary) of 2024. Acceptance is not automatic, each student is chosen on their own merit.
Applications received after May 30, 2024 will be considered for the following school year.
International Student Checklist
International Applicants: please call the office for more information.
-
If you are an international student, you may need to be accepted to the Gunsmithing Technology program first and then continue with the application process to Murray State College.
*Applying does not guarantee acceptance.
-
If you are an International student click here, please follow all policies and procedures for applying to Murray State College.
-
Please contact the Registrar's office for additional resources and help: registrar@mscok.edu or 580-387-7230.
Gunsmithing (A.A.S.) - Semester Breakdown
*Note: This is a possible schedule. Most gen eds can be switched around and taken whenever the student can fit it in their schedule. There are only a few that are set in certain semesters: COL 1211 is fall only (or summer before the first full fall semester), BM 1403 is spring only, MTH 1123 is fall only and ENG 1333 is usually fall only.
Required General Education Classes: 6 total credit hours of ENG/COM, 3 credit hours MTH, 3 credit hours BM, 3 credit hours HST, 3 credit hours GVT, and 1 credit hour COL (if needed) = 18 (OR) 19 total credit hours of general education classes
*Gunsmithing Elective Classes are Available as Schedule Allows
*Eight Week General Education Classes are Available, Except for Business Math
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
GS 1001 Basic Firearm Maintenance | GS 2122 Intro to Firearms Repair II |
GS 1012 Gun bluing | GS 2223 General Metals |
GS 1113 Intro to Firearms Repair I | GS 2324 Machine Metal Work I |
GS 1213 Bench Metal | GS 1911 Technician Development |
GS 1313 Machine Tool Practices | GS 2613 Riflesmithing |
GS 1512 Blueprint Reading | GS 1372 Riflesmithing 1 Auxiliary |
GS 1362 Machine Tool Auxiliary | BM 1403 Business Math |
COL 1211 Success Strategies (if needed, summer before option) | |
ENG 1113 (OR) ENG 1333 (OR) SPC 1113 (OR) COM 1233 | |
(OR) MTH 1123, MTH 1513 |
Required General Education Classes As Needed to Complete Degree
*Eight Week General Education Classes are Available
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
GS 2023 Metal Finishing | GS 2142 Firerams Repair IV |
GS 2133 Firearms Repair III | GS 2163 Applied Repair Techniques |
GS 2623 Stockmaking I | GS 2333 Machine Metal Work II |
GS 2653 Shotgunsmithing | GS 2521 Gun Store Management |
GS 2382 Repair Auxiliary | GS 2633 Pistolsmithing |
HST 1483 (OR) HST 1493 | GS 2392 Machine Shop Auxiliary |
ENG 1213 (OR) ENG 1333 (OR) SPC 1113 (OR) COM 1233 (OR) BC 2133 (Prereq ENG 1113) | GVT 1113 American Federal Government |
(OR) MTH 1123, MTH 1513 |
Gunsmithing (B.A.T.) - Semester Breakdown
*Note: This is a possible schedule. Most gen ed courses can be switched around and taken whenever the student can fit it in their schedule. There are only a few that are set in certain semesters: COL 1211 is fall only (or summer before the first full fall semester), BM 1403 is spring only, MTH 1123 is fall only and ENG 1333 is usually fall only.
Required General Education Classes: 9 total credit hours of ENG/COM, 3 credit hours MTH, 8 total credit hours of Lab Science, 3 credit hours of Liberal Arts, 3 credit hours of Arts& Science, 6 total credit hours of Humanities, 3 credit hours HST, 3 credit hours GVT, 3 credit hours of CIS, and 1 credit hour COL (if needed) = 41 (OR) 42 total credit hours of general education classes
*Gunsmithing Elective Classes are Available as Schedule Allows
*Eight Week General Education Classes are Available, Except for Business Math
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
Lab Science | Lab Science |
GS 1001 Basic Firearm Maintenance | GS 1112 Firearm Theory 2 |
GS 1102 Firearm Theory 1 | GS 1602 Muzzleloader Rifle |
ENG 1113 Comp 1/ENG 1333 Applied Tech Writing | ENG 1213 Comp 2/SPC 1113 |
COL 1211 Success Strategies (if needed) | GS 1911 Technician Development |
Humanities Elective | Humanities Elective |
CIS 1113 Computer Applications |
Required General Education Classes As Needed to Complete Degree
*Eight Week General Education Classes are Available
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
GS 1012 Gunbluing | GS 2122 Intro to Firearms Repair 2 |
GS 1113 Intro to Firearms Repair 1 | GS 2223 General Metals |
GS 1213 Bench Metal | GS 2324 Machine Metal Work 1 |
GS 1313 Machine Tool Practices | GS 2613 Riflesmithing |
GS 1512 Bluepring Reading | SPC 1113/COM 1233 |
MTH 1123 Tech Math/MTH 1513 |
Required General Education Classes As Needed to Complete Degree
*Eight Week General Education Classes are Available
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
GS 2023 Metal Finishing | GS 4142 Advanced Firearms Repair 2 |
GS 3133 Advanced Firearms Repair 1 | GS 4163 Applied firearms repair |
GS 2623 Stockmaking I | GS 3333 Precision Machining |
GS 3653 Assessment and Improvements for the modern Shotgun | GS 2521 Gun Store Management |
HST 1483 (OR) HST 1493 | GS 3633 Custom Pistolsmithing |
Required General Education Classes As Needed to Complete Degree
*Eight Week General Education Classes are Available
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
GS 4033 Tools fixtures and Processes for Gunsmithing | GS 4042 Firearms Restoration |
GS 4696 Custom Metalsmithing Capstone | GS 4683 Design and Development of Custom Revolvers |
GS 4983 Industry Leadership Development | GS 4686 Stockmaking Capstone |
Arts and Sciences Elective | GVT 1113 American Federal Government |
Liberal Arts Elective |
FROM HERE,
GO ANYWHERE
Program Highlights
First and Only Bachelor's Degree in America, State-of-the-Art Facility, Graduates receive minimum of 3 job offers prior to graduation
Apply Now