English Major
OKWU’s Bachelor of Arts in English prepares students for excellence in the application, interpretation, and communication of literature and language. Every class is taught from a Christian worldview. Courses focus on British, American, and World Literatures. Students also take courses in Grammar, Advanced Composition, Creative Writing, African-American Literature, Native American Literature, and Literary Theory.
English majors are favored by employers because of their advanced ability to interpret texts, analyze, synthesize, and think critically. They also develop oral and written communication skills that are coveted in today’s marketplace. Students in this program also develop empathy, as they learn truths of human culture and experience from the literature.
Hybrid Learning Options
Several courses provide flexible, hybrid options, with both in-person and online classes available for students to take.
Christian Worldview
All courses are taught from an expressly Biblical, Christian worldview. Students learn how to apply Scripture to the literature, while many assignments ask students to develop Biblical and real-life applications of the text.
Updated Curriculum
Our faculty are regularly updated curriculum for every course, ensuring that students are receiving the best instruction. Students have the opportunity to take Creative writing courses, as well, to develop their own writing voice and develop a portfolio of work to submit for contests or publication.
Career Path
Students who graduate with an English degree can go on to a variety of career pathways, some of which include:
- Law school
- Journalism
- Technical writing
- Editing
- Publishing
- Teaching
- Social work
- Nonprofits
Earn Your English Degree
“This degree is unusual because it allows students to appreciate and even love literature, and to do so as unique individuals with their own tastes and preferenes. Too often today, literature programs focus on politics and on promoting certain agendas. Here at OKWU, we recognize our students as individuals who matter, we see that God is the source of truth, and we simply love to read.”
– Dr. Eric Gray, Associate Professor of English
Why English Matters
Culture today is flooded with information and opinions, which has made it increasingly difficult to parse truth from untruth. Higher education from a Christian worldview provides students with a Bible-based instruction that fosters trust, empathy, ethics, and integrity. Many employers favor English majors because of their ability to interpret, analyze, synthesize, and think critically. They also have well-developed oral and written communication skills that help them stand out from the competition.
Taught by Industry Experts
All of OKWU’s English courses are taught by experienced, credentialed faculty with PhDs in English Language and Literature.
Featured Core Classes
British Literature
Students cover the most important and exciting works of British authors, from Beowulf to Margaret Atwood. Read works from Chaucer, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Donne, Blake, and others. Study the development of English literature and how it still speaks to us today.
American Literature
Study works ranging from the earliest American writings by indigenous peoples to literature from present day authors. A wide variety of genres are covered, including fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction literature. Authors include Emerson, Poe, Dickinson, Frost, Hughes, and Tan. Students read from a diverse range of voices.
World Literature
This course emphasizes how literature developed across a broad range of cultures, from the ancient epics to the modern day poets of Poland and Japan. By studying the works of other cultures, students examine the differences and similarities between cultures.