Skip Navigation 

Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Language Arts

SWOSU > Academics > Language and Literature > Letter from the Chair

Department of Language and Literature

Letter from the Chair

If you appreciate the power of words, love to read, and enjoy writing, then an English major is for you.  The Language and Literature Department at Southwestern Oklahoma State University offers such courses as Creative Writing, Shakespeare in Context, Creative Nonfiction, World Folk Literature, and Film and Literature.  We have a faculty who care about their students and who have superb credentials—Ph.D.s from such universities as Tulane, Florida State University, Cornell University, the University of Mississippi, State University of New York, and the University of Arkansas. These doctoral-level faculty will be teaching your freshman composition classes and mentoring you throughout your program.

If you are interested in a Spanish major, then we have a brand new Spanish program designed to help you develop your skills in speaking, reading, and writing the language.  Courses range from Hispanic Life & Culture and Hispanic Literature to an opportunity for study abroad.  Spanish skills gained with a major or a minor make you a very marketable person when looking at all sorts of jobs.

We have an active English Club which meets regularly, takes field trips to plays and poetry/fiction readings, and offers an opportunity to get to know people who share your interests.  Our honorary society is Sigma Tau Delta.  Membership honors outstanding students in literature and language and offers the opportunity to participate in national writing competitions and attend national meetings.

You have a choice of three emphases when you choose an English major:  Literature, Creative Writing, or English Education.  Our graduates find jobs teaching English on the high school and middle school level, as well as in business and industry.  Some go on to law school or graduate school.   The Language and Literature Department takes great pride in the success of our graduates.

If you would like more information or would like to come by and visit, please e-mail me at jill.jones@swosu.edu, call me at 580-774-3734, or come by Campbell 202.  I would love to hear from you.

Yours truly,

Dr. Jill Jones, Chair
Department of Language and Literature