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Study Abroad
Study Abroad in Jamaica with Dr. Catherine John. A summer of field trips, performances and unforgettable classes.

Undergraduate Program

The English Major

A degree from the OU Department of English lends itself to many career paths. With an English degree, you learn to express yourself clearly, and effectively, to navigate the issues that concern global citizens, and to develop the skills employers are looking for.

Employers want people with critical thinking, writing, and research skills and they recognize the value of an English degree for developing the employees they need.

A degree from OU English is also a good springboard for graduate programs such as Law School and Medical School. Graduate programs in other fields recognize the essential skills gained by English Majors and often prefer them to students who have majored in areas more closely associated with their programs.

See what employers, faculty, and graduates have to say about the value of the English Major:

americanexpress.com/us/small-business/openforum/articles/why-english-majors-are-the-hot-new-hires

huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/28/the-unusual-college-major_n_4654757

nytimes.com/2013/06/23/opinion/sunday/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-english-major

The English major at OU is designed to give students the freedom to pursue their own interests in developing their course of study. There are two broad tracks: Literature and Culture Studies and Writing. The English minor also allows students to choose whether to focus on writing or literature. The department also provides several of the courses for the new minor in editing and publishing.

Students and faculty pose in front of a building

Study Abroad with English Professors

Our students study comic books in France! Professor Jim Zeigler, his son Wiley, and students from his course The Graphic Novel are pictured here in front of the international Musée de la Bande Dessinée (museum of comic strips) in Angoulême, France in summer 2012. Angoulême is the comic strip capital of Europe. Find out why, right here: http://www.angouleme-tourisme.co.uk/the-comic-strip-capital/bulles.