Division of Language and Literature

As a student in OBU’s language and literature programs, you will cultivate highly valued-writing skills and explore powerful works of literature. Through our thoughtfully designed sequence and structure, you will be guided towards a love for wisdom, beauty, and language.

By sharpening your skills of analysis, interpretation, creativity and evaluation, you can deepen your appreciation for the many expressions of the written word and grow as a communicator.

Featured Program

Creative Writing

Spark your creativity and unleash your imagination and storytelling through OBU’s Creative Writing program.

Creative Writing Information

Preparing Students for What’s Next

OBU graduates enjoy careers in education, communications, marketing, media, business, non-profit agencies, publishing, editing, freelance writing, public service, and law to name a few. Many continue on to graduate schools both within the U.S. and abroad.

Career Outcomes

Tyler Smothers

Class of 2021

“The professors in the language and literature program instilled in me a love for reading and for great books. They taught me how to see beauty, work hard, and be inspired by literature.”

Incredible Education, Affordable Cost.

OBU provides a minimum $10,000 per year scholarship to every incoming first-time freshman and $8,000 to every incoming transfer student. And you could qualify for even more financial aid! Many of our students also receive money through federal Pell grants and OBU Bison Grants.

To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be, please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is. Especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!

Undergraduate Programs

Creative Writing

OBU’s Creative Writing program opens opportunities for you to imagine, explore and deepen your personal writing skills. Your unique style and creativity can blossom as you learn aspects of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, playwriting and screenwriting. You will be instructed and inspired by our faculty who are published writer-scholars.

Creative Writing

English

An English degree from OBU is a valuable and versatile degree, preparing you for a variety of roles. As you study the world’s greatest works of drama, poetry and prose you will expand your mind and deepen your appreciation for the various types of literature and language and be ready to share it with the world.

English


Minors

There are several minor program areas offered through the Language and Literature division which can complement any major. Those fields of study include Spanish, Professional Writing and Editing, English, Creative Writing, and TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages.)

The division also offers courses in French, German, and American Sign Language to support other academic programs.

Resources

Visiting Writer Seminars

Past & Present Newsletter

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Brent Newsom

Chair, Division of Language and Literature
Associate Professor of English

Dr. Matthew Y. Emerson

Co-Provost
Dean of Theology, Arts and Humanities
Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership
Professor of Religion

Language and Literature Faculty