We also offer an English minor and a writing minor. The English program, in conjunction with Northwestern Oklahoma State University, is committed to the institution's "community of learners that includes students, teachers, staff, administrators, and area citizens advancing learning excellence and preparing its members for service as leaders and entrepreneurs in the changing climate of northwest O
klahoma and the world." Guided by the principles of that mission, the English program offers courses in literature and composition to develop creative and critical thinking skills, leading to successful performance in written communication required for success in a rapidly changing global environment. In addition, the program encourages innovative and interactive learning through computer technologies, engages students as participants in the construction of knowledge, and involves them in the analysis and creation of texts and discourse through historical, cultural, visual, and rhetorical contexts. Furthermore, English courses foster a sense of intellectual community between faculty and students by cultivating discussions about literature, rhetoric, writing, film studies, and pedagogy. They stimulate intellectual curiosity and creativity, leading to original and independent thinking in order to prepare students to teach in the public school, to enter graduate programs, or to qualify for careers in non-academic environments.
