School of Writing, Literature, and Film
Welcome to the School of Writing, Literature and Film!
The School of Writing, Literature and Film is the privileged place at Oregon State University for students, scholars, creative writers, and rhetoricians to gather together to discuss, critique, love, and celebrate the English language in all its diverse forms. We offer a number of degree programs, including undergraduate majors in English and Creative Writing and minors in English, Writing, Film, and Applied Journalism. We also host two fully-funded graduate programs: an MA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing.
These degrees testify to both the marvelous capaciousness of the English language and the enduring importance of learning its many modes and forms. It is a medium that can, after all, bring people together or push them apart. It is a platform that enables us to tell our stories--real or imagined--in poetry, prose, and film. It is a communication system through which we share our worldviews and think through our most pressing local, national, and global problems. It is our bridge to older cultures, histories, stories, and traditions that challenge and inform the values of the present. At the same time, it offers windows into the challenges that confront our present and future, including A.I. and climate change. Students therefore leave our programs not only with skills suitable for a variety of careers and professions but also, and as importantly, with a deeper knowledge of the many ways in which our language and culture give meaning to our lives.
Look for these highlights on our website:
- Our English Letter, which tells current stories about the lives and achievements of our talented students and faculty
- Our Events page, which offers a glimpse into the many lectures, readings, and meetings that make Moreland Hall a vibrant community space
- Our Stone Award prize, which is one of the most substantial awards for literary achievement offered by any university in the country
- Our popular public outreach projects, including The Oregon State Guide to Literary Terms, The Oregon State Guide to Writing and A.I., The Oregon State Guide to Grammar, and the online Romeo and Juliet, which have been viewed by millions of students, teachers, and lovers of English language and literature around the world
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES:
The School of Writing, Literature, and Film supports and welcomes all students, including those who represent historically and currently marginalized communities and identities. As an academic unit, we challenge injustice and recognize the importance of the lived experiences of race, economic background, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, ability, citizenship status, and religion. While we navigate past and present institutional discrimination, we continuously evolve and remain aware of future barriers that our students, faculty, and staff may face as sociopolitical climates change and legal rights of minoritized populations are threatened. As a community of learners, scholars, and writers, we strive to build welcoming classes and environments and embody equity in the work that we do while recognizing the role that systemic privilege plays in educational environments, creative endeavors, and academic scholarship.
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