As our name suggests, our department brings together a number of disciplines to focus on how different cultures view and have viewed their world. Missing from our name are: Women’s Studies, Religious Studies, and Creative Writing, all of which are represented with a major, a minor, or a concentration. All these disciplines are tied together by the study of culture, thought, and creative expression. We study writing in English, Spanish, French, Latin, and in translation; we develop critical thinking skills and study the development and application of philosophy, religion, and literatures; and we foster both analytical and creative self-expression.

The department offers majors in English with an optional concentration in Creative Writing, Spanish, and Women’s Studies; minors in Philosophy, Religious Studies, English, Creative Writing, Foreign Languages, and Women’s Studies; Secondary Education Certification in English and Spanish; and certificate programs in Applied and Professional Ethics and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).

Classes taught in our department challenge our students to think critically, to weigh their cultural assumptions against those of cultures past and cultures around the world, and to question received ideas in order to come up with creative solutions to age-old problems. In this way, our students develop valuable skills that are marketable in many fields, from writing and content creation, to teaching, working in the arts, law, or many other fields. Strong communication and critical thinking skills are highly valued in the marketplace, and a knowledge of a foreign language is vital in a global economy.

Many of our students will go on to graduate studies in many fields, such as English, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Women’s Studies, Comparative Literature, Spanish or French, Law, or even Business or Communications. The department also offers a Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing and a Master of Arts in Women’s Leadership.

I hope you will take some time to explore our corner of The W’s website, learn more about our programs, and find valuable resources. Questions and suggestions are always welcome! Please feel free to contact me.

Kendall Dunkelberg, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy
Professor of English
Director of Creative Writing
Mississippi University for Women