A Blast from our Past

The Professonal Writing program at OU started in 1938. Here's how our founders envisioned our program. Let's work together with our faculty to continue PW's tradition of excellence!

The Founders' Principles
by Walter S. Campbell and Kenneth Kaufman

The University of Oklahoma considers Professional Writing to be a highly skilled art, comparable with law, medicine, or education. It is suggested to prospective students that at least one school year of hard, intensive study is a minimum prerequisite to professional competence. If at all possible some of the work should be taken in residence.

Mere education in reading and writing, the ability to spell and use correct grammar, is no more competence in professional writing than the ability to push down keys on the piano is mastery of music. This University endeavors to supply a complete regime of training to prepare competent professional writers.

The highly successful record of the program over a period of many years indicates that its methods are sound. No promises, no guarantees are made to any student. It offers only honest judgment and the soundest professional coaching methods it is capable of delivering.

Our founders were on to something. Visit the links on Famous Former Students who have come out of our program.

--Jocelyn Pedersen