Courses

Fall 2026 Neustadt Course: Ibrahim Nasrallah

ENGL/MLLL 4883/5883
Prof. Amit Baishya

The Neustadt seminar provides a unique opportunity to study the work of internationally renowned Palestinian writer Ibrahim Nasrallah (b. 1954). Nasrallah, winner of the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, is headlining this fall’s Neustadt Lit Fest at OU (September 28–30, 2026). Students will have VIP access to Narallah and other visiting writers/scholars/translators during the festival.

The course, sponsored by World Literature Today and taught by Dr. Amit Baishya, Professor of English at OU, will be an opportunity for students to read and discuss the work of an important contemporary Indigenous writer.

Attendance and participation are required at all Neustadt Lit Fest events, either in-person or afterward by watching the videos on WLT’s YouTube channel.

WLT will provide enrolled students with complimentary copies of the required books. Other readings will be shared via Canvas.

Schedule TBA

The Neustadt Festival dates are September 28–30.

Possible Scholarships for Students Enrolled in This Course

To apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition for the course, visit the Neustadt Scholarship Application page, fill out the application, and ask one of your professors to write a brief letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation can be emailed to Terri Stubblefield (tdstubb@ou.edu) or dropped off at Monnet 110. Deadline for scholarship applications: Monday, August 24, 2026, 5pm CDT. Decisions will be announced by August 28.

About Ibrahim Nasrallah

Ibrahim Nasrallah was born to Palestinian parents in Jordan in 1954, and grew up in a refugee camp there. He has written sixteen collections of poetry and twenty-six novels as well as works of literary criticism. He is also a painter and photographer.

The Puterbaugh Course

There is not a regular Puterbaugh course in spring 2026, but students are encouraged to sign up for IAS 3003, “Persian Literature & Culture,” which will be taught by Dr. Mina Raminsabet.

The spring 2027 Puterbaugh Festival, co-sponsored by OU's Romanoff Center, will feature a prominent Russian writer.

How to Edit & Publish a Literary Magazine

ENGL 4113 | Fall 2026 | MWF 1:00-1:50 | Carnegie 0205
Taught by Daniel Simon, assistant director and editor in chief of World Literature Today

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above or by permission of the instructor

Fulfills upper-division credit for the Editing & Publishing minor

Description

English 4113 provides an introduction to the writing, editing, and publishing of literary magazines, both print and online. It is designed for students who are planning careers in writing, graduate literary studies, or the wider world of publishing. Students will learn about the place of literary magazines in humanities publishing generally and the larger contemporary landscape in which cultural magazines play a vital role. Topics include the history and present state of U.S. magazine publishing, the status of periodicals in culture and the academy, the economics of the industry, current challenges, and future trends.

The internship component is an important feature of the course, offering students the opportunity to write for, edit, and produce an actual magazine: World Literature Today, OU’s award-winning bimonthly of international literature and culture. The course will also draw guest speakers from the pool of publishing experts scattered across the University of Oklahoma campus and in central Oklahoma, thus providing advice and networking opportunities for students interested in exploring professional careers in writing, editing, design, marketing, or online publishing.

Have questions or want permission to enroll?

Contact Dr. Simon at dsimon@ou.edu or by phone at 405-325-0317.

www.worldliteraturetoday.org