SWOSU Press Release

Weatherford, OK - The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Department of Nursing and the World Languages minor program have launched an exciting new interdisciplinary partnership. This collaboration will allow nursing students to pursue a minor in world languages as part of their academic plan.

Beginning this Spring 2025 semester, nursing students are strongly encouraged by academic advisors to consider adding the World Languages Minor to their degree. The program is designed to equip future nurses with essential language and cultural skills to improve communication with diverse patient populations, an increasingly important component of today’s global healthcare environment.

The minor is fully compatible with the nursing program and can be completed entirely online, offering flexibility for students with demanding schedules. Courses available include Spanish, Italian, German, and American Sign Language. Students who pursue the minor will not only expand their language proficiency but also develop key intercultural competencies. These skills can support improved patient outcomes and improve the overall healthcare experience.

With healthcare professionals frequently caring for individuals from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the ability to communicate clearly and compassionately across language barriers plays a significant role in both the patient experience and overall care outcomes. The integration of world languages into nursing education is one step toward reducing communication gaps and supporting culturally competent care in hospitals, clinics and community health environments.

Key benefits of the partnership include the following:

• Improved patient-provider communication in multilingual settings

• Increased cultural competence for more empathetic and effective care

• Enhanced competitiveness in the job market, including in hospitals, clinics and international health organizations

• Preparation for medical mission work and global nursing opportunities

• Eligibility for World Languages scholarships and lifetime membership and scholarships in national language honor societies

This initiative reflects SWOSU’s continued emphasis on interdisciplinary education and its efforts to align academic programs with the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce and broader multicultural society. By equipping nursing students with both medical training and cross-cultural fluency, SWOSU aims to strengthen the role of its graduates in a wide range of care settings.

For more information on the World Languages Minor, visit www.swosu.edu/undergraduate/language-literature/world-languages.php or contact Dr. Tugba Sevin, Professor and World Languages coordinator, at tugba.sevin@swosu.edu. For information on SWOSU’s nursing programs and advising, visit www.swosu.edu/nursing or contact Elissa Saunders, chair of the Department of Nursing, at elissa.saunders@swosu.edu.