Ph.D. in English
Curriculum
Completion of 72 credits is required for the Ph.D. degree. All courses taken for program credit must be at the 500 and 600 level. The Graduate School allows 7 years to complete the program.
- 30 credits for the M.A. (competed before entering the Ph.D. program)
- 24 credits of course work including ENG 510/511 and ENG 514
- 18 credits dissertation research
- Comprehensive Exams
- Dissertation Proposal
- Dissertation
- Dissertation Defense
Registration in at least 3 courses (9 credits) during a regular semester is considered full-time enrollment. Students take one to two 3-credit courses per semester for part-time enrollment. Teaching assistants are considered full-time with registration in 6 credits. The curriculum is organized around three distinct groups of courses:
- The first consists of core courses in professional study and studies in critical theories.
- The second includes coursework that reflects a balance of graduate seminars in a range of period and national literatures, film, and creative writing. In addition, the program offers one to two “Special Topics” courses each semester designed to showcase the instructor’s current research and scholarship.
- The third is for dissertation research.
CORE COURSES
ENG 510 Introduction to Professional Study I (1.5 credits) Orientation to the major discourses, critical frameworks, and databases constituting graduate research in language and literary studies, including computer-assisted research methodologies.
ENG 511 Introduction to Professional Study II (1.5 credits) Orientation to the major discourses, critical frameworks, and databases constituting graduate research in language and literary studies, including computer-assisted research methodologies. Pre: ENG 510
ENG 514 History of Critical Theories (3 credits) Historical survey of critical theory from antiquity to the present.
ENG 699 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-12 credits) The number of credits is determined each semester in consultation with the major professor or program committee.
Special Topics Courses
In addition to the graduate course offerings, we offer graduate seminars in a range of period and national literatures, film, and creative writing, called “Special Topics” courses. Two “Special Topics” courses are offered each semester, designed to showcase the instructor’s current research and scholarship.