English Ph.D. Requirements

The English department encourages its graduate students to design individual programs of study, choosing from among a range of courses in English and in other departments. To this end, the structure of the Ph.D. emphasizes faculty guidance rather than formal requirements. Upon enrollment in the graduate program, each student is assigned to a faculty mentor; as the student’s interests take shape, she or he may choose another advisor at any time. The following sections outline the stages of the typical graduate student progress.

COURSEWORK

In their first semester, all students take English 501: Introduction to Graduate Study: Critical Methods and Practice I, a team-taught seminar which introduces them to theories and methods of criticism, as well as to major issues and debates in the profession. Thereafter they may select from the 15-18 graduate seminars offered each year in English, as well as seminars offered by programs such as Comparative Literature (COLT), History, Gender Studies, Critical Studies (CNTV), and the Program in American Studies and Ethnicity (PASE).  [The “Courses” button on the main menu will take you to descriptions of current and typical graduate seminar offerings.] 

• A normal courseload consists of 8-12 units (two or three 4-unit seminars) per semester. 
• Students may transfer no more than 12 units of graduate coursework from other institutions.

THE DEPARTMENTAL SCREENING PROCESS

During the second year of coursework (or the first year for students who entered with an M.A.), each student takes the Departmental Screening Examination, which is administered over the period of a week. The exam covers five fields of literary and cultural study, chosen from a list of 11 subject areas. Exam results are factored into a cumulative review of each student’s progress-to-date called the Faculty Screening Procedure. Since ours is a Ph.D.  program, the M.A. is a transitional degree unless one elects to leave the program, at which point one applies for a terminal degree.

FORMING A FACULTY GUIDANCE COMMITTEE

Upon passing the Departmental Screening Exam, each student forms a five-member faculty guidance committee (four from the department, one external member) whose purpose is to help the student design a dissertation topic. Most students focus their remaining coursework on topics related to the area in which they propose to write their dissertations. 

FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

By the conclusion of the third year, students should also have fulfilled the foreign language requirement. Demonstration of proficiency in an appropriate foreign language may be met in several ways, such as designated coursework or a translation exam.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATION AND DISSERTATION PROSPECTUS

Students are encouraged to take the Qualifying Examination—a field exam in the subject of the student’s proposed dissertation research—before the end of the third year. The purpose of the Qualifying Exam is to help the student achieve competency in a specialized field and to plan an original topic of research. English 700: Theories and Practices of Professional Development I, offered yearly, is an elective 2-credit proseminar designed for students preparing to take the qualifying exam; its goal is to facilitate the writing of the dissertation prospectus and creation of area reading lists.

Upon submission of a dissertation prospectus and reading list, and approval by the five-person committee, the student takes a six-hour written exam, followed by an oral exam two weeks later. After passing the Qualifying Exam, the guidance committee is normally reduced to three members, including the director and the outside member.

DISSERTATION DEFENSE

The dissertation is a book-length manuscript that makes an original and substantial contribution to its field of study. Its substance, style, and format must meet professional standards of research. (The requirements for students in the Literature and Creative Writing track are different, since these students produce both a creative project and critical thesis.  Page-length requirements are specified on the Literature and Creative Writing page.) Upon submission of an acceptable manuscript and a successful oral defense, the student will be awarded the Ph.D. 

For additional details on departmental and university requirements, see the university catalogue.