Doctor of Philosophy English

Graduates of PhD program are able to:

• Employ primary and secondary materials to analyze critical debates and positionality within subfields of English.
• Demonstrate expertise in theories; methods; and social, cultural, and political histories of three subfields of English studies pertinent to the student’s plan of research and teaching.
• Formulate and defend original and critically significant arguments, communicating them effectively in genres relevant to English studies (e.g., research papers, conference presentations, digital projects).
• Design and conduct sustained, sophisticated, independent research to make a critical contribution to subfields within English studies by engaging in analytical thinking, investigating relationships between language and power, or critiquing inherited social structures and hierarchies within and beyond the field(s).
• Develop a foundational knowledge of current pedagogical and curricular frameworks for teaching college-level courses and apply these frameworks in their own classrooms or other teaching contexts.

Doctoral Career Paths

We are committed to providing students with the best preparation and support as they pursue their job searches. Our dedicated Placement Co-Directors work with students on the preparation of their job materials, strategies for going on the market and searching for non-academic jobs, and the interview process. This individualized guidance, in collaboration with our program’s many extracurricular offerings and university offices, prepare students well for a variety of careers both within and outside of the tenure track.

Learn more by visiting our Graduate Job Search Resources and Doctoral Career Paths webpages.