Doctor of Philosophy in English

The English Department grants one doctoral degree, the Ph.D. in English. As a student, you may emphasize your courses, exams, and dissertations in a variety of areas, including Literature, Literary Theory and Criticism, Screen Studies, Rhetoric and Writing Studies, Linguistics, and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). You may also choose an interdisciplinary emphasis. In consultation with your advisory committee, you will devise an individualized curriculum that reflects your own intellectual interests and professional goals.CurriculumCoursework: 35-40 credit hoursDissertation: 30 credit hours max

Transcripts M.A. or M.S. appropriate to intended doctoral emphasis from accredited institution (minimum GPA of 3.5 in all graduate work) Three letters of recommendation Written statement identifying specific program and proposed area of emphasis (poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction), reasons for undertaking studies, relevant experience and future publication and/or work plans (approximately 250 words) Writing sample: creative writing - short fiction or creative nonfiction manuscript (about 25 pages), 10 poems, or an appropriate excerpt of a longer genre Writing sample: All other areas - 10- to 20-page document recently written in a graduate seminar in English or a related area of study Students who have either a general M.A. in English or an M.A. in English with an option in TESL from OSU and who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in English at OSU must request that the English Graduate Office submit an admissions dossier to the Admissions Committee. The dossier will include: Copies of the M.A. Qualifying Examination or the M.A./TESL exam (the questions, student responses and readers’ reports) All end-of-semester evaluations by faculty who have taught the applicants in graduate courses.