Doctor of Philosophy in English

The Department offers PhDs in Literature, including a specialized Literature area of focus in Renaissance Studies, and Composition and Rhetoric.
Department faculty mentor students at all stages of their graduate experience, from coursework to teaching, from examinations to the writing of doctoral dissertations.
Graduate students in our Department not only have the opportunity to learn in an engaging environment but also to teach with steady training and mentorship. In their first year, most literature students teach in collaboration with a professor, leading discussion sections attached to large lecture literature classes. In their second year, students gain valuable classroom experience in composition classes. For PhD students, future years can include teaching literature surveys and courses they design themselves.
Our program’s scholarly and pedagogical preparation, as well as our detailed attention to professional placement, has enabled students to develop careers as teachers, scholars, publishers, and editors.