Doctor of Philosophy in English

The University of Cincinnati offers a doctoral degree in English with tracks in Literary and Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric & Composition. The English Department, home of The Cincinnati Review, receives additional support in its activities from the Elliston Poetry Foundation, The Schiff Foundation for Fiction, and the Helen Weinberger Center for Drama and Playwriting.

All doctoral coursework is seminar- or workshop- style, and all classes are supervised by our most active researchers and publishing writers. The curriculum is enhanced by speakers from the Taft Center for the Humanities, and a superlative array of visiting creative writers.

The doctoral program emphasizes the study of modern and contemporary literature, but has strengths in a variety of areas and time periods. Our literature curriculum is driven by a broad interest in theory and the relationship between writing and culture. UC was one of the first programs in the nation to have developed the option for a creative dissertation, which currently includes an independent critical essay, along with a body of fiction, poetry, or non-fiction. Our doctoral students have outstanding publication histories and a strong record of job placement.

Virtually all admitted doctoral students receive departmental financial aid in the form of scholarships and assistantships. Students that are awarded graduate assistantships teach one course per term. They receive extensive theory- and practice-based training in teaching composition, and additional pedagogical training and opportunities in their own fields of study are available.

All applications are given careful and individual review. In some cases, students who do not meet the required GPAs and GRE scores may be admitted.

Letter of Intent: state academic goals and professional objectives (1-2 pages double spaced).

Curriculum Vitae

Writing samples (combine all samples into one document):

Literature Track:

Critical writing sample - a literary analysis or research paper totalling 20 pages

Creative Writing Track:

Creative writing sample - a chapter of a novel, two short stories, pages of poetry, or an act of a play totalling 15-20 pages

Critical writing sample - a literary analysis or a research paper totalling 10-15 pages

Rhetoric & Composition Track:

Critical writing sample - pedagogical and/or rhetorical analysis, research paper, or literary analysis totalling 15-20 pages

Most students fulfill the English requirement by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Testing System (IELTS), or the PEARSON Test of English (PTE). For IELTS, an overall band score of 6.5 is sufficient for graduate admission. For PEARSON, a score of 47 is sufficient. TOEFL requirements vary based on the type of TOEFL test taken, and scores are valid for up to two years. The minimum university requirement is: 520 (paper-based test), or 190 (computer-based test), or 80 (internet-based test).