PhD Program in English Literature

Program Requirements

Both the MA and PhD program in English Literature take the following courses:

  • Professionalization Seminar (1 credit, may be waived for PhD
       students entering with knowledge of the profession)
  • Methods of Criticism and Critical Debates: Introduction to Theory
       Course (3 credits)
  • Cultural Difference and Alterity: Literature and/or Theory Course
       (3 credits)
  • English Composition Practicum (2 credits)
  • Teaching College Writing (3 credits)
  • Further course work at the PhD level includes the following:

  • Four courses supporting two fields of study (6 credits each, for a
       total of 12 credits)
  • Three Electives, chosen from courses at the 6000-8000 levels (9 credits)
  • One Research seminar for exam preparation and the dissertation
           proposal, or another course supporting one of the two fields of study
       (3 credits)
  • At least one 8000-level course
  • Students with sufficient background can, with approval from the Area Director, take an alternate theory course to the Introduction to Theory Course.

PhD Exams

Upon completing course work, students move forward to the dissertation stage of the PhD program by passing a qualifying written and oral examination.  Faculty members administer exams designed in consultation with a committee approved by the Director of Graduate Study.  The exam structure is linked to course work, with the goal of focusing on preparation for the dissertation.

  • Students select two fields of study.  Fields of study might include
    broad literary or theoretical movements, topics based on historical
    chronology, national boundaries, and genre study, including narratology and poetic theory, and pedagogy; they might focus on concepts emerging from the study of race and ethnicity, class, gender and/or sexuality, or from popular culture, film, and media studies.   
  • The first field of study includes a substantial theoretical component relevant to the proposed dissertation topic.  Along with coverage of primary and secondary texts in the area studied, it addresses the topic, methodology, and theoretical position of the dissertation.
  • The second field of study may be single area further supporting work on the dissertation, or it may be designed to enhance the candidate’s success in the job market.

Students construct and complete reading lists for the two fields of study in consultation with members of their exam committees.

LCS Exam Committee Form

Overview of the PhD in Literary and Culture Studies

Overview of the PhD in Literary and Culture Studies   
  Fall Spring
Year One

courses

  • ENGC 7003 Professionalization Seminar
  • ENGC 7030 Teaching College Writing
  • ENGC 7031 Teaching Practicum
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1
  • Two seminars (including ENGC 7004 Introduction to Theory if offered in Fall)

teaching

  • Teach one composition course (or be an assistant)

applying

  • You're guaranteed to teach one LCS course next year; secure a faculty member as a teaching mentor and submit a proposal for the course(s) you'd like to teach by Dec. 1

courses

  • Three seminars (including ENGC 7004 Introduction to Theory if offered in Spring)
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one composition course (or be an assistant)
    • If teaching an LCS course in Fall, (1) observe your mentor's class and (2) turn in a syllabus to your mentor, the Director of Grad Studies (DGS), and the Dept. Head by Mar. 15
Year Two

courses

  • Three seminars
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)
    • If teaching a Fall LCS course, ask your teaching mentor to observe your class
    • If teaching a Spring LCS course, (1) observe your mentor's class and (2) turn in a syllabus to your mentor, the Director of Grad Studies, and the Dept. Head by Nov. 15

prep for qualifying exam

  • Plan exam areas and find examiners

applying

  • Submit one or more proposals for LCS courses you'd like to teach next year by Dec. 1

courses

  • Three seminars
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)
    • If teaching a Spring LCS course, ask your teaching mentor to observe your class

prep for qualifying exam

  • Turn in the Exam Areas and Committee form to the DGS by Jan. 15
  • Turn in the Exam List form to the DGS by the end of the semester
  • Over summer read for Qualifying Exam
Year Three

courses

  • ENGL 9099 Research (9-12 credits)
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)

prep for qualifying exam

  • Read for exam
  • Set exam date by Nov. 15
  • Submit a proposal for LCS courses you'd like to teach next year by Dec. 1

applying

courses

  • ENGL 9099 Research (9-12 credits)
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)

prep for qualifying exam

  • Read for exam
  • Take exam by Mar. 1

applying

dissertation work

  • Assemble dissertation committee
  • Over summer start dissertation
Year Four

courses

  • ENGL 9099 Research (9-12 credits)
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)

dissertating

  • Turn in a chapter draft by Sep. 1 and another by Dec. 10

applying

  • Apply for the Graduate School Dean's Fellowship by early Dec.
  • Research the Taft Dissertation Fellowship and contact faculty for letters if you wish to apply

courses

  • ENGL 9099 Research (9-12 credits)
  • ENGL 9095 Teaching or ENGL 9096 Professional Practice1

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)

dissertating

  • Turn in a chapter draft by Apr. 25

applying
Year Five

courses

  • ENGL 9099 Research (1-12 credit hours)2

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)

dissertating

  • Turn in a chapter draft by Sep. 1 and another by Dec. 10

applying

  • Apply for Graduate School Dean's Fellowship by early Dec.

courses

  • ENGL 9099 Research (0-12 credit hours)2

teaching

  • Teach one course (or be an assistant)

dissertating

  • Complete dissertation; defend and submit your dissertation by the Graduate School deadline in early April

    or
  • Turn in a chapter draft by Apr. 25

applying

  • Apply for graduation by the Graduate School deadline in Jan.

    or
  • Inquire about teaching opportunities for next academic year with Dept. Head and Composition Director.

1 Students teaching or TAing for the department will sign up for ENGL 9095 while students serving as research or administrative assistants will sign up for ENGL 9096; unfunded students sign up for neither.

Unfunded students are required to enroll in 10 credit hours to be considered full time, and 5 credit hours to be considered half-time for student loan deferral purposes. 

Full time, funded students must register for at least 12 credit hours and no more than 18 credit hours per semester. ENGL 9095 and ENGL 9096 are not required courses; they are filler courses that give funded students 3 credit hours in order to meet the 12 credit hour requirement. Funded students can opt out of enrolling in ENGL 9095/6 as long as they are enrolled in 12+ credit hours each semester. Do not sign up for ENGL 9095/6 if doing so puts you over 18 credit hours a semester.

2 If you have external (non-English Dept.) GAship funding, sign up for 12 credit hours of ENGL 9099 each semester. If you have fifth-year English Dept. funding and do not want UC student health insurance, sign up for 1 credit hour in the Fall only. If you have fifth-year English Dept. funding and require UC student health insurance, sign up for 1 credit hour each semester. If you have fifth-year English Dept. funding and want to defer student loans, sign up for 5 credit hours each semester.