Program Overview

PhD Program Requirements

The PhD program in English at Binghamton University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the field of English literature and language. The program requires a minimum of eight courses, including ENG 589 Teaching College Writing for funded students.

Overview of Program of Study

The program of study consists of several components, including:

• A minimum of eight courses
• Incoming doctoral students take ENG 591 and 592 (1 credit each) in their first year
• Research competency
• Field Exams
• Dissertation proposal (approximately 5 pages)
• Dissertation prospectus (approximately 20 pages)
• Dissertation and defense

Detailed requirements, policies, and guidelines for students entering the program in Fall 2025 or later are available under Policies and Procedures.

Time-to-Degree Goals

The program is designed to be completed in five years. The following timeline provides a guide for mapping out the degree program:

• Course work complete: After 4 semesters, spring of Year 2
• Research requirement: Fall of Year 3
• Field exams completed: End of 5 semesters, fall of Year 3
• Dissertation defense and deposit: End of 10 semesters, spring of Year 5

Course Work

In consultation with the graduate director, the student plans a program of study comprising at least eight courses. Students may take up to four creative writing workshops, no more than two appropriate courses in other departments, and no more than three graded courses from the same faculty member.

PhD Field Exams

Coursework is normally completed at the end of the second year of doctoral study. Students are encouraged to complete field examinations -- two written exams and an oral exam -- by the middle of the third year.

Research Requirement

All PhD candidates must satisfy the research requirement, either through the completion of a designated graduate seminar or through the demonstration of a reading knowledge of at least one foreign language at a level of competence sufficient for the understanding of scholarly and critical materials.

Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial study of some significant topic in the area of the student's professional interest, or a creative writing dissertation for those students who are admitted to the creative writing dissertation option. The student's dissertation director must formally approve, and submit to the graduate director, a written prospectus of the dissertation, or for those submitting a creative dissertation a sample of work in progress, at least one semester prior to completing the dissertation.

Program Policies

Students must maintain at least a B+ average to remain in the program; more than one C grade normally requires dismissal. Students not in residence must register each semester to remain in good standing. Students typically take 40 credits (including dissertation credits) over a four-year program (the minimum number of credits is 38).