Program Overview

---

English (English Education), PhD

Program Description

The Doctor of Philosophy program in English with a concentration in English education prepares students to examine the writing and reading practices of secondary students. Students also learn about the instructional practices of secondary English language arts teachers through emphasis on the relationship between pedagogy and research methodologies used to study the teaching of secondary English. In addition, students learn to apply critical thinking to assumptions often held about secondary English language arts curriculum design and delivery of instruction, and to inequities in both, as well as inequities in literature offerings in curricula.

The curriculum comprises dynamic coursework, mentoring, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, and community outreach.

Possible areas for research focus within this program include:

• Young adult literature
• Secondary reading and writing practices
• New literacies
• English language learning
• Critical literacy
• Secondary English language arts curriculum and instruction development

The program encourages students to pursue coursework in other subdisciplines within the Department of English, such as rhetoric and composition, applied linguistics and literature, and coursework in the ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, such as literacy and educational research methodology.

Students benefit from the program's links to the Central Arizona Writing Project, which offers opportunities for related coursework, research, community outreach, and teacher in-service programs.

The PhD program in English education prepares students to become professors of English education or to pursue other relevant opportunities in research and administration.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• A written comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation

Required Core

• ENG 501 Approaches to Research (3)

Concentration

• ENG 506 Methods and Issues in Teaching Language (3)
• ENG 507 Methods and Issues in Teaching Composition (3)
• ENG 540 Teaching Young Adult Literature (3)
• ENG 541 Teaching Texts in Secondary Classrooms
• ENG 594 Topic: Central Arizona Writing Project Summer Institute (3)
• ENG 606 Advanced Studies in English Education (3)

Other Requirements

• ENG 525 Teaching Second Language Writing (3)
• ENG 556 Theories in Literacy (3)
• ENG 594 Topic: Teaching First-year Composition (3)
• ENG 598 Special Topics (3)
• ENG 606 Advanced Studies in English Education (3)
• ENG 655 Disciplinary Discourses (3)

Internships

• ENG 784 Internship (6)

Electives and Research

• 42 credit hours

Culminating Experience

• ENG 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. Students who do not hold a master's degree must take additional elective and research credit hours to reach the 84 credit hours required for this program.

Students should contact their advisor for a list of approved ENG 598 topic options for the Other Requirements section.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements:
  • All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's and master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants with master's degrees in English education and related fields, such as English literature, applied linguistics, education, and rhetoric and composition are considered.
• A minimum of three years of full-time teaching or volunteer work in secondary English language arts classrooms or in literate-rich settings is required.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Application Materials

• Graduate admission application and application fee
• Official transcripts
• Statement of purpose
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• Academic writing sample
• Statement of teaching philosophy (teaching assistantship only)
• Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall:
  • Session A/C: In Person, Deadline: 01/01, Type: Final

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Produce written article-length work of publishable quality.
• Successfully design and conduct original research in the field of English education.
• Write a comprehensive, book-length research study with theory, literature review, methods, analysis, and findings based on their own research.

Career Opportunities

Careers for English education graduates include professions related to the field of language arts and literacy education in secondary schools.

Additionally, this degree is highly respected and sometimes required for positions in state and federal departments of education and with federal education bureaus (i.e., U.S. Bureau of Indian Education) or professional organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English, or the International Literacy Association. Graduates may work as federal or state curriculum specialists and analysts, or as education program designers or interpretive rangers for state parks.

They may also become publishing industry content specialists or acquisitions editors for educational texts working at Scholastic, Pearson, or Routledge, or specialize in trade books in young adult and children publishing.

Additional career examples include:

• Corporate communications director and professional development director
• Curriculum developer
• Department chair
• District level research specialist
• Dual enrollment teacher
• Faculty member at a college or university
• Instructional leader
• Literacy coach
• Middle or high school English teacher

Program Details

The PhD program in English education is designed for students with a background in secondary language arts teaching who have diverse interests and professional goals. It is ideal preparation for a career as an expert teacher of English, or as a scholar, researcher, curriculum developer, teacher educator, or leader in the field of English education.