Program Overview
English (Literature), PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy program in English with a concentration in literature trains students in various methodologies, pedagogies, and areas of inquiry that constitute literary and cultural studies. With a diverse and distinguished faculty, the program offers opportunities for specialization in literary criticism, cultural analysis, theory, and various fields of interdisciplinary study. Students graduate with a range of highly sought-after skills and competencies: research and analysis of complex material, communication in written and oral modes, collaboration, independence and self-motivation, creativity, and adaptability.
Program Description
Develop research skills to analyze literary and cultural products that span historical, geographical, and theoretical boundaries. You will benefit from collaborative mentoring, courses that foster critical skill development, and internships and other opportunities that will prepare you for a variety of careers.
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 credit hours)
Concentration
- ENG 588 Writing for Publication (3 credit hours)
- ENG 601 Job Market Workshop: Designing Your Future (3 credit hours)
- ENG 605 Advanced Contemporary Approaches to Literary and Cultural Studies (3 credit hours)
- ENG 790 Reading and Conference (3 credit hours)
Pedagogies and Practices
- ENG 555 Literary and Cultural Pedagogies (3 credit hours)
- ENG 580 Practicum (3 credit hours)
- ENG 604 Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies (3 credit hours)
- ENG 784 Internship (3 credit hours)
Language and Linguistics
- ENG 530 Old English (3 credit hours)
- ENG 532 Middle English Dialects (3 credit hours)
- ENG 550 Translation (3 credit hours)
- LIN 517 History of the English Language (3 credit hours)
- A 400-level course in an approved language (3 credit hours)
- An approved 500-level LIN course (3 credit hours)
- An approved graduate-level SILC course (3 credit hours)
Restricted Electives
- 12 credit hours of electives and research
- 39 credit hours of electives and research
- 12 credit hours of culminating experience
Culminating Experience
- ENG 799 Dissertation (12 credit hours)
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 are required to take additional elective and research credit hours to reach the 84 credit hours required for this program.
Admission Requirements
- General university admission requirements
- A bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution
- 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
- Graduate admission application and application fee
- Official transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- Academic writing sample relevant to the field
- 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: January 1 (final deadline)
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate research skills necessary to bring a project of literary or cultural analysis to fruition, including the ability to evaluate disciplinary debates and developments; and the ability to produce research on historical and cultural meanings of texts and related cultural productions.
- Demonstrate the ability to produce written work of publishable quality.
- Identify and evaluate various disciplinary arguments, trends, traditions, and debates within the knowledge community of literary and cultural studies scholars.
Career Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for careers in higher education and other fields that value this expertise. Sectors employing high numbers of arts and humanities graduates include information and communication, financial and insurance, public administration and defense, arts and entertainment, and education.
- Archivist
- Art director
- Copywriter
- Criminal investigator or special agent
- Editor
- Educator
- Intelligence analyst
- Librarian
- Market research analyst
- Museum curator, educator, or exhibit designer
- Political analyst
- Public relations specialist or manager
- Technical writer
Research Areas
- Communication
- Criticism
- Cultural Studies
- Ethnic Studies
- Gender Studies
- Research
- Sustainability
- English
- Fiction
- History
- Literature
- Media
- Theory
- Writing
The program focuses on developing research skills to analyze literary and cultural products that span historical, geographical, and theoretical boundaries. Students will benefit from collaborative mentoring, courses that foster critical skill development, and internships and other opportunities that will prepare them for a variety of careers.