Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in English

Program Overview

The doctoral program in English at the University at Albany places emphasis on the making of new knowledge, rather than the extraction of knowledge from existing bodies of work. Strengthen your confidence around subjects of study, such as rhetoric, poetics, pedagogy, and theory. Experienced faculty will guide you from abstract theories to practical implementations of advanced literary scholarship.

Program of Study

• Required Courses (20 credits)
  • Textual Studies I: Survey
  • Textual Studies II
  • Teaching Writing and Literature
  • Practicum in Teaching Writing and Literature
  • One English 500, 600, or 700-level course in pre-1800 literature
• Elective Courses (52 credits) Up to 12 credits may be taken in a related discipline with advance approval from your Advisor.
• Dissertation: The dissertation will ordinarily grow out of your coursework and even more directly out of the qualifying examination. It is designed so that you can complete it within the academic year following that examination.

Teaching Assistantships

Each year, the graduate program awards teaching assistantships to 6-10 incoming PhD students. Assistantship stipends for incoming students are $21,000. In addition, assistants have the benefit of a 12-credit, full-time tuition waiver, and health coverage. Assistants are also eligible to apply to the GSEU for professional development grants, which are periodically offered to cover expenses such as textbooks, computer software, and travel to conferences or research archives.

Career Outcomes

UAlbany PhD English graduates go on to become professors in a wide range of university settings. They also find work in the publishing field and well as other administrative positions in higher education.

Certificate of Graduate Study Teaching Composition

Gain experience teaching first-year writing to undergraduate students in the CGS Teaching Composition program. This program provides English doctoral students with significant teaching experience, professional development, and scholarly engagement in rhetoric and composition beyond your primary area of specialization.

Admissions Requirements

• Deadline
  • Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 15), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
  • No Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (Rolling), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
• Required Application Materials
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Statement of Goals
  • Critical Writing Sample
  • Creative Writing Sample (Optional)

Student Learning Objectives

• Students will learn to make critical or theoretical arguments as demonstrated by:
  • The ability to make an original point about a topic or text, and describe accurately an argument’s relevance to published debates in the field.
  • The ability to research, summarize, and articulate major arguments of a field of study.
• Students will learn to make oral presentations and evidenced by the ability to present literary, critical, or theoretical ideas and respond spontaneously to questions from peers and faculty instructors.
• Students will develop effective pedagogical skills as demonstrated by:
  • The ability to design an effective introductory-level undergraduate course in literature or writing.
  • The ability to describe and position one’s pedagogical practice within larger disciplinary fields, theories, and approaches.
  • The development of effective course assignments, and the ability to evaluate and provide effective feedback on students’ work, design appropriate lesson plans, and lead effective class sessions.