Doctoral Program (Ph.D.) in English

University of Houston

Building on the broader study of an MA degree, the PhD degree in literature features deeper, more sophisticated scholarship.PhD students craft a program that focuses on three distinct but related fields of expertise: A historical period A related historical period, literary theory, or rhetoric An area of inquiry specific to your interests and eventual dissertationThe pursuit of PhD study is marked by increasing independence in thinking, writing, and research. The degree offers solid preparation for scholarly publication and expert undergraduate and graduate teaching as well as related cultural professions.Degree Requirements36.0 Credit Hours of coursework (four semesters of full-time study) in this distributionLiterature36.0 Credit Hours 3.0 Credit Hours of Introduction to Doctoral Studies in English (ENGL 7390). 6.0 Credit Hours of bibliography and research methods, literary theory, or rhetoric. If you have completed a course in any of these areas for the MA, this requirement will be waived, giving you three additional hours of electives (but not a reduction in the total hours required). 27.0 Credit Hours of literature, including 9.0 hours in early literature (divided among British literature before 1800 and American literature before 1865) 6.0 hours in later literature 12.0 hours of elective courses that contribution to your area of expertise these courses should be selected in consultation with the graduate advisor and your faculty mentors. Foreign language: you must demonstrate reading knowledge of two foreign languages or intensive knowledge of one foreign language. Two written examinations (one in a major field and one in a sub-disciplinary field) followed by an oral defense. One oral examination of the dissertation prospectus. DissertationRhetoric, Composition and Pedagogy (RCP) Concentration36.0 Credit Hours 3.0 Credit Hours of Introduction to Doctoral Studies in English (ENGL 7390) 9.0 Credit Hours of additional core courses: Critical Pedagogy (ENGL 7324), Research Seminar I: Scholarly Reading (ENGL 8318), Research Seminar II: Scholarly Writing (ENGL 8318). 6.0 Credit Hours of fusion courses designed to bridge the theory and practice of Rhetoric and Composition with literature (or accepted substitutions) 9.0 Credit Hours of literature courses. 9.0 Credit Hours of elective courses. Foreign language: you must demonstrate reading knowledge of two foreign languages or intensive knowledge of one foreign language. Two written examinations (one in a major field and one in a sub-disciplinary field) followed by an oral defense One oral examination of the dissertation prospectus Dissertation

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences