English: Writing and Language Studies, (PhD)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

PhD in English: Writing and Language Studies Degree Program

The PhD in English is designed to prepare scholars in widely recognized fields of English, as well as to prepare advanced writing specialists in the fields of business and industry. The structure of the program provides for three related concentrations (Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication; Applied Linguistics; and, Literary and Cultural Studies) that offer students the professional flexibility that comes with competencies acquired through preparation in a broadly integrative discipline.

Admission Requirements

The following are required for admission to the PhD program in English for all applicants, whether applying with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Fulfillment of University requirements for admission to the Graduate School.
Official undergraduate and graduate transcript(s) sent to Graduate Admissions.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, usually with a major or a strong minor in English, or the equivalent of one of these degrees in another country.
Minimum undergraduate and graduate grade point average of 3.25 is expected.
Evidence of competence in writing in English as evidenced by a statement of purpose and a sample of the applicant’s best work.
Three letters of recommendation, preferably from college/university professors of English or comparable disciplines.

Program Admission: We normally evaluate applicants for the PhD program once each year in March for admission in the Fall semester. Although the Graduate Studies Committee may consider the application of a promising student at other times, March 1 is the deadline by which we must receive all the application materials of anyone who wishes to be considered for an assistantship for the following academic year.

Retention Requirements

Upon entering the PhD program, a student chooses an advisor in his or her concentration. The advisor will monitor the student’s progress towards completion of the degree. Each semester, the Graduate Studies Committee will examine the academic progress of all students for retention in the program. If a student receives either two C’s, one D, or one F grade in any English graduate level course, that student will be subject to review and could be dismissed from the program. In order to remain in good standing, all graduate students must maintain a 3.0 average in English Department courses. Students who are on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Graduation Requirements

General Requirements

A minimum of 72 hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor’s degree is required. At least 60 hours of credit must be equivalent to 7000-level coursework or higher.
Students entering the PhD program with a master’s degree may count up to 33 hours of graduate credit toward the 72 hours needed for the PhD. Credit previously earned at another institution must be presented for evaluation not later than the end of the student’s second semester of enrollment.
Master’s level courses will be examined on an individual basis for applicability to the program. Students with a master’s degree must complete at least 39 credit hours beyond that master’s degree.
No more than 15 hours granted for dissertation work may be used to attain the required 72 hours for the PhD.

Residency Requirements

The student must complete two successive terms full-time (excluding summer sessions) to fulfill residency requirements.

Concentration Requirements

Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication

PhD students pursuing a concentration in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication must complete a 12-hour breadth requirement consisting of

ENGL 8001 - Acad Genre and Sch Pub Credit Hours: (3) ( Currently Textual Rhetorics)
ENGL 8805 - Foundations of Writing Studies Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 8806 - Resch Meth In Writing Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 8350 - Rhetorical Theory Credit Hours: (3)

Additional Requirements

21 additional hours of courses in Composition.
12 hours of courses outside of Composition.
6 hours of electives (may be taken in Composition).
3 hours in ENGL 8002 - Reading for Comps .
3 hours in ENGL 8900 - Engl Stds Colloquium
15 Hours of Dissertation credit.
Competency with at least one research tool or analytic specialty, which must be directly relevant to the individual student’s dissertation work and projected short-term professional goals. These tools or analytical specialties include a demonstrated level of competency in one foreign language, competency in one qualitative, quantitative, or historical research methodology, or competency with appropriate computer programs. See “Options for Fulfilling the Foreign Language Requirement,” available from the department.

Applied Linguistics

PhD students pursuing a concentration in Applied Linguistics must complete a 12-hour breadth requirement consisting of:

ENGL 8507 - Empirical Mthds Ling Rsrch Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 8511 - Survey of Linguistics Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 8531 - Theory/History ESL ** Credit Hours: (3)
ENGL 8590 - Appl/Theory Linguistics Credit Hours: (3)
Note: Other courses may be substituted for ENGL 8507 or ENGL 8590 with the permission of the Concentration Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Additional Requirements

12 additional hours of courses in Applied Linguistics.
12 hours of courses outside of Applied Linguistics.
12 hours of electives (may be taken in Applied Linguistics)
3 hours in ENGL 8002 - Reading for Comps
3 hours in ENGL 8900 - Engl Stds Colloquium .
9 Hours of Dissertation credit.
Demonstration of a reading knowledge of two foreign languages or fluency in one foreign language. Appropriate languages must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate coordinator as relevant to the student’s course of study.

Literary and Cultural Studies

PhD students pursuing a concentration in Literary and Cultural Studies will choose from two different tracks, the Literature track or the Literature and Composition Studies track.

Literature Track

PhD students pursuing this track must complete:

12-hour breadth requirement consisting of 3 hours of course work in each of the following focus areas:
- Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Culture
- 18th c. and 19th c. Literature and Culture
- Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture
- African-American Literature and Culture
Focus area requirement consisting of 15 hours of course work (beyond course taken for breadth requirement) in one of the focus areas.
- Note: Students may define an individual focus area for this requirement in consultation with advisor, with the permission of the Concentration Coordinator and the Director of Graduate Studies.
9 hours in theory and methodology, including 3 hours in ENGL 8000 , and 6 hours from:
12 hours of courses outside of main focus area (does not include courses taken for breadth requirement; may be taken in other concentrations).
3 hours of electives (may be taken in Literary and Cultural Studies).
3 hours in ENGL 8002 - Reading for Comps .
3 hours in ENGL 8900 - Engl Stds Colloquium .
15 Hours of Dissertation credit.

Literature and Composition Studies Track:

PhD students pursuing this track must complete:

Literature (30 hours):

12-hour breadth requirement consisting of 3 hours of course work in each of the following focus areas:
- Medieval and Early Modern Literature and Culture
- 18th c. and 19th c. Literature and Culture
- Modern and Contemporary Literature and Culture
- African-American Literature and Culture
Focus area requirement consisting of 12 hours of course work (beyond course taken for breadth requirement) in one of the focus areas.
6 hours in theory and methodology, including 3 hours in ENGL 8000 .

Composition and Rhetoric (21 hours):

15-hour core requirement consisting of:
6 additional hours in WRTC
3 hours in ENGL 8002 - Reading for Comps .
3 hours in ENGL 8900 - Engl Stds Colloquium .
15 hours of Dissertation credit.

Students in both Tracks in Literary and Cultural Studies must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language. Appropriate language must be approved by the student’s advisor and the graduate coordinator as relevant to the student’s course of study.

Examination Requirements

Qualifying Examinations

Students entering without a master’s degree in English or 30 hours of appropriate graduate work, as determined by the Graduate Coordinator, must take a qualifying examination the semester after accumulating 30 hours of graduate work through graduate transfer credit and/or graduate courses completed at The University of Memphis. Qualifying examinations are designed to ascertain that the range of knowledge is appropriate at this level. Students entering without a master’s degree in English will be awarded an MA degree at the completion of the qualifying exam and 33 hours of appropriate work.

Students who pass the exam will be allowed to advance to doctoral-level study.

A student who fails one section of the qualifying examination will be given one opportunity not later than the following semester to retake that section with a different question. A student who fails more than one exam question will be given an opportunity to take a different exam no later than the following semester

Comprehensive Examinations

After completing the rest of their required courses, after satisfying their language and/or research requirement, and before they begin writing their dissertations, students must pass comprehensive examinations in accordance with concentration guidelines. The Ph.D. comprehensive exam committee for both the written and oral exams will consist of a minimum of four faculty members. The student will choose an advisor from his / her concentration who will be the chair of the committee.

Note: A student who fails one section of the comprehensive examination will be given one opportunity no later than the following semester to retake that section. A student who fails more than one section of the exam will be given an opportunity to take a different exam (with all new questions) no later than the following semester. A student who fails the second comprehensive exam will be dismissed from the program.

Dissertation Requirements

Advisory Committee

The student is responsible for choosing an advisory committee composed of at least four members of the graduate faculty best qualified to help him or her conduct research for the dissertation. If the student’s research requires expertise in a discipline outside the Department of English, the student, in consultation with his or her advisory committee chair, may ask up to one faculty member outside the Department of English to be part of the committee.

Dissertation Prospectus

When the student has passed the comprehensive examinations and has done extensive preliminary dissertation, he or she must present and defend a dissertation prospectus before the advisory committee. That defense will be open to the entire academic community. The student must give a copy of the prospectus to all committee members at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting. The advisory committee must approve the prospectus before the student may proceed with the dissertation. NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

Defense

In consultation with the dissertation committee, the student will schedule a defense of the completed dissertation. Both the chair of the advisory committee and the candidate must ensure adequate consultation with members of the dissertation committee well in advance of the defense date.