PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in English

The English Department also offers graduate certificates in TESOL, Digital Humanities and Culture, and participates in WSU’s interdisciplinary American Studies Program. Along with courses in English, students are free to take specialized seminars in related disciplines such as History, Women’s Studies, Philosophy, and Political Science. The objective of the Ph.D. program - including concentrations either in literature or in rhetoric and composition - is to prepare scholars for employment in a wide variety of post-secondary institutions of learning by providing both generalized and specialized training in literary/cultural theory and criticism, as well as opportunities to develop critical and research skills in literary and intellectual history, rhetorical theory, genre studies, composition studies, pedagogical theory, linguistics, and other related fields. The Ph.D. candidate's course of study is not designed to confront the student with every significant piece of writing in the respective field (i.e., English and American literature or rhetoric and composition). Rather, the coursework aims to produce mature critics and scholars who are widely read in English and American literature, knowledgeable about the methods of systematic scholarship, and competent to function professionally, not only in the modern university, but also in related research institutions such as historical societies, museums, and publishing firms. Student Learning Outcomes: Broad understanding of contemporary English Studies and its various sub-disciplines (as demonstrated and assessed by the successful completion of ENGL 501 and all other seminars that students take during their tenure in our program). Seminars typically require six or seven different forms of student accomplishment, including critical essays, literature reviews, oral presentations, pedagogical reflections, and multimedia projects. All of these assignments provide material for evaluation – material which in turn offers opportunities for the assessment of learning goals. Substantial knowledge of more specialized areas within English Studies, accompanied by the ability to locate and synthesize scholarship in such areas (as demonstrated and assessed, for instance, by annotated bibliographies and literature reviews, along with the successful completion of qualifying exams). Ultimately students are expected to write essays of publishable quality which persuasively defend original theses and incorporate important research in primary and secondary sources. Ability to conduct original research in such sub-disciplines as literary studies, rhetorical theory, composition studies, digital technology, second-language learning, etc. (as demonstrated and assessed by the successful preparation of theses, portfolios, and dissertations). These documents are not approved in our Department until committee members are satisfied that they do indeed represent original research and thinking. Ability to teach a range of courses in English Studies, including, for example, Freshman Composition, Writing Research Papers, introductory courses in literary or rhetorical study, etc. (as demonstrated and assessed by successful work as a Teaching Assistant in our graduate program). Graduate student teaching evaluations are read both by the Composition Director and by the Chair. And all members of the Department, including graduate students, are expected to examine the numerical scores in their evaluations within the broader context of summary scores across the Department.