The Ph.D. in English requires 42-51 credit hours and is offered to superior applicants who are preparing for careers in teaching and research in colleges and universities. The program permits specialization in literary studies or rhetoric and composition in small classes and a format conducive to individualized instruction. Full-time doctoral students may be appointed as teaching assistants in the department. The most talented students are recommended for fellowships.

For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a 1-2 page statement of purpose, a writing sample (less than 30 pages), and a current cv or resume.

Ph.D. Track

Students who enter with an M.A. in English are required to earn a minimum of 27 credit hours, fulfill the foreign language requirement, pass the preliminary comprehensive examination, and successfully defend their dissertations. Students entering with other advanced degrees will have their transcripts individually evaluated by the Graduate Program Director to establish the minimum course work required.

M.A. Doctoral Track

Individuals intending to continue on to doctoral studies in English at UNC Greensboro may apply to the M.A. Doctoral Track, which offers exceptionally well-qualified applicants the opportunity to gain admission to the master's and doctoral programs simultaneously. This program is designed for students who would like to obtain their M.A. and then proceed directly to the Ph.D. program. Students accepted into the Doctoral Track must fulfill all requirements for the M.A. and the Ph.D. and will earn both degrees. Students not accepted into the M.A. Doctoral Track may still be accepted into the M.A. only.

M.A. to Ph.D. admissions are limited; such an admission represents a potentially long-term commitment by the English Department and is based on the applicant’s unusual promise and exceptional record. Once admitted to this program, students will complete the requirements of the M.A. Thesis Plan (30 credit hours) as well as complete an oral defense of the thesis paper/s. In order to continue into doctoral work, students must complete the M.A. Thesis Plan in full good standing and pass the oral defense. After completing these requirements for the M.A., students must complete at least 18 additional credits of course work for the Ph.D. Students wishing to take ENG 780 Independent Doctoral Study for preliminary exams may do so only after completing the 18 additional credits of course work for the Ph.D. With 15-21 credits required for the dissertation, the doctoral degree can be completed in 33-39 credits. Total credits for the doctoral track, M.A and Ph.D., ranges from 63-69 credits.

Degree Program Requirements

Required: 42-51 credit hours

No more than three courses at the 500-level may be submitted for the degree. All other work must be at the 600-level or above.

Areas of Specialization

Each bullet point indicates one exam area. Students should meet with their committee chair to determine the best configuration of exam areas for their studies.

American Literature

A student would typically take two exams from the following, plus a third exam that is either a negotiated list or another relevant exam area:

• African American Literature  
• American Literature Post-1900  
• American Literature Pre-1900  

British Literature with an emphasis on Pre-Modern Literature

A student would typically take two exams from the following, plus a third exam that is either a negotiated list or another relevant exam area: 

• Middle English  
• Renaissance/Early Modern English  
• Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British
• Post-1900 British and Other Anglophone Literatures  

Literary and Cultural Theory

A student would take the primary exam in literary and cultural theory, a second exam in one of the other areas listed here, and a third exam, typically a negotiated list.

Postcolonial and World Literatures and Theory

A student would typically take two exams from the following, plus a third exam that is either a negotiated list or another relevant exam area:

• Postcolonial and World Literatures and Theory  
• Pre- or Post-1900 American Literature
• African American Literature
• Post-1900 British and Other Anglophone Literatures  
• Literary and Cultural Theory  

Public Humanities 

A student would take one primary list in public humanities, plus a second exam in another area and a third exam that is a negotiated list. ENG 622 Internship in English must be completed before exams are taken in this specialization.

Rhetoric and Writing

A student would typically take two exams from the following, plus a third exam that is either a negotiated list or another relevant exam area:

• Rhetorical Studies  
• Writing Studies  

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 

A student would complete the P.B.C. in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and take the primary exam in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (the list would include primary and secondary works). Typically, a student would take a secondary exam in another specialization and a third exam based on a negotiated list.

Coursework Requirements (27-30 credits)

All doctoral students must complete at least 27-30 credit hours of study as specified below. Of these credits, 15 credits must be English graduate seminars taken in the Fall and Spring semesters.

All students have three requirements (three curricular areas) in their doctoral course work, and all are taken as a part of the 27-30 credits of course work on the plan of study. Of these credits, at least one course (3 credits) must have the pre-1900 historical breadth marker, and at least one course (3 credits) must have the post-1900 historical breadth marker. 

Three Curricular Areas (9 credits):

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
ENG 702	Theories, Methods, or Pedagogy: Selected Topics	3
ENG 703	Cultural and Historical Change: Selected Topics	3
ENG 707	Alternative Paradigms and Emerging Fields: Selected Topics	3

In addition, all graduate teaching assistants are required to take ENG 747 Teaching College Writing. This course does not fulfill a doctoral course requirement but may be included in the plan of study.

Electives (18-21 credits)

For the remaining credits, students should choose from the graduate offerings that will help them specialize in their primary and secondary areas in English and in supporting fields. These courses, selected in consultation with the Graduate Program Director and the student’s advisory committee, should form a coherent plan to prepare the student in the areas of specialization.

Dissertation (15-21 credits)

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
ENG 799	Dissertation	15-21

A dissertation demonstrates ability to do original research and to present this investigation in an orderly, exact, and complete manner.

Minor in a Supporting Field

With the approval of the student's advisory/dissertation committee and the Graduate Program Director, students may use their electives and additional courses toward achieving a minor in certain supporting fields outside of English. A minor consists of at least 12 credits of advanced work in a single cognate subject. All course work applied toward the minor must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Required Milestones*

• Residency (Immersion)
• Plan of Study
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Comprehensive Exam (Written & Oral)
• Dissertation Proposal
• Admission to Candidacy
• Dissertation Defense
• Filing the Final Approved Dissertation

*

General information about milestones for doctoral programs is available in Section III of the Graduate Policies page in the University Catalog. For information about how milestones are accomplished for a specific program, please refer to the doctoral program's handbook.