Doctor of Philosophy in English

English – PH5231

Department of English
Ellis 231
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
740.597.2749
webstej1@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Athens Campus

Term of Entry: Fall only

Special Terms of Entry Requiring Program Permission: None

Program Overview

The Ph.D. in English is designated primarily as professional preparation for scholars and teachers of Creative Writing, Literature, and Rhetoric/Composition. The program at Ohio University offers students the opportunity to concentrate in one of these three areas of English studies.  However, while our program requires students to focus on a particular area, it also enables them to explore other areas, to investigate the intersections of subfields, and even to pursue a hybrid degree.  Accordingly, the program includes general and cross-disciplinary requirements as well as specific requirements within each of the concentrations.  In all concentrations student work culminates with a dissertation.

Completion of the program generally requires five academic years, but full-time students who are not teaching assistants may complete the program in less time.

Concentrations

• Creative Writing: Doctoral students in Creative Writing specialize in either poetry or prose (fiction and/or creative nonfiction), taking three workshops in their own specialization as well as at least one workshop in another genre.  Students also complete course work in literature and take comprehensive exams in a literary period to discover and articulate connections between the achievements of particular authors and literary traditions and their own creative work.
• Literature: Doctoral students in Literature aspire to a comprehensive knowledge of a literary period, genre, or movement through a systematic historical, theoretical, and critical course of study. They develop advanced techniques and skills in scholarly research, theoretical analysis, and cultural studies. 
• Rhetoric/Composition: Doctoral students in Rhetoric/Composition study the history and tradition of the discipline from classical rhetoric through contemporary theories of writing. They examine the theoretical implications of composition pedagogies in the context of current developments and practices such as cultural competencies, digital rhetorics, and new media.

Program Learning Outcomes

Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing

• Students will reveal mastery of the conventions, styles, and history of the genre/genres of their own creative practice.
• Students will demonstrate comprehensive understanding of texts in their historical area of expertise, including cultural context, form, and use of stylistic conventions.
• Students will produce original, sustained analysis of primary texts in their historical area of expertise, constructing conceptually sophisticated thesis arguments supported by ample, accurate use of evidence and quotations.
• Students will adeptly employ theoretical/critical approaches as interpretive frameworks for primary texts, as appropriate.
• Students will demonstrate distinctive originality of thought and form in the genre/genres in which they compose their own creative work.
• Students will exhibit mastery of revision techniques and strategies in their creative work.
• Students will produce a book-length piece of creative work that is strong enough, with or without revision, for submission to a creative writing or commercial press.
• Students will articulate and defend the intellectual and imaginative choices they make in the composition of their critical and creative work.

Ph.D. in English/Literary History

• Students will demonstrate comprehensive understanding of texts in their area of expertise, including historical/cultural context, form, and use of stylistic conventions.
• Students will produce original, sustained analysis of primary texts in their area of expertise, constructing conceptually sophisticated thesis arguments supported by ample, accurate use of evidence and quotations.
• Students will adeptly employ theoretical and critical approaches/vocabulary as interpretive frameworks for primary texts, as appropriate.
• Students will successfully locate, evaluate, and utilize existing scholarly sources to enrich their own textual analysis.
• Students will set their analytical work within or in response to scholarly conversations within their field.
• Students will outline a prospectus for a book-length work of scholarship, explaining their overarching argument, selection of primary and secondary materials, and methodological approach.
• Students will produce a book-length work of scholarship that is strong enough, with or without revision, for submission to an academic or commercial press.
• Students will articulate and defend the methodological and conceptual choices they make in the composition of their dissertation, detailing the significance of their project to the field and pointing to future research as appropriate.

Ph.D. in English/Rhetoric-Composition

• Students will demonstrate their mastery in forming a praxis (pedagogy informed by theoretical understanding) for the teaching of writing and composition.
• Students will demonstrate their mastery in analyzing, synthesizing, and interpreting information/evidence/data within the field of Rhetoric/Composition.
• Students will articulate a compelling, original argument/research question that evolves in relationship to text and/or data.
• Students will set the argument/research question within or in response to conversations within the field and articulate the importance of this question to discussions within the field.
• Students will successfully and persuasively cite, evaluate, and utilize existing scholarly sources to incorporate into their own analysis.
• Students will outline a prospectus for a book-length work of scholarship, explaining their overarching argument, selection of source materials, and methodological approach.
• Students will produce a book-length work of scholarship that is strong enough, with or without revision, for submission to an academic or commercial press.
• Students will articulate and defend the methodological and conceptual choices they make in the composition of their dissertation, detailing the significance of their project to the field and pointing to future research as appropriate.

Opportunities for Graduates:

The Ph.D. in English provides professional training for teachers, scholars, and creative writers. Most of our graduates pursue employment as faculty at universities and colleges, although others find careers in publishing, university administration, and private/preparatory school teaching.  The department offers multiple ongoing opportunities for professional development, ranging from colloquia on teaching and research-related activities to intensive practical support in the job search.

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/cas/english/graduate/phd

Admission Requirements

Applications for the Ph.D. program must include the following materials:

1. Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate classes
2. Three letters of recommendation from professors familiar with the applicant’s academic work
3. A writing sample (see details below)
4. A one-page statement of purpose indicating the name of the concentration for which the prospective student is applying (i.e., Creative Writing, Literary History, or Rhetoric/Composition). Applicants for the Creative Writing concentration should also specify the genre in which they intend to specialize (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction).  

Students must have completed their M.A. or M.F.A. in English or a related field by the time of enrollment. Applicants in Creative Writing should submit as their writing sample a portfolio of poems, a selection of short fiction, or a selection of creative nonfiction; the recommended length is approximately 10 poems or 20-40 pages of prose. Creative Writing applicants should also submit a critical essay of 10-15 pages in length. Applicants in Literature should submit a critical essay of ten to fifteen pages in length. Applicants in Rhetoric/Composition should submit a piece of scholarly writing ten to fifteen pages in length.

There are no additional application requirements for students transferring from another program; transfer credit will be considered on a case-by-case basis. GRE scores are not required for application.

The deadline for submission of materials is usually January 15 for admission in the following fall semester.  

International Students

This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.

Graduation Requirements

The Ph.D. in English requires a minimum of 90 hours, including any credited from prior graduate work. Students must fulfill the requirements for one of the three concentrations (Creative Writing, Literary History, or Rhetoric and Composition). The Director of Graduate Studies will determine which specific courses may fulfill each requirement category.