English, PhD (Boston)

The PhD program seeks to train students to be productive scholars and teachers in the fields of both literary studies and rhetoric and composition. In course work, students read and analyze the important texts, current issues, and critical methodologies of the discipline. Drawing on the breadth of this preparation, students demonstrate their ability to recognize and produce scholarly arguments in designing the three comprehensive field papers in areas of scholarly interest and competence corresponding to recognized and emerging fields of study. Finally, the dissertation offers students an opportunity to design a focused research project in consultation with a dissertation advisor. Throughout the program, faculty works closely with doctoral students to develop their scholarly and professional identities in preparation for careers.

Academic Standing/Progress

To be considered in good academic standing, PhD students must be making progress toward their degree requirements, including maintaining a 3.500 minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) and completing the comprehensive examination within one year of finishing coursework.

Doctoral Degree Candidacy

Students entering with a relevant BA must complete 48 semester hours; students entering with a relevant MA must complete 24 semester hours.  All students must complete the language requirement, pass the comprehensive examination, and submit their approved prospectus within six months after completing the comprehensive examination to reach candidacy. 

General Regulations

Program requirements are described in the CSSH Graduate Programs General Regulations and the Graduate Program in English PhD Guide. Both documents are updated annually. 

Bachelor's Degree Entrance

Milestones

Annual progress review
Reading proficiency in two languages other than English
Comprehensive exam
Dissertation committee
Dissertation prospectus
Doctoral degree candidacy
Public prospectus/dissertation work-in-progress presentation
Dissertation defense

Core Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Proseminar
ENGL 5103	Proseminar	4
Theories and Methods
Complete 4 semester hours from the following:		4
ENGL 7351	Topics in Literary Study
ENGL 7358	Topics in Cultural and Interdisciplinary Studies
ENGL 7370	Introduction to Digital Humanities
ENGL 7380	Topics in Digital Humanities
WMNS 6100	Theorizing Gender and Sexuality
WMNS 7976	Directed Study (GCWS Consortium, selected topics only)
Writing and Rhetoric
Complete 4 semester hours from the following (if completing 12 semester hours of Literary Period requirements).		4-8
Complete 8 semester hours of the following (if completing 8 hours of Literary Period requirements).
ENGL 7360	Topics in Rhetoric
ENGL 7392	Writing and the Teaching of Writing
ENGL 7395	Topics in Writing
Literary Periods
Complete 8 semester hours from TWO of the following Literary Periods (if completing 8 semester hours of Writing and Rhetoric requirements), or complete 12 semester hours from THREE of the following Literary Periods (if completing 4 semester hours of Writing and Rhetoric requirements):
Literature Pre-1700
ENGL 7281	Topics in Medieval Literature
ENGL 7282	Topics in Renaissance Literature
Literature 1700–1900
ENGL 7284	Topics in 18th-Century Literature
ENGL 7352	Topics in Genre
Literature Post-1900
ENGL 7211
ENGL 7244

Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 24 semester hours of ENGL courses, or non-ENGL courses through successful petition.		24

Dissertation

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Exam Preparation
ENGL 8960	Exam Preparation—Doctoral (Only needed for PhD students who have completed coursework but have yet to complete the comprehensive exams. Repeatable.)
Research
ENGL 9986	Research (To be completed during the proposal/prospectus phase prior to reaching candidacy.)
Dissertation
ENGL 9990	Dissertation Term 1
ENGL 9991	Dissertation Term 2
Dissertation Continuation
Following completion of ENGL 9990 and ENGL 9991, registration in the following class is required in each fall and spring semester for all students and each summer semester for those within funding until the dissertation is completed (students outside of funding must also register in the summer semester if it is their terminal term):
ENGL 9996	Dissertation Continuation

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

• 48 total semester hours required
• Minimum 3.500 GPA required

•  

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Milestones

Annual progress review
Reading proficiency in two languages other than English
Comprehensive exam 
Dissertation committee
Dissertation prospectus
Doctoral degree candidacy
Public prospectus/dissertation work-in-progress presentation
Dissertation defense

Core Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Proseminar
ENGL 5103	Proseminar	4

Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 20 semester hours of ENGL courses.		20

Dissertation

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Exam Preparation
ENGL 8960	Exam Preparation—Doctoral (Only needed for PhD students who have completed coursework but have yet to complete the comprehensive exams. Repeatable.)
Research
ENGL 9986	Research (To be completed during the proposal/prospectus phase prior to reaching candidacy.)
Dissertation
ENGL 9990	Dissertation Term 1
ENGL 9991	Dissertation Term 2
Dissertation Continuation
Following completion of ENGL 9990 and ENGL 9991, registration in the following class is required in each fall and spring semester for all students and each summer semester for those within funding until the dissertation is completed (students outside of funding must also register in the summer semester if it is their terminal term):
ENGL 9996	Dissertation Continuation

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

24 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.500 GPA required