Literature and Creative Writing, Ph.D.

Degree Requirements

Beyond the achievement of the master’s degree, doctoral students must complete a minimum of 45 semester hours of approved coursework distributed as follows:

1. 3 hours of Introduction to Doctoral Studies in English
2. 3 hours of bibliography, literary theory, or rhetoric. If students have taken a course or courses in these areas for the M.A., this requirement will be waived, allowing the student an additional 3 hours of elective course work (but not a reduction in the total hours required).
3. 24 hours of literature, including (1) either History of Poetry and Poetics or History of Narrative and Narrative Theory, (2) 9 hours in early literature, (3) 6 hours in later literature, and (4) 6 hours of elective courses, each contributing to the student’s areas of expertise. Students should select each of these courses in consultation with the graduate advisor and his/her faculty mentors. Early British literature is defined as British literature before 1800 and early American literature is defined as American literature before 1865.
4. 3 hours of Writers on Literature
5. 12 hours of creative writing workshops, including 1 Master Workshop in the major genre

In addition, students must pass three written doctoral examinations and one oral examination in their areas of specialization. They will then write and defend the creative dissertation for six semester credits.