Doctor of Philosophy in English (ENLD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in English requires all students to have a specialization in one or both of the discipline’s fields—literature and English education—and to have broad knowledge of literature, pedagogy, and theory.

Applicants must fill out an application through the Graduate College at wmich.edu/apply.
On admission, students should consult with the graduate director at the earliest opportunity concerning their program of study.
For more detailed information, see the English department’s graduate web page: wmich.edu/english/academics/graduate.

Financial Assistance
Competitive doctoral teaching assistantships are awarded each year.

Program Requirements

Students entering with a Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts are credited with up to 30 hours. Those entering directly from a baccalaureate program will be expected to complete the courses designated as “required” as early as possible in their studies.

1. Required Courses (6 hours)

(Equivalent courses from other institutions are accepted.)

For students in literature and language or English education (6 hours):

ENGL 6150 - Literary Theory Credits: 3 hours
An approved course in the student’s area of specialization

2. Area of Specialization

Students in English education must take:

ENGL 6780 - English Education Seminar Credits: 3 hours (three sections needed)
An approved course in Children’s/Adolescent Literature

3. Elective credit

Students in literature will take a minimum of 24 hours of elective credit and students in English education will take a minimum of 12 hours of elective credit.

4. Cognate or support area (3 hours)

Students in English education must take:

EMR 6480 - Qualitative Research Methods Credits: 3 hours

5. Teaching component (6 hours)

a. For students in literature and language

Six hours of credit selected from courses or practica (ENGL 7130).

b. For students in English education

Six hours or graduate practica (ENGL 7130) at least one of which must be in the teaching of English education.

6. Candidacy Examination

After satisfying course requirements, students will take three four-hour written examinations and an oral examination in their chosen areas. These examinations should be completed within three years of admission. May be repeated twice.

7. World Language Requirement

By examination or by completion of coursework, students must demonstrate basic reading competence in at least one world language. The world language requirement should be completed prior to taking the candidacy examination.

8. Doctoral Readings and Oral Examination (3 to 9 hours)

Near the completion of course work and before beginning the dissertation, students will take a course of readings designed by the student in conjunction with a faculty supervisor. An oral examination over the chosen books will follow.

ENGL 7110 - Readings in Doctoral Specialization Credits: 3 hours
(Credits needed: 3 to 9 hours)

9. Dissertation (15 hours)

The dissertation is to be a book-length manuscript of scholarship, criticism, or research composed of either a single piece of work or a coherent collection of shorter pieces that are methodologically, structurally, or thematically related.