Program Overview
The Ph.D. program in English at the University of New Hampshire offers two specializations: Literature and Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies. The program emphasizes critical writing, speaking, research, and pedagogical skills for effective college teaching. Students complete coursework, examinations, and a dissertation, and have opportunities for teaching assistantships and research. Graduates pursue careers in academia, research, publishing, writing program administration, and K-12 education.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Ph.D. program in English at the University of New Hampshire offers two areas of specialization: Literature and Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies. The program focuses on developing students' expertise in critical writing, speaking, and research, and on providing them with the pedagogical skills necessary for effective college teaching.
Literature
The doctoral program in literature trains students to become teachers and scholars. Students must pass a general examination in English and American literature, a more specialized qualifying examination, and an oral defense of their dissertation. Students who enter the program with a B.A. degree must complete thirteen courses, of which eight must be seminars. Students who enter the program with an M.A. degree must complete nine graduate courses, of which three must be seminars.
Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies
The program in composition studies is designed to train experts who are qualified to teach general courses in literature or linguistics in the teaching of composition. Students must complete 10 graduate-level courses of which four must be seminars. Students must also take a combined general and qualifying examination that focuses both on the theory of composition and rhetoric, and on a secondary area of specialization.
Outline:
Course Schedule:
- Literature
- ENGL 925: Graduate Study of Literature (4 credits)
- ENGL 910: Practicum in Teaching College Composition (6 credits)
- ENGL 924: Professional Preparation (2 credits)
- Eight 900-Level Seminars (13 credits)
- Two 800-900 Level Electives (28 credits)
- ENGL 999: Doctoral Research (0 credits)
- Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies
- ENGL 910: Practicum in Teaching College Composition (6 credits)
- ENGL 918: Research Methods in Composition (4 credits)
- ENGL 912: Historical and Theoretical Studies in Rhetoric (4 credits)
- ENGL 916: History of Composition (4 credits)
- Two Composition Electives (8 credits)
- Two Electives in a Related Field (8 credits)
- Two Electives (38 credits)
- ENGL 999: Doctoral Research (0 credits)
Assessment:
Students in the Ph.D. program in English are assessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Literature
- General examination in English and American literature
- Specialized qualifying examination
- Oral defense of dissertation
- Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies
- Combined general and qualifying examination
- Dissertation
Teaching:
The Ph.D. program in English at the University of New Hampshire is taught by a faculty of experienced scholars and teachers. The program offers a variety of teaching opportunities, including:
- Literature
- Teaching assistantships in first-year writing, ESL composition, creative nonfiction, technical writing, and persuasive writing
- Opportunities to work in the Robert J. Connors Writing Center and the Writing Across the Curriculum program
- Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies
- Teaching assistantships in first-year writing, ESL composition, and other courses
Careers:
Graduates of the Ph.D. program in English at the University of New Hampshire have gone on to successful careers in a variety of fields, including:
- Literature
- College and university teaching
- Research
- Publishing
- Editing
- Rhetoric, Literacy, and Composition Studies
- College and university teaching
- Research
- Writing program administration
- K-12 education
