Core Course Requirements of the Doctoral Program

PhD in English with a Literature Emphasis Requirement

 In order to receive the PhD in English with a Literature Emphasis degree, the student must fulfill through transferred or WMU earned credits the following requirements:

• Core prerequisite courses:  ENGL 6150 Literary Criticism; ENGL 6300 Introduction to Graduate Studies; ENGL 6400 The Nature of Poetry; and one (1) English language or linguistics course.
• Distribution requirements:  Six (6) graduate level courses from the following list of required areas. Selection must include at least one course in American Literature and must not skip over two contiguous periods. Areas from which the six courses must be chosen:  American Literature before 1865; American Literature 1865 to 1945; British Literature to 1500; Renaissance British Literature (through Milton); Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature; Nineteenth-Century British Literature; Modern British Literature; and Contemporary Literature.
• Teaching component:  Students must take two (2) courses in teaching and pedagogy.  This component can be fulfilled in one of two ways:
• by taking
• (usually at the Master's level) ENGL 6690 Methods of Teaching College Writing, the 3-credit practical course in the teaching of freshman composition required of all graduate assistants, and
• either another three credits as a practicum in teaching in the discipline or a 3-credit theoretical course in the teaching of literature, composition, or English language; or
• by taking six hours elected from courses or practica in the teaching of composition, literature, English language, or creative writing.
• Area of Specialization:  Beyond their required courses, students will elect twelve (12) hours that constitute an area of specialization in preparation for their dissertation. Some credits from Master's level work and distribution requirements may be included in the Area of Specialization.
• Non-traditional requirement:  Students must take one (1) course that focuses on literature in English by an ethnic minority group, by women writers, by post-colonial cultures, or by other groups not traditionally emphasized in the canon.
• Cognate Area:  Students are invited to develop (with the approval of the Graduate Director) a Cognate or Support Area of 6-9 hours that complements their Area of Specialization. This may be selected from departmental courses or from courses taken in another department.
• Doctoral Readings:  After taking their Qualifying Examination, PhD in Literature students must take 3-6 hours of ENGL 7110 Doctoral Readings in preparation for their Dissertation Prospectus Defense Examination.
• Dissertation Hours:  Students must take fifteen (15) hours of ENGL 7300 Dissertation Hours.  Once a student has enrolled for ENGL 7300, he/she must continue to enroll in ENGL 7300 for at least one (1) hour during each Fall and Spring semester until graduation.

PhD in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis Requirement

In order to receive the PhD in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis degree, the student must fulfill through transferred or WMU earned credits the following requirements:

• Core prerequisite courses:  ENGL 6150 Literary Criticism; one (1) forms course; one (1) genre specific course; and one (1) English language or linguistics course.
• Distribution requirements:  Six (6) graduate level courses from the following list of required areas.  Students with a Creative Writing Emphasis must take a Contemporary Literature Course.  Selection must also include at least one course in American Literature and must not skip over two contiguous periods. Areas from which the six courses must be chosen:  American Literature before 1865; American Literature 1865 to 1945; British Literature to 1500; Renaissance British Literature (through Milton); Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature; Nineteenth-Century British Literature; Modern British Literature; and Contemporary Literature.
• Teaching component:  Students must take two (2) courses in teaching and pedagogy.  This component can be fulfilled in one of two ways:
• by taking
• (usually at the Master's level) ENGL 6690 Methods of Teaching College Writing, the 3-credit practical course in the teaching of freshman composition required of all graduate assistants, and
• either another three credits as a practicum in teaching in the discipline or a 3-credit theoretical course in the teaching of literature, composition, or English language; or
• by taking six hours elected from courses or practica in the teaching of composition, literature, English language, or creative writing.
• Area of Specialization:  Beyond their required courses, students will elect twelve (12) workshop hours in preparation for their dissertation. Some credits from Master's level work and distribution requirements may be included in the Area of Specialization.
• Non-traditional requirement:  Students must take one (1) course that focuses on literature in English by an ethnic minority group, by women writers, by post-colonial cultures, or by other groups not traditionally emphasized in the canon.
• Cognate Area:  Students are invited to develop (with the approval of the Graduate Director) a Cognate or Support Area of 6-9 hours that complements their Area of Specialization. This may be selected from departmental courses or from courses taken in another department.
• Doctoral Readings:  After taking their Qualifying Examination, PhD in Creative Writing students must take 3-6 hours of ENGL 7110 Doctoral Readings in preparation for their Doctoral Readings Examination.
• Dissertation Hours:  Students must take fifteen (15) hours of ENGL 7300 Dissertation Hours.  Once a student has enrolled for ENGL 7300 he/she must continue to enroll in ENGL 7300 for at least one (1) hour during each Fall and Spring semester until graduation.

PhD in English with an English Education Emphasis Requirement

In order to receive the PhD in English with an English Education Emphasis degree, the student must fulfill through transferred or WMU earned credits the following requirements:

• Core prerequisite courses: ENGL 615 Literary Criticism; ENGL 630 Introduction to Graduate Studies; ENGL 640 The Nature of Poetry; and one (1) English language or linguistics course.
  
• Distribution requirements: Six (6) graduate level courses from the following list of required areas. Selection must include at least one course in American Literature and must not skip over two contiguous periods. Areas from which the six courses must be chosen: American Literature before 1865; American Literature 1865 to 1945; British Literature to 1500; Renaissance British Literature (through Milton); Restoration and Eighteenth-Century British Literature; Nineteenth-Century British Literature; Modern British Literature; and Contemporary Literature.
  
• Teaching component: Students must take two (2) courses in teaching and pedagogy. This component can be fulfilled in one of two ways:
  
• by taking
• (usually at the master's level) ENGL 669 Methods of Teaching College Writing, the 3-credit practical course in the teaching of freshman composition required of all graduate assistants, and
• either another three credits as a practicum in teaching in the discipline or a 3-credit theoretical course in the teaching of literature, composition, or English language; or
  
• by taking six hours elected from courses or practica in the teaching of composition, literature, English language, or creative writing.
• Area of Specialization: Beyond their required courses, students will elect twelve (12) hours that constitute an area of specialization in preparation for their dissertation. Some credits from Master's level work and distribution requirements may be included in the Area of Specialization.
• Non-traditional requirement: Students must take one (1) course that focuses on literature in English by an ethnic minority group, by women writers, by post-colonial cultures, or by other groups not traditionally emphasized in the canon.
• Cognate Area: Students are invited to develop (with the approval of the Graduate Director) a Cognate or Support Area of 6-9 hours that complements their Area of Specialization. This may be selected from departmental courses or from courses taken in another department.
  
• Doctoral Readings: After taking their Qualifying Examination, PhD in Literature students must take 3-6 hours of ENGL 711 Doctoral Readings in preparation for their Dissertation Prospectus Defense Examination.
  
• Dissertation Hours: Students must take fifteen (15) hours of ENGL 730 Dissertation Hours. Once a student has enrolled for ENGL 730, he/she must continue to enroll in ENGL 730 for at least one (1) hour during each Fall and Spring semester until graduation.