English (Ph.D.)
Offered by: English (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
The PhD in English focuses on research topics related to literature, drama and theatre, cultural studies, authorship and publishing, and critical theory.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please refer to Visual Schedule Builder. A technical issue is causing the "Terms offered" field to incorrectly report "this course is not currently offered" for many courses in the Course Catalogue.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (9 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 701 | Comprehensive Examination. | 0 |
Comprehensive Examination. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Compulsory comprehensive examination involving a written report and oral examination. | ||
| ENGL 787 | Research Seminar 1. | 3 |
Research Seminar 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Proseminar. Topics in theory. | ||
| ENGL 788 | Research Seminar 2. | 3 |
Research Seminar 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Proseminar. Topics in academic profession. | ||
| ENGL 798 | Dissertation Proposal. | 3 |
Dissertation Proposal. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Development of a research proposal and a comprehensive framework for the thesis. | ||
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
0-12 credits of departmental seminars at the 500 level or higher.
0-12 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 796 | Research Project. | 6 |
Research Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project supervised by a full-time faculty member leading to a comprehensive written report and oral examination. | ||
Plus 6 credits of departmental seminars at the 500 level or higher.