English, PhD

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Students admitted to the English PhD program should refer to the English Student Handbook for the year in which they begin the program for complete details.

Admissions Requirements

A Master’s degree is required for admission to the program. Complete admission requirements are provided in the Admission section of the Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

Coursework. 72 units of coursework are required.

Research Tools. Two research tools must be completed. At least one of these must be a foreign language.

Qualifying Exams and Dissertation. Refer to procedures and guidelines in the Doctoral Degrees section of the Bulletin and in the English Department Student Handbook.

University Policies. University policies detailed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin apply.

English Concentrations

American Studies

PhD students in English may choose a concentration in American Studies, involving a transdisciplinary approach. Students will work closely with a faculty advisor in the Department of English to pursue an intellectually unified course of study that will include seminars offered in the Department of English as well as seminars cross-listed with participating CGU departments and The Claremont Colleges. A minimum of four seminars should be taken in English, and a minimum of two seminars in other disciplines. Interested students should discuss this concentration with Professor Marlene Daut, Professor David Luis-Brown, or Professor Wendy Martin.

Potential course topics and areas for the American Studies concentration include the following:

Puritanism and American Literature and Culture
19th-Century American Literature and Culture
Representations of the Frontier in American Literature and Culture
Jazz Aesthetic in American Literature and Culture
Harlem Renaissance
American Migrations
American Women Writers and Feminism
Multi-culturalism and American Literature
American Popular Culture
American Literature and Film
Autobiography and American Literature and Culture

Early Modern Studies Concentration

The Early Modern Studies concentration encompasses study in the disciplines of English, History, and Philosophy, while retaining disciplinary focus in one of those fields. Students interested in this concentration should consult with Dr. Lori Anne Ferrell.

For master’s students, this discrete course of study complements coursework in archival and museum studies and/or prepares students for application to doctoral programs in early modern, Renaissance, or Reformation Literature, History, or Philosophy.

For doctoral students, the concentration prepares students for research and teaching at the college or university level.

Coursework

Coursework requirements complement and do not replace departmental requirements in History, English, or Philosophy, and are as follows.

Five courses in the early modern period (for English or History, 1500-1750 | for Philosophy, 1600-1800), of which two courses must be in a discipline other than the one in which the student is receiving the degree.
Course in Paleography
Course in Latin Reading (this course is not required but may be taken for credit; fulfillment of the research tool in Latin is by exam only)
One course or workshop based upon bibliographic inquiry into the extensive collections of modern print and manuscripts housed in the Special Collections of the The Claremont Colleges Library

Research Tools

For MA students, the Early Modern Studies concentration requires a second Research Tool. The two Research Tools for the concentration must be completed through language exams in German or French and in Latin. If a Latin Reading course is taken in preparation for the exam, this course may be used for credit toward the degree/concentration.

For PhD students, the Early Modern Studies concentration requires a third Research Tool. The three Research Tools for the concentration must be completed through language exams in German, French, and Latin. If a Latin Reading course is taken in preparation for the exam, this course may be used for credit toward the degree/concentration.

Hemispheric and Transnational Studies Concentration

The Hemispheric and Transnational Studies concentration is available to MA and PhD students in the Cultural Studies and English programs. Requirements for the concentration are as follows according to the department/program in which the student is enrolled.

Requirements

For MA Students

12 units in seminars designated as “hemispheric or transnational” in scope (with the approval of one of the Hemispheric and Transnational Studies advisors: Bulson, Daut, Goode, Luis-Brown, and Oishi)
A capstone/final paper (in Cultural Studies only) on hemispheric or transnational literatures or cultural theories
One language requirement (Research Tool) in Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Creole (other languages may be considered by student request.)

For PhD Students

12 units in seminars designated as “hemispheric or transnational” in scope (with the approval of one of the H&TS advisors: Bulson, Daut, Goode, Luis-Brown, and Oishi)
A capstone/final paper (in Cultural Studies only) on hemispheric or transnational literatures or cultural theories
One language requirement (Research Tool) in Spanish, French, Portuguese, or Creole (other languages may be considered by student request.)
Either a major or a minor qualifying field examination in Hemispheric/Transnational Studies (determined in consultation with the advisor).