Arizona State University • Department of English
Doctor of Philosophy in English
(Rhetoric/Composition & Linguistics)
Karen Adams, Co-Director
Keith Miller , Co-Director
Program Overview
Admissions
Course Requirements
Supervisory Committee
Ph.D. Examinations
PhD Procedures and Timeline
FAQ
ADMISSIONS:
All applications for admission to the program must be approved by the Ph.D. Admissions Committee in the Department of English and by the Graduate College. There are several requirements for admission, none of which will be arbitrarily disregarded, and the best applicants will meet or exceed all of these criteria. However, the Admissions Committee will consider the individual aspects of each application. For more information see the Department of English Application Procedures. The deadline is February 1.
1. Undergraduate and Graduate Majors:Given the interdisciplinary nature of work in rhetoric/composition and linguistics, faculty will consider applicants with B.A. and M.A. majors in fields such as anthropology, applied linguistics, cognitive science, communication, comparative languages and literatures, English literature, education, history, law, linguistics, modern languages, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, rhetoric/composition, sociology, and speech and hearing science.
2. Cumulative Grade Point Average: The Graduate College requires a grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last two years of work leading to the bachelor's degree and the recommendation of the academic unit in which the applicant plans to study. In addition, the Department of English requires that applicants have at least a 3.5 grade point average in all previous graduate work.
3. Graduate Record Examination: Applicants must submit scores on the GRE. Normally, they should achieve a score in the 85th percentile or higher.
4. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from professors familiar with their academic performance. These letters must be sent by the professors directly to the Graduate Coordinator, Department of English. Forms can be obtained on-line in word format or pdf format.
5. Statement of Aims and Purpose: A well-considered, one-page statement of purpose in which candidates explain how their experience and training--either in school, out of school, or both--have prepared them for the program. Candidates should indicate their career goals and explain how these goals relate to our graduate program in Rhetoric/Composition and Linguistics.
6. Sample of Scholarly Work: Applicants should submit a critical paper or research paper prepared in a recent course.
7. Vita: A professional vita that outlines educational background, relevant work experience, honors, and publications.
8. A Department of English Application (available on-line in word or pdf).
9. A Graduate College Admissions application.
CORE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE Ph.D (Rhetoric/Composition & Linguistics)
The Ph.D. is a total of 84 hours. In general, a student with an appropriate master's degree must complete a minimum of 54 semester hours of approved graduate work, which includes 12 hours of dissertation. Research hours may be used towards coursework in consultation with the advisor. A student without an appropriate master's degree usually must complete 84 hours of work at ASU. At the advisor’s discretion, students may include up to 12 hours of appropriate, graduate-level coursework undertaken at another university, and not previously counted towards any other degree.
A. Research Methods: (3 hours)
Students must take ENG/LIN 500 or its equivalent.
B. Foundational Distribution: (12 hours) Foundational courses are offered at the 500-level, but also may include courses completed as masters' level work at other universities. Students must complete at the 500-level (or equivalent):
· one course in rhetoric
· one course in composition studies
· two courses in linguistics
C. Advanced Studies Distribution: (12 hours) Advanced Studies courses are offered at the 600-level or above. Students may choose to take 600-level courses required by the distribution from one area of study (rhetoric, composition, or linguistics) or a combination of areas in which they would like to concentrate. It is assumed that a student will have taken a foundational level course, prior to taking an advanced studies course, especially when the area of study is new for the student.
All advanced courses may be repeated for credit when topics vary. Thus, two classes with the same course number (e.g., LIN 610 or ENG 651) may count toward two of the requirements for distribution. At least three of the advanced courses must be taken in the doctoral program at ASU.
D. Continuing Concentration: (33 hours) Students may choose to take other foundational (500 or equivalent) and advanced (600 and above or equivalent) courses in any one of the areas of concentration or a combination of areas in which they would like to concentrate. Students should consult with an advisor when selecting additional courses for concentration. It is expected that some of these continuing courses will include ENG or LIN 790 and 792's used in preparation for the PhD Examination.
Note: Special topic courses (ENG 598, LIN 548, LIN 598) and seminars (ENG 591, LIN 591) may fulfill some of the distribution requirements at the foundational (500-level) and advanced studies (600-level) levels. Students should consult with an advisor when choosing these courses.
E. Interdisciplinary Option: (up to 12 hours) Students are encouraged to take up to twelve hours of courses outside the department to count toward the degree. Those courses may fulfill some of the foregoing requirements at the foundational and advanced studies distribution, or be taken in addition to those required by the distribution. Students should consult with an advisor when choosing these courses.
F. Language:Students must demonstrate evidence of a competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English, to be selected by the student, subject to the approval of the chair of the dissertation committee. The language requirement must be completed before the student is eligible to take the PhD exams. This requirement may be met by
1. Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in a 400- or 500-level course in an appropriate (approved) language;
2. Demonstrating comparable proficiency by taking a language examination, administered by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee;
3. Demonstrating native speaker proficiency, as determined by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee;
4. Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in both ENG 530 Old English and ENG 531 Old English Literature or their equivalent.
5. Holding a bachelor’s degree in an approved foreign language.
6. Having fulfilled a foreign language requirement towards a previously awarded master’s degree that has been completed within five years of the semester for which the student has been admitted to the Ph.D. program. This foreign language must be in a language approved by the student’s Ph.D. supervisory committee.
G. Dissertation: Students must include 12 (and only 12) semester hours of 799 on the doctoral program of study.
Miscellaneous: Students have the option of taking ENG/LIN 792 Research, on an individual basis, for the purpose of working independently in preparation for the PhD exam. This is an alternative to be selected by the student with the approval of the advisor and supervisory committee. Satisfactory completion of ENG/LIN 792 is indicated by the grade of "Y."
The Graduate College also requires that students be enrolled every semester, excluding summer sessions, until they have completed all requirements for the degree. Continuous enrollment may be satisfied by registration for one hour of ENG 799, or, in cases where dissertation or other credit hours are not needed, Continuous Registration (ENG 595 or 795). If students wish to interrupt their programs of study for one or more semesters, they may apply for leave status, not to exceed one year. Failure to obtain leave status for the semesters in which they are not enrolled may result in dismissal from the program.
Ph.D. SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE:
The Ph.D. supervisory committee consists of a minimum of three members from the graduate faculty selected at the time the student files a Program of Study. In consultation with the director of the Ph.D. program, the student will select the committee chair, who also serves as the student's advisor. Only tenured faculty members from the department of English are eligible to chair doctoral committees. (For exceptions to this rule, consult the director of graduate studies.) Once a graduate faculty member has agreed to serve as the student's chair, the student and chair will then consult before recommending two other members to the director of the Ph.D. program. Ideally another member of the supervisory committee in addition to the chair should be in the area of specialization. It is the responsibility of each student to form a supervisory committee very early in the program so that the chair and members of the committee may be involved in shaping the course of study, for example, in determining such matters as the choice of fo reign language(s) and in specifying courses that will be required for the student's particular area of concentration.
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