Graduate Studies

About

We offer two graduate programs, the MA in English and the PhD in English, both of which provide a comprehensive education in the field of English Studies. With particular strengths in multicultural American literatures; rhetoric, composition, and technical and professional writing; and critical theory, our award-winning faculty work closely with students to design a program of work that fits their particular scholarly interests and career goals.

Degrees

PhD

The doctoral program in English prepares students at the most advanced stage in the interpretation and composition of texts. The program emphasizes rigorous critical study in the fields of rhetoric, composition, critical theory, cultural studies, pedagogy and literary studies. Rather than offering separate tracks, the program allows the student in consultation with the Graduate Advisor and the student's dissertation committees to design a program of work that best suits their particular scholarly interests and career goals. The combination of a diversity of course offerings, required and elected courses, and the requirement that each student defines a focus that reflects his or her intellectual and career interests provides students with the flexibility to adapt to changes in English studies. Specifically, the English doctoral program prepares students for careers in writing, including digital media and technical writing, as well as in teaching in community colleges, small colleges or regional state universities. The department trains students for college-level teaching several ways, but most importantly, by offering graduate courses in the teaching of literature and the teaching of composition. Doctoral students in English present papers at scholarly conferences, publish essays in scholarly journals and participate in other professional activities. Students should consult the Graduate Handbook for information about policies, resources, and guidelines.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  • The PhD requires 30 credit hours of coursework beyond the MA, followed by a minimum of 9 hours of dissertation work. 
  • Students should take two required core courses during the first 12 hours of graduate study: ENGL 5300: The Profession of English Studies and ENGL 5310: Introduction to Critical Theory, unless they have already taken and passed these courses while in the MA program. 
  • All students are also required to take ENGL 5311: Foundations of Rhetoric and Composition or ENGL 5359: Argumentation Theory. 
  • All other courses are electives, and students are encouraged to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and the chair of their dissertation committee to construct a coherent focus for their coursework in preparation for their comprehensive examinations. 
  • In consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and/or the Graduate Coordinator, students may take up to 9 hours of coursework outside the English Department. 
  • The PhD program in English requires basic proficiency in one natural language other than English, which can be satisfied in a variety of ways. Please consult the Graduate Handbook for details. 
  • After completing coursework and satisfying the foreign language requirement, the student will take a written comprehensive examination or comps. 
  • After passing comps, students will conduct research and compose a dissertation under the direction of their supervisor and committee. The dissertation must be an original, substantial, and significant contribution to a scholarly field. 
  • The conclusion of the PhD process is a defense of the dissertation, an oral examination conducted by the members of the dissertation committee. 
  • For more specific information regarding degree requirements, please consult the Graduate Handbook of the Department of English. 

MA

The M.A. in English provides a strong grounding in scholarly methods and in theory, making it an ideal preparation for doctoral study in disciplinary or interdisciplinary programs. M.A. graduates in English pursue careers in journalism, educational administration and services, publishing, and many business fields that demand writing and communication skills. The M.A. in English is also useful for prospective or experienced teachers who want both to sharpen their ability to teach literature and writing, and to advance professionally. Students should consult the Graduate Handbook for information about policies, resources, and guidelines.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  • The program has a Portfolio and a Thesis track. 
  • All MA students must take two required core courses during the first 12 hours of graduate study: ENGL 5300: The Profession of English Studies and ENGL 5310: Introduction to Critical Theory. 
  • All other courses are electives, and students are encouraged to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and the chair of their Portfolio or Thesis committee to select classes that will benefit their academic or professional goals. 
  • Students who chose the Portfolio track will complete 30 hours of coursework (12 courses), compose a portfolio of their work under the direction of their committee, and successfully defend their portfolio in order to complete their degrees. 
  • Students who chose the Thesis option will complete 24 hours of coursework and a minimum of 6 hours of thesis credit (30 hours total), conduct original research and compose a thesis under the direction of their supervisor and committee, and successfully defend their thesis in order to complete their degrees. 

Being an English Graduate Student at UTA

While many of our students are enrolled full time in graduate work, our program also accommodates working professionals, offering the option of part-time enrollment and the flexibility of both day and evening classes.

Our close-knit department fosters a vibrant community of learning. Our active graduate student association, EGSA, sponsors events throughout the year, including writing groups, get togethers, and information-sharing panels on milestones and challenges like comprehensive exams and the academic job search. A yearly highlight is the annual graduate student conference that EGSA organizes every spring.

Students in our program have multiple opportunities for professional development, particularly for current or future teachers. We offer multiple graduate courses that prepare students to teach composition and literature. Advanced MA students may become MA-GTAs (Graduate Teaching Assistants) after the completion of 18 credit hours on the graduate level. PhD students may be supported by Graduate Teaching Assistantships with guaranteed funding for up to five years, teaching in the First Year Writing program or teaching literature classes. Both MA and PhD students may work as consultants in the Writing Center, and advanced doctoral students may have additional opportunities such as serving as Assistant Directors in the Writing Center or the First-Year Writing Program.

Job Opportunities With a Graduate Degree in English

Our graduates are employed in tenure-stream positions at liberal arts colleges and research universities; full-time and tenure-stream positions in community colleges and area secondary schools, both public and private; administration in secondary and higher education; publishing; and technical writing, among other career paths. Our MA students wishing to pursue the PhD have been very successful in their application process, many of them receiving excellent offers from premier PhD programs across the nation, while some of our MA students pursue advanced graduate study in our own nationally-ranked doctoral program.

Funding

Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) are the primary source of support for graduate study in our Department. Contingent upon available funding, secondary forms of support for graduate students in English may include dissertation fellowships and travel awards.
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Graduate Faculty

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