Doctor of Philosophy Program

The doctoral program is designed to prepare students to teach at the college level and conduct research in literature written in English. PhDs trained at Marquette continue to be placed in college-level jobs as well as in allied fields such as publishing, K-12 publishing, educational administration, and nonprofit work. 

Specifically, the program seeks to develop the following:

  • A comprehensive and intensive knowledge of the literature, with specialization in one area (period, type, or author) of British or American Literature.
  • Knowledge of the textual, editorial, and critical problems and backgrounds of major texts and authors, together with a grounding in the principles of literary criticism.
  • Knowledge of the basic tools and methods of literary and linguistic research and training in their application.
  • Demonstration of this knowledge and ability in a number of advanced papers (ordinarily in graduate seminars), in the qualifying examination, and in a major dissertation evincing power of organization, significant exploration and discovery, and creative insight and imagination.
  • Knowledge of pedagogical problems and the literature thereof, and practical experience in the teaching of literature, rhetoric, and composition.

Credit Requirements

The candidate for the Ph.D. degree must complete 54 hours of course work beyond the B.A., including 24 hours beyond the M.A. In addition, 12 hours of dissertation credit are required. During the student's first semester in the doctoral program, the student and Director of Graduate Studies will prepare a plan of study, designed to complete the distribution of requirements and prepare for the qualifying exam and dissertation. The form lays out a schedule of course work designed to complete the distribution requirements and prepare for the qualifying exam and dissertation. Even though students have six years beyond the M.A. to complete their coursework, DQE, and dissertations, the department does all it can to insure that students complete their work even faster. For current requirements, please refer to the Bulletin. 

Curriculum Course Structure

  • Theory and Methods
  • Electives
  • Dissertation Tutorial
  • Dissertation Credits

Theory and Methods requirements (3-6 credits)

  • 6820 Studies in Modern Theory and Practice
  • 6965 Practicum in Teaching Writing (for TAs)

18 credits, 9 of which must be earned in courses at the 6000 level or above.

Dissertation Tutorial 8830 (3 credits)

Dissertation Credits 8999 (12 credits)

Doctoral Qualifying Exam

The Doctoral Qualifying Exam (DQE) consists of an oral examination in which three faculty examiners question the Ph.D. student about the primary and about the contextual/secondary fields of study. The primary field relates directly to a student's proposed dissertation topic, including both primary and secondary texts. The contextual or secondary field, which also encompasses both primary and secondary sources, is selected for its relevance to the primary field. Both grow out of work done in English 8830. Once the exam is completed, the candidate should be ready to write the dissertation and complete it within 18-24 months. 

Dissertation

A dissertation stands as the final requirement for the Ph.D. degree. It represents an original and substantive contribution to its field and grows out of sustained thought, research, consultation, and writing, typically taking 18-24 months to complete. Although faculty directors and readers offer advice and encouragement, students ultimately write their own dissertations. Consequently, the primary responsibility for completing the dissertation rests with students; as such, the dissertation process trains students in the research habits needed for successful academic careers. The goal of directors and readers has always been to facilitate students' work in ways that produce the best possible dissertations. Our department's record of degree completion and its academic placement attest to the success of faculty and students in achieving this goal.

Selecting a dissertation topic

Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their dissertations as early as possible.

  • Use Early Coursework: Students may plan coursework and paper topics to explore possible dissertation topics
  • Solicit Advice: Students may consult with faculty members, who are willing to brainstorm with students about how to frame a dissertation topic as a research question so that it results in a thesis contributing to on-going scholarly conversations.
  • Complete ENGL 8830
  • Complete DQE

Writing the dissertation

When writing the dissertation, students follow the steps below so as to finish their dissertations in a timely fashion and in accordance with the Graduate School's Dissertation Directives.

Select Director:

Students select directors who are knowledgeable in students' chosen fields and who are people with whom students can have a comfortable and productive working relationship. Directors read early drafts of dissertation chapters, determine when chapters are ready to be given to other committee members, and conduct 2-hour oral dissertation defenses, including overseeing completion of required paperwork.

Select Committee Members:

Students, in consultation with directors, set up dissertation committees consisting of the director and two faculty readers. Readers provide feedback on later drafts of dissertation chapters, consult with directors on a dissertation's readiness for defense, and participate in a 2-hour oral dissertation defense.

Submit Dissertation Outline:

The dissertation outline should be written in English 8830 and approved in the DQE. The dissertation outline, which frequently undergoes revision in response to suggestions from the DQE and dissertation committees, should be submitted to the Graduate School no later than a couple months after the DQE has been passed. Although dissertations often diverge from particulars in the dissertation outline, the outline enables students to begin with clear arguments and methods that can serve as a reference for all subsequent efforts on the dissertation.

Consult regularly with Director:

Successful and timely completion of the dissertation within 18-24 months depends on students' sustained work, including remaining in close consultation with directors. At least one formal communication per month is recommended, and more frequent meetings, phone calls, and email exchanges are helpful. In these communications, directors and students discuss students' reading, writing, and general progress. Directors may suggest or require certain avenues of inquiry, set deadlines, and read initial drafts of dissertation chapters. These initial drafts represent students' best current efforts; as such, they are crafted pieces of writing with complete citations, not hastily-composed or casual rough drafts. Directors read the initial drafts in a timely fashion and return them to students with suggestions for revision.

Consult Committee Members:

Directors may seek advice from two readers about initial drafts or wait until initial drafts have been revised. Although readers typically communicate formal responses to students through directors, students should feel free to call on the expertise of the readers at any time. 

Defending the dissertation

Students defend their dissertations in a two-hour oral exam. 

Prepare for the Dissertation Defense:

Students plan to undertake their defenses no later than a month prior to graduation. Students are responsible for presenting each member of the committee with a clean copy of the final version in ample time to insure its reading before the scheduled date of the defense.

Pass the Dissertation Defense:

Students defend their dissertations by answering questions posed by committee members about the dissertations' claims, methods, and potential for publication. At the conclusion of defenses, committee members vote on whether to accept the dissertations. To pass, a dissertation must receive a vote of 3-0 or 2-1. Committees may pass a dissertation as is or require minor revisions before students submit final drafts to the Graduate School.

How to Apply

Apply through Marquette’s graduate application portal after reading through the application instructions. The priority deadline for consideration for financial aid, fellowships, and assistantships is January 15. You’ll need to submit 1) a statement of purpose explaining why you are applying to Marquette’s PhD in English, including a description of your proposed research topic, why you feel you would be a good fit for our department, and your academic interests and career goals; 2) a writing sample, single-authored by the applicant, that represents your best and most recent work in literary or cultural analysis, of no more than 30 pages; and 3) two (ideally three) letters of recommendation from people who know your scholarly work well.