Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants to the Ph.D. in Literature program use the USC Graduate Admissions online application and must include unofficial transcripts, a personal statement (statement of purpose), one or two writing samples totaling no more than 20 pages, your CV, an optional statement about diversity, inclusion, and access,* and three letters of recommendation. The optional statement about diversity, inclusion and access may be uploaded under supplemental materials.

*Optional statement about diversity, inclusion, and access: Diversity presents itself in many different forms, and it is our goal to cultivate an environment that values diverse backgrounds, approaches, and perspectives. Feel free to provide a statement (no more than one page) about how your perspective may contribute to the synergy of a diverse learning community.

Official transcripts of all undergraduate- and graduate-level work should be sent to the USC Office of Graduate Admission.

No.

Please apply online at the USC Graduate Admissions website.

The application to the Ph.D. in Literature program is due December 1. The application portal recognizes that under certain time zones, 11:59 PST is December 2, which is why you might see a due date in the portal of December 2.

While the department does not offer fee waivers, USC’s Graduate School does in certain cases. For information on Graduate Admission fee waivers please see https://gradadm.usc.edu/lightboxes/us-students-fee-waivers/.

An annotated bibliography does not count towards the 20 page maximum. The 20 pages only applies to the actual text of the writing sample(s).

Any application with a missing component will be flagged as “incomplete” and will not be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Although the English department does not specify a minimum undergraduate grade point average for acceptance to the Ph.D. in Literature program, the university requires a minimum undergraduate G.P.A. of 3.0 (on a scale in which A=4.0) for all admitted graduate students.

An undergraduate G.P.A. higher than 3.7 is required for fellowship consideration.

Potential applicants do not need a master’s degree (in any field) in order to be considered for acceptance to the Ph.D. program in Literature.

A strong interest in literature and critical analysis is expected of all applicants to the Ph.D. in Literature program. However, an undergraduate degree in English is not required.

No, proficiency in a foreign language is not required in order to be considered for admission to the Ph.D. in Literature program. However, students admitted to the program will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language upon completion of coursework before taking the field exams.

The department does not accept applicants for a Master of Arts degree. All graduate work in English at USC is taken as part of a Ph.D. program, and the M.A. in English is intended only as a transitional degree in the process of completing requirements for the Ph.D.

The admissions committee will notify applicants of its decisions by late February.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive. Out of over 100 applicants the admissions committee reviews each year—many of whom are well-qualified—it is only able to accept between four and six students.

No, admission to the Ph.D. program in Literature is only for the fall semester.

The online application should be completed at the Graduate School website. Official transcripts should be sent to the USC Office of Graduate Admission. Supplemental materials required by the English department should be uploaded to the “Supplemental Materials” section of ApplyYourself.

Upon submitting your online application, an email is sent directly to each individual you have listed to write a letter of recommendation. Specific instructions are given in the email on how to upload each letter of recommendation to the online application on ApplyYourself.

If your recommender would prefer to send a hard copy, the letter can be mailed to:

Jeanne Weiss, Graduate Coordinator
University of Southern California
Department of English
3501 Trousdale Parkway
Taper Hall 404
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354

The admissions committee recommends that at least two letters be from professors who have taught you in English courses or courses in closely related fields.

No, an interview is not required for admission to the Ph.D. in Literature program.

The English Graduate Program can only allow graduate students to sit in on classes for which they are registered.

The Graduate Coordinator will process your application and contact you if any documents are missing. Your application will be considered on time if the online application is submitted by the deadline, as well as your letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, writing sample(s), statement of purpose, CV, and statement about diversity, inclusion, and access (optional).

Applicants are urged to explore https://gradadm.usc.edu/ for further information about the application process. Click on the three lines at the top right of the page to access additional information about fee waivers, transcript requirements, country requirements (for international students), English proficiency, and financial documentation.

Graduate students in the Ph.D. in Literature program will receive departmental clearance during their advisement meetings with the Graduate Coordinator prior to registration each semester. A student from outside the English department who wishes to receive D-clearance should contact Jeanne Weiss directly at jeannew@usc.edu and include his or her USC ID number and desired section number.

Students in the Ph.D. in Literature program do not take a prescribed selection of courses. Instead, course plans are developed through faculty guidance rather than formal requirements. Students may select from the 15 to 18 graduate seminars offered each year in English as well as from seminars offered by departments such as Comparative Literature, History, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Critical Studies, Philosophy, and American Studies & Ethnicity.