{"id":2053,"date":"2022-12-08T21:51:22","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T05:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/?page_id=2053"},"modified":"2025-10-07T11:32:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T18:32:41","slug":"requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/graduate\/requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Ph.D. Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n            \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          English Literature Ph.D. Requirements\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>The English department encourages its graduate students to design individual programs of study, choosing from among a range of courses in English and in other departments. To this end, the structure of the Ph.D. emphasizes\u00a0<strong>faculty guidance<\/strong>\u00a0rather than formal requirements. Upon enrollment in the graduate program, each student is assigned to a\u00a0<strong>faculty mentor<\/strong>; as the student\u2019s interests take shape, she or he may choose another adviser at any time. The following sections outline the stages of the typical graduate student progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Coursework<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-znCI-2jRaw\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-znCI-2jRaw\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>In their first semester, all students take\u00a0<strong>English 501: Introduction to Graduate Study: Critical Methods and Practice I<\/strong>, a team-taught seminar which introduces them to theories and methods of criticism, as well as to major issues and debates in the profession. Thereafter they may select from the 15-18 graduate seminars offered each year in English, as well as seminars offered by programs such as Comparative Literature (COLT), History, Gender Studies, Critical Studies (CNTV), and the Program in American Studies and Ethnicity (PASE).\u00a0 [The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/b3-courses\/\"><strong>Courses<\/strong><\/a>\u201d button on the main menu will take you to descriptions of current and typical graduate seminar offerings.]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A normal courseload consists of 8-12 units (two or three 4-unit seminars) per semester.<\/li>\n<li>Students may transfer no more than 12 units of graduate coursework from other institutions.<\/li>\n<li>Two-thirds of the coursework required for the PhD must be taken within the Department of English.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Departmental Screening Procedure<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-znCI-2jRaw\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-znCI-2jRaw\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>During the first term of the second year, students undergo the departmental Screening Procedure. This is not a formal examination. Rather, the Director of Graduate Studies reviews each student\u2019s performance during the first year and, if necessary, communicates concerns to the student and to the student\u2019s faculty advisor. Successful screening is communicated to the student by letter. Successful screening and the completion of 30 units of coursework fulfill the requirements for the terminal Master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-3-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-controls=\"section-1-3-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Field Examination<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-3-znCI-2jRaw\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-3-znCI-2jRaw\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><strong>The new field exam requirements will go into effect for all students AY 2026-2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>For AY 2025-2026, students (in consultation with their exam chair) may choose if they wish to follow the new or the old guidelines.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The field exam is designed to help students acquire and demonstrate teaching and research proficiency in three distinct areas of specialization within the broader discipline of literary and cultural studies. A \u201cfield\u201d is a recognized domain of intellectual inquiry organized around a discrete time period, geographical region, theoretical approach, genre, or theme. Gaining expertise in three fields will prepare students both to make an original scholarly contribution in the dissertation, and to teach in the discipline with a suitable degree of depth and breadth. The written component of the exam is followed by an oral component, ideally held in person. The latter is not an oral exam; rather, it is intended to facilitate a productive conversation about the student\u2019s future research and teaching trajectory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Field Exam requires that students complete the following chronological steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Choose three fields of specialization, at least one of which is organized around a time period, and at least one of which is organized either around a geographical region or a genre.<\/li>\n<li>In the Spring of the final semester of coursework, engage one faculty member from the department to serve as an examiner for each field; and ask one of these examiners to serve as Chair of the committee.<\/li>\n<li>Generate lists of key texts for each field (25-30 texts minimum per field) to be approved by the relevant faculty examiner overseeing the field.<\/li>\n<li>Submit a completed Field Exam Form to the Director of Graduate Studies by May 1st.<\/li>\n<li>Complete the written portion of the Field Exam over three days within a ten-day period.<\/li>\n<li>Complete the oral component within two weeks of the last day of the written exam.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Students will earn a Pass in the Field Exam by demonstrating their mastery of each field, including expertise in primary texts and fluency in relevant critical conversations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Detailed Timeline, Requirements, and Procedures <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><u>Committees<\/u><\/p>\n<p>In their fourth semester of graduate study and final semester of coursework (typically spring of their second year), students will choose their fields of specialization and assemble a field examination committee.<\/p>\n<p>Each committee will be composed of three faculty members from the English department (one per field). The student must also ask one of these committee members to serve as Chair.<\/p>\n<p><u>Timeline<\/u><\/p>\n<p>The deadline for filing a completed <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1hzxcKYAEOR6Kz9JHV66dnqVpELMmpDs2qC6sidN4-hY\/edit?usp=sharing\">Field Exam Form<\/a> with the Director of Graduate Studies for each track is May 1st.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1hzxcKYAEOR6Kz9JHV66dnqVpELMmpDs2qC6sidN4-hY\/edit?usp=sharing\">Field Exam Form<\/a> requires students to include: 1) their three fields (with lists of texts); 2) their committee members and selected Chair; 3) scheduled dates for the written and oral components of the exam; 4) signatures of each committee member.<\/p>\n<p><u>Written Exam<\/u><\/p>\n<p>In the weeks leading up to the written exam, students will work with their faculty examiners to develop three open-ended holistic questions for each of their three fields.<\/p>\n<p>The written exam will take place over a 10-day period. However, students will spend only one day writing per field\/question, and will submit their completed essay at the end of each writing day. Students will elect their three designated writing days on the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1hzxcKYAEOR6Kz9JHV66dnqVpELMmpDs2qC6sidN4-hY\/edit?usp=sharing\">Field Exam Form<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On the morning of each writing exam day, at a time agreed upon by the exam chair and student, the exam chair or program coordinator will email the student one of the three questions generated for each field. The student will not know in advance which question will be chosen for each field.<\/p>\n<p>On each of the three writing days during the 10-day exam period, students will write one essay, answering the assigned question. The essays are not meant to be polished finished products, or early drafts of future publications. Rather, they are meant to be exploratory real-time engagements with the central issues and texts animating each field.<\/p>\n<p><u>Oral Component<\/u><\/p>\n<p>Within 14 days of completing the written exam, the student will undertake the oral component in a meeting with all three of their faculty examiners. An in-person\u00a0 meeting is strongly preferred, but Zoom is an available option when in-person attendance is not possible, for example if a faculty examiner is on sabbatical.<\/p>\n<p>The oral component should last approximately 90 minutes. The committee will tell the student at the start of the oral component if they have passed the exam based on their written exam. The exact format of the oral component will be determined by the committee Chair. The goal is to facilitate a productive conversation about how the student might develop their research agenda as they begin designing a dissertation project.<\/p>\n<p><u>Documentation<\/u><\/p>\n<p>Following the oral component, the committee Chair, in consultation with the other two committee members, will write a short report detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the student\u2019s performance as a whole and in individual fields. The report must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for the student\u2019s respective track within 7 calendar days following the oral exam.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Procedure for Failed Examinations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Students who fail to earn a passing grade in one or more field(s) must repeat the exam for the failed field(s). Students have one additional opportunity to pass the examination (i.e. 2 total opportunities). Following a failed exam, students must retake the field(s) within 90 calendar days. The entire committee must again be present for the oral component. The length of the oral component will be determined by the number of failed fields. Each field will be given 30 minutes; only failed fields need to be repeated.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1Ecc-ESdw07IMqye6vt5faCHfkHJXKXPyrGj709-qqrw\/edit?tab=t.0\">Download the Field Examination form<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p><strong>For AY 2025-2026 students<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Field Examination must be taken in the semester immediately following the completion of coursework; the completed exam must be submitted to the committee chair by no later than December 1 (for fall exams) and May 1 (for spring exams).<\/p>\n<p>1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Field Examinations are designed to help students develop a mastery over three fields of critical inquiry before they begin the process of preparing for the Qualifying Examination and the dissertation prospectus.<\/p>\n<p>2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Students will make an appointment with the Director of Graduate Studies in their final semester of course-work in order to establish a committee of three examiners who will set and grade the Field Examinations in the following semester. The student will choose the examiners. The Director of Graduate Studies must approve the choice. One committee member will serve as chair. One member of the fields committee may, upon occasion, be from another department.\u00a0 This request should be made on a case by case basis and will be up to the discretion of the DGS. Once approved by the DGS, the composition of the committee cannot be changed within the semester in which the exam will be taken.<\/p>\n<p>3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The student will choose three fields. The student will select one examiner per field to preside over the exam process and to help with devising the question and reading list. Two fields must be chosen from:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">i.\u00a0 \u00a0(a) Medieval or (b) Early Modern<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">ii. (a) Long Eighteenth Century or (b) Long Nineteenth Century, Romanticism, Victorian<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">iii. (a) Early Twentieth Century or (b) Post-World War II<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">The third field is a free choice and may be any of the above, including another alternative from the four listed (for example, Medieval in addition to Early Modern) or from one of the areas listed below:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0i.\u00a0 (a) Critical Theory or (b) Area Studies<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Area studies may be any one of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Literatures of the US-Mexican border and Latin America<\/li>\n<li>Afro-American Literature and African Diaspora<\/li>\n<li>Asian-American Literature and the Pacific Rim<\/li>\n<li>Literatures of the Circum-Atlantic World<\/li>\n<li>Media, Film and Popular Culture<\/li>\n<li>Media and Sound Culture<\/li>\n<li>Genre studies across historical periods (Romance, Memoir, Travel Narrative, Gothic etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Native American Literatures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The student will, in consultation with the presiding examiner, develop a bibliography for each of the three fields. The suggested length of each bibliography is 25 to 30 works, divided as the examiner advises among primary and secondary sources.<\/p>\n<p>5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The student and the presiding examiner will together formulate a question for each field. The question must be comprehensive and applicable to many works, but will invite the student to respond in terms of three to five representative works from each list. The question for each field must be different from those for the other two.<\/p>\n<p>6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The student and committee will set a due date for the examination, which again must be no later than December 1 (for fall exams) and May 1 (for spring exams).\u00a0The student must complete the exam within a 10 day window of time.<\/p>\n<p>7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Each question will be answered in an essay of no fewer than 1500 words and no more than 3000 words. The three examiners will read all answers, but each will assign a grade only to the examination over which he or she has presided. The grade may be Pass or Fail. The committee chair will collate the grades and, after consultation with the other examiners, assign an overall grade of Pass or Fail. A student who fails the examination may retake it once only, in the semester immediately following the one in which it was first attempted, with the same committee of examiners (unless an exemption is granted, in exceptional circumstances only, by the Graduate Studies Committee). The examining committee may determine that the student will have to retake one, two, or all three fields.<\/p>\n<p>8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Each examiner will write a report of approximately one page detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the answer that he or she graded. The Committee Chair will then write a final report summarizing these responses to the student&#8217;s performance and suggesting avenues of inquiry that could be pursued in the Ph.D. dissertation. Copies of the final report will be sent to the student and the DGS; these reports are due by that semester&#8217;s deadline for grade submission.<\/p>\n<p>The committee chair is responsible for: coordinating the questions with the student and the other examiners; coordinating the scheduling with the student and the other examiners and reporting it to the Director of Graduate Studies; proctoring the examinations electronically; reporting the grade on the provided sheet to the Director of Graduate Studies by the university&#8217;s grade submission deadline; writing a final report on the examinations.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/10\/20193_Field_Examinations_Form_grad.pdf\">Download the Field Examination form<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-4-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-controls=\"section-1-4-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Foreign Language Requirement<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-4-znCI-2jRaw\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-4-znCI-2jRaw\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>One term before they take the qualifying examination, students should also have fulfilled the foreign language requirement. Demonstration of proficiency in an appropriate foreign language may be met in several ways, such as designated coursework or a translation exam.<\/p>\n<p>Some students will enter the program with sufficient foreign language skills for their course of study (e.g. either compelling evidence of literate knowledge of a language other than English, such as a high school degree from a school in a non-English speaking country, or four or more semesters at the college level of a language other than English with a grade of B or better in the last semester, or its equivalent).\u00a0 In lieu of sitting for a foreign language exam, these students may present a written petition to the faculty members of the Graduate Committee, who will decide by vote whether to accept the petition or recommend some other course of action for filling the language requirement.\u00a0 Requirements for having the petition granted could include transferred coursework in the language, though work done more than\u00a0<strong>five years before entering the program cannot be accepted<\/strong>.\u00a0 Students should also make a case for why and how this particular foreign language will be relevant, or more relevant, to their course of dissertation study than another language they have yet to study. The department reserves the right to require a particular language on the grounds of relevance to future research.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/10\/20193_grad_Fluency_Petition.pdf\"><strong>Download the Foreign Language Fluency Petition form<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-5-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-controls=\"section-1-5-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Qualifying Examination and Dissertation Procedures<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-5-znCI-2jRaw\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-5-znCI-2jRaw\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Students must take the departmental Qualifying Examination in the first or second semester following their successful completion of the Field Exams.<\/p>\n<p>Students must form a committee of at least five faculty members. Of these, at least three must be from within the Department of English, and at least one of these three must be tenured. Additionally, each committee must contain an outside member. An outside member is considered to be a faculty member outside English but internal to USC. It is possible to\u00a0 invite one external member\u2014a faculty member from another institution outside USC\u2014to serve on the committee. Committees that include an external member must also include an outside member (in addition to the three ENGL faculty). One faculty member from English will agree to chair the committee.<\/p>\n<p>To take the qualifying exam, the student will first sit a three-hour on-campus examination in which he\/she will be asked to produce one of the following three documents: a 500-word abstract of the prospectus; a list of three questions the student would ask himself\/herself about the prospectus; a syllabus for a class as inspired by the prospectus. No more than two weeks after the completion of the written examination, the student will sit a two-hour oral examination that will be attended by all committee members. The oral exam will encompass \u00a0the written exam, the prospectus, and the accompanying bibliography. After passing the qualifying examination, the student will reduce the guidance committee to three or four members, who will include the director and the outside reader. Led by the director, this committee will oversee the student\u2019s Ph.D. dissertation.<\/p>\n<p>English 700: Theories and Practices of Professional Development I, offered yearly, is an elective 2-unit seminar designed for students preparing to take the qualifying exam. Its goal is to facilitate the writing of the dissertation prospectus and the creation of the reading list.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The last date in the fall semester that written exams will be given in November 15, and the last day of the spring semester is April 10. No exams will be given over the summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/documents\/\"><strong>Download the Appointment or Change of Qualifying or Dissertation Committee forms<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-6-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-controls=\"section-1-6-znCI-2jRaw\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">Dissertation Defense<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-6-znCI-2jRaw\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-6-znCI-2jRaw\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The dissertation is a book-length manuscript that makes an original and substantial contribution to its field of study. Its substance, style, and format must meet professional standards of research.\u00a0(The requirements for students in the Literature and Creative Writing track are different, since these students produce both a creative project and critical thesis.\u00a0 Page-length requirements are specified on\u00a0the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cwphd\"><strong>Literature and Creative Writing page<\/strong>.<\/a>) Upon submission of an acceptable manuscript and a successful oral defense, the student will be awarded the Ph.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n                                        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--photo-wall \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--photo-wall\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  \n  <div class=\"photos-container\">\n\n    \n    <div class=\"grid-sizer\"><\/div>\n    <div class=\"gutter-sizer\"><\/div>\n\n      \n                                                                            \n                <div class=\"photo\">\n\n            \n                \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img decoding=\"async\"\n                            src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/01\/47029552224_6088ea5aab_c-540x0-c-default.jpg\"\n                    \n        \n                  alt=\"At commencement, a PhD student is hooded.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <\/div>\n                <div class=\"photo\">\n\n            \n                \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img decoding=\"async\"\n                            src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/01\/replacment-540x0-c-default.jpg\"\n                    \n        \n                  alt=\"In the Tutor Student Union, two individuals walk together. This is an aerial view.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <\/div>\n                <div class=\"photo\">\n\n            \n                \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img decoding=\"async\"\n                            src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/01\/23069666465_1b694cc830_c-540x0-c-default.jpg\"\n                    \n        \n                  alt=\"An individual walks down the USC hall of flags.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <\/div>\n                <div class=\"photo\">\n\n            \n                \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img decoding=\"async\"\n                            src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/01\/48244573757_e430a8cc39_c-540x0-c-default.jpg\"\n                    \n        \n                  alt=\"A tree and the greenery are at the forefront of this image that shows USC building in the background.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <\/div>\n                <div class=\"photo\">\n\n            \n                \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img decoding=\"async\"\n                            src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/85\/2023\/01\/32875272437_4155f54624_c-540x0-c-default.jpg\"\n                    \n        \n                  alt=\"A PhD student stands in cap, hood, and gown at commencement. She smiles into the camera as other students move around her in the background.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <\/div>\n      \n      <\/div>\n\n                                \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--link-list \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--link-list\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Additional Resources\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n                        \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>For information about the Ph.D. in\u00a0<strong>Creative Writing and Literature<\/strong>, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cwphd\">click here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For additional details on departmental and university requirements, see\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/catalogue.usc.edu\/\">the university catalogue<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usc.edu\/dept\/publications\/cat2011\/\">.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"links-container\">\n\n                        \n        \n          \n            <div class=\"column\">\n                <ul>\n                                                                  <li>\n                                \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/graduate-frequently-asked-questions\/\n    aria-label=\"Read more about Frequently Asked Questions\"  \n>\n    Frequently Asked Questions \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                                                        <li>\n                                \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/documents\/\n    aria-label=\"Read more about Documents\"  \n>\n    Documents \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                          <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n\n          \n          \n        \n          \n            <div class=\"column\">\n                <ul>\n                                                                  <li>\n                                \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/faculty\/\n    aria-label=\"Read more about Faculty Profiles\"  \n>\n    Faculty Profiles \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                                                        <li>\n                                \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/graduate-publications\/\n    aria-label=\"Read more about Graduate Publications\"  \n>\n    Graduate Publications \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                          <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n\n          \n          \n        \n\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":0,"parent":921,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-content-detail.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2053","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ph.D. Requirements - Department of English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/engl\/graduate\/requirements\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ph.D. Requirements - Department of English\" \/>\n<meta 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