Foundation courses, 12 hours

• ENGL 5550 - Studies in the Teaching of Composition
• ENGL 5750 - Bibliography and Historical Method
• ENGL 5760 - Scholarly and Critical Writing
• ENGL 5810 - Survey of Critical Theory

Distributed requirements, 18 hours

• 2 courses in British Literature, pre-1660
• 2 courses in British Literature, post-1660
• 1 course in American Literature, pre-1900
• 1 course in American Literature, post-1900

Electives, 12 hours

Students take 12 hours of elective courses in English. Students are limited to two Special Problems courses, except by permission of the director of graduate studies.

Directed research, 6 hours

The student must take 6 hours of directed research. The student may not enroll in directed research until the foreign language requirement has been met.

• ENGL 6941 - Directed Research
• ENGL 6942 - Directed Research
• ENGL 6944 - Directed Research

Dissertation, 12 hours

The student must take 12 hours of dissertation. The student may not enroll in dissertation hours until the PhD examination, the foreign language requirement, and the directed research requirements have been met.

• ENGL 6950 - Doctoral Dissertation

Foundation courses, 12 hours

• ENGL 5550 - Studies in the Teaching of Composition
• ENGL 5760 - Scholarly and Critical Writing
• ENGL 5810 - Survey of Critical Theory

•  

• ENGL 5140 - Form and Theory: Poetry

• or

• ENGL 5145 - Form and Theory: Prose

• (ENGL 5140 or ENGL 5145 must be taken in genre of focus)

Distributed requirements, 18 hours

• 2 courses in British literature, pre-1660
• 2 courses in British literature, post-1660
• 1 course in American literature, pre-1900
• 1 course in American literature, post-1900

Required creative writing courses, 12 hours

A combination of four workshops, including one outside genre of focus, chosen from the following.

• ENGL 5162 - Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction
• ENGL 5420 - Creative Writing: Poetry
• ENGL 5820 - Creative Writing: Prose Fiction

Directed research, 6 hours

The student must take 6 hours of Directed Research (ENGL 6941 , ENGL 6942  and ENGL 6944 ). The student may not enroll in Directed Research until the foreign language requirement has been met.

Dissertation, 12 hours

The student must take 12 hours of dissertation (ENGL 6950 ). The student may not enroll in dissertation hours until the PhD examination, the foreign language requirement, and the directed research requirements have been met.

Qualifying examination

Ideally, the student will take the PhD qualifying examination during the first term/semester after the completion of organized course work. The PhD examination will be administered by the student’s dissertation committee.

The PhD examination may be taken twice. If the student fails the examination on both occasions, then permission for any retake of the examination must be granted by the graduate admissions committee.

The student must pass the following:

• one four-hour written comprehensive examination in the primary area,
• one four-hour written examination in a secondary area, and
• one two-hour oral examination.

The student must pass these examinations before being permitted to register for dissertation hours.

The student’s major advisor and committee will determine the nature of the examinations and prepare and administer them. The student will be expected to have expert knowledge of the primary area and general comprehensive knowledge of the secondary area.

After the student passes the written comprehensive examinations in both the primary and the secondary area, the student will then take one two-hour oral examination that covers both areas.

After the student passes the written and oral examinations, the student must file a PhD Comprehensive Examination Form with the Graduate Studies in English Office.
 

Dissertation prospectus

Each student is required to provide an extended and detailed dissertation prospectus to his or her dissertation committee. The prospectus, developed while the student is enrolled for ENGL 6941  and/or ENGL 6942 , must be turned in to the dissertation committee after successfully completing the Qualifying Examinations.

The dissertation prospectus must be approved by all members of the student’s dissertation committee. The approved prospectus, along with a prospectus cover sheet and approval form, must be filed with the Office of Graduate Studies in English. The faculty committee that approves the prospectus must be the same as the dissertation committee. Any changes in the constitution of the dissertation committee must be approved by the director of graduate studies. Students may not enroll for dissertation until the prospectus has been approved by the dissertation committee and filed with the Office of Graduate Studies in English.

Dissertation requirement

1. A dissertation is required of all candidates for the doctorate. The dissertation must be an original work of scholarly or creative writing justifying the awarding of the doctoral degree. A creative dissertation must also include a critical preface. Students can enroll for dissertation credit only when

• the dissertation prospectus has been approved by all members of the student’s dissertation committee and has been filed with the Office of Graduate Studies in English, and
• the student has satisfied the foreign language requirement and the PhD examination requirement.

2. Students enrolled for dissertation credit must comply with the continuous enrollment policy set forth in the Doctoral Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

3. The dissertation committee is composed of three faculty members. The dissertation will be directed by a qualified faculty member whose area of expertise is in the student’s major area. Two other faculty members from the Department of English constitute the rest of the dissertation committee. Area advisors and the director of graduate studies will assist students in the selection of the dissertation committee.

4. When the dissertation is completed and has received the preliminary approval of the dissertation committee, the dissertation director will schedule the final comprehensive examination (dissertation defense).

5. Instructions for submitting the approved dissertation may be obtained from the Toulouse Graduate School. Students should consult the Academic Calendar at www.unt.edu/catalog/calendar.htm for deadlines.