Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

English (Ph.D.)


Program Overview


Our program offers challenging graduate seminars on British, American, and World literatures with a rigorous grounding in historical, theoretical, and philosophical frameworks and creative writing workshops in multiple genres with professional writers. Small in size, the graduate program emphasizes a solid foundation in literary studies that enables you to teach a wide range of literature and prepares you for study in your area of specialization. The degree offers excellent preparation for those who would like to pursue employment in academia or in any field that values critical thinking, strong writing skills, and research experience. Ph.D. students can choose to specialize in Literary Studies: Creative Writing or Literary Studies: Literary Criticism. Learn more at https://www.usd.edu/Academics/Graduate-Programs/English-PhD.

DELIVERY: On campus

Doctor of Philosophy, English


Major Area Coursework - 54-69 Credit Hours


Specialization: Literary Studies: Critical: 24 hours


  • Graduate courses in literature: at least five must be seminars (21 credit hours)
  • Additional selection from the criticism courses in the core (3 credit hours)**

Specialization: Literary Studies: Creative: 27 hours


  • Graduate courses in Creative Writing: at least three must be seminars (15 credit hours)
  • Course in applied theory for Creative Writing (3 credit hours)
  • Graduate courses in literature: at least two must be seminars (9 credit hours)

Note:


A minimum of 39 hours of coursework, excluding dissertation hours, must be completed. Other requirements include demonstration of proficiency in a foreign language, completion of comprehensive examinations, and an oral defense of the dissertation. Students should consult the departmental graduate student handbook for additional information.

*For students to achieve 54 hours with the Literary Studies Critical specialization, they will complete a minimum of 6 hours of electives, for students to achieve 54 hours with the Literary Studies Creative specialization, they will complete a minimum of 3 hours of electives.Other graduate courses, including Directed Research and Independent Study classes, may be included with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator.

**Critical specialization students who took a literary criticism or theory course in their MA program may be eligible for an exemption from this additional requirement. If approved by the Graduate Coordinator, another 3 credit hour course may be substituted to reach the required number of hours.

Note: 50% of the program of study must be taken at the 700-level

Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs


This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.

Questions?


Department of English
605-658-6850 | english@usd.edu | usd.edu/english

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu  | usd.edu/grad