The Ph.D. program is open to students with outstanding academic
records and other evidence of critical and scholarly talents. It does
not admit students whose goal is an M.A., but only those intending to
pursue a Ph.D. However, the program will award an M.A. on request to
students who have either passed their orals or completed requirements
noted in the program policy handbook (the Redbook). Applications for
September admission to the New Brunswick program should be completed by
December 15.
The Ph.D. requires 42 credits of coursework,
or at least 14 courses plus 6 credits of supervised reading and study
carried out in preparation for the qualifying examination. The normal
full-time course load is three courses per semester. Students are also
required to complete a minimum of 24 research credits. Please refer to
the program policy handbook (the Redbook) for details.
Graduate
courses in the 500 series make knowledge available to sophisticated
students who may not have encountered this material in their prior
college studies. The 600-level concentration seminars allow more
advanced work in specialized areas.
Before students may
take their orals, they must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign
language. This requirement can be fulfilled in several ways and
applicants should consult the program policy handbook (the Redbook) for
details.
The Ph.D. qualifying examination consists of two
hours of oral questioning. Please consult the program policy handbook
(the Redbook) for a description of the current organization of
this examination.
For further information, applicants are encouraged to consult the Department of English website: http://english.rutgers.edu/index.html or call 732-932-7674.
