The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in American studies requires 72 credits of research and coursework, including two core courses in the theory and methodology of American studies. Additionally, doctoral degree candidates must complete substantial work in at least two of the six interdisciplinary areas of specialization and 24 credits of dissertation research.
Students may enter the program with either a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or master of arts (M.A.) degree. At Rutgers-Newark a maximum of 40 percent of a program's course credits may be transferred from another institution; in American Studies, which requires 48 course credits for the Ph.D., up to 20 credits can be transferred. A student who enters the doctoral program with an M.A. earned at Rutgers-Newark can transfer up to 30 credits toward the Ph.D. requirement of 48 course credits. Acceptance of these credits will be at the discretion of the program director and will depend on the field of the student's master's degree and specific courses' relevance to the student's areas of concentration in American studies. All students, however, will be required to take the one yearlong sequence of introductory courses in the theory and methodology of American studies during their first year in the program. This sequence will be designed specifically to train students in interdisciplinary scholarship and prepare them to work successfully within a multidisciplinary course of study.
Following are the Ph.D.'s program graduation requirements:
Courses (48 credits)
* Core courses in the theory and methodology of American studies
26:050:501 Introduction to American Studies (3 credits)
26:050:502 Research Seminar (3 credits)
* Major interdisciplinary area
(18 credits)
* Second interdisciplinary area (12 credits)
* Third disciplinary or interdisciplinary area (12 credits)
Language Proficiency
Students will be required to demonstrate reading proficiency in one language other than English by taking an examination. This examination, which will be administered by the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literature, must be taken before taking doctoral examinations.
Comprehensive Examination
By the end of the second year of full-time enrollment, the student will have identified two of the six interdisciplinary areas of focus and have an adviser for each. In addition, the student will choose a third area of focus that is more grounded in a single discipline and identify an adviser in that field. After the completion of their coursework and before beginning their dissertations, students must pass a written qualifying examination and an oral qualifying examination. Students will be expected to demonstrate a mastery of the specific areas of focus they have defined, based on reading lists they have prepared in consultation with their advisers. They should also show a command of the key theoretical issues, debates, and landmark texts in American studies.
Dissertation Research (24 credits)
The culmination of work for the Ph.D. is the production of a dissertation based on original interdisciplinary scholarship in the candidate's primary field of study.
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