Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies

Interdisciplinary Fields in American Studies at Rutgers University-Newark

Race, Ethnicity, and Modern Society
Urban Cultures
Cultural History and Artistic Production
The United States within a Global Context
The Operations of Social Institutions
Women and Gender Studies

Disciplinary Fields

English
History
Political Science
Jazz History and Research
Urban Systems

Within each of these areas, students will work with an advisor to develop an appropriate reading list for their doctoral exams. For example, an interdisciplinary field might be defined this way:  "Race, Ethnicity, and Modern Society: African American Literature and Politics in the 20th Century." A disciplinary field might be defined this way: "History: The Operations of Social Institutions: The Labor Movement in U.S. Politics and Culture since the Great Depression."

The third field, or dissertation field, should strengthen the connection between doctoral exams and the writing of a dissertation proposal. This field, while as richly conceived and researched as the first two, and developed in dialogue with the other two, will be defined by the student's dissertation topic.

A student who works in the two fields above and plans to write a dissertation on Newark public schools in the Progressive Era might define their dissertation field broadly so as to place the dissertation in the fullest possible context: "Public Education  in Newark Schools, 1880-1930." Readings for this field would explore the history of public education and the history of public education in Newark, in New Jersey, in comparable cities, and in the United States in general. The student would also be expected to read major theoretical works on education, studies of the Progressive Era, and major works that illuminate American education before and after the Progressive Era. Most of the works read for this field would emphasize the main issues to be explored in Newark and the larger array of social, cultural and political questions that will be addressed in the context of Newark. By reading deeply, the student should be able to develop the fullest implications of her dissertation topic and its place in academic literature and public discourse. Most of the readings for this field would be in secondary sources, but an identification of relevant primary sources and some research in them will help the student make the transition from taking the exams to writing the dissertation proposal. Of course, a student working on a more literary topic would be expected to read works of literature that will figure prominently in the dissertation.

Following are the Ph.D.'s program graduation requirements: 

Courses (42 credits)

Core sequence in the theory and methodology of American studies

   Introduction to American Studies (3 credits)

   Research Seminar in American Studies (3 credits)

Upper-level research seminar, second year of full-time study (3 credits)

Upper-level reading seminar (3 credits)

Public humanities (3 credits in consultation with program director)

Interdisciplinary Field (12 credits)

Disciplinary Field (12 credits)

Dissertation Field (12 credits)

Dissertation Research (18 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 area of focus.

Within six months of completing the written and oral doctoral examinations, students must present and defend a dissertation proposal to three advisers. These need not be the same three advisers who administered the oral and written examinations. The student is responsible for scheduling the date of the defense.

For transfer students who earn the M.A. outside Rutgers University-Newark, up to 12 credits in coursework may be counted toward the fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree requirements. Acceptance of these credits will be at the discretion of the program director in consultation with the graduate school and will depend on the field of the student's master's degree, the appropriateness to American Studies of specific courses taken, and the rules of the Graduate School-Newark.

For students who enter the program with an M.A. earned at Rutgers University-Newark, up to 24 credits may be counted toward the Ph.D. requirements. Acceptance of these credits will be at the discretion of the program director in consultation with the graduate school and will depend on the field of the student's master's degree and the appropriateness to American studies of specific courses taken.

All students, however, will be required to take the one-year-long sequence of introductory courses: Introduction to American Studies (050:501) and Research Seminar in American Studies (050:502).

Doctoral students, in their second year, must take a research seminar and a reading seminar in which they pursue their core interests in a more developed way than in their first-year seminars.

All students must, in consultation with the program director, take a 3-credit course in public humanities. This can be a research seminar, reading seminar, internship, or independent study.

It is expected that students will modify and refine the broad interdisciplinary areas as they define their particular academic interests. Each field will be followed by a more specific thematic, chronological, or methodological designation (for example: Race, Ethnicity, and Modern Society: Asian American Literature and Politics 1880-1945; or Cultural History and Artistic Production: U.S. Literature and Society since 1945).

Students may take a maximum of one course per semester outside of Rutgers University-Newark.

Doctoral qualifying exams must be taken within six months of the completion of coursework. The student will have established approved reading lists with her or his three academic advisers in each area of focus. The student's area advisers will design the separate exams, which will be written and submitted within a week's time, followed a week later by the oral exams.

Within six months of completing the written and oral doctoral examinations, students must present and defend a dissertation proposal to three advisers.

At least two out of three members of a student's exam committee must be Rutgers-Newark faculty. When the student moves on to the dissertation phase, note that the dissertation committee has four members. One of the four dissertation committee members must be from outside of the American studies program.

In the first semester in the American studies program, doctoral students in American studies will take one of the language placement exams offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The Spanish exam is offered online and supplies results immediately, while the French exam is a written exam.

If the placement exam results indicate that the student is already at an intermediate level--by placing into the 132 level course, then the exam result will meet the language requirement. If the exam result indicates that the student is below an intermediate level, there are three options. Discuss these options with your adviser and the program director, and inform them which one you will choose before you proceed. Be sure to meet your language requirement before you take your doctoral exams so that you can move directly from writing your exams to writing your dissertation  proposal.

 1) Take a language course (which will not be for graduate credit) that will bring the student to the next level of proficiency above the level indicated on the exam. For example, a student at the level of course 131 must take and pass course 132; a student at the level of course 101 must take and pass course 102. For the course to meet this requirement the grade earned must be a B or better.

 2) Study and take a translation exercise exam of the kind long used in the American studies program, under the direction of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and successfully translate an intermediate text of approximately 500 words. A dictionary may be used in this exam.

 3) Take and pass, with a grade of B or better, a graduate course in American studies or a related field that emphasizes intercultural relations, the role of language in culture, and the transnational dimensions of American studies. This course would carry graduate credit. As with the other options, before you take this course confirm that you are exercising this option with the program director and make sure that your chosen course meets the requirement. When you enroll in the course, be sure to mention to the instructor that you are taking the course to meet the American studies language requirement.