Doctor of Philosophy in English and Education Requirements
Students enter the program with a master's degree in English or education. They are then required to take four to six courses in English and the same number in education. Students design individual programs of study, electing courses and designing exam reading lists in their areas of interest. Students consult regularly about their program of study with the program chairs. A "specialization" should be considered early in the student's program of work, ideally before the end of the first year in the program, as identifying a specialization is useful in planning course selections and in laying the groundwork for the dissertation.
Students' specializations range from topics in rhetoric and composition to theories and pedagogies of literacy, from English linguistics to professional concerns at the intersection of English and education. A few recent examples are an examination of how English professors at historically black colleges contributed to the Harlem renaissance; a study of the ethical and political dimensions of student writers’ discursive engagements with violence; an ethnographic study of adult learners to deepen our understanding of factors affecting participation in adult literacy programs; an investigation of the ways that white teachers, students, teacher educators, and researchers approach multicultural issues in white-dominated educational settings; an analysis of how ideologies about standard edited American English influence the identities writing instructors construct for student writers.
Three examinations are required. The exams include a special topic exam: an article-length research paper focusing on a specialized area of interest for the student. The theorization of learning exam requires reflection on graduate school learning and articulation of directions for future research. The third exam is the prospectus for the dissertation.
To make timely progress toward the degree, students should complete all examinations and meet the foreign language requirement by the beginning of winter term of the third year. Students who do not adhere to this schedule are not eligible for some fellowships.
Students also must meet a foreign language requirement. This is typically fulfilled either by taking course work in the language at an advanced level or by taking and passing a departmental examination (one advanced exam or two basic exams). In addition, students may petition the program committee to fulfill the requirement in another way that better fits their individual backgrounds and/or academic plans.
Within This Section
Joint Program
in English and
Education
Monday-Friday:
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
610 E. University Avenue, Room 4204
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1259
Phone: 734.763.6643
ed.jpee@umich.edu
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