College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
www.kent.edu/english

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in English offers advanced study in literature, rhetoric, composition and writing studies, with a unique focus on narrative as a powerful tool for change. Students learn to analyze and create stories that influence perception, guide action and drive innovation. Graduates are equipped for impactful careers in academia and beyond—from law and education to information science—ready to lead in a world shaped by stories. Read more...

Contact Information

• Mark Bracher, Ph.D. | mbracher@kent.edu | 330-672-2665
• Bee Viton | bviton@kent.edu | 330-672-1708

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Writing sample (8-15 pages) relevant to the field of study
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Funding deadline: January 15
    All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) must be submitted by this deadline to be considered for an assistantship or any other funded position.
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for ENG 89199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for ENG 89199, and thereafter ENG 89299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

• Students on appointment who have not had college teaching experience are required to take ENG 61094. The master's-level course cannot be applied toward the doctoral degree.
• Students are required to pass a foreign language requirement for the degree.

Candidacy for the Degree

Doctoral students must pass two written examinations in two distinct areas of English studies before being admitted to candidacy. They must also defend a dissertation prospectus.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective teaching skills and knowledge of appropriate teaching theories.
2. Demonstrate the ability to read and interpret research in their field.
3. Write coherently and clearly about research topics and other topics.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of how disciplines are interconnected.
5. Demonstrate the ability to think critically and creatively about topics both inside and outside academia.
6. Apply appropriate research methods to objects of study.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in English offers students extensive learning in the areas of literature, rhetoric and composition, writing studies and beyond, with a distinctive focus on narrative. The program provides a deep and nuanced understanding of the ways narratives not only represent the world but also make it and change it, for both good and ill.

Narrative is defined very broadly as a fundamental and ubiquitous mode of thought that guides perception, constructs feelings and directs actions, operating at varying scales, in all domains and through multiple media and modes of perception. Students acquire advanced skills in critiquing, revising and creating narratives in the service of more effective and socially responsible problem solving, decision making, innovation and action planning. These skills are useful in a range of professions both in and outside the university, including law, teaching and library and information science. Graduates are well prepared to engage with a changing world.