Graduate Program Guidelines

Policies and Program Information English Graduate Administration Degrees Offered Residence Requirements Language Requirement Satisfactory Degree Progress Advising Candidacy Degree Application Incompletes Independent Study Transfer Credit Statute of Limitations on Coursework Sharing of Documents Undergraduate Enrollment in 600 level	Financial Aid Information Fellowships Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) Part-Time Teaching Summer Teaching Administrative Opportunities
MA in English (Revised November 2021) Application Procedures Degree Requirements for GTA Students Degree Requirements for Non-GTA Students Culminating Project Option (CP) The Critical Culminating Project The Creative Culminating Project Culminating Project Approval  Thesis Option Thesis Prospectus Thesis Procedures University of Louisville GTA Policies	PhD in Rhetoric and Composition (Revised November 2021) PhD in Rhetoric and Composition Admission Application Procedures PhD Degree Requirements PhD Course of Study Coursework Progress Interview PhD Exams General Rhetoric and Composition Exam Secondary Literature Area Exam (SLA) Multiple Unsuccessful Examinations Progress After the Examinations The PhD Dissertation Dissertation Prospectus Dissertation Procedures University of Louisville GTA Policies
Additional MA Information  MA Thesis Checklist *  MA Thesis Checklist (printable version) MA Thesis Defense MA Thesis Formatting/Submission MA Culminating Project Checklist * MA Culminating Project Checklist (printable version) * Download and open with Adobe Reader or Adobe DC.	Additional PhD Information PhD Dissertation Checklist * PhD Dissertation Checklist (printable version) PhD Dissertation Defense PhD Dissertation Formatting/Submission * Download and open with Adobe Reader or Adobe DC.

English Department Graduate Administration

The English department faculty, in cooperation with the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies (SIGS), sets all policies of the graduate program.

The English graduate committee determines how policies apply in specific instances. The graduate committee supervises all facets of the graduate program including: admission, probation, dismissal, and appointment of Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), the last in consultation with the Director of Composition, the Director of Creative Writing, and the Director of the Writing Center.

Records for all English graduate programs are kept in the department office (Bingham Humanities 315).  The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) reviews the progress of every student at the end of every semester, or continuously throughout the semester, if the situation warrants it.

Requests and petitions from graduate students should be put in writing and addressed to the DGS, who will then present them to the graduate committee.

The DGS also supervises graduate advising and supervises the examinations of master's and doctoral students to assure that they are administered according to program policy.  The DGS also works with the Department Chair and Vice Chair to plan graduate course offerings.

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English Graduate Degrees Offered

The English Department offers two graduate degrees: the M.A. in English and the Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition.

MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) PROGRAM

Candidates for the M.A. degree must complete 30 credit hours. Those who choose the non-thesis option will take 30 hours of coursework, while those who choose to write a thesis will take 24 hours of coursework and 6 hours of Thesis Guidance (English 615).

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D.) PROGRAM

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must complete 42 semester hours, which must include 12 hours of Dissertation Research (English 690).

The English Department does not offer a Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. Students interested in such a degree should contact the University of Louisville's College of Education and Human Development. 

Acceptance Status

Students admitted to either of the English Department Graduate Programs will be placed in one of the following categories:

Non-degree status: This category is for students who are not pursuing a specific degree. Only nine (9) hours earned while in non-degree status can later be applied toward a graduate degree. Non-degree applicants must submit an undergraduate transcript (B.A. or B.S. degree required) and an application with the application fee.

Degree status: This category is for students in good standing who are pursuing a specific degree.

Degree status--provisional: This status refers to students whose applications are incomplete at the time of admission. All missing credentials must be submitted by the end of the student's first term.

Degree status--special conditions: This status is reserved for a student whose credentials at the time of admission are weak in some respects, but are strong enough to warrant granting the student an opportunity to succeed in the program. In these cases the graduate committee establishes specific criteria for the student to be allowed to continue in the program beyond the initial trial period.

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Residence Requirements

Detailed information on residency requirements can be found in the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies Graduate Catalog. 

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Language Requirement

There is no language requirement, although students are strongly encouraged to develop language skills germane to their projects.

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Satisfactory Degree Progress

Satisfactory progress toward the degree requires the following: regular enrollment in graduate courses, consistent satisfaction of course requirements within given time limits, and maintenance of an appropriate grade point average (minimum 3.0). Failure to pursue coursework for the degree on an orderly schedule consistent with the student's other duties, a history of incompletes in courses, or the acquisition of two or more grades of "C" or below will be cause for a review of the student's records by the DGS with the aim of determining whether the student should continue in good standing, be placed on probationary status, be withdrawn from the program, or be encouraged to transfer to some other academic program. Ph.D. students should get their dissertation prospectus approved during the first semester of year three, immediately after completing exams and entering candidacy: the dissertation should then be finished within the next 12 to 18 months. M.A. students often complete theses or culminating projects while completing coursework. 

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Advising

The DGS supervises graduate registration and advises all English graduate students.  Each semester, students must schedule an advising appointment with the DGS, or be advised by phone or e-mail, before they can be cleared to register for classes.  Students who register for English graduate courses on their own must take full responsibility for any mistake about degree requirements.Tuition remission for courses not necessary for the degree will be granted at the discretion of the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Candidacy

Master's students who have completed all required coursework and thesis hours (thesis option only) must register for Master's Candidacy (MAST 600) every semester (Fall, Spring, & Summer) until the thesis or culminating project is completed.

Doctoral students who have passed comprehensive exams must register for Doctoral Candidacy (Doct 600) every semester (Fall, Spring, & Summer) until the dissertation is completed.

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Degree Application

The Application for Degree form must be completed in the semester in which the student plans to graduate (Log on to U-Link, choose the "student services" tab at the top of the page. On the right hand side under "Academic Resources" choose "Degree Application"). Deadlines are included on the academic calendar. All degrees require minor graduation fees.

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Incompletes

Instructors are warranted to grant an "Incomplete" only when students are unable to complete the final portion of a course because of severe illness or other circumstances beyond their control.The grade of Incomplete will not be counted as normal progress toward a degree. The work must be completed by the end of the student's next term of enrollment, or the course grade will change from an "I" to an "F."

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Independent Study

Forms for requesting an independent study. The forms must be filled out and signed by both the student and professor before they are submitted to the graduate committee for approval. Proposals must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Independent study proposals must not duplicate regular graduate courses; the committee views independent study courses as opportunities for faculty and students to work together on research projects that could not be pursued with existing courses.
2. The Independent Study Application must explain how the proposal will fit into the graduate student's overall course of study
3. Independent studies must be approved by the DGS before the students may register. The DGS will check to ensure that the proposal does not duplicate existing courses or conflict with the objectives of the student's program.

Course Numbers

• The course number for the Fall semester is ENGL 613
• The course number for the Spring is ENGL 614

Transfer Credit

Students may apply to the graduate committee to have up to six credit hours of required coursework waived, allowing for their replacement with extra electives. Requests for requirement waiver or credit transfer should be based on the successful completion of equivalent courses at a comparable graduate institution; students will be asked to include syllabi and transcripts for those courses.

Credit transfer decisions will typically be made based on consideration of the following factors: the date of the course for which credit transfer is sought and the comparability of that course to those offered at the University of Louisville.

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Statute of Limitations for Coursework

Coursework taken more than six years ago at this or another institution cannot be counted toward the M.A. or Ph.D. degrees.  In special circumstances, the student may petition the graduate committee for an exception. Submit petitions of this sort to the DGS, who will forward them with his/her recommendation to the graduate committee. Final approval must be granted by the Dean of the Graduate School.

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Sharing of Documents

The program considers all prospectuses, final projects (for theses, dissertations, and culminating projects) and general exam papers to be public documents, which can be shared with other students in the program. Students who want their proposals and/or prospectuses to be kept confidential must append a written and signed statement to that effect to the documents in question.

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Undergraduate Enrollment in 600 Level Courses

Normally, undergraduates are not admitted into 600-level courses. Exceptions are made only for students who have completed upper-level undergraduate courses in the area covered by the 600-level course that the student is petitioning to take. Exceptions will be approved only when the instructor of the 600-level course supports,with a permission form and an add/drop form, the student's petition. Signatures from both the 600-level course instructor and the DGS (as certification of graduate committee approval) are required before the Graduate School will allow the student to register.

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Fellowships

Fellowships are awarded to Ph.D. applicants competitively through all the graduate programs of the University, upon a recommendation from the home department.  Fellowships carry full tuition remission, with no teaching duties except those required for teaching obligation during the fellowship year. They are renewable for a total of two years upon a recommendation from the home department.

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Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAships) are awarded competitively to M.A. and Ph.D. applicants. Until they have completed eighteen (18) hours of graduate work in English, M.A. GTAs are assigned to the University Writing Center. Most other GTAs teach two sections of first-year composition each semester. Graduate Teaching Assistants are eligible to apply for several administrative positions in the Department and Writing Center. GTA administrators typically teach one course per semester and do ten hours of administrative work each week.

• 10-month Graduate Teaching Assistants (M.A. students) receive tuition remission to be used in Fall and Spring terms only.
• Twelve-month GTAs (Ph.D. students) receive Summer tuition remission as well and are required to teach one section in the Summer or perform other duties, according to departmental needs.

APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS

• The graduate committee can guarantee consideration only to those applicants whose files are complete by January 5.
• Announcements of GTA awards or of an applicant's status in the competition will be made by April 1.
• An agreement among graduate schools nationwide requires that students accept or reject such offers by April 15.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Responsibilities of GTAs are outlined in the letter of agreement that is sent with the offer. GTAs are required to carry a full load of academic work to remain eligible for support. For GTAs in English, "full load" means taking 9 hours of coursework in both the Fall and Spring semesters. University Fellows and students holding twelve-month GTAships must also take 6 hours in the summer. These can be dissertation hours rather than coursework. Graduate Teaching Assistantships are awarded to support the student's graduate work and cannot continue beyond the end of the semester in which the student has satisfied the requirements for the degree.

• New GTAs assigned to the Writing Center must take English 604: Writing Center Theory and Practice during the Fall semester.
• GTAs who are teaching in the composition program for the first time must take English 602: Teaching College Composition, during the Fall semester.
• Student duties as GTAs also require that they attend Department and University orientation sessions and participate in staff development sessions. The Director of Composition and the Director of the Writing Center will send more information about these activities early in the summer.

RENEWAL OF GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS 

Initially, GTAships are awarded by the graduate committee on the basis of academic record, GRE scores, writing samples, and letters of recommendation.  GTAships for students pursuing the M.A. may be renewed once; GTAships for students pursuing a doctorate may be renewed three times. It is possible for students to hold GTAships for two years while pursuing a Master's degree, then hold GTAships for four more years as doctoral students. Years spent as a University Fellow or as a GTA for other academic units count against the years of eligibility for an English Department GTAship.

GTA renewals are not automatic; renewal depends on an evaluation of the candidate's academic record and his/her performance of GTA duties. The Graduate committee, in consultation with the Director of Composition and the Director of the Writing Center, makes this evaluation. Current GTAs will receive a renewal letter during the Spring semester. Students who wish to accept this renewal must return the letter by the given deadline.

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Part-Time Teaching

Sections in the Composition Program are sometimes available to graduate students at part-time rates. These sections are awarded according to amount of previous teaching experience, progress toward graduate degrees, recommendations, teaching evaluations, and specific program needs. Graduate students may not teach more than three sections a semester.

Occasionally, advanced graduate students may be asked to teach other courses in the English department and/or humanities division. These courses are typically awarded to students who are close to completing their Ph.D. degree requirements.

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Summer Teaching

The summer teaching schedule, like all scheduling decisions, is the responsibility of the Chair and Vice Chair.  During summer terms, the English department offers a limited number of courses.  Often requests for teaching exceed the number of courses available.

In distributing assignments, the department will, as much as possible, take into account seniority and contributions to our programs and will give priority to doctoral students.

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Administrative Opportunities

The Graduate Program in English at the University of Louisville offers students who demonstrate a special interest in administration several opportunities to serve as Assistant Director in the Composition Program or Writing Center.

Additional opportunities include positions as Assistant Director of the Thomas R. Watson Conference and Assistant Director of Creative Writing. Most of these opportunities are restricted to Ph.D. GTAs beyond their first program year.

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MA Application Procedures

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Applications for the M.A. program must be complete by the following deadlines:

• M.A. with Graduate Student Assistantship (GTA): January 5
• M.A. without Graduate Student Assistantship:
• Fall semester: July 15
• Spring semester: December 1
• Summer semester: May 15

M.A. APPLICATION MATERIALS

1. Application for Graduate Admission (including fee). Online application
2. Official Transcripts of all undergraduate work and any post-graduate work. (Official transcripts must be sent from previous institutions directly to graduate admissions)
3. Two academic letters of recommendation. Letters from employers or personal references are not acceptable. Discursive letters are required.
4. Writing sample (critical writing that demonstrates your investigative and expository skills) of least 10 pages. Students who plan to focus on creative writing should send a creative writing sample in addition to the critical sample

See the Graduate Admissions page for more information about how to apply.

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP (GTA) APPLICATION

The GTA application is included only if you wish to be considered for a GTAship for the Fall semester. Include names and contact information for references only, letters are not required.

The GTA application should be sent directly to the English Department by January 5:

• E-mail: englgrad@louisville.edu   
• Fax: 502.852.4182
• Mail: Graduate Administrative Assistant | Department of English | Humanities Building 315 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY 40292

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in English, is a prerequisite for admission to the MA program. Some students earn a BA at UofL before completing the MA here. Upon completing the BA program, such students then must apply for admission to the MA program.

Language Requirement

There is no language requirement, although students are strongly encouraged to develop language skills germane to their projects.

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MA Degree Requirements for GTA Students

Students may apply up to nine credits of 500-level coursework toward the degree. The remainder must be 600-level courses.

A. Required Courses (21 hours total)

• ENGL 601: Introduction to English Studies (3 hours)
• ENGL 602: Teaching College Composition (3 hours)
• ENGL 604: Writing Center Theory and Practice (3 hours)
• ENGL 691/ENGL 692: Theories of Interpretation OR Topics in Interpretive Theory (3 hours)
• Literature, pre-1700: varies (3 hours)
• Literature, 1700-1900: varies (3 hours)
• Literature, post-1900: varies (3 hours) and may be satisfied through 606 or 607, Creative Writing I and II 

B. Electives (9 hours)

• One elective may be taken outside of the department.
• Students pursuing the thesis option take ENGL 615: Thesis Guidance (6 hours), which takes the place of two electives. 

C. Culminating Project or Thesis Option

• Students must declare whether they intend to pursue the culminating project or thesis option during spring advising of their first year.
• Students pursuing the thesis option must complete six (6) thesis credit hours (ENGL 615); these take the place of two (2) electives.
• Creative Writing courses (including 6 hours of thesis guidance) may total no more than 15 credit hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE

GTA students must complete eighteen credits of coursework during year one of the program (Fall and Spring). UofL’s accrediting agency, SACS, requires all instructors of record to have completed eighteen credits successfully before they are able to teach. In year two, each MA GTA teaches two sections of English 101 (Fall) and two sections of English 102 (Spring).

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MA Degree Requirements for Non-GTA Students

Non-GTA students have the same requirements as GTA students except they are not required to take 602 and 604. These credits may be replaced with electives. However, students pursuing a career in education are strongly encouraged to take 602 and 604.

Non-GTA students may take as many courses per semester as they wish, although students are advised to take nine credits or fewer per term. 

CULMINATING PROJECT (CP) OR THESIS OPTION

Non-GTA students must declare whether they intend to pursue the culminating project or thesis option after they have completed eighteen credits of coursework. 

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Culminating Project Option

= 30 hours of coursework and a culminating project

All GTA MA students completing a culminating project (CP) follow the same course of study, although in rare cases some adjustments can be made with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies. 

MA COURSE OF STUDY FOR GTA STUDENTS - CULMINATING PROJECT OPTION

The culminating project is a revision of one of the student's strongest seminar papers or creative writing projects geared toward publication in a refereed scholarly or creative writing venue. Students who select the culminating project option may pursue acritical or creative project. 

The CP has three sequential parts: the prospectus, the project, and the conversation. Some projects require revision following the conversation. For students graduating in Spring, including all GTA students, the prospectus is due on January 30, and the approved final project is due on April 10. Non-GTA students should consult the graduate program calendar for due dates.

THE CULMINATING PROJECT COMMITTEE

Culminating projects (CPs) are completed under the guidance of a single faculty advisor. Students secure their directors. The director has sole authority over approving the finished product.

The Director of Graduate Studies appoints two faculty members from the department’s culminating project committee to serve as readers for the project. Those readers are chosen after the prospectus has been submitted (in late January or early February for GTA students). Readers will read the student prospectus and may provide feedback to the student. Readers will provide feedback on the project itself and participate in the conversation.

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The Critical Culminating Project

The critical culminating project involves substantially revising and re-framing a scholarly paper. The final version should engage with current scholarly and critical conversations relevant to the paper’s topic.  It should be clear how the paper’s argument intervenes in those conversations. The final product should be between 25-30 pages.

Accordingly, the student is expected to undertake new primary and secondary research and to revise the structure, development, and style of the project to make it as nuanced and convincing as possible. Careful re-framing (a substantially new introduction and conclusion) will almost certainly be necessary. The research methods employed, whether overtly stated or implicit, should be appropriate to the argument.

The culminating project also entails careful study of a target journal. The title of the chosen journal and a one-page rationale for this choice should be turned in with the prospectus and then resubmitted with the final project. (It is perfectly acceptable if the target journal changes during the completion of the project. If this is the case, submit a new target-journal rationale with the final project rather than resubmitting the original.)

THE CRITICAL CULMINATING PROJECT PROSPECTUS

The prospectus is generally around five pages, although the adviser may expect a longer document. The prospectus should contain:

1. A cover sheet with the student’s name, the title of the proposed paper, and the director’s name and signature (indicating approval). 
2. A description of the project  (2-3 pages). This account should indicate what the original paper accomplished and should delineate intended revisions. Prospectuses must convey a clear sense of the scholarly conversation that has taken place on this topic and must indicate the planned intervention.
3. A bibliography (1-2 pages) of relevant primary and secondary sources.
4. A journal statement (1 page) identifying the academic journal for which the project is being prepared. Information on the publication itself (such as publication frequency, publication conventions, style, etc.) should be included as well as an articulation of why the work is appropriate for this venue.

Students may request to see a sample prospectus by emailing the Graduate Program Assistant.

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The Creative Culminating Project

Like the critical project, a creative culminating project should consist of a substantial revision of a body of writing. A culminating project in poetry should include 10-15 pages of poetry. Prose projects would entail, as an example, one long short story (25-30 pages) or several shorter pieces.

The project includes researching specific publication venues, becoming familiar with the conventions of submission, and revising work to prepare it for professional review. A poetry project, for example, should entail investigating publication venues for contemporary poetry (which may include a book publisher or a journal/magazine).

THE CREATIVE CULMINATING PROJECT PROSPECTUS

The prospectus is generally around five pages, although the adviser may expect a longer document. It should contain:

1. A cover sheet with the student’s name, the title of the proposed work, and the director’s name and signature (indicating approval).
2. A description of the project (2-3 pages).  This account should indicate what the original work accomplished and should delineate intended revisions. 
3. A publication statement (1 page) explaining  the venue(s) to which the student plans to submit the revised work. Information on the publications themselves should be included (such as publication frequency, publication conventions, style, etc.), as well as an articulation of why the work will be appropriate for the proposed venue(s).
4. A brief sample of the student’s creative writing drawn from the material to be revised (e.g., 2-3 poems, a brief short story, or an excerpt from a longer prose work).

Students may request to see a sample prospectus by emailing the Graduate Program Assistant.

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Culminating Project Conversation and Approval

PROSPECTUS APPROVAL

The prospectus is subject to approval by the project’s director. The project’s director indicates approval by signing the document (physically or digitally). The prospectus must then be submitted to the Graduate Program Assistant by the date indicated on the graduate program calendar (or January 30 for GTA students). 

THE CULMINATING PROJECT CONVERSATION

The CP conversation is scheduled by the student and includes the director and the two departmental readers. It should take place once the CP has been completed and gained the director’s preliminary approval. Further changes may be necessary following the conversation, which the student should negotiate with the director. Please note that all portions of the CP - including the conversation and any revisions that may be required following the conversation - must be submitted by the due date indicated on the graduate program calendar. As a result, students are advised to schedule the conversation in advance of that deadline. 

CULMINATING PROJECT SUBMISSION

The student must provide a copy of the final project, with the director's approval indicated by signature, to the Graduate Program Assistant by the date indicated on the graduate program calendar (or April 10 for GTA students). 

The final version of the submitted CP should include:

1. Cover sheet with the student's name, the project title, and the director's name and signature indicating approval.
2. The project itself.
3. Target journal statement, resubmitted from the prospectus or new. 

CP TIMING FOR NON-GTA STUDENTS

Non-GTA students are encouraged to consult with the DGS and with their faculty advisors about the progress and timing of the CP based on the intended semester of graduation. All due dates can be found on the graduate program calendar.

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Thesis Option

= 24 hours of coursework and 6 hours of thesis guidance (ENGL 615)

All GTA MA students completing a thesis follow the same course of study, although in rare cases some adjustments can be made with approval from the DGS.

MA COURSE OF STUDY FOR GTA STUDENTS - THESIS OPTION

Students who choose this option will write a critical or creative thesis that is an original contribution to the field, shows an awareness of current academic practice, and employs methods appropriate to an extended academic project. Critical theses are typically between 50 and 75 pages; creative theses should be around 35 pages for poetry and 55-60 pages for prose. If a creative thesis mixes genres, approximately 50 pages is appropriate.

The student completes an oral defense of the completed thesis before a committee of three faculty members (the thesis director, another English faculty member, and a faculty member from outside the department).

THESIS COMMITTEE

The committee includes the director, who must be a member of the English department’s faculty; a second faculty member from English; and a faculty member outside of the English department. The student forms the committee in consultation with the director and DGS. 

As soon as the committee is formed, submit a Thesis/Dissertation Advisory Committee form to the Administrative Assistant, who will submit it to the Graduate School. This form should be completed by the time the student's prospectus is approved.

Thesis Prospectus

The prospectus is composed under the supervision of the faculty director. The prospectus must be approved at least three months prior to the final oral examination, or by January 20. All due dates can be found on the graduate program calendar.

PROSPECTUS FOR CRITICAL THESIS

The prospectus for a critical thesis should be no longer than ten pages including bibliography.  It describes a project that can be completed in one year, although most of the writing will be completed in the final semester of the MA program.  The prospectus introduces and describes the topic of investigation and the primary and secondary sources to be used, outlines the major critical goals of the study, and gives a tentative line of argument. The bibliography should list the most relevant primary and secondary material. The final thesis should be between 50-75 pages. 

PROSPECTUS FOR CREATIVE THESIS

The prospectus should consist of two major parts:  (1) a brief essay describing and providing a context for the thesis project and (2) a sample of the student's writing--five or six poems, a short story or play, or an equivalent selection from a longer work of poetry, fiction, or drama. The final thesis should be around 35 pages for poetry, 55-60 pages for prose, or 50 pages for a mixed genre project. 

The essay: The purpose of the essay is to show that the student has a clear working idea for the thesis. Therefore, the essay must provide a tentative plan for the thesis, including some sense of its genre, its structure, and its subject matter or content. The student may wish to emphasize generic, formal, technical, or thematic considerations, but the essay must place the work in the context of contemporary writing. The essay should be from 800 to 1500 words in length.

The sample: The sample should contain some of the student's best writing. The sample need not be a part of the proposed thesis but should demonstrate the student's ability to work in the proposed genre. While the sample may be part of the thesis, at least half of the thesis itself should consist of new work.

PROSPECTUS APPROVAL

The MA thesis prospectus must be approved by the project's director and by the second committee member before it is submitted to the Graduate Administrative Assistant. Approval is indicated by signatures on the cover page of the document itself or via email. 

The prospectus must be approved by January 20, which is early in the semester. Ideally, students who plan to write theses will compose and revise their prospectuses the semester before they intend to graduate.

Once the student’s committee has approved their prospectus, the student should complete a Thesis/Dissertation Advisory Committee form and return the form after all signatures have been obtained. 

If a prospectus does not gain approval, the student should meet with his/her advisor to discuss needed revisions. At the advisor’s discretion, the student may submit a revised prospectus that semester. In such cases, the usual rule (that a thesis prospectus must be submitted 12 weeks prior to the defense) will be waived, although the prospectus must be approved before a completed project can be submitted.

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Thesis Procedures

The student writes the thesis, allowing readers to comment on its progress chapter by chapter. After the advisor and each reader have approved the thesis in its entirety, the advisor and student schedule the final oral examination. Each reader must receive a copy of the thesis at least two weeks before the scheduled oral defense. Also, the student must submit a Thesis/Dissertation Final Oral Examination Schedule form to the Graduate School at least three weeks prior to the defense, or by March 25 for GTA students. All members of the graduate faculty of the University will be invited to attend the defense, but only members of the committee have a voice in approving the project. The thesis may not receive more than one abstention or dissenting vote to pass. 

The defense must be completed at least fourteen days before the end of the semester in which the degree is to be obtained, or by April 15 for GTA students. For a student to pass the defense, all departmental committee members must participate directly, whether in person, by phone, or by video conference. 

The student should email the graduate school at least 2 months prior to the submission deadline to schedule an appointment to have the document’s formatting approved. The thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School in the format required. MA theses must include a 150-word abstract. Format Directions

Any student who is unable to complete the thesis during the final semester of coursework must register for master’s candidacy (MAST 600) each term (including summer) until graduation. In such cases, the student will be responsible for any tuition and/or fees.

THESIS TIMING FOR NON-GTA STUDENTS

Non-GTA students are encouraged to consult with the DGS and with their faculty advisors about the progress and timing of the thesis based on the intended semester of graduation. 

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ENGL 615: THESIS GUIDANCE

All students pursuing the thesis option take six credits of English 615. These credits reflect the time necessary to complete the thesis. GTA students take three credits of 615 in Fall of year two and three in Spring of year two. At the end of Fall, the DGS inputs the grade of “X” for those credits. Once the thesis is completed successfully in Spring, the GPA processes grade change forms. The “X” grade then becomes an “A.” Non-GTA students should consult with the DGS and with their faculty advisors about the timing of the six 615 credits.

YEAR TWO LOAN ADVISORY

MA GTAs must take nine credits in fall and spring of year one and six credits in fall and spring of year two. Note that the amount of federal financial aid (i.e., loans) may be reduced during year two by your lender. Any such reduction in loan amounts will not affect stipend, tuition remission, etc., but only federal loans. Please contact the registrar’s office for more information. 

In August of year two, you will probably get an automatically-generated email from Financial Aid (see below). GTA students do not need to take any action upon receipt of this email.

University of Louisville GTA Policies*

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

The Graduate School prohibits GTAs from holding employment outside of GTA duties, including other work at UofL and outside of UofL. However, the DGS can request a workload waiver from the Graduate School under certain conditions. The DGS can consider requesting a workload waiver if the work directly contributes to the student’s academic growth. For example, the University Writing Center regularly employs PhD GTAs in the Dissertation Writing Retreats, and some GTAs tutor for UofL athletics. When requesting a workload waiver, please clearly articulate how the proposed work contributes to your academic growth. The DGS approves or denies such requests on a case by case basis, and that decision cannot be appealed. Those requests approved by the DGS are then sent to the Graduate School for final approval.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

The Graduate School requires students to maintain residency in the Louisville area. However, the DGS can request waivers for this policy from the Graduate School. When requesting a residency waiver, students should first seek approval from all immediate supervisors (such as the Director of Composition for GTAs teaching in the composition program or the Director of Creative Writing for students serving as the Assistant Director of Creative Writing). Such approval should then be sent to the DGS. The DGS approves or denies such requests on a case by case basis, and that decision cannot be appealed. Those requests approved by the DGS are then sent to the Graduate School for final approval.

*Please note that these policies do not apply to non-GTA students.

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PhD in Rhetoric and Composition Admission

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

A Master's degree, preferably in English, is a prerequisite for admission to the PhD program. Some students earn an MA at UofL before completing the PhD here. Upon completing the MA program, such students then must apply for admission to the PhD program.

DEPARTMENTAL CLASSIFICATION FOR PHD STUDENTS

The English Department has three classifications for PhD students according to how far along they are in the program. These are, in sequential order:

• PhD Conditional Student: this is the status of all new students in the program until completion of the progress interview in December of the second year;
• PhD Student: the status from the progress interview until coursework is completed and Comprehensive Preliminary Examinations have been passed;
• PhD Candidate: the status from the Comprehensive Preliminary Examinations until the dissertation is completed and defended. 

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Ph.D Application Procedures

APPLICATION DEADLINES

January 5: complete application and GTA application due. 

Applications must be complete by the deadline. A complete application includes:

1. Application for Graduate Admission (including fee).
2. Official Transcripts of all undergraduate work and graduate work. (Official transcripts must be sent from previous institutions directly to graduate admissions)
3. Three academic letters of recommendation.  Letters from employers or personal references are not acceptable. Discursive letters are required. 
4. Writing sample (critical writing that demonstrates your investigative and expository skills) of least 15 pages.
5. A written statement no more than one thousand words detailing the applicant’s professional goals in the field of Rhetoric and Composition

See the Graduate Admissions page for more information about how to apply.

GTA APPLICATION

The GTA application should be sent directly to the English Department (by January 5th):

• Email: englgrad@louisville.edu
• Fax: 502.852.4182
• Mail: Graduate Administrative Assistant | Department of English | Humanities Building 315 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY 40292

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Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Only 600-level courses can be applied toward the PhD in Rhetoric and Composition. 

 A.  Required Courses (9 hours total)

• ENGL 602: Teaching College Composition*
• ENGL 620: Introduction to Research in Composing or another course in Research Methods
• GS 799: Doctoral Exam Preparation**

 B.  Additional Requirements (15 hours total)

• Pedagogy and Program Administration (3 hours)
• Rhetoric (3 hours)
• Critical Theory (3 hours): ENGL 691 or ENGL 692
• Literature / SLA Prep (6 hours); students may fulfill this requirement with critical theory, literature, or creative writing; 3 of the 6 credits may be in creative writing (ENGL 606 or 607). Ideally, students will use these credits to prepare for the Secondary Literary Area exam (see below). 

 C. Rhetoric and Composition Electives (9 hours total)

• Three further seminars in Rhetoric and Composition; or two Rhetoric and Composition seminars plus one course taken outside the department.

 D. Dissertation Hours (12 hours total)

• The program requires at least 12 hours of English 690 (dissertation research).

* This is a requirement even for those students who have completed an equivalent course at another institution. The Director of Composition has the sole right to waive this requirement.

** Non-GTA PhD students are not required to be enrolled in GS799 at any point.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

There is no language requirement, although students are strongly encouraged to develop language skills germane to their projects.

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PhD Course of Study

All GTA PhD students follow a similar course of study in the PhD program, although in rare cases some adjustments can be made with approval from the DGS. 

Non-GTA students should consult with the DGS and with their faculty advisors about the progress and timing of coursework based on intended semester of graduation.

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Coursework

Coursework in the doctoral program introduces students to the teaching of writing, current issues and research paradigms in rhetoric and composition, literary studies, critical theory, and cultural studies.

While taking courses, most students complete supervised teaching in the First-Year Composition program; some have an opportunity to teach advanced writing (ENGL 303, 306, or 309) and/or introductory literature courses. As a result, the English Department offers pedagogical development and practical research in the teaching of writing. Upon completing the PhD, students will be able to teach and conduct research on a variety of topics related to rhetoric and composition.

ENGL 690: Dissertation Research 

These credits represent time necessary to plan for and complete the dissertation. These credits are also used so that students are enrolled in nine credits per semester (i.e. full-time status according to the University of Louisville). There are no required outcomes (final papers, exams, etc.) for these credits. The DGS inputs grades of “X” for these credits until the dissertation is defended successfully, at which point the Graduate Program Assistant (GPA) processes grade change forms. The grades then change to “A.”

GS 799: Doctoral Exam Preparation 

This course is taken during Fall of year three, or the semester in which students undertake the Comprehensive Preliminary Examinations. This course—like DOCT 600—provides full-time status, which means that students are considered full-time by the University of Louisville while enrolled. There are no required outcomes (final papers, exams, etc.)  for these credits.

DOCT 600: Doctoral Candidacy

This course, like ENGL 690, represents time necessary to plan for and complete the dissertation. DOCT 600—like GS 799—provides full-time status, which means that students are considered full-time by the University of Louisville while enrolled. There are no required outcomes (final papers, exams, etc.) for these credits.  

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Progress Interview

The department’s Graduate Committee conducts progress interviews on Reading Day (early December) with all second-year PhD students. The DGS will schedule these interviews at the beginning of Fall. The committee’s goals are to get a clear description of the student's academic and professional goals and then provide feedback in order to help students realize those goals. Toward those ends, students are asked to email two documents to the GPA at least one week in advance of the meeting: a one-page, abbreviated CV that details progress on professional development (e.g. courses taught and administrative positions held, conference presentations given, papers submitted for publication, etc.) and a one-page overview of preliminary ideas for a dissertation project and potential committee members as well as preliminary ideas for the Secondary Literary Area exam and potential committee members. Students are welcome to detail several ideas for discussion during the interview. The GPA will then distribute these documents to the Graduate Committee in advance of the interviews.

TIMING OF PROGRESS INTERVIEW FOR NON-GTA STUDENTS

For non-GTA PhD students, the Progress Interview should take place in December once eighteen credits of coursework are completed (or in the December in which students are closest to completing eighteen credits).

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Ph.D. Exams

The structure of the PhD exams reflects the distinct identity of the University of Louisville Rhetoric and Composition program. In addition to defining themselves as specialists within rhetoric and composition, students are also expected to demonstrate a range of skills and knowledges that will enable them to join the wide-ranging conversations of English Studies as a profession.

When students have completed all coursework at the end of year two, they take the Comprehensive Preliminary Examinations, which are conducted each fall (generally in early October). The comprehensives involve two examinations consisting of:

• General Rhetoric and Composition
• Secondary Literary Area (SLA)

SCHEDULING EXAMS FOR GTA STUDENTS

Both exams must be taken the same semester, which is fall of year three. Occasionally, exceptionally well-prepared students may arrange to complete the SLA immediately after coursework is completed in the late spring or early summer, depending upon faculty availability.

SCHEDULING EXAMS FOR NON-GTA STUDENTS

Non-GTA Ph.D. students will take the oral exam the semester after they finish coursework at a time to be arranged with the General Exams Committee.

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General Rhetoric and Composition Exam

The goal for the general exam is for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the historical and contemporary conversations that define the field and to position themselves within these conversations. Toward these ends, the General Exam has two components: an essay and an oral examination. The essay will be due by September 1^st to the Graduate Program Assistant. The oral examinations will take place in late September or early October and the Exams Committee will schedule those exams in August. Non-GTA Ph.D. students finishing coursework on a different schedule will take the oral exam the semester after they finish coursework at a time to be arranged with the General Exams Committee.

• The student will write a 2500-3000 word essay that offers a historicizing overview of select key issues or concepts and demonstrates their centrality to the field. Please note that the essay and exam are separate; the exam is the oral component, and the essay is not the exam.
• The student will engage in an oral examination with members of the General Exam Committee. During the examination the student will be asked both to discuss in more detail the arguments made in the essay as well as to respond to other questions pertaining to composition pedagogy, rhetoric, literacy studies, and research methods. The exam will last up to 90 minutes, with the intent being that the first hour focus on the discussion of content and the last half-hour provide time for feedback about the exam. The student may bring a copy of their essay to the oral examination.
• The exams will be evaluated by a three-person Exam Committee.
• Two of the three committee members must agree to pass a student for the student to complete the General Exam.

UNSUCCESSFUL GENERAL RHETORIC AND COMPOSITIONG EXAMINATIONS

• If a student fails the initial General Exam, the committee will provide feedback in order to prepare the student to retake the exam. The committee may ask the student for brief, additional pieces of writing before the retake in order to frame the oral exam conversation. The format of the retake will be the same as the first exam (one hour of questions followed by debriefing) and will cover general knowledge in the field, but not identical questions as the initial exam.
• The Exams Committee will schedule the re-take of the General Exam within three months of the initial exam unless an extension is arranged with the DGS. 

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Secondary Literature Area (SLA) Exam

The SLA requires students to articulate a secondary research area in literary studies (including creative writing, critical theory, or cultural studies) that will complement their research in Rhetoric and Composition and enable them to develop competence in a field of study that will help them achieve breadth as scholars and teachers. Ideally, the SLA will build on areas of inquiry students have encountered in graduate-level coursework. To fulfill the SLA requirement, students must:

• Identify a specific area of inquiry within literary studies, creative writing, critical theory, or cultural studies.
• Work with one English department faculty member who specializes in that field and who will advise in the production of the lists and oversee the oral exam. A second English department faculty member will serve on the committee as a second reader. These two readers will approve the lists, conduct the exam, and assess the student’s performance.
• Generate a list of at least twenty (20) book-length texts (shorter individual texts may be combined to produce one book-length text; for example, 4-5 peer-reviewed articles could be considered the equivalent of one book). The list will consist of a mixture of major primary and secondary sources.
• Identify a series of significant scholarly, interpretive, or critical questions central to the chosen field of study.
• Undergo an oral exam based on these lists of texts and questions. Success on the exam will be based on 1) a student’s ability to demonstrate knowledge of the major primary and secondary texts in the chosen field of study; 2) a student’s familiarity with the major theoretical and methodological questions informing the chosen field; and 3) a student’s ability to discuss possible future areas of research or teaching in the chosen field.
• Students must secure two passing votes to pass the exam.

The SLA Exam form can be found here. 

UNSUCCESSFUL SECONDARY LITERATURE AREA EXAMINATIONS

If a student fails the initial SLA Exam, the Committee will schedule the re-take within three months of the initial exam, unless an extension is arranged with the DGS. 

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Multiple Unsuccessful Ph.D. Examinations

The following policies apply to those who fail multiple PhD exams:

• Students may attempt each examination twice.
• Students who either 1) fail a specific exam twice or 2) fail the entire PhD examination sequence twice must withdraw from graduate school and may apply for re-admission to the program no sooner than six months after the date of withdrawal. There is no guarantee of re-admission.
• A student who fails a set of PhD exams three times or a single comprehensive three times must leave the program permanently.

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Progress After the Examinations

Successful completion of the Comprehensive Preliminary Examinations admits a student to formal candidacy for the doctorate.

Students who fail to make progress after successfully passing comprehensives may be required to re-sit the comprehensive examination:

Graduate School policy is that the candidate must complete all requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy within four calendar years after passing the comprehensive examination. In exceptional cases, the Dean of the Graduate School is empowered to grant limited extensions to this four-year period. Students who wish the Graduate committee to petition the Dean for such an extension must provide evidence that they are keeping up with the field of Rhetoric and Composition and are making substantial progress on the dissertation. After evaluating such evidence, the graduate committee can require the candidate to re-sit the examinations.

If the graduate committee requires the candidate to re-sit an exam, the candidate must pass the exam before the committee will petition the Dean for an extension.

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The Ph.D. Dissertation

The final and most important part of doctoral training is the dissertation, which is a scholarly contribution to the field of Rhetoric and Composition. Students should expect to devote significant time to the design and writing of the dissertation.

COMPOSITION OF THE DISSERTATION COMMITTEE

A doctoral dissertation committee includes the director, two additional members of the English graduate faculty, and a member of the graduate faculty from outside the department of English. Dissertations are directed by a member of the English department graduate faculty who agrees to direct the proposed project. The director is generally at the rank of associate or full professor, although in some cases an assistant professor may serve as a dissertation director. In such cases, assistant professors typically co-direct with senior faculty. It will be up to the dissertation director and the student to put together the student's dissertation committee and to see that all required procedures are followed.

The committee should be composed of at least one member of the English graduate faculty whose scholarly work resides primarily in rhetoric and composition and one whose work does not reside primarily in rhetoric and composition. In special circumstances, students with highly specialized dissertation topics may petition the graduate committee for an exemption from this requirement. 

THE OUTSIDE READER

The outside reader can be chosen from a department outside of English at UofL or from another university (any department, including English). If the student wishes to use an outside reader from another university, the student should request that the faculty member send the DGS a note indicating agreement to serve as outside reader as well as the proposed reader’s most recent CV. The outside reader should have a recognized level of expertise reflected in a robust publication history. The DGS then requests graduate faculty status for the non-UofL reader from the Associate Dean of Graduate Education, who provides final approval. Students should secure an outside reader by fall of year four.

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Dissertation Prospectus

Under the guidance of their dissertation director, the student composes a prospectus. The prospectus must be approved by the members of the dissertation committee during a prospectus defense meeting. The student schedules this meeting. The student is expected to have completed the prospectus defense meeting and have an approved prospectus no later than November 30 of the third year unless granted an extension by the Graduate Committee. Prior to or at the defense, the student should circulate theDissertation Prospectus Approval Sheet and the Committee Appointment Form, secure signatures indicating approval, and return the signed sheet to the Administrative Assistant after the defense. 

The prospectus communicates the student’s desire to write a dissertation on a given topic and demonstrates that this topic will be an important contribution to the field. The prospectus should be 7,500-9,000 words plus bibliography. Like any proposal, a prospectus is a persuasive document.

The prospectus should be written as soon as the student has completed the necessary preliminary reading and research. Proposals should not be thought through in isolation, but in collaboration with committee members and colleagues who can help anticipate problems and suggest solutions.

The prospectus may also include additional information that will assist readers in estimating the value and practicality of the topic. Remember that a proposal is an informative and persuasive document: clarity, concision, and thoroughness are crucial.

The prospectus is not simply a formality but an essential first step in producing a successful dissertation. That said, the prospectus should not be conceived of as a strict contract—elements may shift as you execute the project. A new prospectus is necessary only if these changes constitute a marked change of topic. If a question arises as to whether a project has changed so dramatically that a new prospectus is required, the Graduate Committee will make the determination, taking into account the assessment of the dissertation director.

The membership of the dissertation committee and an approved prospectus must be on file with the DGS at least three months prior to the dissertation defense.

GOALS OF THE PROSPECTUS

In general, its rhetorical goals are to persuade the reader:

• That the proposed project addresses a significant problem or question. That is, the document gives a clear sense of how this research might matter to the discipline.  What might change as a result of this research? What difference will it make to others working in the field?  In making this case, the student should indicate what has already been published on this issue and should articulate how this project fits with and adds to that existing conversation.
• That the proposed project is feasible. That is, the document demonstrates that the proposed project is well thought-out and can be completed in a timely manner.
• That the student has done adequate critical reading in the scholarship (theory, methods, existing research) to enable the student to engage in the research proposed in the dissertation.

TYPICAL SEGMENTS OF THE PROSPECTUS

The information you will include in order to achieve these goals depends, to some extent, on the nature of the study being proposed. Below is a list of segments commonly found in a prospectus. These can be combined and divided as necessary.

Introduction

• What background information does the reader need in order to understand the proposal? This section orients the reader to the ensuing document.  

Articulation of the problem or topic

• What specific problem(s) or topic(s) will your research treat? What rationale can you offer for this project? Why is this problem or topic significant? Whom will it interest? What areas or questions will you cover and what will you exclude—in other words, what is the scope of the project? 
• This section not only states the problem or topic but also indicates how and why it might matter to the field. In this section you should answer what is commonly called the “so what” question.

Research question(s)

• These should be clearly stated with operational definitions provided as needed. What are the precise goals or objectives of your study? Which specific questions will you attempt to answer? 
• This section gives the reader a clear sense of what your project will achieve.  (It may repeat, in a more concise and/or specific form, material included in previous sections.)

Review of relevant literature (with a bibliography appended)

• What previous research is relevant to your project? How does your project relate to and move beyond what has been done by others? What kinds of gaps or dissonances have you discovered in previous research, and how will your work address them? Which areas of previous research support your work?
• This section locates your project within existing research in your field. The proposal must convince readers that the project is sufficiently connected to established work in the field to be relevant to the discipline and that the project offers sufficient new knowledge to be worth pursuing.

Plan of research for an empirical dissertation

• How do you plan to answer your research questions? 
• This section shows the reader that you have a feasible and well-developed research design. To make this case, you will need to specify the following in some detail (as appropriate):
• Rationale for your methodology (what methodology underlies your research design, and why does it suit your project?
• Study site(s)
• Participants (how you will recruit and select them; what kind of permission you will need to obtain)
• Ethical considerations, such as issues of consent and reciprocity, representation of participants, and your role/position as a researcher
• Data collection methods
• Data analysis methods 
• Budget (if applicable)
• Supporting documents, such as e.g., sample materials, interview or survey protocols, IRB status or plan and timetable for securing IRB approval, information on pilot studies you conducted.
• For more information on the IRB approval process, go to http://louisville.edu/research/humansubjects/. Note that the “principal investigator” for IRB purposes is the dissertation director rather than the student.

Plan of research for a theoretical, critical, or archival dissertation

• How do you plan to answer your research questions? 
• This section shows the reader that you have a feasible and well-developed plan for constructing your dissertation’s argument:
• Which theoretical and/or historical context(s) will you use to pursue those questions?
• What kinds of evidence will you use?
• On which central texts will you draw? 
• For archival projects: Describe the archives and archival materials you plan to access. For more information, see L’Eplattenier, Barbara E. “An Argument for Archival Research Methods: Thinking Beyond Methodology.” College English 72.1 (2009): 67-79.
• Budget (if applicable) 

Outline of chapters

• How will your dissertation be structured?
• This section typically provides an overview of each chapter.

Timeline

• What specific activities do you plan to carry out and how much time will you spend on each? When do you plan to finish each stage? 
• This section demonstrates that you can complete the project in a timely manner.

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Dissertation Procedures

As the student writes the dissertation, they will allow readers to comment on its progress chapter by chapter. Once the student has obtained the dissertation director’s approval to schedule the defense, the student will schedule the defense. The defense must be completed at least fourteen days before the end of the semester in which the degree is to be obtained. A preliminary scheduling form can be found on the English Graduate Program website. Schedule Dissertation

Each reader must receive a final copy of the dissertation at least two weeks before the scheduled oral defense. All members of the graduate faculty of the University will be invited to attend the defense, but only members of the committee have a voice in approving the project. To be passed on this examination, the dissertation may not receive more than one abstention or dissenting vote. All committee members must participate directly in the defense, whether in person, by phone, or digitally.

FORMATTING AND SUBMITTING THE DISSERTATION

The student should email the Graduate School at least two months prior to the submission deadline to schedule an appointment to have the document’s formatting approved. The contact information can be found on the Graduate School's Thesis/Dissertation Information page.

The student must bring a signature sheet with them to the defense. Information on how to format the signature sheet can be found on page 16 of the Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations. 

Finally, in keeping with the deadline announced in the program calendar, the student must submit the dissertation to the Graduate School in the form and format required. Ph.D. dissertations must include a 350-word abstract.

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University of Louisville GTA Policies*

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

The Graduate School prohibits GTAs from holding employment outside of GTA duties, including other work at UofL and outside of UofL. However, the DGS can request a workload waiver from the Graduate School under certain conditions. The DGS can consider requesting a workload waiver if the work directly contributes to the student’s academic growth. For example, the University Writing Center regularly employs PhD GTAs in the Dissertation Writing Retreats, and some PhD GTAs tutor for UofL athletics. When requesting a workload waiver, please clearly articulate how the proposed work contributes to your academic growth. The DGS approves or denies such requests on a case-by-case basis, and that decision can be appealed to the graduate committee. Those requests approved by the DGS are then sent to the Graduate School for final approval.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

The Graduate School requires students to maintain residency in the Louisville area. However, the DGS can request waivers for this policy from the Graduate School. When requesting a residency waiver, students should first seek approval from all immediate supervisors (such as the Director of Composition for GTAs teaching in the composition program or the Director of Creative Writing for students serving as the Assistant Director of Creative Writing). Such approval should then be sent to the DGS. The DGS approves or denies such requests on a case-by-case basis, and that decision can be appealed to the graduate committee. Those requests approved by the DGS are then sent to the Graduate School for final approval.

*Please note that these policies do not apply to non-GTA students.