PhD in Comparative Literature - Second Language Acquisition in Davis United States | University of California Davis

Our PhD candidates receive guidance from an extensive network of core and affiliated faculty in Comparative Literature. These professors maintain joint appointments with departments including East Asian Languages and Cultures, English, French and Italian, German and Russian, Middle East/South Asian Languages, and Religious Studies. The program fosters partnerships with interdisciplinary initiatives in critical theory, digital humanities, science and technology studies, film and media, and performance studies. We provide personalized support to help students develop the academic and professional skills essential for career success. Our program nurtures graduate students as both educators and developing researchers, with an excellent track record of placements both within and beyond academia.

The Designated Emphasis (DE) equips doctoral students with comprehensive theoretical and practical expertise in language acquisition and technology-enhanced language teaching. Students who gain deeper insights into second language learning processes help enhance undergraduate language education. Completing the DE substantially improves graduates' employment opportunities in foreign-language and ESL teaching positions.