PhD in English in Urbana United States | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The English Department provides graduate programs culminating in Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. We invite dedicated students to advance their knowledge of English, American, and Anglophone linguistics, literary works, and cinematic studies beyond undergraduate education. Our Ph.D. curriculum primarily prepares academic professionals for teaching and research roles in higher education institutions nationwide. The M.A. program serves as foundational preparation for doctoral studies, with the expectation that admitted students will progress to complete their Ph.D. Consequently, we do not maintain a standalone terminal M.A. option. Both graduate degrees can be obtained with a focus on Writing Studies, and Ph.D. candidates in other specializations may pursue this as a secondary concentration. Current master's degree holders must submit a formal application for Ph.D. consideration, as must external applicants with completed master's degrees. Admission is rarely granted to candidates with graduate GPAs below 3.5. Students must select either Literature or Writing Studies as their primary specialization, with the option to additionally pursue the Writing Studies concentration.