Doctor of Philosophy in English (English and Film Studies)

Program Requirements

Students in the PhD program must complete a minimum of 18 units in coursework, two proseminars, and a thesis.

Required courses (18 units)

Five 3-unit graduate-level courses.
Up to 2 courses can be taken in another department with permission from the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies.
ENGL 800 or ENGL 801 – PhD Colloquium, taken in the second year of the program.

Seminar requirement

Proseminar A (Please contact the department for more information)
Proseminar B

Thesis

Registration in 900-level THES. Completion and defense of a thesis is required.

Statement of Research Plan

In the first year of their program, students are required to submit a Statement of Research Plan, developed in consultation with their supervisor.

Long Thesis Proposal and Candidacy Exam

Normally at the end of their second year, PhD students are required to submit a Long Thesis Proposal, which forms the basis for the oral candidacy examination. The proposal must be approved by the supervisory committee before the student can proceed to the candidacy exam.

Language Requirement

PhD students must demonstrate basic proficiency in two languages other than English or advanced knowledge of one. Students should consult the Department’s website for further information.

Residence Requirement

The minimum period of residence is two academic years of full-time attendance at the University of Alberta, where an academic year is defined as the eight-month period from September through April.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the PhD will vary with the individual candidate; however, a minimum of two years of study and research is normally required.

The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.