Overview
Masters and Ph.D. Programs in English Studies Offer an Impressive Range of Coursework
Graduate students in the English department of Auburn University may earn a Master of Arts, Master of Technical and Professional Communication, or a Ph.D. in English. The department provides a broad range of English studies coursework in American, British, and comparative literatures; literary theories; creative writing; linguistics; rhetoric and composition; and technical and professional communication. Students within the Master of Arts program acquire an extensive knowledge of English studies, including research methods.
Graduates of the M.A. program enter editorial or writing fields, as well as careers in business and teaching. Some graduates continue on for their doctorate in English. The Master of Technical and Professional Communication (MTPC) degree offers theoretical and practical academic experiences. Graduates work in industry, business, and academic settings. They also obtain the foundation to pursue a doctorate in English.
The Ph.D. in English program is designed for graduate students of English studies who aspire to become teachers and scholars at a college or university. The doctorate of English program requires students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the coursework. They must earn 60 hours above the undergraduate degree, with 10 hours of research and dissertation. Those who earn a Ph.D. in English will be experts in the formulation and justification of a specific area of research within the broader English discipline.
English Students at Auburn are Eligible for Valuable Graduate Teaching Assistantships
Any graduate student in the English department is eligible for a graduate teaching assistantship (GTA). These assistantships provide financial support for an individual's graduate studies. By serving as graduate teaching assistants, students receive professional training and develop teaching techniques. Master's students maintain their graduate teaching assistantships for as long as two years; Ph.D. students may have a GTA for five years. In a special, co-teaching program, first-year graduate students work with lead teachers to gain teaching skills. These students also tutor and assist on research projects. Ph.D. students who qualify may teach courses in areas such as business or technical writing, in addition to freshman undergraduate and core courses.
Need-based financial aid for graduate students can be obtained with the assistance of the university's financial aid office. Student Financial Services provides information on financial aid for graduate students, including details on required applications. With the right forms completed, eligible members of graduate programs can be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid for students. Awards and scholarships also provide financial assistance.
Several fellowships are available to first-year applicants, including the Florence Parker Hargis Fellowship and the Mildred Enloe Yates Fellowship. Minority students may be eligible for the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship. Additional merit-based awards are available for students within the graduate programs, including scholarships for those within specific areas.
Advisers Assist Graduates In Assessing Skills for Various Careers in the Humanities
The English department is dedicated to providing its graduates support as they search for careers in the humanities. A placement adviser assists graduates in recognizing positions that coordinate with their skills and training. Students who complete the doctorate program are qualified to secure tenure-eligible, faculty positions at colleges or universities. Though tenured positions are competitive for the recently graduated, non-tenured positions may be alternatives for those who desire the academic setting.
Academic institutions providing jobs for English Ph.D.s will expect that these graduates contribute through exceptional faculty research and instruction. Students in the Ph.D. program develop research interests and teaching philosophies that lead to contributions in their fields. Auburn University is committed to preparing students for success in all facets of their careers in the humanities.
Though the English department's Ph.D. program trains students to be scholars and professors, participants also have the skills to succeed at careers in business, industry, and government. Jobs for English Ph.D.s are positions that utilize advanced writing, communication, and independent research skills. Those seeking jobs for Ph.D.s will have acquired an in-depth knowledge of English studies, as well as a more defined understanding of one of its sub-disciplines. Within this more specific area, the English Ph.D. will have experience in conducting and presenting research programs, a valuable asset for a career in the humanities.
