Graduate Handbook - Course Work
The Ph.D. program requires 54 credits beyond the B.A., with no more than 27 credits earned at the master's level. Students who have completed the M.A. or M.F.A. at another university will receive credit for that degree and are therefore required to complete only the credits necessary for the Ph.D. Fifty percent of the graduate credits required for the Ph.D. must be earned at UWM as a doctoral student.
Doctoral students may not accumulate more than 12 credits of U/G courses and no more than six credits of independent study. Except for Plan D students, no more than 18 credits can be taken outside the department. The credit distribution requirements for each plan appear below. Note that the credit distributions include credits that are earned at the masters level.
Plan A: Literary Studies
- 9 credits in literature courses at 700-level
- 9 credits in theory and methods courses at the 700- or 800-level
- 12 credits in literature seminars (800-level) with at least 3 credits in pre-1800 and 3 credits in post-1800 seminars
- 24 credits electives
- The above credit count includes up to 27 credits from a masters program.
Plan B: Rhetoric and Composition
- 15 credits in 700-level rhetoric or composition courses, 10 credits of which must include the following: English 701 (Teaching Seminar); one course chosen from English 750, 751, or 753 (Rhetoric); and English 755 (Composition Theory).
- 24 credits electives.
- Two terms' demonstrated teaching experience in first-year college composition.
- Minimum of one term's teaching experience in basic, intermediate, or advanced composition.
- Portfolio of teaching materials for at least two composition courses, plus a teaching statement to be submitted and approved by the Graduate Rhetoric and Composition Advisory Committee at least two semesters before the expected graduation date.
- The above credit count includes up to 27 credits from a masters program.
Plan C: Creative Writing
- 6 credits in 715/815 and/or 716-816
- 24 credits in 700 or 800-level literature courses
- 12 credits in creative writing courses at or above the 700 level
- 12 credits electives
- The above credit count includes up to 27 credits from a masters program.
Plan D: English Language and Linguistics
- 12 credits in basic linguistics courses as specified for the Linguistics M.A.
- 9 credits in 700-level linguistics courses
- 12 credits in 800-level linguistics seminars (English 805 or 806)
- 21 credits electives
- The above credit count includes up to 27 credits from a masters program.
Plan E: Modern Studies
- 9 credits in Backgrounds of Modernism, literature, and theories or methods, as described in M.A. requirements
- 12 credits in 800-level seminars in Modern Studies
- 3 one-credit sections of 820 (Center for 21st Century Studies Colloquium course)
- 30 credits electives
- The above credit count includes up to 27 credits from a masters program.
Plan G: Professional Writing
- 15 credits in 700-level courses in professional writing. With the approval of the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Professional Writing, students may take up to 6 credits in a closely related field, such as linguistics or rhetoric. Students may also take up to 9 credits from the courses specified in the M.A. requirements (English 435, 436, 437, or 439) if taken for graduate credit
- 15 credits in 800-level courses in professional writing. With the approval of the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Professional Writing, students may take up to 6 credits in a closely related field, such as linguistics or rhetoric
- 24 credits electives
- The above credit count includes up to 27 credits from a masters program.
