Requirements
Foreign Language
Before taking the general doctoral examination, the PhD student must demonstrate reading proficiency in two foreign languages or advanced proficiency in one. Students may satisfy this requirement in French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, Spanish, or any other language approved by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. One language may be waived for students whose first language is not English, provided that native language is one in which there are primary or secondary materials related to the study of English. Students who have demonstrated language proficiency at another university within five years of admission to Auburn’s graduate program can usually apply that work toward our requirement. The reading proficiency requirement may be met by passing a non-credit reading course, by passing a translation exam, or by having earned at least a B in literature courses taught in a foreign language; advanced proficiency may be demonstrated by earning a B in a graduate level literature course taught in a foreign language or by passing the translation exam without the aid of a dictionary.
Duration of the Program
The Department of English encourages PhD students to satisfy all degree requirements within four years of their initial enrollment as doctoral students. In any case, all PhD students should have passed their writtens and orals and submitted an approved prospectus within that time. By university policy, doctoral students who have been admitted to candidacy after successfully completing the general doctoral examination have four years to complete all remaining degree requirements.
Progress Toward the Degree
In order to ensure that PhD students make reasonable progress toward their degrees, students who have earned an MA when they enter the PhD program may hold a GTA appointment for no more than 5 years. Reappointment each year is contingent upon satisfactory teaching and satisfactory academic standing. Students who complete all degree requirements before the end of this period may not continue to receive an assistantship.
Questions about this program
Last updated March 7, 2005