University of Arizona

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced coursework, specialised seminars, pedagogical training and sustained dissertation research. Early years focus on core seminars in literary history and theory, research methods, and electives that reflect faculty strengths. Typical areas of study include American and British literature, contemporary fiction and poetry, comparative and world literatures, critical theory, cultural studies, Indigenous and Latinx/Chicanx literatures, environmental and ecocritical studies, rhetoric and composition, and digital humanities.

• Coursework: advanced seminars in period, genre and theoretical approaches; methods courses in archival research and digital scholarship.
• Qualifying/comprehensive examinations: written and/or oral exams that assess breadth and readiness for dissertation research.
• Teaching experience: graduate teaching assistantships and pedagogy workshops to prepare students for undergraduate instruction.
• Research training: opportunities for archival work, fieldwork with regional collections, and training in quantitative and digital methods where relevant.
• Dissertation: an original, publishable doctoral dissertation that makes a sustained scholarly contribution to literary studies or a related interdisciplinary field.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant master’s degree (MA, MFA or equivalent) in English, literature, or a closely related humanities discipline, with a strong academic record. Exceptional applicants with a strong bachelor’s degree and demonstrable research experience may also be considered.

• Academic transcripts: evidence of prior coursework and performance at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Writing sample: a substantial sample of academic writing (commonly 20–30 pages) that demonstrates research ability and critical sophistication; creative applicants may submit both critical and creative samples where appropriate.
• Statement of research interests: a clear description of proposed research areas, engagement with faculty expertise, and reasons for pursuing the doctoral degree.
• References: typically three academic or professional referees who can speak to research and teaching potential.
• Curriculum vitae: including publications, conference presentations and teaching experience where applicable.
• Additional requirements: language proficiency or evidence of ability to engage with non-English sources may be requested for certain specialisms; standardized test requirements (e.g. GRE) vary, so applicants should consult the department’s admissions guidance for current policy.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a range of careers that build on advanced skills in research, critical analysis, writing and teaching. Many move into tenure-track faculty positions in English and related departments, or into postdoctoral fellowships. Others find roles in higher education administration, academic libraries, archives and cultural heritage organisations.

• Publishing and editing (trade and academic presses)
• Digital humanities, data curation and scholarly communication
• Non-profit and cultural organisations, museums and archives
• Government, policy, and public humanities roles involving research and outreach
• Commercial writing, content strategy and communications

Why study at University of Arizona

The Department of English at the University of Arizona offers a broad, research-intensive environment with faculty expertise across traditional and emerging fields of literary study. Students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration with centres and institutes across campus, access to significant library and archival collections, and opportunities in digital scholarship and public-facing research.

Support for doctoral students typically includes mentoring from active scholars, teaching preparation, and funded assistantships that integrate teaching and research experience. Located in Tucson, the university also provides a distinctive regional context for work in Southwestern, Indigenous and borderland literatures, while maintaining strong connections to national and international scholarly networks.