Program/Course Requirements

Completion requirement

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements and Faculty of Arts requirements, the Department requires:

a) 18 units in English at the 600 or 700 level beyond the Master's.

b) ENGL691 or its equivalent.

c) A demonstrated reading knowledge of a language other than English. Students are encouraged to establish competency in a language that contains a body of texts relevant to their program of study. This requirement can be met in one of the following ways:

A minimum grade of B in 6 units at a senior (300) level in a language course.

Passing the department reading exam, which is set twice a year.

Documentation establishing native proficiency in a language other than English. It is the responsibility of the student to supply evidence of native proficiency or evidence that course work in a language at another university meets the requirement spelled out in this guide. Students who do not meet the requirement upon entry should consult with the Associate Head (Graduate Program) no later than the week before classes begin about the best approach to take.

d) Written and oral Field of Study Examinations.

e) A thesis proposal.

f) A doctoral thesis on approved topic and an oral thesis examination.

Copyediting

While suggestions for editorial changes are a normal part of the collaboration between a student, the supervisory committee and the academic community, having a thesis professionally edited is prohibited by the department.

All students must attend an orientation session.

Students must register for courses by the end of June. Continuing students and new students who are able to do so should consult the course instructors before they register or as soon as they arrive on campus. Final approval to enter a course is given by the Head or Associate Head of the Department.

Students wishing to enroll in English 693, 694, 695, or 698 must submit a portfolio of their own work for evaluation before consent to register will be given. Details of this procedure are available from the Department of English.

Additional Program Information

Completion requirement

Advanced Credit

Application for advanced credit must be made to the Department Head at the time of admission.

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

Students admitted to the Department of English will not be allowed to request the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may choose the CG grade for up to three units in a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will not affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Time Limit

Expected completion time is four years for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Maximum completion time is six years.

Supervisory Assignments, Research Proposal and Required Examinations

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

For the first eight months of the program, students are assigned an interim advisor to give them time to familiarize themselves with faculty members’ research before securing a permanent supervisor.

By March 1 of the first year, each student will submit the name of a proposed supervisor and the proposed thesis research focus to the Graduate Executive Committee for approval.

By September 30 of the second year, the student, in consultation with the supervisor, will submit the names of the proposed supervisory committee, Field of Study, and initial thesis proposal to the Graduate Executive Committee for approval.

Required Examinations

Candidacy

Before formally embarking on the writing of the PhD thesis, all students must pass a Field of Study Written Examination, a Field of Study Oral Examination and pass a Thesis Proposal supervisory committee meeting and review. Details about the examination format and other candidacy requirements are available at: https://arts.ucalgary.ca/english/current-students/graduate/doctoral-candidacy.

Thesis Examination

Scheduling of the Examination
All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s draft thesis document before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee
The Internal Examiner must be external to the home program.

The thesis examination is open to the public.

Financial Assistance

Completion requirement

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Students applying for scholarships are advised to have their applications to the Department by December 15.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in English

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