The University of California at Berkeley ranked first in "U.S. News & World Report" magazine's 2009 English graduate school ranking. The English department's PhD students must complete 10 required courses in the first two years, covering a broad range of topics in English and American literature from the Medieval period to the 20th century.
Most students work as a Graduate Student Instructor for at least two years. Before taking the qualifying examination for the doctoral degree, candidates must prove proficient skills in two foreign languages or advanced skills in one foreign language.
Recent Berkeley English PhD graduates have earned teaching positions at Hunter College, Miami University in Ohio, the U.S. Naval Academy, Pomona College, the University of Texas, Fordham University and the University of California at Santa Cruz.
University of California at Berkeley Department of English
322 Wheeler Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-642-3467
English.berkeley.edu/
Stanford University tied for second with Yale University in "U.S. News & World Report" magazine's 2009 ranking of English graduate schools. All students admitted to the school's English PhD program earn funding for five years. The department also funds students' language study, research expenses and participation in conferences.
All students must lead two discussion sections of undergraduate courses in the first and fourth years and teach two rhetoric and writing courses in the second year. PhD candidates must be able to read proficiently in two foreign languages.
Stanford University Department of English
450 Serra Mall, Building 460
Stanford, CA 94305
650-723-2635
English.stanford.edu/
Yale University tied for second with Stanford University in "U.S. News & World Report" magazine's 2009 ranking of English graduate schools. The school's English PhD program covers British and American literature as well as contemporary interdisciplinary studies. The English department maintains affiliations with departments and programs in Renaissance and Medieval Studies, American Studies, African-American Studies, Women's and Gender Studies and Comparative Literature.
All English PhD candidates must complete undergraduate teaching requirements. Recent English dissertations have explored topics in Medieval English literature, the realist novel, Anglo-Saxon literature, American poetry and Victorian poetry.
Yale University English Department
63 High St., Room 109
New Haven, CT 06520
203-432-2233
yale.edu/english