The Doctor of Philosophy degree in English prepares graduate students as scholars and educators in the full range of literary areas, critical theory, cultural studies, and rhetoric and composition. The PhD program is designed as a five-year program for full-time students. Its residency requirement is satisfied by completion of twenty-four semester hours of graduate credit before the qualifying examinations, followed by twenty-four semester hours of dissertation credit. The doctoral program requires competency in one foreign language, demonstrated either by coursework or examination. The doctoral student's course work is developed in consultation with an advisory committee to suit his or her particular needs. By the fourth semester in the program, each student will complete a Program of Study, signed by the student's committee, that outlines the area of focus and research plans.