English (English Education), PhD
Shape the future of literacy teaching through one of the nation's leading doctoral programs. Graduate ready to lead as tenure-track faculty, K-12 curriculum specialists, or researchers in community organizations.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
English, PhD degree description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in English with a concentration in English education prepares you as an educator, leader or researcher to examine the writing and reading practices of secondary students. The program emphasizes critical thinking and inquiry into instructional practices of secondary English language arts teachers and provides training in pedagogy, curricular development and research methodologies. The doctoral curriculum comprises dynamic coursework, mentoring, interdisciplinary learning opportunities and community outreach.
Possible areas for research focus within this program include young adult literature, secondary reading and writing practices, new literacies, English language learning, critical literacy, and secondary English language arts curriculum and instruction development. The program encourages you to pursue coursework in other subdisciplines within the Department of English, such as rhetoric and composition, applied linguistics and literature, and coursework in the ASU Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, such as literacy and educational research methodology.
As a doctoral student, you benefit from the program's links to the Central Arizona Writing Project, which offers opportunities for related coursework, research, community outreach and teacher in-service programs.
Why specialize in English education at ASU?
Within one of the nation's largest and most interdisciplinary English departments at a leading public research university, you can work beside internationally recognized scholars who are shaping English language arts education through research, publishing, editorial leadership and service in national professional organizations. Rather than waiting until graduation to lead in the field, you're apprenticed into the profession from day one, collaborating with faculty on research, developing scholarly publications and conference presentations, completing research and teaching internships, and teaching undergraduate English education methods courses. You also build professional leadership through the Arizona English Teachers Association and community-engaged programs such as the Young Adult Writing Project, ASU's Early Start Humanities Program, and El DÃa de los Niños/El DÃa de los Libros.
Additional details
The Graduate Scholars of English Association is the official organization representing graduate students in the Department of English. The organization offers you opportunities for professional development, interdisciplinary collaboration, networking and community building across the department.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (3 credit hours) Concentration (12 credit hours) Other Requirements (9 credit hours) Internships (6 credit hours) Electives and Research (42 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students should contact their advisor for a list of approved ENG 598 topic options for the Other Requirements section.
ENG 501 Approaches to Research (3)
ENG 506 Methods and Issues in Teaching Language (3)
ENG 507 Methods and Issues in Teaching Composition (3)
ENG 540 Teaching Young Adult Literature (3)
ENG 541 Teaching Texts in Secondary Classrooms (3)
ENG 594 Topic: Central Arizona Writing Project Summer Institute (3)
ENG 606 Advanced Studies in English Education (3)
ENG 525 Teaching Second Language Writing (3)
ENG 556 Theories in Literacy (3)
ENG 594 Topic: Teaching First-year Composition (3)
ENG 598 Special Topics (3)
ENG 606 Advanced Studies in English Education (3)
ENG 655 Disciplinary Discourses (3)
ENG 784 Internship (6)
ENG 799 Dissertation (12)
When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. Students who do not hold a master's degree must take additional elective and research credit hours to reach the 84 credit hours required for this program.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Produce written article-length work of publishable quality.
- Successfully design and conduct original research in the field of English education.
- Write a comprehensive, book-length research study with theory, literature review, methods, analysis and findings based on their own research.
Produce written article-length work of publishable quality.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's and master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with master's degrees in English education and related fields, such as English literature, applied linguistics, education, and rhetoric and composition are considered. A minimum of three years of full-time teaching or volunteer work in secondary English language arts classrooms or in literate-rich settings is required. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The one- to two-page statement should explain the applicant's interest in the program and how the applicant's background and preparation led to the specific career and research goals. Although applicants are not expected to have a definite research topic, the statement should articulate the specific domain or research area the applicant hopes to pursue and possible research questions. Letters of recommendation should be from individuals familiar with the applicant's promise in English education, including one letter from a school principal and two letters from university professors. Applicants applying for funding must also submit a statement of teaching philosophy.
An applicant whose native language is not English and has not graduated from an institution of higher learning in the United States must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applications are not processed without valid proof of English proficiency; official scores must be sent to ASU in order for the application to be processed.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this English education concentration prepares you for
Graduates may have careers as teachers and administrators in the field of language arts and literacy education in secondary schools, as researchers and as instructors of English education at the college level.
This degree is highly respected and sometimes required for positions in state and federal departments of education and with federal education bureaus (i.e., U.S. Bureau of Indian Education) or professional organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English, or the International Literacy Association. Graduates may work as federal or state curriculum specialists and analysts, or as education program designers or interpretive rangers for state parks.
Graduates may also become publishing industry content specialists or acquisitions editors for educational texts working at Scholastic, Pearson or Routledge, or specialize in trade books in young adult and children publishing.
Additional career examples include:
- corporate communications director and professional development director
- curriculum developer
- department chair
- district level research specialist
- dual enrollment teacher
- faculty member at a college or university
- instructional leader
- literacy coach
- middle or high school English teacher
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Department of English
|
RBHL 170
enggrad@asu.edu
480-965-3168
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
