Online PhD in English
The fact that fewer graduates are being hired each year to teach English in universities and colleges is one of the numerous reasons why many people tend to believe that getting a PhD in English is a bad idea.
That is true if your goal is to work in the field of teaching, but if you’re a dynamic individual, a doctorate in English can open up a wide range of job opportunities, including those for copywriters, brand strategists, technical writers, medical writers, and many more.
Unexpectedly, online PhD in English programs can be completed in less time and at a lower cost than traditional PhD programs, which normally take about 6 years to complete.
In this article, you will get to know about the curriculum, the entry requirements, the learning outcomes, the Universities offering PhD in English online programs, and the job opportunities that await you after your graduation.
Online PhD in English
A PhD in English qualification is conferred on research scholars after completing research, thesis, and related coursework in the English language. The Ph.D. in English is a highly selective doctoral program at top-ranked research universities around the world that trains students for the academic profession of literary studies while building knowledge and skills relevant to a wide range of careers.
Earning a PhD in English can take up to 6 years in duration. This depends on the university offering the course. During the duration of the course, the students would be learning different theories in areas like medieval literature, gender studies, written discourse, modern grammar, film criticism, literacy, second-language studies, research, rhetoric, and teaching.
In the course going through the PhD courses PhD students will also need to undertake research. This involves coming up with an original research proposal, analyzing data and ideas, and writing a major paper to defend your findings
After you’ve finished your work, you’ll defend it in front of a panel of faculty members or other experts. If you successfully defend it, you will have earned your PhD.
The main difference between an online PhD in English program and a regular PhD program in the same field is that you will learn through online workshops, online webinars, videos, and lecture notes rather than on a physical campus. You might be able to finish the PhD sooner given that you have the freedom to choose your own study pace.
Additionally online PhD programs are more affordable than conventional programs, and you can work and study simultaneously.
Online PhD in English Curriculum & Coursework
Universities offering PhD in English online have a vast number of courses and depending on your desired specialization and career path you will have the ability to select courses that work best with your professional goals.
There are typically a lot of options for courses, however, some examples include:
- American Literature
- Medieval Literature
- British Literature
- Literary Criticism
- Literacy Studies
- Methods of Teaching English
- General Linguistics
- Research in Applied Linguistics
- Grammar in the English Language
There will also be elective courses to choose from, and if you already have a master’s degree in English, you may have to take fewer classes than someone who does not have that educational background.
Entry Requirements
The English PhD program is highly competitive and faculties are always looking for the best candidates with a strong academic background.
- Satisfactory letters of reference
- Academic transcripts for undergraduate and master’s studies
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Sample of writing in the field
In some cases, non-native speakers are required to submit English proficiency test scores for IELTS or TOEFL. You might also be required to submit GRE scores.
Online PhD in English Learning Outcomes
The PhD in English is a very broad program with many specializations. This curriculum teaches a number of skills that can be applied to excel in different professions, in addition to preparing graduates to become researchers and postsecondary educators.
However, as an English doctoral graduate, you will demonstrate some of the following fundamental abilities:
- In formal writing and oral presentations, students will use disciplinary-specific language, including the right structures, forms, rhetoric, styles, and usage;
- The knowledge of historical traditions in British and American literature shall be demonstrated by the students;
- Students will recognize pressing issues in the study of British, Irish, or American literature and carry out independent research using the best critical techniques and resources.
- Students will demonstrate a grasp of the functions and historical development of the English language, as well as an understanding of how spoken and written language communicates varied cultural experiences.
- Students will exhibit thorough comprehension of foundational works in the study of British, Irish, or American literature.
- Students will show command of secondary texts, such as literary theory, literary criticism, and literary history.
Universities Offering Online PhD in English Programs
- Texas Tech University
- Old Dominion University
- University of Birmingham
- Murray State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- St John’s University
- Texas Woman’s University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University offers a PhD in Technical Communication & Rhetoric that aims at giving the students a broad knowledge of the literature on technical communication and rhetoric, specialized knowledge of some aspect of technical communication or rhetoric as reflected in the dissertation research, and the ability to conduct ongoing independent research using one or more methods.
Students in this program often specialize in one of three areas:
- Technical Communication and User-Centered Design
- Rhetorical Theory and Practice
- Composition, Writing Studies, and Literacy.
The PhD in Technical Communication & Rhetoric (TCR) requires 72 credits, but master’s degree credits may be applied toward these totals. The degree prepares students for various positions in colleges, university writing programs, and the business world.
Texas Tech University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University offers an English Doctoral Program Online that integrates writing, rhetoric, discourse, technology, and textual studies. This online PhD in English is best suited for candidates pursuing a career in academics or for professionals working in an industry that is different from education.
During the program, students will participate in live, regularly scheduled online class meetings and access course materials online from any location
Students in this program often specialize in one of four areas:
- Literary and cultural studies
- Writing, rhetoric, and discourse studies
- Technology and media studies
- A student-designed emphasis
The program requires 48 credit hours, including two summer visits to ODU’s main campus. This satisfies the residency requirements for this degree.
Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham offers a PhD in English Language and Applied Linguistics
There are two distance learning PhD programs in English Language and Applied Linguistics:
- Standard program
- Modular program.
The standard program requires a traditional 80,000-word thesis while the modular program requires three modules: two shorter research papers (Module 1 – 12,000 words, Module 2 – 20,000 words) and a final thesis of 50,000 words (Module 3).
Students identify and refine a thesis topic and research design in consultation with their supervisor and send drafts of the various chapters for comment as they work through the program
This PhD is earned through research and there is no assessed taught component, but students follow online research training modules.
Murray State University
Murray State offers a Doctor of Arts (DA) program in English Pedagogy and Technology that integrates advanced coursework in English content areas with an emphasis on pedagogical theory, reflective practice, and the use of instructional technology to improve the skills of current teachers of English at secondary and post-secondary levels
The program’s courses are available in a variety of formats, including standard, weekend, online, hybrid, and reflective practice. The curriculum can be finished totally online, completely on-campus, or using a flexible mix of both.
Students may choose one of four specializations:
- Teaching English Language
- Teaching English Literacy K-Adult
- Teaching English Literature
- Teaching English Writing
Murray State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Texas A&M University-Commerce
The Texas A&M University-Commerce offers a PhD in English that prepare students for a career in academia after they have worked with renowned faculty within composition and rhetoric, linguistics, or literature.
Students have the ability to choose from two areas of concentration and five specialties while earning their doctorate.
Written Discourse: Theory and Practice
- Composition and Rhetoric
- Linguistics
Critical Literacy
- American Literature
- British Literature
- Children’s Literature
Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
St John’s University
St John’s University offers an Online Ph.D. in Literacy that helps to deepen students’ understanding of literacy instruction. Apart from gaining the ability to support literacy which is the backbone of education from kindergarten through high school graduation, students will also learn to use the latest in social and digital technology to support successful learning outcomes in language arts and writing instruction.
This 42-credit hour program includes research, literacy, and concentration courses that are completed prior to a dissertation project.
Students may choose from one of two specializations:
- Literacy
- TESOL and Bilingual Education
St. John’s University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Texas Woman’s University
The Texas Woman’s University’s PhD program is distinctive for combining rhetoric, writing, and literature. To ensure you have a broad knowledge base and a strong comprehension of your selected sub-field, the coursework comprises a core set of rhetoric subjects, a self-designed area of specialty, and electives
A variety of in-person, online, and hybrid graduate courses are available to them. Candidates for the PhD in Rhetoric may apply for a distance-learning designation that enables them to complete the program entirely online.
Texas Woman’s University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Employment Opportunities for Graduates With PhD in English
A doctorate degree in English can help you gain a variety of skills that matter to employers like teaching, writing, research, analyzing textual meaning, and many others.
Whether you’re a student or have a degree in English, you might be curious about your options and the kinds of jobs your education has prepared you for.
The good news is that English graduates frequently fill positions in the fields of education and law, but they can also work in a wide range of other areas.
| Jobs | Salaries | Estimated Growth Rate |
| Public Relations managers | $125,780 | 8% |
| Writers and Authors | $69,510 | 4% |
| Postsecondary School Teachers | $79,640 | 12% |
| Editors | $63,350 | 5% |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $48,370 | 9% |
| High School Teachers | $61,820 | 5% |
| Fundraising Managers | $100,810 | 8% |
| Technical writers | $78,060 | 6% |
| Archivists | $$50,120 | 12% |
Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics
As recently as 2019, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that the median annual salary in the US for those with English degrees was $51,000, which was higher than the median salary in the US for all jobs ($41,950).
There are alternative career paths you might choose; for instance, you might be able to use your storytelling talents and understanding of story structure to assist businesses in communicating their brand story and message to target audiences. You’ll be a successful brand strategist for corporations as a result.
Your writing abilities can also help you produce efficient content that raises a website’s rankings and improve the tone, voice, and diction of various marketing materials, which can help you land a job as a social media manager for big businesses.
Generally, a PhD in English does not in any way mean you can only work in the education industry but rather it opens a variety of careers all you might need to do is take online courses to enhance your skills in a relevant sector.
Conclusion
Sometimes selecting the right program might be difficult but it becomes easy with the right mindset and the right information and we hope that is what we gave you in this article. A PhD in English online will continue to be relevant as most of the PhDs out there.