The Doctor of Philosophy in English prepares students at the most advanced stage in the interpretation and composition of texts. The program emphasizes rigorous critical study in the fields of rhetoric, composition, critical theory, cultural studies, pedagogy, technical writing, and literary studies. Early in the program, each student takes two core courses, one that serves as an introduction to the profession of English Studies, and one that examines theory as it is currently used in English scholarship. Rather than offering separate tracks, the program allows students, in consultation with the Graduate Advisor and the dissertation committee, to design a program of work that best suits their scholarly interests and career goals. The combination of diverse course offerings with the requirement that each student define a focus that reflects their intellectual and career interests provides students with the flexibility to adapt to changes in English Studies. Specifically, the PhD in English prepares students for careers in writing, including professional and technical writing, as well as academic publishing. The Department trains students for college-level teaching in several ways, including graduate courses in the teaching of literature and of composition. Doctoral students in English present papers at scholarly conferences, publish essays in scholarly journals, and participate in other professional activities.