ENGL 8900 is a required course for all English doctoral students. The course prepares doctoral students to write their dissertations. We will focus on the process of structuring and defining the dissertation, using the format of general dissertation fellowships as a model. This model provides an opportunity for class members to formulate the various components of their research problems and methodologies. The class aims to aid you in conceptualizing the dissertation in terms of its importance within the field, your research strategies, and the scholarly conversation you are entering. You will leave this course with a sound dissertation proposal, useful for completing the thesis proposal requirement and applying for dissertation fellowships.

Required textbook: Steven M. Cahn, From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor [paperback]. Columbia University Press 2008. ISBN: 978-0231145336.