完成硕士学位后被录取的学生必须完成24小时的课程学习。获得文学学士学位的博士课程的学生必须在完成文学硕士课程后18个小时内完成课程。所有博士生必须完成英语510：研究方法，英语506：专业交流，理论与实践，以及英语487：文学与批判理论（或另一门理论课程）。那些在MA工作过程中未完成相当于英语400：作文和写作教学的人必须尽快完成该基础培训。博士课程没有分配要求。博士生除资格考试外，还需完成至少18个学分的学位论文研究。拥有硕士学位的博士生通常在第二年的春季学期参加考试，而获得文学学士学位的博士生则应在第
Students admitted to the PhD after completing an MA must complete 24 hours of coursework. All PhD students must complete English 506: Professional Communication, Theory and Practice, and English 487: Literary and Critical Theory (or another theory course). Those who have not completed the equivalent of English 400: Composition and the Teaching of Writing in the course of MA work must complete that essential training as soon as possible. There are no distribution requirements for doctoral coursework.PhD students complete a minimum of 18 credits of dissertation research in addition to a Qualifying Examination. Doctoral students admitted with prior MA degrees typically take Exams in the spring semester of their second year. Working with an advisory committee, students prepare a list of approximately 75 works in two or three areas of concentration. They also prepare four research questions in these areas, from which the committee will select two for submission after a 72-hour period. (Examination answers to all four questions may be drafted in advance of the 72-hour period between receipt of the assignment of questions and the submission of the completed exam.) The written exam is followed by an oral examination. Both portions of the Qualifying Examination must be passed in order for students to Advance to Candidacy.