Welcome to the UD English Graduate Program

The Ph.D. in English at University of Delaware is an innovative, interdisciplinary and intellectually rigorous program located in one of the most beautiful and historic spots on campus, Memorial Hall. One of the oldest universities in the United States, University of Delaware is an R1 research institution with a tradition of scholarly excellence.

But it is our students and our faculty that really set us apart. We are proud to have built a community of scholars committed to research that cuts across traditional boundaries in literary studies, to teaching that redefines pedagogy as collaborative and multimodal, and to professional development that asserts the value of our academic work both in and out of the ivory tower. We support our students' pursuits in a variety of academic and professional fields with a strong focus on work in material culture studies, environmental humanities​ and Black cultural studies.  

​Our graduate students work closely with accomplished and prominent scholars in their fields. Faculty provide academic and professional mentorship throughout each student's tenure in the program, on the job market, and beyond. Students collaborate with faculty on public and digital humanities projects like ThingStor and even help design graduate seminars. Students are always working with their colleagues in English, but also across the humanities at UD – partnering with students and faculty in fields such as History and Art History to coordinate symposiums and facilitate working groups. Our graduate students also find many opportunities to research and work with institutions unique to the Delaware area, including the Winterthur Museum & Library, Hagley M​useum and Library, and the Delaware Art Museum.

In addition to the numerous opportunities for pursuing their research interests, our students receive high-quality, scaffolded training in the art of post-secondary teaching. While some programs may have a "sink or swim" model for teacher training, we work hard to ensure our students feel confident and prepared for the college classroom. First-year students shadow master teachers and learn how to tutor one-on-one in the Writing Center. Students also take graduate coursework in pedagogy that goes beyond theory and into practical applications. After the first year, our students are well-prepared to lead their own classrooms. Opportunities to continue developing teaching skills are plentiful at UD, from the support of the Center for Teaching and Learning Assessment to specialized training in online teaching and the teaching of English language learners.

As a Ph.D. student in English at University of Delaware, you not only have access to a myriad of on-campus and local resources such as the Morris Library and Special Collections, but you will also be a quick drive or train ride to major metropolitan and cultural centers. We are conveniently located just 50 minutes south of Philadelphia, an hour and a half east of Washington D.C., and just two hours from New York City. At UD, you're at the center of it all!

The English Department truly values academic freedom, diversity and inclusion, innovation, community, and service – we see it every day in the incredible research and public humanities work of our students and faculty, and we strive to keep building a community of scholars that is​ as intellectually curious and rigorous as it is supportive. We're so happy you stopped by to learn more about our Ph.D. English program – please do take a look around this site for a comprehensive introduction to our program, our students, and our faculty. And, if you're able to visit us in person, we hope you will.