ENGL-PHD - English (PhD)

Students who completed graduate coursework at another institution are encouraged to transfer course units no earlier than the winter quarter of their first year of doctoral study. The Director of Graduate Studies will evaluate the transfer of units on a course-by-course basis. Graduate work accepted for transfer of residency does not automatically exempt a student from having to complete a course requirement for a degree.

IMPORTANT: Obtaining graduate residency transfer credit for graduate-level work does not waive any departmental degree requirements. Transfer credit benefits students by reducing the minimum residency requirement needed for the doctoral degree. In instances where transfer credit is awarded and a Master’s degree en route to a PhD is conferred, the minimum residency requirement for the doctoral program will increase by 45 units. Furthermore, JDP program students may not request graduate residency transfer credit. No transfer units will be awarded for grades and will not count against the 70 required graded units.

The Department of English is committed to providing academic advising that supports graduate students’ scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisors guide students in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.