literature

Anticipating the way in which literary studies are likely to be—or, one might argue, will have to be—configured in the future, Notre Dame’s Ph.D. in Literature program seeks to move across the conventional national categories that undergird the disciplinary divisions within the humanities and social sciences and to serve as a bridge between languages and literary traditions. The Program’s simultaneously rigorous and flexible design allows its students to develop individualized courses of study in consultation with the director and with faculty in their primary field and in related field(s).During their first year of studies in the Ph.D. in Literature Program, students will work closely with the program director to define their primary and secondary fields or areas of interest. This will enable them to choose their courses in a coherent manner so that in the years devoted to coursework they will be able simultaneously to broaden and deepen their knowledge in their main fields of interest.

The Ph.D. in Literature Program is designed as a flexible approach to graduate study in which students combine many approaches to literature in order to transcend traditional boundaries. It seeks to enable and foster trans-national, multilingual, and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of literature. The program is at its core interdisciplinary; students study related fields such as theology, philosophy, and history in addition to multiple national literatures. The aim of the program is to produce scholars capable of working deeply within a national literature while maintaining the greater perspective of trans-national, “world literature”. 

The program requires its students to complete a minimum of 51 credit hours from regular graduate courses. During their first three semesters students are required to take the program’s two basic courses: (a) the course in literary and critical theory and (b) a course in literature that exemplifies transnational and/or interdisciplinary approaches to literary studies. Courses that fulfill the latter requirement will be defined by the program director.

Every student in the PhD in Literature program must be registered for a minimum of nine credits per semester.All students are also required to take two courses in disciplines other than literature, such as philosophy and theology, which enable them to understand the historical disciplines that have shaped the way we talk and think about literature.

Additionally, students are required to fulfill three credits in the area of professional development. In the first year, students will enroll in the course “Learning the Profession” (LTP). Students may opt to take this course on an S/U basis, in which case the credits earned will not count towards the 51 credits of coursework required by the program. The content of this course will include preparation for entering professions in academia and will also discuss other career options. This course will also provide a forum for students entering the job market to practice their job talk and other critical skills.All students in the Ph.D. in Literature Program are expected to be able to read and conduct research in English and at least two other languages. Any of these languages may be defined as the primary language. If the language of the major area of study is English, then near-native competence must be demonstrated in the secondary languages.The Ph.D. Candidacy examination must be successfully completed by no later than the end of the third year—and preferably earlier. It consists of a written and an oral component.The dissertation proposal must also be submitted and approved before the end of the third year of study, at the very latest.

Incoming students begin studies in the fall semester. Students applying to enter in the fall should have complete dossiers on file with Notre Dame’s Office of Graduate Admissions no later thanFebruary 1.

Dossiers should include:

1. Complete and electronically submit the online application form

2. Submit the application fee ($75) by credit card, check, or money order using the payment system associated with the online application. 

3. Transcripts are to be uploaded in the application system.

4. Arrange for three letters of recommendation to be submitted through the online recommendation system associated with the online application.

5. Arrange for submission of official Graduate Record examination (GRE) General Test scores

6. Submit a curriculum vitae/resume through the online application.

7. Submit through the online application. Two writing samples that demonstrate the applicant’s skills in writing, analysis, literary research, and proficiency in foreign language(s):

A) English paper (literary theory or criticism);

B) Foreign language paper demonstrating facility in examining literature in an untranslated text.

8. Submit a Statement of Intent through the online application system
In the Statement of Intent, applicants should describe their areas of interest, the fields they intend to specialize in, foreign language(s) they intend to study, and preferably the faculty they would like to work.

9. International/Non-native English Speakers:

• If you are taking the TOEFL IBT, then the minimum score is a total of 80 points, with a minimum of 23 on the Speaking section.
• If you are taking the IELTS, the minimum score is 7.0

For the 2015–2016 academic year, Notre Dame’s standard stipend for doctoral students is $19,000 on a nine-month basis for humanities and social science students.The University offers a number of select fellowships that provide higher levels of support—up to $37,500/year—and full health care coverage.

All students who are accepted into doctoral programs at Notre Dame will be considered automatically for these fellowships. Selection of Fellows is competitive and based on nominations from the admitting departments:

Premier Fellowships:

• The Richard and Peggy Notebaert Premier Fellowships
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend of $30,000 to $37,500, according to program, on a 12-month basis for up to six years
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost
  • Priority in accessing professional development funds

Presidential Fellowships:

• Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellowships in Science and Engineering
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend of $32,500 on a 12-month basis for up to five years
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

• Clare Boothe Luce Fellowships for Women in Science and Engineering
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend of $32,500 on a 12-month basis for up to five years
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

• University Presidential Fellowships in Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend of $26,000 on a 12-month basis for up to five years
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

• Voll Family Presidential Fellowships in Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend of $26,000 on a 12-month basis for up to five years
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

Exchange Fellowships

• Naughton Fellowships
  • Full tuition to one of four Universities in Ireland
  • Stipend of US$20,000

Special Fellowships:

• Kinesis – Fernández Richards Family Fellowships
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend for doctoral students of $24,000 to $30,000, according to program, on a 12-month basis for up to five years;
  • Stipend for master’s students of $16,000 on a 12-month basis
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

• Gaia Fellowships
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend of $26,000 on a 12-month basis for up to five years
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

• Deans’ Fellowships
  • Full tuition
  • Stipend for incoming doctoral students of $24,000 to $28,000, depending on program, on a 12-month basis for up to five years
  • Stipend for master’s students of $15,000 on a 9-month basis
  • Full coverage of the University’s health insurance premium cost

• Mellon Fellows in Religion
  • Summer stipend support for continuing students only

The Ph.D. in Literature program at Notre Dame would like to announce that for Fall 2016 admissions, we will only be accepting applications in two areas, Spanish and Italian