The Displaced Ph.D. in English

In reaction to the academy's heavy use of adjunct professors, Dr. Joseph Sora argues that the Arts & Sciences doctoral cohort faces a genuine crisis. English Ph.D. holders, in particular, face a tricky job-market where the perils of failing to land a tenure-track position are year-to-year contracts and piecemeal work. Insecurity, poor pay, no benefits. In answer to these long-standing issues, Sora proposes that graduate English programs pay a renewed focus to the master's degree--a strong and diverse degree that really warrants more attention in light of the problems facing Ph.D. programs. Master's programs have a much better chance of succeeding where doctoral programs have failed. Master's programs can be something other than stepping stone to Ph.D. programs--they can connect their students to gainful employment and a more secure future. In this book, Sora discusses the history of the Ph.D. in English, placing it in the context of today's challenges and offers a curricular template universities and colleges might consider as a source for changes to their own graduate English departments.