School of Foreign Languages - The University of Jordan -

Program Specifications

PhD in Literature / Program Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon the successful completion of the Doctorate Program in English Literature the student should be able to:

  1. Analyze the purpose, style, and genre of literary texts, identifying how these elements contribute to achieving specific literary, rhetorical, and aesthetic effects.
  2. Analyze the interrelationship between literary texts and their historical, social, and political contexts, exploring how these factors shape their meaning and reception.
  3. Evaluate the theoretical frameworks and critical methodologies employed in the analysis of literature, rhetoric, and the teaching of reading and writing, assessing their strengths and limitations.
  4. Critique a wide range of literary and rhetorical texts, including influential critical commentary, assessing their contributions to literary discourse and their engagement with broader cultural, social, and political themes.
  5. Critically assess peers' work in fiction or poetry, offering constructive feedback that enhances the quality of the creative or scholarly writing process.
  6. Evaluate literary works through a range of critical and theoretical lenses, formulating well-supported judgments about their significance and implications within the broader literary canon.
  7. Develop academic and pedagogical expertise, fostering the skills necessary for a successful transition into the academic and professional job market, and show respect of cultural diversity, ethics and professional behavior.
  8. Collaborate effectively with peers and scholars, demonstrating professionalism and responsibility in both independent and collective research endeavors.
  9. Synthesize existing literature and research methodologies to generate original hypotheses, culminating in the production of a high-quality term suitable for top-tier academic journals.
  10. Create an individual research specialization, synthesizing primary and secondary texts to develop original insights and form the foundation for a substantial PhD thesis.

The following are the doctorate programs in English Literature referenced in the benchmarking process for developing the learning outcomes:

1.      PhD program in English Literature at Harvard University:

https://gsas.harvard.edu/policy/english

2.      PhD program in English Literature at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik:

https://www.usek.edu.lb/en/department-of-english-language-and-literature/phd-in-english-language-and-literature-2?t=5

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