Frequently Asked Questions…
About the Graduate Program in English at Yale University
1)What is the structure of the program? What is the average length of time to the degree?
Your first two years at Yale will be spent completing your course work; you must take twelve classes (unless you are transferring credits from another program). Generally, you spend your third and fourth years working as a teaching fellow, and your fifth year on dissertation fellowship. The average student completes the program in six years (when most students work as PTAIs—see below), though some students are done in five.
2) What about the language requirement?
You must pass departmental reading proficiency (translation) exams in three languages, or two if your reading knowledge enables you to take one semester of a literature class in one of your languages or an advanced translation exam; see the English Department website (http://www.yale.edu/english/graduate-requirements.html) for specifics. Generally, the department recommends that you demonstrate proficiency in two languages by the end of your first year, and a third by the end of your second year. Don’t panic—this is not as intimidating as it may seem. Current students will be happy to explain how they fulfilled this requirement.
3) Is there funding available for language study?
Many students spend their first summer doing some type of language study. The graduate school offers fellowships that cover the tuition for summer language courses.
4) What exactly are the orals?
They are comprehensive, general exams administered at the beginning of your third year (after you have completed your course work and had the summer to study). You are examined (orally, of course!) on five different topics. A minimum of three historical topics ensures that you will cover a broad chronological range, but you can customize your exam with two “optional” topics of your own design. Erica Sayers, our department registrar, can provide you with a samples of some orals topics.
5) What are the teaching requirements and opportunities?
Under ordinary circumstances, you will be a Teaching Fellow for four semesters, in your third and fourth years. In the English department, graduate students act as TFs for one section of a lecture course. The English department also offers graduate students the opportunity to act as Part-Time Acting Instructors (PTAIs). Most PTAIs are students in their sixth year and above who have already TFed for two years and finished their dissertation fellowship year, but students entering their fourth year are also eligible to apply. Graduate students can also propose College Seminars. Complete information about this program and the application process is available at http://www.yale.edu/collegeseminar.
6)What is the dissertation fellowship? What about prize fellowships?
Yale offers Dissertation Fellowships for all humanities students; these may be taken in the fourth, fifth, or sixth years (students in English typically take their fellowship in the fifth year). This is a year for you to write; you receive funding and have no teaching responsibilities. Other Yale dissertation-year fellowships such as the Whiting and the Leylan require a separate application form, due the first of February. These prize fellowships are competitive, and they come with a bit more money and a healthy amount of prestige.
7) What is your Job Placement like?
Some of our graduate students receive attractive job offers in their first year “on the market.” Within three years of beginning the search for an academic position, most of our students receive a tenure track position at a desirable institution. The English Department provides tremendous support to students on the job market. Professor Katie Trumpener currently serves as the Job Placement Officer; additional questions can be directed to her: katie.trumpener@yale.edu.
These are succinct answers to broad questions. If you have additional questions, or want to discuss any of these issues in more depth, please feel free to get in touch with any of our specified “contact” people.