Graduate Program
Welcome to our Graduate Studies page. Our department, which is housed in one of the most beautiful buildings on our campus, offers graduate programs at both MA and PhD levels. The areas of concentration include language (MA), literature (MA; PhD), literature and environment (MA; PhD), rhetoric and composition (PhD), and writing (MA).
The Department offers of English a wide range of courses on English, American, and global literature; rhetoric and writing; and language. In literature, our faculty are particularly strong in Renaissance and Victorian studies; twentieth-century American, British, and comparative literatures; and theory. In writing and rhetoric, our faculty have expertise in creative writing—fiction , poetry, and non-fiction—and in rhetorical analysis, the history of rhetoric, and research in composition. Our faculty are known for having established the first program of study in the field of literature and environment, with strength particularly in American nature writing and western American literature. In language, our faculty have research strength in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis and can train students in the primary fields within linguistics. Our programs of study all allow for and encourage study and training across the various fields in the department, resulting in a remarkably productive and exciting intellectual atmosphere. A list of our graduate faculty, their degrees, and their research and teaching specialties may be found here: Graduate Faculty.
Graduate students may apply for teaching assistantships, which will allow them the opportunity to learn to teach first-year composition and sophomore-level humanities courses. Doctoral candidates may have the opportunity to teach courses in their fields. Both master’s and doctoral students may apply for funding to support their professional presentations at academic conferences.
Our graduate program has an exceptional placement rate, and our PhD graduates have been appointed to tenure-track positions at schools across the country and abroad. Graduates of our doctoral program are now on the faculty at a wide range of colleges and universities, including Washington State University; Northern Arizona University; Kent State University; University of Michigan, Flint; Texas Christian University; Pittsburg State University; Eastern Michigan University; Western Oregon University; Viterbo University; University of Philadelphia; University of Montana Western; Humbolt State University; Northern Illinois University; University of Tampa, and University of California, Davis. Many MA students have gone on to PhD programs at other top-rated universities. Alumni are also enjoying successful careers in writing, publishing, business, politics, and other fields.
The University of Nevada, Reno, is located less than one hour from the famously beautiful Lake Tahoe area. Other nearby areas of interest include Pyramid Lake, the Black Rock Desert, the Sierra Nevada, and the San Francisco/Bay Area. The Truckee River, parts of which are world class trout waters, flows through the middle of downtown Reno. Reno has many arts-centered organizations, including the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Nevada Museum of Art, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Artown, Sierra Nevada Ballet, Nevada Opera, and Nevada Repertory Company. Reno has its own baseball team, the Reno Aces, and a delicious variety of restaurants from brew pubs, coffee houses, and organic delis to Ethiopian cuisine. And if you ever need to get out of town fast, Reno is served by the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, just minutes from campus.
Graduate Director
Donald Hardy
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Department of English/0098
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno NV 89557-0098
Email
The Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of English is the official advisor of all graduate students until they have selected their advisory committee chairs. The director is also available to advise applicants to our program. To schedule an appointment, contact Alec Ausbrooks at 775-682-6377 or via e-mail.