PhD English Language

PhD Doctorate

The Doctor of Philosophy in English Language is a research degree of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts. It creates flexible learning opportunities that equip students with a broad knowledge base in English Studies while leaving room for specialisation and interdisciplinary innovation, and it aligns the postgraduate levels (MA, MPhil, PhD) so that the School of Graduate Studies Step-Up, Step-Down policy can be applied in practice.

Aim of the programme

To produce globally competitive and self-independent researchers in English Language Studies with knowledge and expertise to conduct research with high impact for the development of Ghana, Africa and the world.

Objectives

Critically review and contribute to theoretical discussions in English language studies.
Plan and execute socially responsible research with high impact in addressing problems related to language.
Engage with other researchers in generating knowledge through research collaborations and conference participation.

The programme runs over six semesters. Students entering directly with an MPhil begin in Year 1, while those upgraded from an MPhil programme (Step-Up) begin in Year 2, which is why the structure is expressed as Year 1/2, Year 2/3 and Year 3/4. The first year of study carries eighteen (18) credits a semester: Research and Professional Ethics and Research Synthesis and Meta-analysis in English Studies in the first semester, and Academic Writing for Graduate Students and Guided Study in English Studies in the second, each semester alongside twelve credits of Thesis. The remaining four semesters carry fifteen (15) credits each, made up of Graduate Research Seminars I to IV and the twelve-credit Thesis, which runs from Semester I to Semester VI for a total of seventy-two (72) credits.

Students admitted to the PhD level directly may be required to take additional core or elective courses from the MA/MPhil level if there is a deficiency in their earlier academic record. A PhD student is required to publish at least two papers in recognised peer-reviewed journals, or in edited volumes published by a reputable publisher, before submitting the thesis; a paper submitted and marked 'Under Review' is considered a publication.

Since 2020 the Department has combined online resources with face-to-face interaction in delivering content, and continues to integrate videoconferencing, learning management systems and social media into its modes of delivery.

Background

The PhD (English Language) programme was introduced in the 2011/2012 academic year and has been running in the Department of English since. One development since 2011 is that the School of Graduate Studies introduced a Step-Up, Step-Down policy, under which students admitted into MPhil programmes could upgrade to the PhD level or be downgraded to the MA level depending on their performance in the course work.

Through the PhD programme the Department has produced several PhD graduates for higher education institutions across Ghana. A few limitations have also been recorded: there was apparent duplication and overlapping of courses among the various programme levels, putting pressure on limited human resources and affecting efficiency and effectiveness, and there was no proper linkage between the different postgraduate levels, which made the implementation of the Step-Up, Step-Down policy impractical. This revised programme is designed to address those challenges.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the programme are expected to be employed in the following sectors:

1. Media. 2. Banking. 3. Commercial practices. 4. Educational institutions. 5. Professional secretariat posts.

Requirements for graduation

Course requirements: a Postgraduate Research Student who enrols in the PhD programme is required to pass all courses taken during the course work with Grade C or better, attain a CGPA of 2.5 or better, and pass both the examination of the written thesis and an oral examination based on the thesis in order to graduate.

Credit requirements: a student who progresses to the PhD level is required to complete a minimum credit load of ninety (90) credits, comprising course work and thesis.

Publication: a student who progresses to the PhD level is required to publish at least two papers in recognised peer-reviewed journals, or in edited volumes published by a reputable publisher, to qualify for graduation. A paper submitted and marked 'Under Review' is considered a publication.

Assessment: students are required to complete all assignments, term papers and seminar presentations assigned to them, and must score Grade C or better to pass a course. On completion, the University of Cape Coast awards qualified students the PhD (English Language) based on their academic records.

Apply to this programme

The University of Cape Coast’s general admission requirements apply to every programme in the Department.

Admissions and Entry Requirements

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Course structure

The courses mounted for this programme, by year and semester.

Level 900

First Semester

Code	Course	Type	Credits
ENG911	Language and Literacy	Core	3
ENG912	Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis in English Studies	Core	3
ENG914	Graduate Research Seminar I	Research Component	3
ENG916	Graduate Research Seminar III	Research Component	3
ENG999	Phd Thesis	Research Component	12

Second Semester

Code	Course	Type	Credits
ENG913	Guided Study in English Studies	Core	3
ENG915	Graduate Research Seminar II	Research Component	3
ENG917	Graduate Research Seminar IV	Research Component	3
ENG999	Phd Thesis	Research Component	12
SGS801	Academic Writing For Graduate Students	Mandatory	3