G-LIT-PHD - Literature - PhD

The PhD. Program in Literature offers qualified students the opportunity to develop individual courses of study—markedly  interdisciplinary and often interdepartmental—, which focus on understanding and appreciating how culture produces experience, value, and meaning. Drawing from disciplines across the humanities, Literature graduate students are trained in modes of interpretation aimed at analyzing and historicizing the social, ethical, and political problems of our time. Our students work comparatively in and across different cultural contexts, diverse geographical and geopolitical locations, and distinct media forms to develop their research projects in several disciplinary areas, amongst which:

• critical and social theory and the history of philosophy

• modern literature and contemporary theories and philosophies of language and literature 

• visual culture, global cinema and film theory, the internet and media studies in the digital age

• political and decolonial theory, Marxism, poststructuralism and postcolonial studies

• psychoanalysis, science studies, cognitive neuroscience, and the history of psychiatry

• comparative race studies in a transnational frame

• feminism, gender, queer and trans theory, and sexuality studies.

 The program offers courses in these areas, both introductory courses (at the 500 level), more specialized seminars (at the 600-800 level), as well as seminars and tutorials in specific research projects or problems (890S and 890T).For additional information, visit literature.duke.edu/graduate.

Dual Degree – JD/PhD in Literature

A JD/PhD in Literature is offered by the department in cooperation with Duke’s Law School. JD/PhD students must apply for admission to Duke’s Law School and the Graduate School and must combine relevant coursework in Literature with full-time work toward a law degree. The Duke University Graduate School and the School of Law are revising the joint degree JD/PhD program. New applications are not being accepted until further notice.

Dual Degree – JD/MA in Literature

A JD/MA degree is offered by the department in cooperation with Duke’s Law School. JD/MA students must apply for admission to Duke’s Law School and must combine relevant coursework in Literature with full-time work toward a law degree. The Duke University Graduate School and the School of Law are revising the joint degree JD/MA and JD/MS degree programs.