The Program

Graduate students in the SMU English department study with a distinguished faculty of scholars and dedicated teachers in a collegial environment. Following a long-standing SMU tradition, all faculty members regularly teach and actively mentor their students. A low faculty-to-graduate-student ratio also encourages many interactions, both inside and out of the classroom.

Our faculty members are active scholars and researchers publishing books and articles in major national venues that range from scholarly journals and university presses to trade publishing houses and leading national newspapers. Our faculty edit two major journals: , and the , the fourth oldest continuously published literary quarterly in the nation, which has been headquartered at SMU since 1924.

They regularly participate in national and international conferences, ensuring that SMU’s programs reflect the highest scholarship in the field, and serve in leadership roles in several scholarly organizations, including the Modern Language Association, The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS), and The International Network for the Study of the Lyric.

SMU grad students are trained to think and write with clarity and grace so they can assume college and university positions, as well as a range of other nonacademic jobs that benefit from advanced academic preparation.

 

A woman presents in an SMU classroom with her back to the camera.
English Department Staff photo
Panel of speakers seated on stage.
Five women pose and smile for a photo.