The prime objective of a PhD in Humanities and Liberal Arts is to provide advanced education and training in the humanities disciplines. The PhD is interdisciplinary in nature and students are given the necessary tools both for furthering their academic training in general and for becoming skilled in researching the different fields of art, literature and thought. Its aim is to provide training for students who intend to pursue professional careers as teachers and researchers.
Selected majors/areas of research for a PhD in Humanities and Liberal Arts include
Classical Studies
English
French and Francophone Studies
History
Modern languages and Literature
Philosophy
Psychology
Sociology
Women's Studies and Feminist Research
Students in a humanities and liberal arts doctoral program must pass a written and oral qualifying exam and then complete and formally defend a doctoral dissertation based on original research. In general, all humanities and liberal arts PhD programs require that successful candidates for the degree demonstrate:
The ability to conduct independent research at a high level, leading to completion of a dissertation which is defended before a committee of scholars. Because examinations given as part of a PhD curriculum assess expert knowledge, they are created and evaluated by a committee of experts, each of whom holds a PhD degree
Proficiency in the tools necessary to carry out this research, including but not limited to computer skills, bibliographic competence, and reading of one or more foreign languages
Mastery of general and specific subject matter in the field of study before a committee of scholars
Part- and full-time study options, along with various delivery modes - residential programs, distance education programs and online programs - are also available. North American PhD programs in humanities and liberal arts welcome foreign students. However, fluency in spoken and written English is critically important.
