Looks like it’s the time of the year when prospective doctoral students begin to explore their options. I’ve been receiving email queries from students who are interested in second language writing, and many of them seem to have similar set of questions. Here is some information that might help those who are interested in working with me.
Please note that this information is specific to prospective students who wish to work with me. It should not be generalized to other faculty advisors, programs, or institutions.
Choosing the Right Program
If you haven’t already, please read “Choosing a Ph.D. Program.”
If you are interested in working with me to develop your expertise in second language writing, my suggestion would be to apply to the PhD program in Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies. You can mention my name on the application form and in the statement of purpose.
ASU English Department offers various Ph.D. programs. I suggest studying the Department website thoroughly before contacting anyone with questions. The Ph.D. programs that are most relevant to students interested in second language writing are: a) Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies; and b) Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. If you apply for Linguistics and Applied Linguistics and specify me as a possible faculty mentor, however, your application may be transferred to Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies, which is the program of my primary affiliation. The requirements are flexible enough that you can pursue your interest in either program. I do work with Linguistics and Applied Linguistics students who choose to work with me after being admitted.
At ASU (and at many other institutions in the United States), “English Education” means the teaching of English in K-12 institutions in the state. If you are planning to teach English outside the United States or if your interest is in second language education, this is probably not the most relevant program for you. But if you are interested in studying second language writing in the context of K-12 schools, this may be a good fit, but I would suggest checking with the program director.
For more information, please check the FAQ page.
Contacting Faculty Members
If you have any procedural questions—such as the application procedure, application materials, deadlines—please first check the FAQ page. If you don’t find answers there, you can contact the Program Director.
If you have questions about working with me, please feel free to contact me. I will ask you to share some of your ideas and your work to see if your goals and abilities match my expectations. This is also your chance to see if my mentoring philosophy and goals are appropriate for you.
Sometimes students send generic letters expressing their interests and how their interests align with mine—even though the topic they mention is completely unrelated to my areas of interest or expertise. Sometimes those claims are made without any specific details. (They sound like they have been copied or were generated by AI). If you are going to contact a faculty member, it would be a good idea to read at least a few of their publications and write a genuine letter in your own words.
Admissions
In the United States, admission into the doctoral program does not involve the approval of the thesis/dissertation proposal. Instead, we admit the best candidates and ask them to enhance their depth and breadth of knowledge by taking courses during the first two years. Students will then take a series of exams to demonstrate their qualifications before they submit their dissertation proposal.
Advising
If you do not specify the faculty mentor at the time of application, the program director will serve as your initial academic advisor—until you find your real academic advisor (i.e., your dissertation chair). You can choose your dissertation chair anytime between the beginning of the program to when you have to file your program of study (known as iPOS). If you are interested in working with me, contact me as soon as possible.
Opportunities Related to Second Language Writing
Coursework. ASU is one of the few institutions where you can take more than three graduate courses related to second language writing. They are:
- ENG 525: Teaching Second Language Writing
- ENG 594: Practicum in Teaching Multilingual Composition
- ENG 625: Advanced Studies in Second Language Writing
Teaching Experience. PhD students are usually admitted with a TAship. During the first year, all TAs teach the mainstream first-year writing courses (ENG 101 and 102). Starting in the second year, TAs have an opportunity to take second language sections of the first-year writing courses (ENG 107 and 108).
As part of professional development, new teachers of ENG 107 and 108 will take ENG 525, which provides research insights into the teaching of second language writing, and ENG 594, which focuses on practical classroom issues as you teach ENG 107 and 108.
ENG 625 is a variable title (aka omnibus) course offered under different subtitles. You can take this course multiple times under different subtitles. This course is primarily designed for doctoral students who are interested in conducting research on second language writing, but master’s students who are interested in research are also welcome.
Depending on your expertise and interest, you may have an opportunity to gain some administrative experience as the Assistant or Associate Director of Second Language Writing.
You may also have opportunities to be engaged in special projects, such as being part of the organizing team for the Symposium on Second Language Writing, a premier international conference for teachers and researchers of second language writing from around the world.
You will also have opportunities to collaborate with me or other students who share similar interests. There are plenty of research and writing projects going on all the time.
Conclusion
The information presented here is current as of September 2024. The views expressed here are mine and they do not represent those of program directors, other faculty members, or the institution.
Thank you for your interest in Arizona State University. I wish you the best of luck with your application process.