Does anyone have advice on applying for a PhD program? Specifically a Literature program. Thanks!?

Question

I'm going to apply for a PhD program in Arabic Literature and would like any advice about applying for this postgraduate degree. What are the schools looking for in applications? What kinds of recommendations should I ask for? Thanks!

Answer 1

First, here are the programs:

Georgetown University - Arabic Language, Literature and Linguistics
University of Chicago - Middle Eastern Studies
Yale - Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Indiana University, Bloomington - Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
University of Virginia - Islamic Studies
Cornell U - Near Eastern Studies
University of Michigan - Near Eastern Studies
Harvard U - Middle Eastern Studies
Princeton - Near Eastern Studies
University of Pennsylvania - Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Your personal statement, writing sample, and letters of recommendation should address:

Level of competency in Arabic
Previous coursework in Arabic literatures
Planned focus in doctoral coursework and possibly in dissertation
Preferred methodologies (feminist, or postmodern, etc.)
and most importantly -

Why are you choosing THIS university's program? Be sure to address this question closely. Familiarize yourself with the faculty of each program, their recent publications, their preferred methodologies, etc.

Admission to PhD programs is first about basic qualifications, but next, it is all about "fit." Admissions committees will not accept a very highly qualified students if that person wants to study something in which current faculty have no interest or expertise, or if that person prefers an interpretive methodology in which current faculty have no interest or expertise.

Finally, your letters of recommendation must come from professors with whom you have already studied IN THIS FIELD.

A professor of Arabic for one letter would be expected. Your other two recommenders should be professors in the general area of Middle or Near Eastern studies, or cognate fields (history, religion, etc.) with specializations in Arabic studies.

Here's how to get a good letter of recommendation:
http://www.yale.edu/iefp/fellowships/other/asking_rec_letters.html

Best wishes to you!

Answer 2

First you must determine which universities have PhD programs in Arabic literature. There are very few of these. I would check the University of Michigan, Univ. of California Berkley, Middlebury College, University of Indiana, University of Wisconsin.

You should also Google the words 'Ph.D. program Arabic Literature'
and 'doctoral program Arabic literature'

There will be more possibilities outside the US than inside the US. If you plan on teaching in the US, you need to make sure that the university you attend has been accredited internationally.

Good luck.

Answer 3

frequently, PhD courses do weigh study experience plenty greater heavily than medical experience, on condition that PhD is basically a study degree (while PsyD is seen a medical degree). opposition to get into PhD courses, particularly those at study universities (whilst in comparison with for-earnings or professional colleges), is incredibly fierce. a typical admit would have stable study experience for the duration of undergrad (e.g., honors thesis, 2-4 years of study assistantships, convention shows, guides) and a super type of times a million-3 years of postgrad experience (e.g., complete-time RA artwork, grasp's thesis). So, you truthfully would desire to get so plenty greater study experience. Do your ultimate to initiate volunteering and/or working in a study lab straightaway. ultimate element to do is to get study experience until you recognize what component to study you incredibly need to pursue contained in the long-term -- then shop on with for PhD courses that have labs in that section. ascertain to choose on APA-authorized courses. good luck!

Answer 4

arabic literature?? and where in the world would u use that? iraq? haha