PhD in Editorial Studies

Although an MA in Editorial Studies is not a prerequisite for the PhD, relevant advanced study is required. The nature of a student’s previous work may exempt him or her from a course or courses in the MA program. Eight semester courses (32 credits) and a dissertation related to editing are required for the degree. Computer literacy is essential.

Of the eight required courses, four are taken in the institute. Ordinarily, the remaining coursework consists of two directed studies in the institute, and two related courses in another department at the University, all of which must be relevant to the subject of the dissertation. Students are jointly supervised in coursework and the writing of the dissertation, ordinarily by a director at the institute and one or two adjunct professors drawn from, or approved by, the Advisory Committee.

Language Requirement

The co-directors of the Editorial Institute will assess each graduate student’s specific language requirement according to the needs of his or her research.

Degree Completion

Most dissertations will be completed in three years, with four semesters as the minimum. Where the nature of the dissertation requires more than four semesters to complete the PhD, the student should discuss her/his requirement for a fifth or sixth semester with the directors. Students should be aware of the financial aspect to their continuing beyond four semesters.

Qualifying Examinations

A candidate for the PhD is required to take a two-part qualifying examination, normally upon completion of coursework. One part covers editorial skills and textual scholarship and is administered by the directors of the institute. The other part tests a student’s knowledge of the crucial contexts related to the text or subject on which he or she is writing a dissertation, and is administered by the directors of the institute, the relevant members of the Advisory Committee, and, where appropriate, an external examiner.

Dissertation Prospectus

Please refer to the General Requirements for the PhD, as found in the Policies section of this website.

Dissertation and Final Oral Exam

In addition to the General Requirements for the PhD, please note that an external examiner from another university or comparable institution may be among those examining the dissertation.

Courses

The following list reflects the courses offered during the 2009/2010 academic year, the institute’s ninth year of instruction to degree candidates. For further information, please visit the institute’s website at www.bu.edu/editinst, or contact the administrative assistant at editinst@bu.edu or 617-353-6631.

Courses for the MA

• CAS EI 501 The Theory and Practice of Literary Editing
• CAS EI 503 Textual Scholarship
• CAS EI 506 Topics in Textual Scholarship and the History of Western Society
• CAS EI 507 Editing and Publishing
• CAS EI 508 Editing Across the Disciplines
• GRS EI 901/902 Directed Study in Editorial Studies

Courses for the PhD

• GRS EI 701 The Theory and Practice of Literary Editing
• GRS EI 703 Annotation
• GRS EI 704 Editions
• GRS EI 802 Advanced Topics in Editing: Word and Image
• GRS EI 901/902 Directed Study in Editorial Studies