phd in brown university

Doctoral Programs

Earn your Ph.D. at the School of Public Health.

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Start your journey toward a public health education at Brown University.

Pursuing a Ph.D. at the Brown University School of Public Health is a student-centered training experience, involving active partnerships with faculty mentors and the execution of innovative research . Our doctoral candidates are committed to generating new knowledge and aspire to make significant contributions to teaching and leadership roles that prioritize the well-being of populations. 

Our doctoral programs

Behavioral & social health sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, health services research, brown doctoral candidate receives coveted fellowship with the cdc.

After Joe Silva graduates from Brown’s School of Public Health, he will begin a two year role as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer for the U.S. Government.

Doctoral Program (Ph.D.)

• Graduate Programs

The Physics Ph.D. program provides students with opportunities to perform independent research in some of the most current and dynamic areas of physics. Students develop a solid and broad physics knowledge base in the first year through the core curriculum, departmental colloquia, and training.

Upper-level courses and departmental seminar series subsequently provide more specialized exposure. Armed with the core knowledge, doctoral students join a research group working in an area of particular interest. This research is performed in very close collaboration with one or more faculty whose interests span a wide range of physics fields.

Applicants are expected to have a strong background in physics or closely related subjects at the undergraduate level. All applications are evaluated holistically to assess the applicant's preparation and potential for graduate coursework and independent research, which can be demonstrated in multiple ways.

For the physics track, only the Physics Subject GRE scores are  required (general GRE scores are not required). For the astrophysics track, submission of General and Subject Physics GRE scores is not required.

Three recommendation letters from faculty or others acquainted with the applicant's academic and/or research qualifications are required.

If you have submitted an application and need to make changes or add to the application, do not send the materials to the Physics department. The department is unable to alter or add to your application. Contact the  Graduate School staff  for all changes.  

Ph.D. Program Milestones and Guideposts

• Work toward joining a research group
• Pass 3 courses per semester if a TA or 4 courses per semester if a Fellow with at least 50% B's or better
• Complete 6 core courses (PHYS 2010, 2030, 2040, 2050, 2060, 2140)
• Begin research
• Complete PHYS2010 (or other core courses) if not taken during Year 1
• Complete at least 2 advanced courses
• Pass qualifying exam
• Complete 2nd Year Ethics Training
• Identify prelim committee
• Continue research
• Complete remaining advanced courses
• Pass preliminary exam and advance to candidacy
• Complete thesis research
• Write and defend thesis

Ph.D. Resources

• Ph.D. Program Student Handbook
• Graduate Core Course Listing
• Finding a Research Group
• Comprehensive Exam Information
• Ph.D. Second Year Ethics Training Requirement
• Ph.D. Preliminary Exam Requirements and Guidelines
• Ph.D. Prelim Form
• Physics Department Defense Form
• Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Requirements and Guidelines
• Ph.D. Course Waiver/Permission Form

• American Studies

Ph.D. Program

• Graduate Study

The primary goal of the Ph.D. program in American Studies is to train students to become knowledgeable, engaged, and productive scholars and public humanists.

The Ph.D. program in American Studies is aimed at students interested in careers in college and university teaching, though it also provides excellent training for jobs in cultural or non-profit institutions that require a doctorate.

The Ph.D. program includes:

• Coursework including two required courses
• Preliminary Examinations in three fields
• Teaching as a Teaching Assistant and Teaching Fellow
• Dissertation Proposal
• Dissertation

Most of our Ph.D. students include faculty from outside the department on their preliminary exam committees and on their dissertation committees.

The Graduate Student Handbook lays out in detail the requirements, timelines, and components of the doctoral graduate program in American Studies. It also contains information on departmental and university resources for graduate students.

Download the Handbook

Career Options

We train students for faculty positions, for academic administration, and for jobs in various research, curatorial, and digital humanities positions in universities and in cultural organizations, museums, and other public-facing institutions.

We are committed to comprehensive training with broader career paths in mind, and we have expanded our efforts to train and place students in both “traditional” and “non-traditional” positions. Doing so, we work to help students negotiate the pressures that commitments to family and location can place on their professional lives.

We encourage our doctoral students to consider the bigger picture – personal circumstances, individual professional desires – when preparing for the job market. Our Ph.D. students have done well by being flexible and broadly prepared.

Meet our Ph.D. alumni

PhD Requirements

• Graduate Programs
• Programs Guide

The Ph.D. degree is achieved through an intensive program of coursework and independent research in any one of the following areas: (1)  Chemical and Environmental Engineering, (2)  Electrical and Computer Engineering, (3)  Fluids and Thermal Sciences, (4)  Materials Science, (5)  Mechanics of Solids and Structures  and (6)  Biomedical Engineering. Each Ph.D. student must be affiliated with one of these research groups, and the faculty in that group will play a central role in defining this program and evaluating student progress. 

New Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to arrange meetings with individual faculty members in their groups during their first semester in residence and to select a research advisor shortly thereafter. At that point, the student, with the approval of his or her advisor, shall devise an appropriate program of study ensuring breadth of knowledge as well as depth of knowledge in a major area that supports the planned dissertation research. The normal residence requirement for the Ph.D. degree is the equivalent of three years of full-time study beyond the Bachelor's degree (i.e. 24 tuition units). At least two semesters beyond the Master's degree must be spent exclusively in full-time study at Brown, although most engineering Ph.D. students spend four to five years in residence at Brown.

General Requirements

The specific requirements for the Ph.D. vary between the different groups. However there are some general requirements that cover all Ph.D. candidates.  These can be summarized as:

• Residency Requirement : (University Requirement). The student must complete three years full-time study beyond the bachelor’s degree (i.e. 24 tuition units).  Two semesters beyond the bachelor’s degree must be spent exclusively in full-time study at Brown University.
• Research Thesis : The student must write and present (“defend”) a Ph.D. dissertation.  The thesis must embody the results of original research and significant creative thought and give evidence of high scholarship.  The dissertation and the oral defense must be approved by the faculty advisor, one other member of the engineering faculty, and one additional reader outside the School, or within the School but outside the research group, as appointed by the Director of the Engineering Graduate Programs in consultation with their faculty advisor.
• Course Requirements:  Students in the Ph.D. program typically take a comprehensive series of courses in the area of their expertise, as well as several other courses in mathematics, physics, engineering and other related disciplines. There is also ENGN 2980: “Reading, Research and Design”, which can be taken for course credit. The number and choice of courses is made in close consultation with the student's advisor who must approve the student's choice at the beginning of each semester.  Each research group can define specific courses, which are considered essential for their Ph.D. students.
• Preliminary Examination:   This is a comprehensive examination covering the student’s main area of expertise and  must be taken no later than the sixth semester of graduate study for a student entering with an Sc.B., and no later than the fourth semester of graduate study for students entering with an Sc.M. The exact timing and format of the exam varies between the different research groups.  The details are outlined in the sections below.  The results of the examination are presented to the Graduate Committee, along with the student’s academic record, and the recommendations of both the group representative and the student’s Ph.D. advisor.  The Graduate Committee then decides whether to certify the student as a Candidate for the degree of Ph.D. in Engineering. In the event of a failing grade, the Graduate Committee will decide whether to re-examine the student, require remedial action, or to request their withdrawal from the graduate program.
• Minor Study:  Ph.D. candidates are required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one area outside their main expertise.  As with the preliminary examination, the number of minor areas of study, and the method by which proficiency is demonstrated is defined and administered by each of the research groups.
• Other requirements:  Some of the research groups in the division have additional requirements including research proposals, progress summaries.  These are outlined in the following section.

Specific Requirements

Progress review.

An in-depth faculty review of the student’s progress at the end of the 2nd semester in the program. This report is shared with the student in writing.

Preliminary Examination

Before the end of the 5th semester in residence, the student will prepare and present a proposal for his or her thesis research, consisting of a written document followed by an oral examination of approximately two hours duration presented to a faculty committee of not fewer than three members including the advisor. The document and presentation should describe a plan for original research, including scientific or technological motivation, background on the relevant literature, statement of objectives, preliminary research results, and research plan with description of methods. The document should be submitted to the committee no later than two weeks prior to the oral portion of the exam.  During the presentation, the student will be expected to demonstrate a sound grasp of the fundamental concepts and methodologies of the field, not limited to the specific research proposed. The committee reports to the Engineering Graduate Committee on the outcome of the examination, which covers the document, oral exam, and a review of the student course work and research progress to date.  If the performance is unsatisfactory, the committee will also make on recommendation on whether or not the examination may be repeated after a certain time has elapsed.

The student will, in consultation with their advisor, select one minor area of study satisfied by passing at least two courses forming a cohesive subject, but distinct from the student’s main discipline.  Proficiency is demonstrated by receiving grades of B or higher in the courses constituting the minor.

An oral presentation of approximately 40 minutes duration to a forum of faculty and graduate students summarizing their research progress by the end of October in their 3rd semester (second year in residence). Their academic advisor and at least two other members of the faculty will formally evaluate this presentation and make a recommendation to the Engineering Graduate Committee regarding the student's ability to continue in the Ph.D. program and to undertake doctorate-level research.  Students normally prepare for this examination by completing ENGN 2980, and by conducting independent research during the summer months.

With the approval of their academic advisor, students must choose a Preliminary Examination Committee consisting of four examiners.  These examiners will conduct an oral examination of the student no later than the end of the sixth semester in residence. Two examiners must be in the student's major research area(s).  The two other examiners must be in minor areas outside the student's immediate research area. The Preliminary examination will presume that students are prepared in two minor areas outside the student’s main expertise. 

Minor Areas

Students are prepared in two minor areas outside the student’s main expertise by completing courses in each of the chosen minor areas, in consultation with their advisor.  These areas will be represented by two examiners in their oral preliminary examination.

An in-depth faculty review of the student’s progress at the end of the second semester in the program. This report is shared with the student in writing.

Before the end of the fifth semester in residence, the student should take the  preliminary exam , which establishes Ph.D candidacy. The students should prepare a written document describing a plan for the student’s own Ph.D. research, including scientific or technological motivation, background on the relevant literature, statement of objectives, preliminary research results, and research plan with description of methods. The research proposal should be submitted to the committee who are expected to provide feedback. 

The student should then schedule an oral presentation and defense of the research proposal.  The committee members and any other interested faculty should participate in the presentation and exam.  During the presentation, the student will be expected to demonstrate a sound grasp of the fundamental concepts and methodologies of the field, not limited to the specific research proposed.   The advisor and graduate director will work with the candidate to define which fundamental areas the student should be able to show proficiency in during the oral examination.  The committee reports to the Engineering Graduate Committee on the outcome of the examination, which covers the written proposal, the oral presentation, the oral exam, and a review of the student course work and research progress to date.  

As a guideline, the proposal should be 15-25 pages long (1.5 spacing, not-including cited references), and should be professionally formatted in a manner similar to a research publication.   The document must be submitted to the exam committee at least two weeks prior to oral defense.  For the oral proposal defense, the students should be prepared to present for 30 minutes and the entire exam should last less than two hours. 

The student will, in consultation with their advisor, select one minor area of study satisfied by passing at least two courses forming a cohesive subject, but distinct from the student’s main discipline. 

This portion is the official written portion of the preliminary exam taken in their fourth semester.  This exam consists of two parts to be taken in two three-hour sessions.  In the morning session, the students will be examined on thermodynamics and kinetics (paralleling the course work in ENGN 2410 and ENGN 2420).  In the afternoon session, the students will be examined on mechanical properties and crystallography (paralleling the course work in ENGN 2430 and ENGN 2490).

Students complete the oral portion of their preliminary exam through a presentation of their proposed research in their 5th semester.  In preparation for this presentation, they will be responsible for reading and understanding a number of seminal papers (typically on the order of 10) critical to the completion of their thesis research.  These papers will be chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser and another faculty member chosen by the student and his adviser. During the presentation, the student will be expected to demonstrate understanding of the important scientific and technical issues in his proposed research, as well as an understanding of the relevant issues contained in the assigned papers. 

Each student must show proficiency in two minor areas of study.  Proficiency is demonstrated by receiving grades of B or higher in the courses constituting the minor. Two courses are required to fulfill the minor, of which at least one must be a 200-level course.  The choice of appropriate courses for the minor areas will be determined by the Materials Science graduate student representative.  The sequence ENGN 2010 and ENGN 2020 may be used to fulfill the minor requirement in the area of applied math.

Progress Review  

The progress review is administered during the second semester in residence for students entering with the master's degree and during the third semester in residence for students entering with the bachelor of science degree.  It includes a one-half hour oral presentation of independent work by the student, based either on a project in progress or on completed work, and a review of progress in the academic program of study by the examination committee.  The committee’s recommendation to the Engineering Graduate Committee following this review as to whether or not a student will be allowed to continue will be based on an evaluation of the research presented and achievements in formal course work. Since students enter the graduate program with diverse backgrounds, this Review also should establish whether or not deficiencies exist in a student's preparation and, if so, he or she will be so advised.  The subsequent program can then be planned to correct any deficiencies prior to the taking of the Preliminary Examination. 

In the fifth semester an oral examination of approximately two hours duration is designed to test the student's knowledge of the major field of study as well as knowledge of two minor fields selected by the student and the research advisor. The student is expected to demonstrate a sound grasp of the fundamental concepts and methodologies of the major field, and to demonstrate a proficiency in specific topics in the minor areas.  The examination committee consists of a major area examiner, one examiner in each to the two minor areas, the Graduate Representative, and the student’s research adviser. This committee reports on the outcome of the examination to the Engineering Graduate Committee; if the performance is unsatisfactory, it also makes on recommendation on whether or not the examination may be repeated after a certain time has elapsed. 

The Preliminary Examination will presume that the student has a level of knowledge in each of two minor areas corresponding to successful completion of two graduate courses in each of the minor subjects. Possible minor subjects include applied mathematics, materials science, physics, biology, geology or another discipline in engineering or science. If applied mathematics is to be one of the minor areas, two courses beyond ENGN 2010 and ENGN 2020 or equivalents should have been successfully completed. 

Research Group Procedures

Each group administers their respective Ph.D. program and defines the details of coursework, the preliminary exam and other requirements (e.g. progress review). These requirements, along with the details of each group’s administration of the preliminary examination are outlined in the following sections. 

Milestones for Progress

Department of Modern Culture and Media

Ph.d. program.

The Department of Modern Culture and Media (MCM) is committed to a broad spectrum approach to the study of media and culture.

We study machine-enabled media alongside flesh-based media, media ecologies, elemental media, and media infrastructures. A medium may beany means, mode, or material of making, transporting, transmitting, transforming, producing, preserving, collecting, selecting, or deselecting for sound, image, gesture, affect, text and information broadly conceived. Alongside histories and theories of photography, film, television, print, and digital media, we engage decolonial methods and speculative means for the innovation of livable futures. We are sensitive to entanglements among genres, forms, mediums, and materialities of human and nonhuman. We consider modes of extraction, redaction, abstraction, diffraction, interpellation, and circulation as well as habits, ceremonies, or architectures of access involving a broad range of media practices. Our graduate program is a Ph.D. program aimed at: (1) Preparing students to engage in quality scholarship and teaching in the theory, history, and critical analysis of one or more media, in ways that encompass diverse cultural contexts, practices, and historical periods, within a methodological framework that includes awareness of modern textual, cultural, political, social, and performance theory; (2) Preparing students to seek academic appointments in a market that offers positions to media and culture specialists in media-specific disciplinary units (e.g., Film Studies, Television Studies, Digital Studies); in amalgam fields (Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Visual Studies, Performance Studies); and also in programs with expanded concerns (American Studies, Black Studies, Comparative Literature, English, and foreign language Departments). Plans of study in MCM are individualized, based on the student's own particular areas of interest. Students are encouraged to take courses throughout the University, and many take advantage of courses in the broader Humanities as well as in the Arts, the Sciences and the Social Sciences. Many of our Ph.D. students include faculty from outside the department on their preliminary exam committees and on their dissertation committees.

Coursework and Qualifying Reviews

For students entering the program with a B.A., courses are normally completed in the first three years of the program — six courses are taken in the first year, four in the second year and three in the third year. During this period, the student also fulfills the foreign language requirement. After completion of 8 courses in the second year, there is a qualifying review, and the candidate is awarded an M.A. in Modern Culture and Media.

After completion of all coursework in the third year, the candidate takes a three-hour oral preliminary examination. Passing the preliminary examination authorizes her or him to proceed to the doctoral dissertation, which is written during the fourth and fifth years.

Students entering the program with an M.A. from another institution take courses at the same rate as those entering with a B.A. Such students may apply to accelerate their coursework and, if they receive approval, may take their preliminary examination as early as the end of the fourth semester.

Students entering with an M.A. will have their qualifying review after they have completed 6 courses, which is normally at the end of the second semester.

Teaching is considered a vital part of graduate education in this program. We believe that a variety of pedagogical experiences not only contributes to the candidate's professional qualifications but also to her or his intellectual development. A minimum of two years of teaching is required for the degree, but a doctoral student will normally teach more.

A candidate typically begins holding a teaching assistant position in a large introductory course during the second year in the program and continues teaching in various classroom contexts through the fifth year. We try to provide all senior doctoral candidates with at least one opportunity to teach a small, autonomous class on a subject directly related to their dissertation research.

Brown offers five years of guaranteed support for graduate students, including for international students. First-year students are on fellowship. Students in their second and third years work as TAs (one course per semester), leading a discussion section of a large lecture. Students in their fourth year design and teach their own section of MCM 0900 “Undergraduate Seminars in Modern Culture and Media.” Students in their fifth year usually are supported through a combination of TA-ships (again, one course per semester) and university fellowships.

Job Placements

Most, if not all, of our students in the Ph.D. program go on to work in academia, in positions as professors, teaching and doing research. This does not mean it would be impossible to go into some other profession -- curating or working for a non-profit agency, for instance; however, we train students for work in academia.

An annual collection of data pertaining to the employment of Ph.D. alumni one, five, and ten years after graduating. Read more .

5th Year Master’s Degree

MCM concentrators may continue working towards their master’s degree at Brown after completing the bachelor’s degree.

Department of Economics

The Ph.D. program in Economics at Brown trains students in economic theory and the tools of economic analysis. Through coursework, participation in seminars, and supervised research students are taught to conduct theoretical and empirical research at the highest level.

The Economics Department will be accepting applications to its PhD program for Fall 2024.  Applications are due by January 1, 2024. Application information is available at  https://www.brown.edu/graduateprograms/economics-phd  . 

FAQ: If you have questions about the program or the admissions process please consult our list of frequently asked questions  . If your questions are not answered there please contact  [email protected] . 

Requirements

The Ph.D. degree usually requires two years of course work, followed by supervised research and the completion of a doctoral dissertation.

The first year involves core courses in:

• Microeconomics (Economics 2050, 2060)
• Macroeconomics (Economics 2070, 2080)
• Econometrics (Economics 2030, 2040)
• One in mathematics (Economics 2010)
• One in applied economics analysis (Economics 2020) 

Students will take microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics in their first year and must receive a passing grade in these courses. Starting in the second year, each student chooses two fields of specialization, and takes an oral field exam. Each field comprises two advanced courses within an area. Beyond the fields, the student takes three additional advanced courses, for a total of seven.  Students must receive a B or better in these courses. The rest of pre-dissertation requirements include a poster presentation in late March, a research paper turned in during May of the third year, and successful seminar presentations each year from the fourth year and on.

Handbook of the Graduate Program

The detailed description of all requirements, along with guidelines for the student, can be found in The Handbook of the Graduate Program.

View Handbook

Dissertation

The culmination of the Ph.D. program is the dissertation, which embodies the results of the student's original research. Work on the dissertation usually takes two-three years after completion of course work. Students working on dissertations participate actively in research workshops. After a faculty committee has approved the dissertation, the student takes a final oral examination on the subject of the dissertation.

High Standards

The work in the Ph.D. program is demanding and the standards of performance are high. The Department's reputation for providing superb training has enabled its graduates to compile an excellent placement record. Some of the institutions at which recent graduates have obtained positions include major research universities (Chicago, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Dartmouth, Minnesota, New York University, Penn State, University College London, University of British Columbia, University of Pittsburgh, University of Toronto, University of Virginia), prestigious liberal arts colleges (Wesleyan University and Williams College), government and international agencies (International Monetary Fund, Federal Trade Commission, World Bank, Congressional Budget Office, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, US Census Bureau), and private industrial, consulting, and research firms. Brown graduates have an outstanding record of research accomplishments and publications.

Exceptional Faculty

The Department currently has about 40 tenure track faculty . The faculty includes several Fellows of the Econometric Society, several Sloan Fellows, several Guggenheim Fellows, several recipients of prestigious prizes and awards, the editor of the Journal of Economic Growth, the editor of the Journal of Financial Intermediation, a past editor of the American Economic Review, and several associates and fellows of the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Center for Economic Policy Research. The Department's faculty publishes regularly their research in the top journals of economics and other disciplines, as well as in top field journals (see our "Selected Faculty Publications"). Members of the faculty in the Department have also delivered numerous named, keynote and plenary lectures in main international scientific conferences. The atmosphere in the Department is highly collegial. Interaction among faculty members and graduate students is easy and extensive. The department collaborates with the  Brown Population Studies and Training Center,  which provides support for students doing research in population economics and economic development. Active workshops provide opportunities for faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars to discuss current research. Library and computer facilities are excellent. 

Anthropology

Ph.d. program.

• Graduate Studies

The graduate program in Brown’s anthropology department encourages a diversity of doctoral research agendas in socio-cultural anthropology, anthropological archaeology, and linguistic anthropology.

Our program balances a rigorous curriculum of core classes with more specialized training in advanced courses. Our graduate seminars and independent study courses provide an engaging and rigorous tutorial approach to training. Graduate courses offered this academic year are listed on  Courses@Brown .

Brown’s graduate program is primarily PhD granting; students are not admitted to the department solely to seek a Master’s degree. Doctoral students complete requirements for a Master’s degree during their course of study, as well as additional requirements described below.

Degree Requirements

Generally awarded as part of the overall requirements for a Ph.D.

Four core courses

• ANTH2010: Principles of Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 2020: Methods of Anthropological Research (or equivalent)
• ANTH 2501: Principles of Archaeology
• ANTH 2800: Linguistic Theory and Practice
• Four approved electives
• A Master’s Thesis
• 12 additional elective courses beyond the 8 required for the Master’s Degree (or the fulfillment of equivalent through coursework at another university) 
• Preliminary examinations in three topics
• One year of teaching experience, usually as a teaching assistant
• Approved research proposal for doctoral research
• Foreign language requirement (if required by the candidate’s doctoral committee)
• Dissertation, based on independent field research

More detailed information about the program, including a general outline of the timeline for completing the program, can be found in the  Anthropology Graduate Handbook . 

Specialized Ph.D. Tracks

They choose a topic within Anthropological Demography as one of their preliminary examination topics, participate in the activities of the Working Group in Anthropology and Population, and attend the regular colloquia of the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC). PSTC also has a set of requirements trainees must meet. Special fellowships are available to students in this program.

More information @ PSTC

The program offers specialized courses, funds field-based research, provides fellowships, hosts visiting faculty, and promotes collaborative research initiatives with partner institutions in the global south. The program builds on a core group of faculty internationally renowned for their research and scholarship in the area of development and inequality. Program activities are open to all PhD students at Brown. All trainees and fellows are eligible for summer fieldwork research grants.

More information @ Watson

Medical anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that seeks to understand human experiences of health, illness, and suffering. Medical anthropologists study topics such as global health, local health systems, indigenous medicine, violence and trauma, disability and the body, gender and sexuality, biotechnology, bioethics, and social suffering. Brown’s PhD program offers an array of opportunities for students seeking specialized training in medical anthropology. Brown’s anthropology faculty are actively engaged in researching a wide variety of topics within the subfield of medical anthropology, including HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, mental illness, reproductive health, gender and sexuality, violence and trauma, biotechnology, language and medicine, anthropology of drugs, and bio-archaeology.

For more information, contact  Professor Daniel J. Smith or  Professor Katherine A. Mason.

Cognitive and Psychological Sciences

Graduate study.

Our graduate programs are highly selective, successfully recruiting and retaining excellent students, competing with the top programs in the world. Our doctoral students go on to be scientists and scholars who contribute to the generation of knowledge in both academic and non-academic settings.

Graduate Program Handbook

About our programs, how to apply, director of graduate studies, william heindel, graduate advisors, fulvio domini, oriel feldmanhall, bertram f. malle.

Department of English

Doctoral program.

• Graduate Studies

Brown's doctoral program in English offers professional training in literary criticism, critical theory, intellectual history, and all aspects of research and pedagogy in the humanities.

We promote the analysis of imaginative forms, cultural logics, and literary and visual rhetorics across the Anglophone world.  Our students are encouraged to think outside traditional conceptions of the discipline of literary studies, and often work with a diverse range of faculty, departments, and centers at Brown. Partner units include the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, the Pembroke Center, the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, the Center for Contemporary South Asia, the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America, the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, and the Departments of Modern Culture and Media, Comparative Literature, History, American Studies, Africana Studies, Literary Arts, French Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies, Brazilian and Portuguese Studies, the History of Art and Architecture, and Music.

The first two years of the doctoral program are devoted to course work and the fulfillment of the foreign language requirement. We expect graduate students to take the Qualifying Examination by the end of the third year. Their remaining time in the program is given to the writing of the dissertation. We expect this project to involve research and to demonstrate the potential to become a book or series of articles during the early years of the student’s career as a college or university professor.

Brown’s doctoral program trains graduate students to become teachers as well as researchers. Thus we require that, with some exceptions, our students teach for three years as assistants to members of the English Department faculty and as instructors of sections of ENGL0900 ( formerly ENGL0110 ) Critical Reading and Writing I: The Academic Essay, and ENGL0200 Seminars in Writing, Literatures, and Cultures. This teaching begins in the second year of the program. As part of their course work all students are required to take ENGL2950 Seminar in Pedagogy and Composition Theory. To help develop their teaching skills, we assign students to a variety of teaching positions, from assistant in a large course to instructor of a virtually autonomous workshop. We are convinced that the intellectual relationship between teaching and research is one that stands a college or university teacher in good stead for the duration of his or her career, and we try to establish this relationship early on by assigning graduate students, whenever possible, to teach courses related to their general area of research, and to work with faculty who may serve as appropriate mentors.

Course Requirements

Thirteen courses.

Candidates for the Ph.D. are required to take a minimum of thirteen courses. These courses are typically distributed as follows:

• Six courses in the first year (one of which is the required Proseminar*)
• Five in the second year. ENGL2950 Seminar in Pedagogy and Composition Theory is taken by all students during their second year of graduate studies.
• Two in the third year. The two courses taken in the third year can be independent studies designed to help students prepare for the qualifying exam.

Among the thirteen courses, students must take one in each of the following areas:

• Medieval and Early Modern Literatures and Cultures
• Enlightenment and the Rise of National Literatures and Cultures
• Modern and Contemporary Literatures and Cultures

Graduate students are also required to take one course during their first year of study that focuses on race and empire, which can also satisfy one of the three area requirements listed above.

*First-year graduate students are required to take ENGL2210. This Proseminar aims to familiarize students with contemporary critical debates and stances in the wider discipline, engage with current methodologies, theories, and analytical tensions and address issues of professionalization as they relate to the first years of graduate work.

Foreign Language

Foreign language competence and courses in particular areas of specialization are required.

Ph.D. candidates can satisfy the language requirement by demonstrating an ability to use a foreign language in their scholarly and critical work. The department offers its own language exams. Students may ordinarily choose any language  appropriate to their research interests, but some fields within English and American literature have specific requirements.

Professionalization Seminars

Throughout the year, the Department plans a series of seminars that address a variety of timely academic topics that are meant to enhance the students' professional development , as well as expose them to important elements of an academic career. The seminars are usually led by faculty members, and the topics are determined each year by the Graduate Committee. Students in all years are strongly recommended to attend the professionalization seminars since they are a constitutive part of graduate formation.

Learn about Professional Development

Masters from Another Institution

In their second year at Brown, students who already have an A.M. (or M.A.) in English or graduate credit from another institution may transfer up to one year’s coursework toward the requirements for the Ph.D. at the discretion of the department.

Qualifying Examination

The purpose of the Qualifying Examination is to certify your mastery of the scholarly field in which you have chosen to specialize. It consists of two components:

• Written Component—an essay of approximately 20 pages representing your best scholarly work to date and submitted to your committee by September 15 of your third year, and
• Oral Examination—the oral exam is given by a committee of three faculty members chosen by the candidate; it lasts approximately two hours. The exam is taken by April 15 of the third year. The foreign language requirement must be completed in order to take the exam. See the Graduate Student Handbook for detailed guidelines.

Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial work of criticism and scholarship that makes a contribution to professionally recognized areas of literary study. The dissertation process begins when the candidate’s proposal and first chapter are approved by a committee in his or her field and accepted by the Director of Graduate Studies. It concludes when the completed dissertation is presented to a committee of three faculty members, including the dissertation director, and successfully defended in discussion with the committee and other interested members of the department.

See Past Dissertation Topics

Financial Assistance

The University offers incoming graduate students six years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, a health services fee, and a health insurance subsidy. Students are supported by a fellowship in the first year. In years two, three, five, and six, students are supported by a teaching assistantship, and in year four by a dissertation fellowship. Financial support is contingent upon students remaining in good standing in the program and making good progress toward the doctoral degree.

Applications & Deadlines

Applications must be submitted electronically via the  Graduate School's website .

• The deadline for applications is  December 15, 2023 .
• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general and subject tests are not required.
• Application materials should not be sent directly to the English Department.

Department of Religious Studies

Doctoral programs (ph.d).

We offer Ph.D. study in four areas: Asian Religious Traditions, Islam, Society and Culture, Religion and Critical Thought, and Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean.

RAM now incorporates our prior Ph.D. programs in Early Christianity, and in Ancient Judaism, as well as various other ancient Mediterranean religions. All applications to study one or more religions of the Ancient Mediterranean should be made to RAM. 

Prospective applicants should also note that it is no longer possible to apply for the track in Religion, Comparison and Culture. Students interested in comparative work across two or more areas (ART, ISC, RCT, and RAM) should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Advisor for these areas before submitting an application.

Asian Religious Traditions (ART)

Islam, society and culture (isc), religion and critical thought (rct), religions of the ancient mediterranean (ram).

Prospective applicants are welcome to direct inquiries to Prof. Kera Street ([email protected] ), Prof. Nancy Khalek, Director of Graduate Studies ( [email protected] ), Nicole Vadnais, Graduate Program Manager ( [email protected] ) and/or any faculty member in the listed areas.

Graduate Advisors

Mark cladis, nancy khalek, leela prasad, jason protass.

Graduate Programs

The Warren Alpert Physician-Scientist M.D./Ph.D. and Advanced Training Program prepares students for careers in translational research, where they can develop discoveries made in the lab into treatments for their patients.

Physician-scientists are uniquely positioned to take insights gleaned from their clinical work into the lab, where they can pursue research questions that will have an impact on their patients’ health. M.D./Ph.D. students typically complete the first two years at the Warren Alpert Medical School, then five years of Ph.D. training, followed by the last two years of medical school.

Students can choose from eight tracks for their Ph.D. training.

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Biology
• Biotechnology
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry
• Therapeutic Sciences
• Neuroscience
• Pathobiology

Application Information

Learn about the application process and requirements on the  Warren Alpert Physician-Scientist MD/PhD and Advanced Training Program website .

Contact and Location

The warren alpert medical school of brown university, mailing address.

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Program Specialist, Online Graduate Programs

• Program Administration & Academic Operations
• Data Management
• Admissions & Marketing
• Staff Management
• Bachelor's Degree and at least 3 years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and time management skills with demonstrated ability to work and make decisions independently, take initiative and manage multiple tasks, anticipate needs, set priorities, solve problems, and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and positively interact with diverse populations including students, faculty, staff and external constituents
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and to effectively manage a project
• Excellent interpersonal as well as verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage direct reports
• Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
• High level of computing proficiency with interest in developing new proficiencies; skilled working knowledge of computer technology and Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite software
• Ability to work a flexible schedule as required, including possible occasional evenings/weekends for meetings or events
• Prior experience in academic administration and/or program operations/management, preferably within a higher education institution.
• Experience with Slate, Banner, and/or other student CRM/SIS systems and databases.
• Experience with learning management systems and other educational technologies.
• Knowledge of accreditation processes and standards.
• Understanding of program development.
• Prior experience in online graduate education environments.

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News from Brown

Brown welcomes talented group of 67 new faculty members.

Representing a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds, the scholars join the Brown community to guide student-centered learning and engage in high-impact research.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.  [Brown University] — As the 2024-25 academic year begins at Brown and more than 3,200 new undergraduate, graduate and medical students arrive on College Hill, the University also welcomes a group of 67 new scholars to the Brown faculty.

Brown’s newest faculty members represent a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, research activities and teaching interests.

“From public health to political science, biostatistics to comparative literature, this new faculty cohort’s varied experiences and areas of expertise reflect Brown’s commitment to fostering a world-class, vibrant academic and research community,” said Brown University Provost Frank Doyle. “The depth of expertise and diversity among our newest scholars not only enrich our intellectual environment but also strengthen our ability to address complex global challenges with innovative and interdisciplinary approaches.”

In addition to professors, associate professors, assistant professors, lecturers and teaching faculty members, this year's group includes a significant increase in the number of research faculty. That change reflects Brown's efforts to increase investments in faculty, staff and students who conduct and support research — articulated in Brown’s  Building on Distinction  strategic plan and its related operational plans  — to position the University to deepen and broaden the positive impact it makes in the world.

The new faculty members will serve across the University’s academic departments, divisions and schools.

"Welcoming new faculty to Brown is one of the most exciting moments of the academic year,” Doyle said. “Their fresh perspectives, innovative research and commitment to excellence will undoubtedly enrich our community and elevate our shared mission. I look forward to seeing how their contributions will shape the future of our University and inspire the next generation of leaders."

The full listing of new faculty, with links for more information about each of them, follows below.

Humanities and Social Sciences

Lanre Akinsiku Assistant Professor of the Practice of Literary Arts

Genevieve Allotey-Pappoe Assistant Professor of Music

Courtney Boen Assistant Professor of Sociology

Christopher Cleveland Assistant Professor of Education and Education Policy

Kwame Dawes Professor of Literary Arts

Stefano Eusepi Professor of Economics

Tyler Franc oni Assistant Professor of Archaeology and the Ancient World and Classics

Simone Gubler Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Political Economy

Jennifer Hadden Associate Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs

Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan Schreiber Family Professor of Economics

Hieyoon Kim Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies

Ivan Kwok Lecturer in Economics

Rebecca Liu Assistant Professor of English

Aparajita Majumdar Assistant Professor of History and Environment and Society

Patrícia Martinho Ferreira Assistant Professor of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies

Maru Pabón Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature

Leela Prasad St. Purandar Das Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies

Christopher Rea Assistant Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs

Jonathan Russell Assistant Professor of Egyptology and Assyriology

Maria Taroutina Assistant Professor of Slavic Studies

Ma rk Tracy Assistant Professor of the Practice of Environment and Society

Han Zhang Assistant Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs

Life and Physical Sciences

Ahsan Ashraf Assistant Professor of the Practice of Data Science

Randall Balestriero Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Carina Curto Pablo J. Salame Goldman Sachs Professor of Computational Neuroscience

Serra Favila Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences

Diana Freed Assistant Professor of Data Science and Computer Science

Christopher Horvat Assistant Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

Aaron Hui Assistant Professor of Physics

Matt LeBlanc Assistant Professor of Physics (Research)

David Levari Lawrence A. Rand and Tiina Smith Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences and Entrepreneurship

Kristina Mallory Lecturer in Applied Mathematics

Julia Marshall Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences  

Akshay Narayan Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Jason Okonofua Associate Professor of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences

Deepti Raghavan Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Youngtak Sohn Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics  

Harini Suresh Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Elizabeth Thompson Assistant Professor of the Practice of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Jamie Trost Lecturer in Cognitive and Psychological Sciences

Biology and Medicine

Chelsie Benca-Bachman Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)

Madeline Benz Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)

Benjamin Berey Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)

Eleanor Caves Assistant Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology

Sarah Dreyer-Oren Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)

Natalie Fenn Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research), Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research)

Bess Frost Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Director of the Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research  

Patrick Green Assistant Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology

Jarrod Petersen Lecturer in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology  

Martin Taylor Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Katherine Tezanos Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (Research)

Wynand Roos Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Research)

Altar Sorkaç Assistant Professor of Neuroscience (Research)

Shobha Vasudevan Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry (Research)

Engineering

Jihun Lee Assistant Professor of Engineering (Research)

Peipei Zhou Assistant Professor of Engineering

Public Health

Sarah Ackley Assistant Professor of Epidemiology 

Jason Buxbaum Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice

Erin Fuse Brown Director of the Health Policy and Law Lab, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice

Fangli Geng Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice

Rebecca Hubbard Carl Kawaja and Wendy Holcombe Professor of Public Health

Alexandria Macmadu Assistant Professor of Epidemiology

Ateev Mehrotra Walter H. Annenberg Professorship, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Chair of Health Services, Policy and Practice

Roslyn Murray Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice

Corwin Zigler Professor of Biostatistics

School of Professional Studies

Ed Barrows Professor of the Practice of Leadership

Baba Prasad Professor of the Practice of Leadership

Related news:

Brown names william a. and ami kuan danoff life sciences laboratories in recognition of generous gift, brown’s newest students, by the numbers, at 261st opening convocation, a magical welcome for brown university’s newest students.

Graduate School

Ph.d. funding.

• Financing & Support

The Graduate School offers incoming doctoral students five years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, health-services fee, and health- and dental-insurance subsidies.

This support — which may take the form of a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, fellowship, or proctorship — helps to defray the cost of tuition, and also provides a stipend to assist with living expenses during the student’s program. 

Doctoral students in the Humanities and Social Sciences are guaranteed six years of support. This support can come from a variety of Brown University resources--including Graduate School funds, departmental funds, and faculty research funds--and/or external funds, as applicable.

Stipends, Fellowships & Assistantships

Graduate students at Brown have a plethora of teaching, fellowship, and assistantship opportunities.

Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9)

All students entering the Graduate School with any form of financial support are required to complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9). Please note: The I-9 cannot be completed without a valid social security number or a receipt proving that a social security number has been applied for.

Learn More About the I-9

Additional Support

In addition to the support available through the University, applicants are urged to compete for national and foundation awards available for graduate study.

Learn about the Incentive Program for Doctoral Students

Funding Guarantee

External funding, internal funding & appointments, doctoral research travel grant, additional resources.

• Insurance Office
• Tax Information for International Students
• Doctoral Funding: Stipend Primer
• Deans’ Faculty Fellows Program
• Initiatives in Doctoral Education and Support at Brown