The Director of Graduate Studies serves as the advisor for all entering graduate students. However, by the end of your second year, you should identify a faculty advisor who will be able to support you in your chosen field(s) of study. The advisor can be either a senior (tenured) or junior (non-tenured) member of the faculty; however, the advisor must be a member of the faculty of the Department of English. Your advisor will generally become the chair of your Ph.D. Examination committee (see below) and is also a prospective dissertation advisor. When a member of the faculty has agreed to serve as your Advisor, please notify the graduate program coordinator.
It is your responsibility to schedule regular meetings -- usually at least once a semester -- with your advisor in order to discuss your course selection, your teaching, and your progress toward the degree. In addition, your advisor can help you to assemble your advisory committee, which is generally made up of three members of the faculty (or more) who will sit on your Ph.D. Examination. This committee should represent the full range of your interests, and can include members of departments outside of English (though it is unusual to have more than one committee member outside of English). In addition, candidates for certificates in Women’s Studies or Comparative Literature should usually plan to enlist one faculty person affiliated with those programs on the three-person committee. Students should attempt to assemble this committee by the end of their second year at Emory, so as to begin preparation for the Ph.D. Examination. Again, your advisor will play a crucial role in deciding upon the composition of a committee that can help you to pursue your academic interests.
One of the most important skills that a student learns in graduate school is how to solicit and evaluate advice. It is your responsibility to meet regularly with all of the members of the committee, and to seek their guidance on professional matters. Failure to do so can often have unfortunate repercussions during later stages of your graduate career.
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The Graduate Handbook in English
