PhD English Literature

English Literature studies was the first post-graduate program offered at Kinnaird both at the Masters (1985) and M Phil levels (2007). Having run on competitive grounds in terms of conducting research, the English department now offers a PhD in English Literature. The vision is to produce scholarship that would act as a catalyst of change within the local as well as global contexts. Our PhD in English Literature aims at developing competencies with the objective to reconstruct historical and intellectual scope for all kinds of literatures in English within their generic and chronological frameworks. In 2014, the department helped in establishing the International Center for Pakistani Writing in English (ICPWE) at Kinnaird. The purpose was to expand researchers’ interest in Pakistani creative writing in English. Our academic-research partnership with Arizona State University (2013-2018) and the follow-up research collaborations along professional trainings have enriched our curriculum and pedagogy. In spirit, the Kinnaird PhD program is designed to generate intellectual, intercultural, and global dialogue for promoting literary, theoretical and analytical approaches. The researchers in the field are encouraged to explore and critique sociopolitical axis as a vital variable for growing literary discourses that embed conflict resolution besides sustainable transcultural initiatives. In this context/regard, learners from multiple disciplines, especially social sciences and humanities are encouraged to apply, along with potential candidates interested in the classical to post-modern emerging literary trends such as Pakistani Anglophone literature, South Asian literature, translation studies, border discourses, Afro American narratives, critical theories, eco-critical literatures, feminist narratives, postcolonial texts, cyber fiction, forensic lit., digital forms of humanities and literature, image or screen studies, etc.

Focused Objectives of the PhD Program

Produce innovative, original, high-quality world-class research
Develop institutional and academic research competencies
Develop women scholarship in the humanities and social sciences
Enhance advanced research skills informed by problem-solving strategies
Train into research collaborations and professional publications
Develop global and digital-resource awareness for local and indigenous research
Research into comparative literatures, diverse in nature yet connected

Scope of the Program

Our students have always taken the responsible task to become social catalysts, dynamic leaders, making valuable contributions to many, but the following careers, thereby strengthening humanities and social sciences as dynamic change agencies:

World-class researchers
World-class creative writers in English
Educationists at various levels
Think-tank innovators/ policy makers
CSS/ other competitive civil servants
Writers / concept developers
Research publications / publishing houses
Human rights activists/ legal specialists
Non-fiction narrative and discourse producers
Journalistic and media-based creative writers
Writers as advertisers and concept developers
Researchers and editors at publishing houses
Transnational/ Transcultural academic-linkage facilitators

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the PhD program in English Literature, the applicants must meet the following criteria:

MPhil degree in English Literature or a closely related field from the arts & humanities, from an HEC-accredited institution.
GRE General / HEC HAT General with a minimum score of 60% OR HEC HAT General type test conducted by Kinnaird College with a minimum score of 60%.
Subject-Specific test with a minimum score of 60%.
Successful qualification in the Departmental Admission Interview, which is an integral part of the admission process.
Research capability demonstrated through previous academic work.

Course Structure

PhD Literature include 18 credit hours for teaching course work, and research dissertation. The
students are expected to take two core courses and one optional per semester. The details of the
optional courses given below, conditional to and depending on the availability of the expertise in
the area.

PhD 3 Years Program

Year	Semester	Name of Subject	Credits
First (Course Work)	I	Core I	3
		Core II	3
		Elective I	3
	II	Core III	3
		Core IV	3
		Elective II	3
Coursework Total Credit Hours			18
Second	III	Dissertation	–
Second	IV
Third	V
Third	VI

List of Core Courses (2 in semester I)

Course Title
Research Methodologies
Critical Literary Theory I & II

Students will cover Research Methods and Research methodologies for literary studies; Critical Literary Theory course may have two segments: Critical Literary Theory I (a review of the basics) and Critical Literary Theory II (focusing more on developing a researcher’s dissertation proposal).

Besides, the students will receive orientation in Electronic Resource Management (offering guidance in the use of tools and software) and Research Writing Dynamics (not a classroom course but a liability to attend some specified workshops).

Optional courses, to be taught semester-wise from the offerings, are listed below. These optional courses are important because they raise awareness regarding advanced research into literary texts within global and local perspectives. These courses take the readers beyond the literary text into the contexts for solutions and problem-solving. They are also vital for market-oriented policy making:

Transcultural Studies
Green Literatures
Border Literatures
Postcolonial Literatures
Afro American Narratives (novel, drama, poetry, fiction)
Transnational Theatre Studies
Literatures in Translation
Intercultural Communication
Literature and Contemporary Philosophy
Shakespearean Studies
Women Literatures
Travelogues / Non-fiction Narratives
South Asian Comparative Literatures
Minority Literature
Eco-Critical Studies
Cyber, Screen, and Forensic Literatures

Faculty

Dr. Waseem Anwar

Dr. Waseem Anwar is Professor of English and Director of ICPWE (International Centre for Pakistani Writing in English, https://www.kinnaird.edu.pk/icpwe/) at Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore. He has served at FCC and GC universities in the capacity of Dean (Humanities) and Chair (English).

Recipient of the Fulbright award twice, for doctoral studies in 1995 and as Visiting Scholar in 2007, Dr. Anwar served as the President of the Pak-US Alumni Network (PUAN) and Fulbright Alumni Association. A Gale Group American Scholar, he also received the Punjab Education Department “Salam Teacher Award – 2004” and Pakistan Higher Education Commission “Best Teacher Award – 2003.”

He is a Lifetime Member of the South Asian Literary Association (SALA), USA, and has been on its Executive Committee three times. Apart from being on the Advisory and Editorial Boards of several renowned research journals, and publishing numerous articles, his credits include books: “Black” Women’s Dramatic Discourse (2009), the South Asian Review (SAR 2010 – special issue on Pakistani creative writing in English), and very lately Transcultural Humanities in South Asia (Routledge UK, 2022, https://www.routledge.com/Transcultural-Humanities-in-South-Asia-Critical-Essays-on-Literature-and/Anwar/p/book/9780367483715).

He is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of English Literary Studies (JELLS) at FCC University.

Dr. Syrrina Ahsan Ali Haque

Dr. Syrrina Ahsan Ali Haque has been teaching English Literature, Creative and Academic Writing, and Research Methodology at the University of Lahore (UOL), University at Buffalo-SUNY, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore School of Economics, LGSIDP-University of London, and Government College University. She also worked as the former Head of DELL at UOL.

Placed on the Principal’s Roll of Honor list at Kinnaird, she completed her Postdoctoral fellowship from the University at Buffalo, USA. Her publications include Sand in the Castle: A Collection of Short Stories (USA, 2010), the academic non-fiction Cultural Confessions in Khaled Hosseini’s Works (Germany 2017), Dialogue on Partition: Literature Knows No Borders (2021), and an edited work A Cartographic Journey of Race, Gender and Power: Global Identity (UK 2021).

Her monograph, Dialogue on Partition, won the Honorable Mention Book Award at the NeMLA 51st Convention, Boston, USA. Dr. Haque frequently holds talks at universities, appears on television, and conducts workshops on writing. She also freelances for newspapers and magazines.

Her research articles are published in scholarly journals, with one receiving the Best Paper award in Japan. She has recently won the Summer Fellowship Award for the USA.

Dr. Zakia Resshid Ehsen

Dr. Zakia Resshid Ehsen holds a PhD in English Studies and has over fifteen years of experience in academia. She began her career as a Teacher-Trainer at the Ali Institute of Education and subsequently advanced her teaching career at institutions such as Garrison Post Graduate College for Women, Riphah International University, and the University of the Punjab.

Dr. Zakia has earned prestigious certificates in creative writing and the Teaching of English Language from globally renowned institutions, including the University of Edinburgh, the University of Reading, the University of Sweden, and Wesleyan University.

Her scholarly contributions include research papers published in esteemed international journals such as Shakespeare, Contemporary Social Science, and Multicultural Shakespeare. Her academic journey reflects a steadfast dedication to advancing literary and critical discourse.

Academic Support: Resources and Research Facilities for the candidates

A dedicated faculty Advisor; Comprehensive library resources; access to academic journals and
databases; Research workshops and seminars; Opportunities for conference presentations and
publications; Collaborative research projects with faculty and peers; Research centers and
institutes affiliated with the department; Areas of faculty expertise; Access to archives, libraries,
and databases; and others.

PhD – English Literature

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