PhD Placement | LSU English

Supporting Our Students on the Job Market

Even in the very difficult academic job market of the last decade, LSU PhDs have been competing for—and getting—tenure-track positions at an array of educational institutions, from large public universities (University of Arkansas, University of Illinois-Springfield) to small liberal-arts schools (Hastings College, Oklahoma City University, Medaille College) to a wide range of regional universities (Louisiana Tech University, Alcorn State University, University of Mobile, Middle Georgia State University). In addition, our students regularly are awarded post-doctoral fellowships by institutions including Georgia Tech and Tulane—awards that typically serve as stepping-stones to full-time academic positions.  

A vigorous, supportive, and personalized placement program assists our students in obtaining academic positions that are right for them. Students who wish to pursue jobs in academia typically go on the market in the Fall of their fifth year. They work with the department’s Placement Officer, from whom they receive advice on the application process and on the preparation of job materials. Workshops for job candidates take place throughout the Fall semester, as students work together on writing their application letters, research and teaching statements, and other vital documents.  After earning a job interview, students are able to participate in practice-interviews run by individual faculty members, and those who get a call-back to campus have the opportunity to present a job-talk rehearsal in the supportive environment of  our department.

Many other of our graduates pursue and obtain non-academic jobs, for which their PhD or MFA prepared them either directly or indirectly. Our graduates teach in private high schools, direct arts institutions, staff non-profits, and work as librarians, writers, editors, among other positions.

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