Jax State Opens Applications for New Doctor of Arts in English

Fully online doctoral program designed for educators who want to advance their expertise while remaining in the classroom

Jacksonville, AL (11/10/2026) — Jacksonville State University is expanding its graduate offerings with a new Doctor of Arts in English, a fully online doctoral program designed primarily for educators who want to deepen their expertise in English while continuing their careers in the classroom.

Applications are now open for the program, which will welcome its first students in Fall 2027. As part of Jax State's No Fee November initiative, domestic applicants can apply to the new program without paying an application fee throughout the month of November.

The Doctor of Arts, or D.A., provides a different path from more traditional doctoral degrees. While a Ph.D. typically emphasizes original scholarly research, and is generally the appropriate path for those seeking tenure-track assistant professor positions at universities, and an Ed.D. often prepares educators for leadership and administrative roles, Jax State's D.A. in English is designed primarily for educators who want to deepen their disciplinary expertise and advance as teachers. Rather than preparing graduates for the traditional tenure-track university faculty pathway, the program emphasizes advanced content knowledge, teaching and the practical application of research in the classroom.

The program is the only Doctor of Arts in English offered in Alabama and was developed specifically with working educators in mind. Delivered entirely online, the program is open to qualified educators regardless of where they live, allowing teachers in Alabama and across the country to pursue a terminal degree without stepping away from their classrooms or relocating to attend a traditional residential doctoral program.

The degree can also open additional professional opportunities for educators, preparing them to teach dual enrollment and other college-level English courses in high schools while expanding opportunities for students to earn college credit before graduation. Students in the program will also have an opportunity to pursue National Board Certification, with support available through Jax State's Regional Inservice Center.

Those opportunities could also translate into increased earning potential for Alabama educators. Under the state's teacher salary schedule, educators who earn a doctoral degree can qualify for a higher level of compensation, while National Board-Certified Teachers may qualify for additional compensation.

"This program reflects exactly what we want graduate education at Jax State to accomplish - respond to a real need while creating opportunities for professionals to advance without having to leave the communities they serve," said Dr. Christie Shelton, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. "The Doctor of Arts in English builds on the strength of our faculty and our longstanding commitment to educators while giving teachers a pathway to deepen their expertise and bring what they learn directly back to their students."

The 45-credit-hour post-master's program combines advanced study in literature, rhetoric and composition, linguistics and English pedagogy. Core courses include research methods, teaching composition, teaching literature, and course design, curriculum and assessment in English studies. As part of the program, students will complete a 12-credit-hour Doctor of Arts Project focused on practice-oriented research and defend the project before completing the degree.

For high school English teachers, the program provides a path for professional advancement without requiring them to step away from what brought many of them to education in the first place, teaching.

"We created this program for educators who love their discipline and love being in the classroom," said Dr. Raina Kostova, professor and head of Jax State's Department of English, who spearheaded the development of the program. "Teachers should not have to choose between pursuing the highest level of education in their field and continuing to teach. The D.A. gives them an opportunity to become stronger scholars and stronger teachers, and to immediately apply what they are learning in their own classrooms."

The proposal also received support from education leaders across the state, including the Alabama State Department of Education and Jax State's Regional Inservice Center, citing its potential to strengthen English instruction, expand access to dual enrollment courses and support teacher development and retention.

The program was approved by the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education before receiving the necessary accreditation approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

"Ultimately, the impact of this program reaches beyond the educators who earn the degree," Dr. Kostova said. "When teachers strengthen their knowledge of literature, writing, language and pedagogy, their students benefit. We believe this program can make a meaningful difference in classrooms across Alabama and beyond."

Applications are now open for Fall 2027. Domestic applicants who apply by Nov. 30 can have their application fee waived as part of Jax State's No Fee November initiative. To learn more about the Doctor of Arts in English, including admission requirements and how to apply, visit the program's website.