phd in writing and rhetoric

Rhetoric and Writing (Ph.D.)

Campus:   Virginia Tech Blacksburg Campus,  Instructions: Residential/On Campus

Program Overview

Carolyn Commer, Director, Ph.D. Program in Rhetoric and Writing

The PhD Program in Rhetoric and Writing at Virginia Tech focuses on rhetoric in society. We study language use and rhetorical activity in public, academic, corporate, and governmental settings in a collective effort to engage pressing social and cultural issues through academic discourse, public policy, and community outreach. 

Why choose this program?

• Virginia Tech’s Rhetoric and Writing doctoral program has distinguished faculty whose research attends to social problems, disciplinary questions, and the information demands of a cyberconnected world. Areas of strength include medical rhetoric, data visualization, human rights, human-computer interaction, user experience, and cultural and feminist rhetorics. 
• Virginia Tech is a top-notch research institution and the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences where English is housed possesses a variety of opportunities available to students which enable students to excel. 
• Our small program enables students to get individualized attention with award-winning and research active faculty. 
• We engage in rhetoric and writing research that contributes to social progress, examines how literate practices create, circulate, and prioritize societal values and the public policies based on those values, and examines how rhetoric and writing empower and control access to power in these social systems. 

What You'll Study

Degree requirements will include 60 hours of graduate coursework past the bachelor's degree plus 30 hours of research and dissertation. Of those 60 hours of coursework, up to 30 may be transferred from an appropriate Master's degree. Because rhetoric and writing are inherently interdisciplinary subjects, this program invites students to complete some coursework in related fields such as Language and Literature, Communication, Science and Technology Studies, Political Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Women's and Gender Studies, Science and Technology in Society, ASPECT, and Engineering Education, as well as courses in preparing the future professoriate offered by the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Admissions Requirement

• Minimum GPA 3.0 (4 Scale)
• GRE Optional
• TOEFL/ IELTS score Required  (If Applicable)

Learn more 

Tuition and Fee

Tuition & Fee Rates

Funding Opportunities

The Department of English has a limited number of  graduate assistantships and fellowships  available for students applying for full time study on the Blacksburg Campus. Entering students can apply for such funding as part of their admissions application.  No separate application  required.

Find out what loans are available as a graduate student and other opportunities.

How to Apply

Visit this page for information on how to apply, including requirements, deadlines, and application fee.

Course List

• Course List (Blacksburg)

Applications Deadlines

Priority deadline:  January 16 for consideration for funding Final deadline:  January 16

Visit Campus

Visit Campus / Attend an Open House

Contact Program Leader

Carolyn Commer , Director, Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Writing 416 Shanks Hall  181 Turner Street NW  Blacksburg, VA 24061 [email protected]

Contact Program Specialist

Marie Trimmer Graduate Programs Coodinator 310 Shanks Hall 540-231-4659  [email protected]

Current Students

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• Timetable of Classes

Rhetoric and Writing (Ph.D.) Faculty 

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Center for Rhetoric in Society

At the Center for Rhetoric in Society, we examine multiple rhetorics, bridging academic and public discourses to enact engagement and social change. Our mission is to investigate language use through rhetorical and narrative analysis to understand significant social problems. Graduate research assistants participate in all aspects of the Center, including grant writing, assisting faculty in research, organizing research symposia, and writing scholarly articles. 

Faculty Bookshelf

Related Programs

Creative Writing (M.F.A.)

English (M.A.)

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PhD in Rhetoric, Writing, & Professional Communication

Combine theory and the practice of effective communication with a phd in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication.

Are you a recent graduate looking for a career as a scholar and teacher specializing in persuasive writing and effective communication? Are you a working professional with experience teaching writing or communicating technically with a wide variety of audiences? If so, earning a PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication from East Carolina University will help you master advanced skills and knowledge in professional communication, composition, and rhetoric to prepare for a rewarding career in academia.

Our PhD program in professional communication, rhetoric, and writing studies is ranked among the top composition and rhetoric PhD programs in the country, thanks to the expertise that our faculty bring into the classroom and the many successes of our graduates throughout the nation.

What is a PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional Communication?

You might be wondering what professional communication, composition, and rhetoric studies entails. Simply put, when you study rhetoric, writing, and professional communication, you learn about the theories and tools to better understand messages, audiences, contexts, and organizations. You then apply this understanding to develop or improve the theories and practice of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication.

No GMAT or GRE required

100% job placement within 1 year

Committed to social justice and equity

Among the top rhetoric and writing PhD programs

Why earn a PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication at ECU?

When you join the doctoral writing and rhetoric studies program at ECU, you become a vital member of one of the best PhD programs in writing studies in the country. You will also surround yourself with world-class faculty and engaged peers who will help you achieve more every day.

Professionalism

At the core of our professional communication, composition, and rhetoric PhD program is our commitment to professional development. That’s why you’ll enjoy three semester hours dedicated solely to professional development—including a structured jobs group to help you prepare for and navigate the academic job market.

Distinguished faculty

With the small classes and interactive courses in our professional communication, writing, and rhetoric studies program, you’ll have many opportunities to work closely alongside professors who are leading researchers and scholars in their respective fields. Their research interests speak to the interdisciplinarity of the program: From technical communication to social justice, our faculty mentors’ expertise help make us one of the best PhD programs in rhetoric studies in the nation.

Career preparation

By the time you graduate with your rhetoric, writing, and professional communication PhD, you’ll have a journal-ready article or bibliographic essay as well as a full dissertation that you can then turn into a publishable manuscript. You can also gain experience teaching through our valuable teaching assistantships. With at least one past publication and a dissertation written under the mentorship of our faculty, you’ll be among top competitors for faculty jobs in rhetoric and writing around the world.

Courses you will take in the PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication program

We are among the best rhetoric writing, and professional communication PhD programs in the U.S. for many reasons, including our engaging and diverse courses.

When you join the rhetoric, writing, and professional communication PhD program at ECU, you’ll enjoy courses that engage a broad range of important topics, including critical race theory, social justice, and gender equity approaches to rhetoric and writing studies.

Some of the courses that help make us one of the top PhD programs for writing and rhetoric studies in the country include:

• ENGL 7780 – Theory of Professional Communication
• NGL 8600 – Seminar in Writing Studies and Pedagogy
• ENGL 8630 – Seminar in Community and Cultural Rhetorics
• ENGL 8615 – Seminar in Rhetorical Theory

Hear from our PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication program students

“Teaching in this program has been the most enjoyable and fulfilling thing I’ve done since I’ve been at ECU or before. I’ve always wanted to teach, and this experience showed me I had a chance to do it on a level I had never really considered for myself.”

– Zac Singletary, PhD in Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication, 2024

What can you do with your PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication?

You may be wondering how earning a PhD in professional communication, composition, and rhetoric can help you find a rewarding career. At ECU, the expertise and experience you’ll gain in rhetoric and writing studies will make you an impressive candidate for tenure-track positions in colleges and universities around the nation.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain teaching experience that will prepare you to design and run your own classes even before graduation.

Master the skills to teach and inspire others

As one of the best PhD programs in professional communication, writing, and rhetoric studies in the nation, our graduates leave with the expertise to be exceptional scholars, teachers, and leaders.

The professional development you work on in classes will help you in job interviews, at conferences, and when you stand up in front of a class every day.

Where are PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication graduates working?

Thanks to their teaching and research experience, our rhetoric studies graduates find tenure-track positions at many prestigious colleges and universities around the globe, including University of Maryland, Syracuse University, Missouri Science and Technology, University of Rhode Island, and Rochester Institute of Technology. In fact, about half of our rhetoric, writing and professional communication phd graduates are employed in tenure-track positions.

Get started on your rhetoric, writing, and communication PhD degree

Take the next step toward joining one of the most respected rhetoric and writing studies PhD programs in the nation. Still wondering how a PhD in professional communication, composition, and rhetoric can help you find a great career? We have the resources to answer all your questions and help you get started.

Degree programs related to our PhD in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication

If you’re considering joining our rhetoric, writing, and professional communication PhD program, you may also be interested in learning more about these similar programs.

• Ethnic Studies
• Gender Studies
• Multicultural and Transnational Literatures Graduate Certificate
• Professional Communication Graduate Certificate
• Teaching English in the Two-Year College Graduate Certificate

Accreditation for East Carolina University

When you join the rhetoric, writing, and professional communication PhD program at ECU, you’ll enjoy an educational experience that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This means that the degree you earn will be nationally recognized for meeting the high standards for excellence set by SACSCOC.

English (Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies), PHD

On this page:.

At a Glance: program details

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD English (Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies)

The PhD program in English with a concentration in writing, rhetorics and literacies promotes the study of rhetorical strategies, production, distribution and interpretation of oral, written, digital, visual, discursive, material and symbolic texts.

Students study the history, theories and methods of inquiry as well as pragmatic and social actions of writing, rhetoric and literacies. With theories and methods from both historical and contemporary contexts, students learn strategies for inquiry; the ways in which communication creates knowledge and action; and how communication is constructed, circulated, reacted to and repurposed over time and across space. Program requirements are designed to encourage a full understanding of theoretical and applied aspects of writing studies, rhetorical studies and literacy studies. Students also are provided many opportunities to explore the intersections and tensions that exist within and between the three different areas of inquiry.

The program encourages transdisciplinary study, and its flexible requirements enable students to pursue those aspects of the disciplines that interest them the most.

The PhD in English, concentration in writing, rhetorics, and literacies at Arizona State University promotes the study of the production, distribution, and interpretation of texts (oral, written, digital, visual, discursive, material, symbolic) and the rhetorical strategies involved in such processes. Students draw on composition/writing theory, rhetorical theory, and literacy studies to examine the ideological, pedagogical, pragmatic and social dimensions of words, symbols, texts, images, and artifacts. Using theories and methods from both historical and contemporary contexts, we teach students strategies for inquiry; the ways in which communication creates knowledge, meaning and action; and how texts, meanings, and communication are constructed, circulated, reacted to, and repurposed over time and across space. Program requirements are designed to encourage students to develop a nuanced understanding of the role of critical inquiry and rhetorical analysis in framing problems, advocating for change, exploring solutions, or disrupting the status quo. With a sophisticated understanding of how words work in the world, student pursue avenues of original inquiry that have relevance and implications for the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly complex and dynamic landscape. The program encourages interdisciplinary study, and its flexible requirements enable students to pursue areas of inquiry that interest them the most and tailor those pursuits to their career goals. The program prepares students for multiple career paths including in academia, the public sector and private industry--as teachers, scholars, advocates, professionals, and public intellectuals.

Mark Hannah, Director

Sheila Luna, Program Manager

Faculty in Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies

Doctoral Examinations

Doctoral Procedures and Timeline

Teaching Assistantships

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, a foreign language exam, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (3 credit hours) ENG 501 Approaches to Research (3)

Concentration (9 credit hours) ENG 551 Rhetorical Traditions (3) ENG 552 Composition Studies (3) ENG 556 Theories of Literacy (3)

Focus Area (9 credit hours)

Electives or Research (48 credit hours)

Other Requirements (3 credit hours) writing for publication/scholarly writing coursework (3)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) ENG 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. Students who do not hold a master's degree are required to take additional elective and research credit hours to reach the 84 credit hours required for this program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants with bachelor's or master's degrees in fields such as anthropology, applied linguistics, cognitive science, communication, comparative languages and literatures, English literature, education, history, law, linguistics, modern languages, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, rhetoric, composition, sociology, and speech and hearing science will be considered.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of purpose
• resume or curriculum vitae
• three letters of recommendation
• academic writing sample relevant to the field
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English and has not graduated from an institution of higher learning in the United States must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applications will not be processed without valid proof of English proficiency; official scores must be sent to ASU in order for the application to be processed.

The well-considered, one- to two-page statement of purpose should explain the applicant's scholarly background and training, career goals, proposed research specialization, any secondary field of interest, and why the applicant wishes to pursue a PhD in English with a concentration in writing, rhetorics and literacies at Arizona State University. Applicants applying for funding must also submit a statement of teaching philosophy.

Courses and Electives

The Doctor of Philosophy is a total of 84 hours. In general, a student with an appropriate master's degree must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours of approved graduate work, which includes 12 hours of dissertation. Research hours may be used towards course work in consultation with the advisor. A student without an appropriate master's degree usually must complete 84 hours of work at ASU. At the advisor’s discretion, students may include up to 12 hours of appropriate, graduate-level course work undertaken at another university, and not previously counted towards any other degree.

Approaches to Research (3) : Students are required to take ENG 501 Approaches to Research during their first semester in the program.

Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies Concentration Coursework (9) : Students are expected to complete the following courses within their first three semesters. If a student has taken a very similar course elsewhere (e.g., while pursuing an MA), the student may bring the syllabus for the completed course to the Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies (WRL) Program Director (or the faculty member scheduled to teach the course) and request that it be waived.  If any of the concentration courses are waived because they were previously taken under the MA in English, the students must take additional elective or research methods coursework to reach the 84 credit hours.

•     ENG 551 Rhetorical Traditions
•     ENG 552 Composition Studies
•     ENG 556 Theories of Literacy

Focus Area (9) :  Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor or the WRL Program Director when selecting additional courses for their focus area as these courses provide the depth of training needed for dissertation research. Students should take at least two 600-level courses.  Students may choose to take most of their courses from one area of study (e.g., writing/composition studies, rhetorical studies, or literacy studies), from two areas of study, or from all three areas. All ENG 500 and ENG 600 level courses may be repeated for credit when topics vary. Thus, two classes with the same course number (e.g., two ENG 651s, two ENG 654s, or ENG 655s) may count toward this requirement when the topics vary.  To fulfill the focus area requirement, students may choose from the following:

•     ENG 525 Teaching Second Language Writing
•     ENG 553 Technologies of Writing
•     ENG 554 Rhetorics of Race, Class, and Gender
•     ENG 560 Genre Studies
•     ENG 625 Advanced Studies in Second Language Writing
•     ENG 651 Advanced Studies in History and Theories of Rhetoric
•     ENG 652 Advanced Composition Studies
•     ENG 654 Advanced Studies in Rhetoric, Writing, Technology & Culture
•     ENG 655 Disciplinary Discourses
•     ENG 656 Studies in Cross-Cultural Discourse

Research Methods (3) : Students are expected to take at least one additional course in research methods (beyond ENG 501) and are strongly encouraged to consider enrolling in an advanced research methods course offered by graduate faculty in the Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies program. With the approval of their advisor, students may choose to take a research methods course outside of the area/unit to fulfill the advanced research methods requirement.  Students who take more than 6 credits of research methods may count any additional course in research methods as an elective.

Electives (15) :   Students may fulfill the Elective requirement by taking additional 500 or 600-level courses from Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies faculty (e.g., courses listed under Specialization Concentration), by taking ENG 594 Conference and Workshop (the Teaching Practicum), or by taking courses from other programs in English or programs outside the area. With the approval of their advisor, students may choose to take additional research methods courses from faculty outside of the area or the department if needed to pursue their research agenda. Students have the option of taking ENG 792 Research, on an individual basis, for the purpose of working independently in preparation for the doctoral examination. This is an alternative to be selected by the student with the approval of the advisor and supervisory committee. Satisfactory completion of ENG 792 is indicated by the grade of "Y."

Writing for Publication/Scholarly Writing (3) : Students are encouraged to enroll in ENG 598 Topic: Writing for Publication/Scholarly Writing after they have completed both 15-18 credits of coursework at ASU and an acceptable draft paper.  In this course (to be capped at 15), students will read about, discuss, and practice strategies that will help them prepare manuscripts for publication. In a supportive environment and under the guidance of faculty, students will become more adept at identifying a potential venue for their work, using effective strategies for revision, and soliciting and give critical feedback. This course provides a structured opportunity to revise a paper for the portfolio and/or for submission to a journal or edited volume.

Other Requirements

PhD Examinations : Portfolio, oral or written exam, colloquy on the dissertation prospectus.

Dissertation : Students must include 12 (and only 12) credit hours of ENG 799 on the doctoral plan of study.

Language Requirement : PhD students must demonstrate evidence of a competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English, to be selected by the student, subject to the approval of the chair of the dissertation committee. The language requirement must be completed before the student is eligible to take the doctoral exams. This requirement may be met by

• Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in a 400- or 500-level course in an appropriate (approved) language.
• Demonstrating comparable proficiency by taking a language examination, administered by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
• Demonstrating native-speaker proficiency, as determined by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
• Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in both ENG 530 Old English and ENG 531 Old English Literature or their equivalent.
• Holding a bachelor’s degree in an approved foreign language.
• Having fulfilled a foreign language requirement towards a previously awarded master’s degree that has been completed within five years of the semester for which the student has been admitted to the doctoral program. This foreign language must be in a language approved by the student’s doctoral supervisory committee.
• For languages which the School of International Letters and Cultures does not offer or does not offer above the 200 level, two years (4 semesters) of successfully completed college level coursework at least at the 100 and 200 level with a C or better would fulfill the requirement. The coursework must have been successfully completed no more than six years prior to admission to the degree program.

The Graduate College also requires that students be enrolled every semester, excluding summer sessions, until they have completed all requirements for the degree. Continuous enrollment may be satisfied by registration for one hour of ENG 799, or, in cases where dissertation or other credit hours are not needed, Continuous Registration (ENG 595 or 795). If students wish to interrupt their programs of study for one or more semesters, they may apply for a leave of absence, not to exceed one year. Failure to enroll or obtain leave status for the semesters in which they are not enrolled will result in dismissal from the program.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee

The doctoral supervisory committee consists of a minimum of three members from the graduate faculty selected at the time the student files a program of study. In consultation with the director of the doctoral program, the student will select the committee chair, who also serves as the student's advisor. Once a graduate faculty member has agreed to serve as the student's chair, the student and chair will then consult before recommending two other members to the director of the doctoral program. Ideally another member of the supervisory committee in addition to the chair should be in the area of specialization. It is the responsibility of each student to form a supervisory committee very early in the program so that the chair and members of the committee may be involved in shaping the course of study, for example, in determining such matters as the choice of foreign language(s) and in specifying courses that will be required for the student's particular area of concentration.

Important Notice to Current International Students

In order for international students to maintain good standing for their VISAs, they must take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester (i.e., 3 classes), 6 credits (2 classes) should be face-to-face classes.

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Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, learning outcomes.

• Evaluate competing knowledge claims within rhetorical studies and draw relevant interdisciplinary connections between those claims and one's own research topics.
• Design and carry out an original research study that produces data, findings and applied strategies for publication in professional, scholarly venues.
• Evaluate and draw from relevant disciplinary histories, theories and methods to support rhetorical inquiry into their research topics.

Career Opportunities

Professionals with expertise in written communication, research and knowledge management are in high demand across sectors and industries, including business, media, law, entertainment, politics, nonprofits and community organizations. Skills in the measurement and analysis of data for the development of multimodal content (digital, print, oral, visual) are valuable to businesses, organizations and institutions relying on data-driven strategies to address and communicate complex, knowledge-rich issues to broad professional audiences.

Graduates are prepared for work as teachers, scholars and communications professionals. Career examples include:

• editor and content manager
• English or communications professor
• human resources specialist
• market research analyst
• public relations specialist
• publishing copyeditor or proofreader
• social media manager
• technical writer

Global Opportunities

Global experience.

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-3168

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Department of English Language and Literature

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• PhD in Rhetoric & Writing

PhD in Rhetoric and Writing

We have faculty members with a broad range of interests including language diversity, second language writing, writing program administration, K-12 composition, public rhetorics, community writing, multimodal composition, and technical communication. With a limited amount of core requirements, our students are able to select courses that best suit their research and teaching interests. In addition to gaining valuable face-to-face and online teaching experience at a diverse flagship Hispanic-serving institution in courses ranging from first-year writing to technical writing and professional communication, students have the opportunity to engage in program building efforts via a variety of administrative positions connected with first-year writing, online writing instruction, and technical writing and professional communication. Please contact Program Faculty if you have any questions.

About the Degree

The PhD concentration in Rhetoric and Composition requires 51 hours of coursework, comprehensive exams in three areas, a Foreign Language requirement, and a doctoral dissertation. Typically, PhD students have recently completed a Master’s degree in English with something in excess of 30 semester hours. The English department accepts up to 24 of those hours toward the PhD degree, leaving students 30 hours of regular course work to complete from the time of matriculation.  The PhD requires a minimum of four years of extended study to master a specific subject completely and to extend the body of knowledge about that subject. Applicants should already possess a Master’s degree in English or a related discipline. 

Note: Students who did graduate work in a discipline other than English likely will not transfer the full 24 hours to the PhD program. Such students will need to complete more than 30 hours of regular course work before moving on to the dissertation. The Associate Chair of Graduate Studies (ACGS) and the Committee on Studies (COS) determine the number of hours students are able to transfer to the PhD.

Required Coursework (51 hrs)

(for complete requirements, see the Graduate Handbook)

As explained above, PhD students must take 51 hours of course work before taking the Comprehensive Examinations and moving on to the dissertation. These hours must be distributed as follows:

Core Course (3 hrs)

• Engl. 542: Major Texts in Rhetoric (3 hrs)

Distribution Requirements (15 hrs) 

Students must take 15 hours of coursework in Language, Theory, and Pedagogy, as described below.

Language and Theory (9 hrs) 

Students must take a total of nine hours from Language and Theory courses, at least three of which are from Language and three from Theory courses.

Language (at least 3 hrs from the following)

• Engl. 541: English Grammar (3 hrs)
• Engl. 545: History of the English Language (3 hrs)
• Engl. 547: Old English (3 hrs)
• Engl. 548: Beowulf and Other Topics (3 hrs)
• Engl. 549: Middle English Language (3 hrs)

Theory (at least 3 hrs from the following)

• Engl. 510: Criticism and Theory (3 hrs)
• Engl. 511: Special Topics: Criticism and Theory; Literacy and Cultural Movements (3 hrs)
• Engl. 540: Topics in Language or Rhetoric (3 hrs)
• Engl. 543: Contemporary Texts in Rhetoric (3 hrs)
• Engl. 610: Studies in Criticism and Theory (3 hrs)

Pedagogy (6 hrs) 

Students must take six hours of pedagogy courses from the following or from approved substitutions in other departments. (All new Teaching Assistants, including those who have previous teaching experience or similar course work elsewhere, are required to take Engl. 530, which is offered every Fall semester, in the first semester they begin teaching at UNM.)  In addition to the courses here, we also offer practica in online writing instruction and stretch/studio writing instruction.

• Engl. 530: Teaching Composition (required of all new TAs) (3 hrs)
• Engl. 533: Teaching Professional & Technical Writing (3 hrs)
• Engl. 534: Composition Theory (3 hrs)
• Engl. 592: Teaching Literature (3 hrs)

Seminars (9 hrs) 

All PhD students must take at least three seminars offered in the English Department. RW students typically take three versions of ENGL 640, which are offered at least once a year and which vary in topic. Recent topics have included New Media Literacies for the 21st Century, Teaching Diverse Student Populations, and The Sociopolitical Contexts of Writing Instruction.

• Engl. 640: Studies in Language and Rhetoric (3 hrs)
• Engl. 650: Studies in British Literature (3 hrs)
• Engl. 660: Studies in American Literature (3 hrs)
• Engl. 680: Studies in Genre, Backgrounds, Forces (3 hrs)

Electives (24 hrs) 

The required courses above total 30 hours; students who have transferred 24 hours from the MA into the PhD will have fulfilled the minimum course requirements, excluding dissertation hours, required for the degree. Students who need more course credits, should fulfill their remaining hours with approved graduate courses in English or related disciplines under the advisement of the COS and the ACGS.

All 54 regular course requirements must be completed before enrolling for dissertation hours, Engl. 699.

Dissertation (no fewer than 18 hrs)

• Engl. 699: Dissertation (3-12 hrs, no limit).

Language Skill Requirement

With the approval of the ACGS and COS, PhD students may satisfy the language skill requirement in one of three ways.

By demonstrating competency in two language skills. “Competency” can be demonstrated with a grade of B or better through a second semester, second-year level undergraduate course or through a graduate-level reading course in a language other than English. Students may use English 547 (Introduction to Old English) and 548 (Advanced Old English) to fulfill competency.

By demonstrating fluency in one language skill. “Fluency” can be demonstrated in one of several ways with a grade of B or better: through the second-semester, third-year level undergraduate course in a language other than English; or through two graduate-level reading courses in a language other than English. Students may use English 547 (Introduction to Old English), 548 (Advanced Old English), and an Old English 650 or another 548 to fulfill fluency.

By combining competency in one language skill with a similar competency in a research skill such as a computer-programming language or Statistics. Competency in the research skill can be established by the completion of a second-semester, second-year course with a grade of B or better or two graduate courses.

Competency and Fluency can be demonstrated through coursework from previous institutions, coursework at UNM, or tests administered either by UNM or CLEP. The decision as to which research skills courses such as a computer-programming language and Statistics will satisfy the Department’s language requirements will be negotiated between the ACGS, COS, and appropriate faculty from other departments; other research tools may be approved in exceptional cases in which similar provisions must be made for rigorous academic study in the subject.

Note: Course credits for classes used to complete the language skill or research requirement cannot normally be counted toward the 51 credit hours of regular course work required for the degree..

Comprehensive Examinations

To ensure a thorough and broad knowledge of English as a discipline, the Department of English requires PhD students to take comprehensive examinations in three different fields. Under the advisement of the COS, PhD students should select their three fields of study early in the course of their doctoral program, so that they can take course work that enhances their understanding of their three fields. 

Dissertation Prospectus and Its Defense

After passing the Comprehensive Examinations, PhD students must organize a Dissertation Committee, write and submit a Dissertation Prospectus, and successfully defend the prospectus before the Dissertation Committee. The prospectus defense must be completed no later than six calendar months after passing the Comprehensive Examinations.

The PhD Dissertation

A dissertation is a formal, scholarly document, seldom less than 150 double-spaced pages and often much longer, which makes an original contribution to its field and shows a professional mastery of academic methods and materials. Few dissertations are written in less than a calendar year. PhD students who are also Teaching Assistants commonly find that the process takes two years. UNM requires that students must complete all degree requirements, including the dissertation and defense, within five years of advancing to candidacy (i.e. passing the Comprehensive Examinations). 

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Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies

College of humanities, main navigation, writing & rhetoric studies graduate program, graduate program.

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Why the U of U?

Living in Salt Lake City

The Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies is full of diverse students from many backgrounds and locations. Learning with us is a great way to meet others and learn about new perspectives in society.

Meet Our Students

About the Program

Program history.

The graduate program has a long history, being one of the first graduate programs in the country. The former University Writing Program and the current Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies ("WRS") coordinated an interdisciplinary graduate program in rhetoric and composition beginning in 1993, working closely with the Departments of Communication, Education, Culture, and Society, and English. Since 2021, the graduate program has been located within the Department of Writing and Rhetoric Studies, maintaining its areas of excellence in preparing graduate students for a range of intellectual and workplace opportunities. You can find our graduates in universities and colleges across the US, in organizational and public service settings, and in public education.

Program Description

The graduate program engages students in developing the intellectual background and research skills necessary to enter the field of writing and rhetoric studies as professionals engaged in a variety of pedagogical and scholarly work. It emphasizes rhetoric's connections with writing as a traditional and contemporary technology, as an instructional concern inside and outside formal educational environments, and as a practice integrated into organizations, publics, workplaces, and other human communities. It emphasizes both broad disciplinary training and the refinement of a specific scholarly area through rigorous research. Student cohorts join us from every geographical region, as well as from abroad. 

Faculty Scholarly Expertise

Areas in which faculty hold scholarly expertise include:

• Coloniality/Decoloniality
• Comparative Cultural Rhetorics
• Digital/Sonic Rhetorics
• Indigenous Studies
• Legal Rhetorics
• Multilingualism/Translingualism
• Muslim Rhetoric
• Queer Studies
• Research Methods
• Rhetoric of Science and Technology
• Two-Year College/Transfer Studies
• Writing Across the Curriculum

Writing Assessment

See our  faculty page  for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required to apply.

Students are required to submit a personal statement, a writing sample (15-25 pages), and all previous college transcripts. They also must have three recommendation letters. We accept approximately 7-8 students for each incoming cohort that represent both the MA/MS and PhD levels.

Are graduate students funded?

Matriculated students are funded. Fully funded students teach three first-year writing courses and receive tuition benefits. As they progress through their degree, other teaching and research opportunities become available. Stipends currently range from $18,000-$20,000. The College of Humanities and the Graduate School also offer prestigious grants and fellowships, which many of our students have been awarded.

Why should I come to the University of Utah?

Our program is widely known and respected, having a long history of graduate education (1993). Our faculty publish cutting edge theory and research and hold important positions in our professional organizations. Because we limit the number of incoming students, we are able to provide expert guidance and individualized mentoring. Our students have gone on to work in universities and community colleges, public education, industry, and nonprofit organizations.

Graduate Student Resources

About the Program

The Department of Rhetoric offers an interdisciplinary PhD program focusing on the study of rhetorical theory and the interaction of the historical concerns of rhetoric with contemporary critical theory across a broad spectrum of disciplines. Crucial to the department's approach is an investigation into the rhetorical constitution of the arguments of such fields as law, politics, literature, philosophy, performative practices, global studies, critical race studies, and science, technology, and media studies. The interests of faculty and graduate students thus range throughout these fields and are informed by a critical interest in the rhetoric of disciplines. During their first two years, graduate students explore major areas in the history and theory of rhetoric and pursue a variety of special topics in seminars. Beginning in their fourth semester, they concentrate in greater depth on preparation for their doctoral qualifying examinations and dissertation research.

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Admission to the University

Applying for graduate admission.

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Graduate Division hosts a complete list of graduate academic programs, departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application and steps to take to apply can be found on the Graduate Division website .

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page . It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here .

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page .

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Rhetor 200 classical rhetorical theory and practice 4 units.

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 An introduction to the questions around which classical rhetorical theory and practice are organized. Through analysis of materials drawn principally from the Ancient Greek and Roman periods, possibly including later revivals of classical rhetoric, the course will examine the formation of rhetoric in the West as an intellectual stance from which to practice a range of related fields, including but not limited to philosophy, history, literature , politics, religion, law, science, and the arts. Classical Rhetorical Theory and Practice: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate status

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Three hours of Seminar per week for 15 weeks.

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Rhetoric/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Classical Rhetorical Theory and Practice: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 205 Contemporary Rhetorical Theory and Practice 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2020 An introduction to the questions around which contemporary rhetorical theory and practice are organized. Through an analysis of materials drawn principally from the 18th century to the present, the course will examine rhetorical inquiry in relation to critique as well as the disciplinary construction of knowledge-domains. The course will attend to rhetoric in relation to a range of fields, including but not limited to philosophy, history, literature , politics, religion, law, science, and the arts. Contemporary Rhetorical Theory and Practice: Read More [+]

Contemporary Rhetorical Theory and Practice: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 220 Rhetoric Graduate Proseminar 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2019 What do we do when we do rhetoric? Seminar addresses methods, themes, and issues in the changing field of investigation known as rhetoric. Required for second year doctoral students in Rhetoric. Rhetoric Graduate Proseminar: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Two hours of seminar per week.

Instructor: Constable

Rhetoric Graduate Proseminar: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 221 Rhetoric Graduate Research Seminar 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022 What are the possible forms of long-form (dissertation) research in the rhetoric department? Required for third-year doctoral students in Rhetoric. Rhetoric Graduate Research Seminar: Read More [+]

Objectives & Outcomes

Course Objectives: To enable the formation of coherent dissertation projects.

Student Learning Outcomes: To have a draft of a prospectus at the end of the semester.

Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for RHETOR 221 after completing RHETOR 221 . A deficient grade in RHETOR 221 may be removed by taking RHETOR 221 .

Instructor: Boyarin

Rhetoric Graduate Research Seminar: Read Less [-]

RHETOR C221 Aesthetics as Critique 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2020, Fall 2018, Spring 2015, Spring 2013, Spring 2011 A close reading and discussion of the major texts of modern aesthetics, from the 18th century to the present, with emphasis on the Continental tradition of Kant, Adorno, and Derrida. Aesthetics as Critique: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Format: Three hours of lecture per week.

Also listed as: COM LIT C221

Aesthetics as Critique: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 230 Rhetoric and History 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2020, Fall 2018 This course investigates both the concept of history and the practice of historiography, using an engagement with the literal and metaphoric archives of the past to consider their empirical and philosophical claims on the present. While the methods, themes, and historical reach may vary, the course requires Rhetoric graduate students to investigate pre-1900 material in some form and to consider both the pragmatics of conducting historical inquiry and the interpretive frameworks that structure them. Rhetoric and History: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.

Rhetoric and History: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 240D Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Nonfictional Prose 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2010, Spring 1999, Fall 1997 Advanced investigation of the rhetorical dimensions of various modes of discourse. Specific topics to be announced. Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Nonfictional Prose: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar per week.

Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Nonfictional Prose: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 240E Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Political Discourse 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2011, Fall 2007, Spring 2006 Advanced investigation of the rhetorical dimensions of various modes of discourse. Specific topics to be announced. Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Political Discourse: Read More [+]

Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Political Discourse: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 240F Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Legal Rhetoric and Philosophy 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2018, Spring 2017 Advanced investigation of the rhetorical dimensions of various modes of discourse. Specific topics to be announced. Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Legal Rhetoric and Philosophy: Read More [+]

Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Legal Rhetoric and Philosophy: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 240G Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Rhetorical Theory 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023 Advanced investigation of the rhetorical dimensions of various modes of discourse. Specific topics to be announced. Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Rhetorical Theory: Read More [+]

Rhetorical Theory and Criticism: Rhetorical Theory: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 243 Special Topics in Film 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Fall 2012 A theoretical examination of a film topic which falls outside the purview of traditional categories of film analysis, such as "genre," "history," or "theory." Examples: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, The Essay Film, Feminist Film Practice, Cinema and the Phantasmagoria of History. Special Topics in Film: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing

Additional Format: Three hours of seminar per week plus two film viewings.

Special Topics in Film: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 244 Special Topics in Rhetoric: Limited study 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2008 This course studies various modes of rhetorical discourse. Specific topics to be announced. Special Topics in Rhetoric: Limited study: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Fall and/or spring: 6 weeks - 4 hours of seminar per week

Additional Format: Four hours of Seminar per week for 6 weeks.

Special Topics in Rhetoric: Limited study: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 250 Rhetoric of the Image 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Spring 2021 A study of the visual image as a mode of discourse, together with an analysis of the terms in which images have been interpreted and criticized. Focus may be on the rhetoric of a particular image or set of images, or on more broadly theoretical writings about image. Rhetoric of the Image: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor

Rhetoric of the Image: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 295 Special Study 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2021, Summer 2018 3 Week Session, Summer 2017 3 Week Session Open to qualified graduate students wishing to pursue special topics under the direction of a member of the staff. Special Study: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Graduate adviser approval

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 6-34 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 8 weeks - 6-34 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Forty-five hours of work per unit per term. Individual tutorial.

Special Study: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 299 Directed Research 1 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Spring 2016, Fall 2015 Open to graduate students who have passed their Ph.D. qualifying examinations. Directed Research: Read More [+]

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0 hours of independent study per week

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week

Additional Format: Individual tutorial.

Directed Research: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 302 The Art of Tutoring Writing 1 - 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Fall 2019 This is a required course for all undergraduates participating in the Art of Writing Departmental Tutoring program at UC Berkeley. This program supports students taking R&C in Comparative Literature, English, Film & Media, and Rhetoric. Upper-level majors with proven writing skills participate in discipline-specific composition and pedagogy workshops and in turn, provide one-on-one writing help to students taking R&C courses in participating departments. Tutoring is targeted and disciplinary-specific, responding to the parameters of R&C instruction and the challenges faced by R&C student writers in each department. The Art of Tutoring Writing: Read More [+]

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit with instructor consent.

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 0.5-1 hours of seminar and 2.5-5 hours of workshop per week

Additional Format: One-half to one hours of seminar and two and one-half to five hours of workshop per week.

Subject/Course Level: Rhetoric/Professional course for teachers or prospective teachers

Grading: Offered for pass/not pass grade only.

The Art of Tutoring Writing: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 375 Teaching Rhetoric 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2017, Fall 2015 Instruction in teaching argumentative writing and rhetorical analysis. Teaching Rhetoric: Read More [+]

Prerequisites: Appointment as teaching assistant

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Formerly known as: Rhetoric 300

Teaching Rhetoric: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 601 Individual Study for Master's Students 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015 Individual study for degree or language examinations in consultation with staff member. Individual Study for Master's Students: Read More [+]

Additional Format: Individual arrangement.

Subject/Course Level: Rhetoric/Graduate examination preparation

Individual Study for Master's Students: Read Less [-]

RHETOR 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 1 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2018, Spring 2016 Individual study in consultation with faculty director as preparation for degree examinations. Individual Study for Doctoral Students: Read More [+]

Summer: 6 weeks - 1-6 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-6 hours of independent study per week

Individual Study for Doctoral Students: Read Less [-]

Contact Information

Department of rhetoric.

7408 Dwinelle Hall

Phone: 510-642-1415

Fax: 510-642-8881

Department Chair

James Porter

[email protected]

Rhetoric Graduate Advising Office

Graduate Advisor

7407 Dwinelle Hall

[email protected]

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• Megan Poole wins Top Paper Award from the journal Rhetoric of Health and Medicine
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• / Ph.D. in Rhetoric & Composition

Internationally recognized since its founding in 1978, our Ph.D. program in Rhetoric and Composition  prepares students for academic careers in the history, theory, and practice of rhetoric and composition. Graduates from our program have embarked on careers as tenure-track faculty members or as writing center directors. Others have pursued careers in education, business, and publishing.

Our Ph.D. students are fully funded through teaching positions or University fellowships. In addition, our program provides many research and professional development opportunities. Our students gain valuable administrative experience as Assistant Directors of the University Writing Center, the Composition Program, or the international Thomas R. Watson Conference.

Click here to download our brochure.

Our doctoral program introduces students to the teaching of writing, the history of rhetoric, current issues and research methods in rhetoric and composition, contemporary theories of interpretation, and interconnections among literature, rhetoric, and composition. Recent special topic seminars have focused on literacy, writing in the disciplines, new media and composition pedagogy, and the politics of language in composition. Click here for a listing of our graduate courses . 

Dissertation

As a Ph.D. student you will pursue your own research project on an original topic within the field of Rhetoric and Composition. Your research will culminate in a Ph.D. dissertation, supervised by faculty in the English Department and one outside reader. Click here for an overview of previously defended dissertations .

Career & Job Placement

Our Ph.D. program boasts a successful track record of placing graduates into tenure-track positions. Recent program graduates have gone on to such universities as the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Berea College, the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Pittsburgh, Queens College (CUNY), State University of New York, Syracuse University, Wake Forest University, and the University of Washington. Before you graduate, we will work with you closely to help you navigate the transition from your graduate studies to your future career. Click here for our job placement overview .

Eligible doctoral students are fully funded for four years by departmental Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) positions or University Fellowships. GTA positions and University Fellowships include an annual stipend, health benefits, and a tuition waiver.

Teaching Opportunities

All doctoral students teach for at least two semesters in the First-Year Composition Program . Many also have the opportunity to teach advanced writing, technical or business writing, writing about literature, and introductory literature courses. As a GTA you will gain valuable experience in designing your own writing course on a theme of your choosing.

Administrative Positions

Many of our PhD students also pursue a range of professional opportunities in the English department or at the University of Louisville. Such opportunities include the following GTA positions:

• Assistant Director of Composition
• Assistant Director of the University Writing Center
• Assistant to the  Bi-Annual Thomas R. Watson Conference
• Assistant Director of Graduate Student Writing
• Assistant Director of Creative Writing
• Research assistant to faculty members
• PhD students can also apply for a position as BizComm Coach in the College of Business.

We will also notify our students of other opportunities in the English department and throughout the university as they become available. 

• Connect with other English Graduate Students through our dynamic student-led  English Graduate Organization .
• Attend the workshops organized by the  Discourse and Semiotics Workshop .
• Get involved in the  Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture .
• Gain valuable professionalization skills through the School of Interdisciplinary Studies  PLAN workshops .
• Enjoy a supportive graduate experience through the School of Interdisciplinary Studies  mentoring network.

More Information

If you would like to learn more about our Ph.D. program, contact the  director of graduate studies  or go to the  Graduate Program Catalog  for more information.

Are you ready to apply? Click on the link below for more information about the process and deadlines. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE PH.D. PROGRAM IN RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION

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DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Bingham Humanities 315

2216 S. 1 st Street

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky 40292

(502) 852-6801

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The PhD program in English prepares students for a range of scholarly careers in English through a combination of literary studies with writing and rhetoric. In literary studies, we emphasize American literature, Transatlantic and Caribbean literature, Early Modern literature, and the study of gender and sexuality.

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In writing and rhetoric, we emphasize teaching and assessing writing, community engagement, diversity and identity, and empirical research methodologies. We also have exceptional offerings in the digital humanities, including digital archiving, network analysis, digital editing and encoding, geospatial analysis, and text mining.

Students in the PhD program in English undertake a program of study designed to train them to be productive scholars, teachers, and leaders in their chosen fields. In coursework, students read and analyze the important texts, current issues, and critical methodologies of the discipline. Drawing on the breadth of this preparation, students demonstrate their ability to recognize and produce scholarly arguments in designing the three comprehensive field papers in areas of scholarly interest and competence corresponding to recognized and emerging fields of study. Finally, the dissertation provides an opportunity for designing a focused research project in consultation with a dissertation advisor.

Throughout the program, faculty work closely with doctoral students to develop their scholarly and professional identities in preparation for careers in academia. As students complete their studies, the department offers strong support for the academic job search, including workshops on stages from dissertation writing to the job market itself, individual advising, mock interviews, and a departmental dossier service.

Learn more about this PhD program in English from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities .

• All doctoral students receive full five- or six-year teaching fellowship funding
• Opportunities for involvement in research and teaching in centers including the NULab for Texts, Maps, and Networks; the Writing Center; the Digital Scholarship Group; and the Humanities Center as well as with individual faculty
• The department focuses particularly on the fields of American Literature; Transatlantic and Caribbean Studies; Digital Humanities; and Writing and Rhetoric

We have a high rate of placement for students conducting both local and national job searches. Our graduates have obtained tenure-track positions at four-year colleges and universities across the country and abroad, including: Columbia College (Chicago); the Florida Institute of Technology; Frankiln Pierce University; McKendree University; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Middle Tennessee State University; the National Technical University, Norway; Oberlin College; Park University (Missouri); Providence College; Sterling College; Rhode Island College; Wesleyan College (Georgia); and the University of Puerto Rico. Other full-time placements include positions in departments of English and in writing programs at the American University of Dubai; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the University of Southern California; and Wheelock College (Boston). Tenure-track placements at two-year colleges include Bristol CC, Queensborough CC, and Quincy College.

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Personal statement
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
• English proficiency for international applicants
• Three letters of recommendation
• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – Optional
• Writing sample

Admissions deadline for Fall term: December 1

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Request Information for PhD in English

Doctor of Philosophy English

The Doctor of Philosophy in English program trains students to be successful scholars and teachers of literature and of writing and rhetoric. The program begins with an immersion in coursework, designed to introduce the discipline at a broad level and to lay the ground for avenues of individual research. The Comprehensive Exam solidifies the student’s grounding in three fields of study linked to that which the student intends to specialize. The dissertation, completed under the close supervision of both the dissertation director and the dissertation committee, is an original research project that stands as the student’s entry into the field of professional scholarship.

Graduates of Ph.D. in English program are able to:

• Employ primary and secondary materials to analyze critical debates and positionality within subfields of English.
• Demonstrate expertise in theories; methods; and social, cultural, and political histories of three subfields of English studies pertinent to the student’s plan of research and teaching.
• Formulate and defend original and critically significant arguments, communicating them effectively in genres relevant to English studies (e.g., research papers, conference presentations, digital projects).
• Design and conduct sustained, sophisticated, independent research to make a critical contribution to subfields within English studies by engaging in analytical thinking, investigating relationships between language and power, or critiquing inherited social structures and hierarchies within and beyond the field(s).
• Develop a foundational knowledge of current pedagogical and curricular frameworks for teaching college-level courses and apply these frameworks in their own classrooms or other teaching contexts.

In addition to the formal curriculum, the department offers a range of opportunities to introduce students to new scholarship in English, including the Barrs lecture series. We hold frequent workshops on various aspects of graduate study and professionalization, and students are involved in a plethora of hands-on research opportunities, including the  NULab for Texts, Maps, and Networks , the  Early Caribbean Digital Archive , and  The Women Writers Project . Many students are also involved with  826 Boston , where they have gained experience in teaching and community engagement.

Prospective students can consult our FAQs or contact the department’s Graduate Office for more information about applying to the Doctor of Philosophy in English program.

English, PhD

Charles lesh, sarah connell, type of program.

• PhD Program

Get more information about this graduate program.

More programs, ba in english, combined majors, departmental minors, graduate certificate in digital humanities, graduate certificate in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.

MA & PhD

The rhetoric and scientific & technical communication graduate degree programs are now in their third decade of preparing scholars for work as strong contributors to their disciplinary communities.

The MA and PhD programs offer students the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty while living in a community with a long history of innovation in the sciences, the arts, and digital media.

Master's in Rhetoric and Scientific & Technical Communication

The Master of Arts (MA) will prepare you for doctoral-level research through courses and seminars in research methods, rhetoric, writing studies, pedagogy, and technical communication, technology, and culture. Those are complemented with other courses in a specialty area as well as a supporting field of courses outside the department so that you complete your degree with a broad base of knowledge. The MA is a two year program.

Requirements for the MA

PhD in Rhetoric and Scientific & Technical Communication

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research degree that will prepare you for faculty positions in our core areas of rhetoric, writing studies, pedagogy, technical communication, technology, and culture. Our core coursework leads to seminars and courses in your concentration and is complemented with a supporting program of courses offered by other departments at the University of Minnesota related to your specialty area. The PhD is a five year program.

Requirements for the PhD

Orange Alert

Ph.d. in composition and cultural rhetoric doctoral program (ccr).

The Composition and Cultural Rhetoric Doctoral Program emphasizes research on the dynamic interaction of rhetoric and writing in a variety of cultural and historical contexts. As the first independent writing program in the country to offer a doctorate in Rhetoric and Composition studies, and with doctoral education as our sole focus, the CCR program offers a unique environment with a highly favorable faculty to student ratio.

Our research and teaching centers entirely around writing and rhetoric, with faculty and students whose interests span a broad range of contemporary and historical specializations, including:

• American Ethnic Rhetorics
• Authorship Studies
• Composition Studies and Pedagogies
• Digital Rhetorics, Pedagogies, and Technical Communication
• New Literacies
• Rhetoric: Histories, Theories, and Pedagogies
• Studies of Gender and Sexuality
• Transnational Rhetorics and Globalization

Our nationally known undergraduate teaching program provides a space for research and innovation. Faculty affiliates in other disciplines also participate in the program and regularly offer courses that CCR students take.

From its inception, the Composition and Cultural Rhetoric Doctoral Program has been committed to studying and supporting the rich diversity of writing and speaking that is a key feature of an increasingly globalized world. Our program is committed to recruiting and supporting a culturally and ethnically diverse group of students and faculty.

We invite you to learn more about our history and philosophy, our people, and our program. In this section, you will find information about admissions, degree requirements, current faculty and students, and recent graduates' placements.

Community is a multi-layered concept in the CCR program.

We are a community of scholars, with faculty and students working closely together across a range of research interests. Each year in August we come together for Community Day, a time to check the pulse of the discipline, welcome our new students and set the pace for the academic year. Throughout the year, Colloquia and other meetings keep us connected.

As part of Syracuse University, we are members of an academic community where Chancellor Nancy Cantor's Scholarship In Action initiative calls for the active community engagement and closer relations between the university and the surrounding community, both in the city of Syracuse and abroad. Within CCR, our faculty lead several community oriented projects.

As CCR scholars, we are also part of the larger discipline of Composition and Rhetoric. Our students and faculty regularly appear on panels at major disciplinary conferences, including the Conference on College Composition and Communication, Rhetoric Society of America, Writing Program Administrators, Kenneth Burke Society and the National Communication Association.

We are citizens of the world, with research interests that recognize the larger communities of humanity and the role of language in human interaction. From global Englishes to the life stories of migrant workers, from technology to agriculture, from community writing groups to a community press, our students and faculty work with concerns across disciplinary and cultural lines to build bridges of access, understanding and strength.

Rhetoric and Writing (PhD)

NEWS:  PhD program inviting applications in December 2024 for students to begin work in Fall 2025!

The Rhetoric and Writing doctoral program aims to prepare the next generation of leaders in the discipline of Rhetoric and Writing across all areas of a higher-education career: research, teaching, outreach, and national and institutional service. Our discipline requires outstanding leaders across the higher education mission and in many types of institutions. This mission guides our recruitment, our curriculum, our support packages, and our mentoring philosophy. We ask a lot of both students and faculty, but our commitments also make the program an exciting place to be.

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Argumentation: Keeping Faith with Reason (2nd ed.)

“Through a unique conceptual framework, students will learn how to assemble a coherent logical argument, assess sources, and organize and present written and verbal arguments.”

For sale at Routledge.com .

John P. Nordin

Edward Schiappa

Edward Schiappa conducts research in argumentation, media influence, and rhetorical theory. His latest book is titled The Transgender Exigency: Defining Sex & Gender in the 21st Century , with brings together his long-time interests in definitional controversies and LGBTQ issues .

He has published eleven books , including Beyond Representational Correctness: Rethinking Criticism of Popular Media , Professional Development During Your Doctoral Education , and The Beginnings of Rhetorical Theory in Classical Greece . his research has appeared in such journals as Philosophy & Rhetoric , Quarterly Journal of Speech , Rhetoric Review , Argumentation , Communication Monographs , Communication Theory , and Law & Contemporary Problems .

He has served as editor of Argumentation and Advocacy and received NCA's Douglas W. Ehninger Distinguished Rhetorical Scholar Award in 2000 and the Rhetorical and Communication Theory Distinguished Scholar Award in 2006. He was named a National Communication Association Distinguished Scholar in 2009.

In 2016, Schiappa and his co-authors of “The Parasocial Contact Hypothesis” received the NCA’s Woolbert Award for work that has stood the test of time and has become a stimulus for new conceptualizations of communication phenomena. Schiappa is former Head of CMS/W and is John E. Burchard Professor of the Humanities.

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Offered by English   .

The Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology Minor is for students of any major who are interested in improving their writing skills and understanding how writing works in the world. Given the demand for employees with strong writing skills and the importance of such skills in civic and community life, this minor allows students to develop their abilities by writing across various genres, technologies, and contexts, including the workplace, the university, and everyday communities. Students learn how writing functions rhetorically and are offered opportunities to apply a wide range of composing strategies to the production of their own texts. By learning to write for different purposes, audiences, and situations, students in this minor will be prepared to write effectively and ethically. And because writing is an essential skill in all workplaces, especially for those in collaborative environments or promoted to managerial positions, students in all majors will find this minor beneficial to their career goals.

Minor Requirements

• Minimum 18 credits
• Minimum grade of ‘C’ in courses applied to the minor
• Up to 6 credits from the minor may be counted as part of the English, B.A.  

Course Requirements

Core courses (9 credits).

• ENGL 100 - Composition (3)
• ENGL 205 - Debunking Myths about Good Writing (3)
• ENGL 300 - Texts and Contexts (3)

or ENGL 324 - Theories of Communication and Technology (3)    

Elective Courses (12 credits)

Complete a minimum of four writing courses.

200-Level Elective Writing Courses

Students may complete one course from the following:

• ENGL 218 - Remix Culture and Composing (3)
• ENGL 220 - Composing Disability (3)
• ENGL 240 - Writing for Social Change (3)

300-Level Elective Rhetoric and Technology Courses

Complete a minimum of one course from the following:

• ENGL 320 - Topics in Communication and Technology (3)
• ENGL 330 - Researching Communicative Practices (3)
• ENGL 342 - Principles and Practices of Visual Literacy (3)
• ENGL 343 - Introduction to Genre Analysis (3)
• ENGL 353 - Rhetorical Theory (3)
• ENGL 355 - Communicative Practices and Play Theory (3)
• ENGL 385 - New Media and Digital Literacies (3)
• ENGL 386 - Adult Literacy Tutoring: Theory and Practice (4)
• ENGL 387 - Web Design and Multimedia Authoring (3)
• ENGL 392 - Tutorial in Writing (3)
• ENGL 394 - Technical Editing (3)

300-Level Elective Writing Courses

• ENGL 379 - Principles and Practices in Technical Communication (3)
• ENGL 380 - Introduction to News Writing (3)
• ENGL 382 - Feature Writing (3)
• ENGL 383 - Science Writing (3)
• ENGL 384 - Topics in Journalism (3)

400-Level Elective Writing Courses

• ENGL 407 - Language in Society (3)
• ENGL 435 - Digital Humanities (3)
• ENGL 442 - Seminar In Visual Literacy (3)
• ENGL 447 - Online Voice and Community (3)
• ENGL 449 - Seminar in Genre Analysis (3)
• ENGL 480 - Seminar in Advanced Journalism (3)
• ENGL 481 - Advanced Topics in Journalism (3)
• ENGL 483 - Writing in the Sciences (3)
• ENGL 486 - Seminar in Teaching Composition: Theory and Practice (3)
• ENGL 493 - Seminar in Communication and Technology (3)
• ENGL 495 - Internship (1-4)

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Lecturer, Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric

Job Details

Intellectually impressive. Fiercely determined. Unquestionably accomplished.

Since its foundation in 1823, Trinity College, located in the heart of Hartford, Connecticut, has been educating students in the liberal arts with the educational and experiential foundations they need to succeed as informed global citizens. Trinity is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and the Consortium On Financing Higher Education (COFHE). Faculty and alumni include recipients of the Pulitzer Prize, the MacArthur award, Guggenheims, Rockefellers, and other national academic awards.

While Trinity has enjoyed a long, prestigious history, the college finds itself poised in transition as the landscape of higher education across the country undergoes a fundamental shift. Under the leadership of Joanne Berger-Sweeney, who was inaugurated on October 26, 2014 as Trinity’s 22nd President, Trinity is looking forward to a bold future that will require innovation borne out of  long-term strategic planning  that will make the college even more visible and competitive. Among the strategic plan’s broad goals is to design a distinctive, relevant liberal arts education that positions Trinity increasingly as a  first-choice destination  for students, faculty, and staff.

At Trinity College, we’re known for getting things done—and for doing them in a way that creates lasting meaning. Students come here to engage in a challenging liberal arts education, live as part of a tenacious community, explore what’s possible, and find answers to the challenges of tomorrow.

On our 100-acre campus in Connecticut's state capital, you can take advantage of all that our thriving city has to offer, including diverse perspectives, experiential learning, and an energetic culture. And with the knowledge, resources, and partnerships we’ve cultivated at Trinity, we’re an active part of driving Hartford forward as well.

We are committed to providing the best possible service to our employees and the college. We recognize the diverse composition and needs of our community of employees and strive to respond to those needs in a professional, caring and equitable manner by:

• Recruiting and promoting the best-qualified people – while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the workplace.
• Providing a competitive salary and benefits package for our employees.
• Establishing, administering and effectively communicating sound policies and practices that treat employees with dignity and equality, while maintaining compliance with employment and labor laws and College directives.
• Promoting a work atmosphere that is safe, healthy, secure and conscious of family and community relations.

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Master’s degree recipients to be honored Friday at Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony

June 5, 2024

David Leder

It’s commencement weekend at CWU, and thousands of graduates will be receiving their diplomas and moving on to the next phase of their lives.

But before throngs of CWU graduates walk across the Tomlinson Stadium stage this Saturday, a smaller group of master’s degree recipients will take part in the annual Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony on Friday evening. About 200 of this year’s 453 master’s degree recipients will participate in the ceremony from 6-7:30 p.m. in Nicholson Arena.

President Jim Wohlpart, Provost Patrick Pease, and Associate Dean of the School of Graduate Studies  Rodrigo Renteria- Valencia will deliver remarks to the graduates and their guests. A total of 80 CWU graduate faculty will participate in the ceremony , along with 12 additional faculty who will join the processional and recessional.

Two student speakers, Sophia Litterski and Mariah Sebastiani, will present speeches to the graduates and their families, while two other graduates will be presented with the Dale and Mary Jo Comstock Distinguished Thesis Award . Desiree Cunningham and Kevin Cassidy are the 2024 recipients of the 45 th annual award, named after the CWU alumnus and former dean of Graduate Studies.

Here's a closer look at this year’s speakers and Comstock Award recipients:

Mariah Sebastiani

Graduate student association speaker.

Mariah is a Literary Studies master’s student with specialization in teaching. She graduated from Western Washington University in 2021 with a BA in Creative Writing and Literature, and minors in Environmental Studies and Technical Writing.

The native of Bellingham teaches English 101 as a graduate assistant, and her studies focus on composition pedagogy, poetry, and multimodal creative writing and rhetoric. She also serves as the president of the Graduate Student Association and strives to create meaningful community connections throughout CWU’s diverse graduate programs.

After graduation, Mariah plans to apply to adjunct pools and writing centers across Washington state. Over the long term, she aims to join a cohort of English professors who support student-centered and anti-racist pedagogies and support dialogic, socio-constructive teaching methodologies.

“My grad school experience at CWU has completely transformed me, both professionally and personally,” Mariah says. “When I first came to Ellensburg, I had no idea how much I would be challenged and changed. While I expected grad school to be a place for expanding my knowledge and conducting research, it was the relationships with fellow graduate students and the support from the staff and faculty that genuinely made the experience transformational.”

Sophia Litterski

Graduate hooding and commencement student speaker.

Sophia has always known that she wanted to work with children, going back to her high school days in Seattle. She decided that she wanted to pursue a teaching degree and attended the University of Portland, where she earned her BA in Elementary Education, with a concentration in Social Emotional Learning. She also received a minor in psychology, and eventually gravitated to the child life specialist profession, which led her to pursue her master’s in Child Development and Family Science at CWU.

“After spending months of research and watching videos to learn more, I realized that this profession is what I really wanted to do, and it was a perfect fit for me,” Sophia says. “I applied to a few different master's programs, and CWU's program really stood out to me.”

During her time at Central, Sophia has been able to explore and learn about Ellensburg from people that have grown up here, which made for a more meaningful experience. She also enjoyed working alongside the supportive faculty and fellow students.

“The faculty and my cohort are always there if I have a question, need help, or a good laugh,” she says. “I have been able to work alongside faculty and take on my own course as a graduate assistant, which has helped me step into my emerging profession with confidence, competence, and additional leadership skills. I could not have picked a better program!”

Desiree Cunningham

Dale and mary jo comstock distinguished thesis award.

Desiree is being recognized with this prestigious award for her thesis, “Timescales of Magma Storage and the Pre-Eruptive History for the Most Recent Lava Flow at Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan), Washington.”

Her thesis was focused on using the crystal cargo of the youngest lave flow in the Mount Baker   Volcanic Field — the Sulphur Creek Lava — to determine timescales of pre-eruptive processes for this eruption. Desiree and her research team applied a technique called diffusion chronometry across crystal zones to determine the maximum length of time that the magmas were stored in an eruptible state before the eruption began and how quickly the magma ascended to the surface upon eruption.

The native of Louisiana earned her BS in Geology from Mississippi State University, and it was there that she fell in love with structural geology and volcanology. She had an opportunity to present her undergraduate research project at the 2021 Geological Society of America annual meeting, where she met CWU volcanologist Dr. Hannah Shamloo.

“I reached out to her about prospects for doing a MS in Geology, focused on studying volcanoes,” Desiree says. “Long story short, her passion for volcanos and clear drive for her students’ success were the only motivations I needed to choose her as my mentor through a master’s thesis and CWU as my home for the following two years.” 

Desiree couldn’t be happier with how her thesis came together, and she will be forever grateful to Dr. Shamloo and the Department of Geological Sciences.

“My time here has been anything but easy,” she says, “but both CWU and the Department of Geological Sciences have provided me with every opportunity I needed to be successful. It has been a privilege to get the chance to call myself a CWU Wildcat.”

Kevin Cassidy

Kevin was selected for the Distinguished Thesis Award for his thesis titled, “Generational Leadership in the American Revolution and Early Republic, 1763-1800.”

His thesis examines the Loyal Twenty-Seven, a group of Massachusetts revolutionaries, and their importance in the American Revolution using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods — combined with traditional historical research — to show that there was a generational shift in leadership between the revolutionaries who led early British protests and those who led the Revolutionary War and the Early Republic. The Digital History methods used throughout his thesis helped him examine the American Revolution in a new light.

Kevin is a transfer student from Prosser who earned dual bachelor’s degrees from CWU in History and Teacher Education. He said he was interested in earning a master’s in history, and everything began to fall into place when he met History 302 Professor Dr. Marilyn Levine.

“I wanted to do something on the American Revolution for my MA, but I didn’t know what I would focus on at that point,” Kevin says. “At the end of the quarter, Dr. Levine asked if any students were interested in taking an independent study class that focused on Digital History and the American Revolution, and I decided to take it on.”

Kevin and two of his classmates, Alex Muetze and Bart Hasz — who Dr. Levine dubbed as the “Liberty Wildcats” — went on to submit their research at the 2020 SOURCE conference. That work formed the basis for Kevin’s master’s thesis.

During his time at CWU, he served as a student employee for the Circulation and Archives departments before becoming a graduate assistant in the history department during the past two years. He also was a member of Chi Alpha, a Christian Fellowship on campus, a member of the History Club, and a volunteer history tutor.

“I’m extremely grateful for the connections I formed over the years at CWU,” Kevin says.

Watch online

If you would like to watch the livestream of Friday's Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony, visit  https://youtube.com/live/K-A-ZuS45jQ

by David Leder

Blue Angels pilot credits CWU aviation program with setting him up for success

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2024 Davis Wright Tremaine International Law Writing Competition Winners Announced

The International Law Writing Award, funded by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, grants $2,500 and $1,000 stipends for the best and second-best international law research paper written by a Lewis & Clark JD student. This year, Kelsey Chapman-Sutton is the first-place winner and Beth Sethi is the second-place recipient.

Open gallery

The International Law Committee has announced Kelsey Chapman-Sutton ’24 and Beth Sethi ’24 as its 2024 Davis Wright Tremaine International Law Writing Award winners for their papers in international law. The award, established through the generosity of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, provides $2,500 and $1,000 stipends for the best and second-best written international law research papers.

Chapman-Sutton’s paper, entitled Four Boys Buried in July: Law and Rhetoric of Violence in the Lead Up to the 2014 Gaza War , explores the complicated sociopolitical landscape of Israel-Palestine preceding the 2014 Gaza War. Her paper expertly traverses topics of violence and retaliation in the region in connection with international humanitarian and human rights law. Her paper urges for a critical examination of Israel-Palestine, its history, and the cultural narratives that influence our global understanding of the conflict and the implementation of international law. “We do a disservice to narrative, to law, and to human rights when we approach them without nuance,” Chapman-Sutton writes in her paper. “We inflict an injustice on the Israeli people and the Palestinian people when we take from them their history, their complexity, and their humanity.”

Sethi’s paper, entitled When the Last Resort is the Best Resort: Successful Convention Against Torture (CAT) Claims in 9th Circuit Removal Cases , examines legal strategies under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) to provide relief to non-citizens denied asylum in the United States. Scoping the advantages of this alternate pathway for relief from deportation through its history of success, Sethi deftly outlines opportunities for legal practitioners to present CAT claims in the 9th Circuit. Writes Sethi in her paper, “For noncitizens ineligible for or denied asylum or other removal relief, a successful CAT claim can be the difference between remaining safely in the United States and being returned to a dangerous situation in their home country.”

Both papers were completed under the supervision of Professor Kathleen Maloney , who Chapman-Sutton and Sethi thank for her generous and insightful guidance.

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