last modified:2008-06-09 14:09:34
Rhetoric & Composition Ph.D.
| British & American Literature Ph.D. | Creative Writing Ph.D. | American Studies Ph.D. | B.A. to Ph.D. Track |
Rhetoric and Composition study is an interdisciplinary program offered in conjunction with the University Writing Program. Its aim is to give students solid preparation for academic careers through courses, seminars, and independent study in composition theory, rhetorical theory and history, discourse analysis, literary studies, cultural studies, and pedagogical theory.
We encourage interested students to arrange to meet with University Writing Program faculty members at conferences or elsewhere before applying. Individual faculty members will be talking to applicants by phone or in person during the application process.
Coursework
Students must complete, with grades of "B" or higher, a minimum of 10 courses (exclusive of independent study) at the 6000- or 7000-level, with the exception that course work undertaken in another department may also be on the 5000-level. A dissertation is also required.
Literary Studies
Three courses:
- Two courses emphasizing one area of literary history, whether or not conforming to conventional period divisions.
- One course in literary theory.
Topics in Cultural and Interdisciplinary Inquiry
Three courses:
- One course within the English department (to be approved by both the UWP Graduate Program Coordinator and the English Department Director of Graduate Studies).
- One course outside the English Department, from departments including but not limited to Communication; Linguistics; Education, Culture, and Society; and History (to be approved by both the UWP Graduate Program Coordinator and the English Department Director of Graduate Studies).
- COMM 7360 - Qualitative Empirical Research or COMM 7180 - Seminar: Rhetoric in the Disciplines
Theory and Critical Problems
Three courses:
- ENGL 6350 - Composition Theory and Research
- ENGL 6770 - Studies in Discourse Analysis
- ENGL 7760 - Rhetoric/Composition/Discourse
Pedagogical Theory Paper
Students in Rhetoric/Composition emphasis will teach four of the Writing Program's courses while in residence, take part in the teaching colloquia for each of these courses, and write a critical review of the current pedagogical theories that are applicable to one of these courses. The review paper will be read and evaluated by all members of the UWP faculty.
Note on the Supervisory Committee in the Rhetoric and Composition Program
The Supervisory Committee Chair must be a UWP faculty member jointly appointed in English. The other four members will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the candidate and the Committee Chair. Normally at least one other English Department faculty member and one other UWP faculty member will be on the committee. In addition, a faculty member from an appropriate department will be on the committee to represent the student's allied field core.
Oral Examination
After successfully completing both the program of study in the core areas above and the pedagogy paper, the student will take an oral examination, covering the core fields. A member of the literature faculty will test the student on the literary studies core.
Prospectus
During the semester following the students' successful completion of the preliminary exam, the student must submit a formal dissertation prospectus. (Students passing the Ph.D. examinations in the Spring semester will submit the prospectus in the following Fall semester ) The prospectus should be approximately ten pages in length and should include a bibliography of at least thirty works. The student will discuss this prospectus with the Supervisory Committee at a formal meeting.
Dissertation
At the end of the program of study, the candidate will write a dissertation on a Rhetoric/Composition topic approved by the candidate's committee. Procedures for completing the dissertation are spelled out in the English Department's Policies and Requirements web page. The student must be registered for 3 hours in the semester of defense.