English Rhetoric and Composition (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy in English Rhetoric and Composition
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: English
Program Webpage 
Academic Plan Code(s): ERC _ PHD

Program Information

Mission Statement

The Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and Composition provides graduate training in the history and theory of rhetoric; theory and empirical research in composition; an area of literary study; and the relation of rhetoric and composition to allied fields (e.g., critical theory, cultural studies, linguistics).

Goals for the PhD are that students will:

1. Gain specialized and current disciplinary knowledge;
2. Write a dissertation in which they initiate and complete specialized research that addresses an original and significant question in rhetoric and composition; and
3. Acquire experience and expertise as writing teachers.

Admission Requirements

Application Due: January 5 (Fall admission only)

All applicants should submit:

1. Online Graduate Application (including application fee).
2. A current CV or resume. For applicants who wish to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship, the CV should detail your teaching and/or tutoring experience and other relevant background or training. It should also include the contact information for persons who can comment on your teaching performance and/or potential.
3. A written statement of no more than 1,000 words detailing the applicant's professional goals in the field of rhetoric and composition.
4. Complete official transcripts of all college level work. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Graduate School by the previous institution. 
5. Three academic letters of recommendation. Letters from employers and personal references are not acceptable. The reference should speak to the prospective student's ability to succeed in their graduate studies. Discursive letters must be attached to the PDF form.
6. A critical writing sample of at least 15 pages. This writing sample should demonstrate your skills in critical thinking and analytical writing. For example, this can be a substantial analysis paper or research paper written for an (under)graduate course, a chapter from a Bachelor/Honors/Master thesis, or a published journal article. 
7. To apply for a Graduate Assistantship: A teaching statement (1-2 pages) describing how you would approach teaching in general and teaching writing in particular. If you have experience as a teacher or tutor, describe your teaching philosophy and provide some specific examples of how you turn that philosophy into practice in the classroom or writing center. What are the most important concepts and skills you think student writers need to learn? If you do not have experience as a teacher or tutor, describe what, as a student, you have found effective in your best teachers. What approaches to teaching and what personal qualities did you value in their work? Describe how you would approach teaching based on what you have experienced. What are the most important concepts and skills you think student writers need to learn?  
8. For international applicants: Official reports of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo examination demonstrating English language proficiency. All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit one of the following: official TOEFL scores (213 or higher on the computer based test, 550 or higher on the paper based test, or 80 or higher on the internet-based test); official reports of the TOEFL, IELTS scores with at least a 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam; or official Duolingo scores of 105 or higher. Only official Duolingo tests with subscores are accepted. Applicants holding a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited U.S. institution may be exempt from the English proficiency requirement. 

Special notes:

• GRE scores are not required.
• The entire application must be completed by January 5th to be considered for a Graduate Assistantship.

Degree Requirements

All doctoral students are expected to complete a minimum of 42 graduate credit hours, which must include twelve (12) credit hours of Dissertation Research (ENGL 690); successfully complete the General Exam in Rhetoric and Composition and the Secondary Literature Area exam; and complete and defend a dissertation.

More information on requirements can be found in the English Department Graduate Program Guidelines.

Graduate level English courses beyond those listed may count towards requirements depending on the topics covered. Detailed course descriptions, available on the English Department website, will provide this information and can be discussed during advising with the director of graduate studies. 

¹

Per Graduate School guidelines, students may petition the Director of Graduate Studies to transfer in 6 credit hours of coursework from an accredited graduate program in the United States, or up to 12 credit hours if a variance is approved. If approved, students may replace a required course with an additional elective in the Department of English. 

²

The Director of Composition will consider requests for exemption for ENGL 602. If approved, students may replace the ENGL 602 requirement with an additional elective in the Department of English. 

³

Non-GA students who require a for credit option in place of GS 799 may enroll in ENGL 689 instead.