College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
www.kent.edu/english

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in English, with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition, concentrates on the ways literacy practices shape people's lives in educational, workplace and public spheres. The coursework emphasizes data-rich and methodologically sophisticated research and prepares students to investigate literacy, rhetoric and social practice. Collaborative research with faculty, administrative opportunities and community outreach prepare students to sustain and advance in the discipline. Graduates contribute in meaningful ways to university communities and the larger public sphere.

Contact Information

• Mark Bracher, Ph.D. | mbracher@kent.edu | 330-672-2665
• Bee Viton | bviton@kent.edu | 330-672-1708

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Writing sample (8-15 pages) relevant to the field of study
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 102 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 73 PTE score
  • Minimum 130 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Funding deadline: January 15
    Applications must be submitted by this deadline to be considered for an assistantship or any other funded position.
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

When scheduling permits, students should take ENG 75012 as a prerequisite to ENG 75044; there will be semesters however, when students need to take ENG 75012 and ENG 75044 simultaneously if they want to take ENG 75044.

²

Students, with guidance from faculty, complete a qualifying examination before writing a dissertation prospectus. Upon the successful completion of the qualifying examination, students form a dissertation committee whose members direct the student through the dissertation and the completion of the degree. Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for ENG 89199 for a total of 30 hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter ENG 89299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Develop knowledge of the field of rhetoric and composition, its application in diverse contexts and its role in contemporary culture.
2. Generate research questions, develop appropriate research designs and practice ethical modes of inquiry.
3. Participate in local and international communities of like-minded scholars and teachers.
4. Contribute new knowledge in the field of rhetoric and composition.