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
Program Delivery
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) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 610 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 102 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 86 MELAB score
- Minimum 7.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 73 PTE score
- Minimum 130 Duolingo English Test score
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
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Develop knowledge of the field of rhetoric and composition, its application in diverse contexts and its role in contemporary culture.
- Generate research questions, develop appropriate research designs and practice ethical modes of inquiry.
- Participate in local and international communities of like-minded scholars and teachers.
- Contribute new knowledge in the field of rhetoric and composition.
