PhD in Rhetoric and Scientific & Technical Communication

The PhD program combines foundational coursework with robust research and pedagogical training. Students work with renowned faculty to develop expertise in areas like:

  • rhetoric of science, environment, health, and medicine;
  • technical communication, including usability, user experience design, and digital literacy; 
  • critical and intercultural pedagogy;
  • multimodal composition; and
  • digital and classical rhetorics. 

Our program enables students to become teacher-scholars in their field of choice and lead state-of-the-art research. A master’s degree in a related field is required for direct admission to our PhD program.

Graduate Handbook

Review our PhD handbook for current requirements and policies.

PhD Program Requirements

Coursework

The PhD program requires 67 credits (43 course credits and 24 thesis credits) across five primary requirements. PhD students typically take three courses per semester. MA-to-PhD students have their MA coursework transfer automatically to the PhD.

Methods & Pedagogies (7 credits)

PhD students take three required courses:

  • WRIT 5531: Introduction to Writing Theories and Pedagogies
  • WRIT 5532: Practicum in Writing Pedagogies
  • WRIT 8011: Research Methods in Writing Studies and Technical Communication

Core Areas (15 credits)

PhD students complete five courses across the core areas of rhetoric, writing studies and pedagogy, and technical communication. Course options include classical rhetoric, modern rhetoric, and seminars. Seminar topics vary depending on faculty expertise. Recent topics include: 

  • Social Justice in Technical Communication
  • Multimodality and Writing Instruction
  • Embodied Politics: Rhetoric, Medicine & Disability
  • Viral Rhetorics: Persuasion & Politics in SocMedia

Specialty Area (9 credits)

PhD students choose courses in the Department of Writing Studies to develop their scholarly interests.

Outside Coursework (12 credits)

PhD students choose courses in other departments to further specialize. Students may complete a formal graduate minor to fulfill this requirement. 

Thesis Credits (24 credits)

During their program, PhD students enroll in WRIT 8888: Doctoral Thesis Credits. These credits support scholarly development toward the dissertation.

Preliminary Exams

The preliminary exams consist of a written exam and an oral exam. For the RSTC written exam, PhD students create reading lists and write essays in three areas (two of the three RSTC core areas and one specialty area). After passing their written exam, students complete an oral exam with a faculty committee in which they answer questions related to their written exam and exam areas. See the PhD handbook for more details.

Prospectus

Within a year of completing exams, PhD candidates develop a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus describes the dissertation’s research questions(s), the relevant literature, and proposed method/ologies. PhD candidates then meet with their faculty committee to review the prospectus and receive feedback. See the PhD handbook for more details.

Dissertation Defense

In their final year, PhD candidates research and write their dissertation manuscript. The final milestone is the dissertation defense. The first hour of the defense is a public presentation on the dissertation. The second hour of the defense is a closed session between the candidate and the dissertation committee. A sample of previous RSTC dissertations are listed on our Career Outcomes Page.

Catalog Requirements

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