Academic Programs Catalog

College of Arts and Letters

Graduate Study


Rhetoric and Writing - Master of Arts

The Master of Arts Degree in Rhetoric and Writing is an innovative, flexible degree program focused on educating the next generation of humanities leaders and thinkers who will engage their work in both academic and professional contexts. The degree serves both as a professional degree for students interested in technical and professional writing and a career track in industry, nonprofits, or in non-faculty roles in educational institutions, and as a preparatory degree for doctoral work in rhetoric, writing and composition studies, communication studies, or technical communication.

The program provides students with a theoretically grounded yet practical experience in rhetoric and writing, and offers concentration areas for students to select from: Professional Writing and Technical Communication, Composition Studies and Writing Pedagogy, Digital Rhetorics, Cultural Rhetorics, and Custom Emphasis.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Writing an applicant must:

  1. Include in the letter required by the college, a statement that addresses the applicant’s goals in pursuing the degree.
  2. Submit two writing samples demonstrating your ability to engage in graduate-level study.
  3. Three letters of reference.
To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree in humanities, writing, communications or a related field and have a minimum grade-point average of 3.25.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Rhetoric and Writing

The program is available under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits, of which no more than 12 credits at the 400-level, is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the program director. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B:
1. All of the following courses (9 credits):
WRA 801 Introduction to Rhetoric and Writing 3
WRA 810 Writing, Composing, Designing, Making 3
WRA 880 Theories of Rhetoric and Writing 3
2. One of the following concentrations (21 credits):
Professional Writing and Technical Communication
1. All of the following courses (12 credits): 3
WRA 420 Content Strategy 3
WRA 453 Grant and Proposal Writing
Or 3
WRA 483 Community Publishing 3
WRA 841 Professional Writing Theory and Research 3
WRA 893B Internship in Professional Writing
2. Complete a minimum of 9 additional credits selected in consultation with the program director.
Composition Studies and Writing Pedagogy
1. All of the following courses (12 credits):
WRA 870 Research Methodologies in Rhetoric and Writing 3
WRA 878 Composition Studies: Issues, Theory and Research 3
WRA 888 Methods in the Teaching of College-Level Writing 3
WRA 891 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Writing 3
Or
WRA 889 Writing Center Theory and Administration 3
2. Complete a minimum of 9 additional credits selected in consultation with the program director.
Digital Rhetorics
1. All of the following courses (9 credits):
WRA 415 Digital Rhetoric 3
WRA 841 Professional Writing Theory and Research 3
WRA 860 Multimodal Composing Theory and Practice 3
2. Complete a minimum of 12 additional credits selected in consultation with the program director.
Cultural Rhetorics
1. All of the following courses (12 credits):
WRA 882 Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric 3
WRA 848 Cultural Rhetorics Theory and Methodology 3
WRA 891 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Writing 6
WRA 891 should be completed in two different offerings. 
WRA 882 may not be double-counted in the core requirement.
2. Complete a minimum of 9 additional credits selected in consultation with the program director.
Custom Emphasis
Students will complete 21 credits determined in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Elective Courses Available for Concentrations
WRA 401 Rhetoric, Leadership, and Innovation   3
WRA  410 Advanced Web Authoring 3
WRA  415 Digital Rhetoric  3
WRA  420 Content Strategy        3
WRA  441 Social Justice as Rhetorical Practice  3
WRA  453 Grant and Proposal Writing  3
WRA  455 Portfolio Seminar    3
WRA  471 Rhetoric of Grammar    3
WRA  480 Publication Management    3
WRA  482 Information and Interaction Design    3
WRA  483 Community Publishing  3
WRA  484 Ethics in Writing  3
WRA  491 Special Topics  3
WRA  495 Advanced Studies in Writing and Tutoring Pedagogy    1
WRA  805 Rhetoric Theory and History   3
WRA 828 Queer Rhetorics 3
WRA  841 Professional Writing Theory and Research   3
WRA 842 Foundations in Experience Architecture 3
WRA  848 Cultural Rhetorics Theory and Methodology 3
WRA  853 Workshop in Rhetoric and Writing  3
WRA  860 Multimodal Composing Theory and Practice 3
WRA  870 Research Methodologies in Rhetoric and Writing     3
WRA  872 Methods of Research in Rhetoric and Writing  3
WRA  878 Composition Studies: Issues, Theory, and Research  3
WRA  882 Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric      3
WRA  888 Methods in the Teaching of College-Level Writing    3
WRA  889 Writing Center Theory and Administration 3
WRA  891 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Writing 3
WRA  893B  Internship in Professional Writing 3
WRA  893D  Internship in Literacy and Pedagogy 3
WRA  992 Seminar in Literacy Studies  3
Additional 400- or 800-level course work outside the department may be available with approval of the advisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Additional Requirements for Plan A
1. Complete 4 to 6 credits of WRA 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
These credits will count towards the credits for the concentration.
2. Pass a final oral certifying examination in defense of the thesis and course work.
Additional Requirements for Plan B
1. Complete an additional 3 to 6 credits of course work from the list of electives above. These credits will count towards the credits for the concentration.
2. Pass a final certifying examination on the course work or complete a final portfolio and pass a final oral examination on the portfolio.


 

Rhetoric and Writing - Doctor of Philosophy

The doctoral degree in Rhetoric and Writing prepares students to conduct research and teach courses in writing studies, digital rhetoric, experience architecture, and technical and professional communication. Students learn to do this work by engaging with scholarship, learning with faculty, collaborating on research teams, producing multimodal content for organizations, understanding people-focused experiences, teaching in our programs, and working with local and global communities. Through these experiences, students examine issues of accessibility, ethics, literacy, and storytelling through writing, composing, and making. Central to this work is applying and developing theories and methodologies to be a positive force for structural change, growth, and innovation with an emphasis on culture, context, and access.

This degree prepares students to lead in various workplaces, including academia, civic, corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations. Our students go on to administer programs in academia, conduct user experience research for organizations, design products and services in industry, manage international projects, publish in academic and trade journals, and research and teach in higher education contexts.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Rhetoric and Writing an applicant must:

  1. Specify the concentration the applicant wishes to pursue.
  2. Include in the letter required by the college, a statement of purpose and a statement of instruction philosophy.
  3. Submit two writing samples (major research paper, summary of master’s thesis, or digital documents).

To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a master’s degree or the equivalent, a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in graduate-level courses, and at least three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s ability to pursue advanced graduate study.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Rhetoric and Writing

The student must:

1. Complete a minimum of 27 credits of graduate course work. No more than 6 credits of 400-level course work will count toward the degree.
2. All of the following core courses (12 credits):
WRA 801 Introduction to Rhetoric and Writing 3
WRA 810 Writing, Composing, Designing, Making 3
WRA 870 Research Methodologies in Rhetoric and Writing 3
WRA 880 Theories of Rhetoric and Writing 3
For students who already hold an Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Writing from our program, alternative arrangements will be made with regards to their core course requirements. Alternatives can include independent studies or fulfilling the requirement by taking other courses offered in the program with the approval of the Director.
3. Concentrations.
Complete at least three courses, a minimum of 9 credits, in one of the following concentrations:  Cultures, Identities, and Communities; Leadership and Administration, Writing Pedagogy and Learning; or Technical and Professional Communication. A list of courses eligible for each concentration is available from the program director. Courses used to fulfill core requirements may not be used to satisfy concentration requirements. Other concentrations may be approved the student’s guidance committee.
4. Pass a written comprehensive examination on the core courses and the area of concentration.
5. Pass a pre-dissertation examination consisting of an oral examination based on a written prospectus and a preliminary bibliography for the dissertation project.
6. Pass a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.

Academic Standards

A student must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 in all graduate courses.

A student may count toward the degree only those courses in which the student has received a grade of 3.0 or higher.

A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in rhetoric and writing courses taken for the purpose of satisfying the degree requirements.

A student who fails the comprehensive examinations, the pre-dissertation examination, or the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation, may repeat that examination only once, during the following semester.