The Goals of the PhD in Rhetoric & Writing
The PhD in Rhetoric and Writing
at Virginia Tech will prepare students
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to conduct independent, original research in Rhetoric and Writing
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for academic positions as scholars and teachers
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for research and writing positions in industry, government, and non-governmental organizations
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for their responsibilities to their professional communities, including membership, participation, and leadership
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to apply their knowledge to problem solving in academic, professional, and civic settings.
Graduates of the program will demonstrate understanding of
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broad knowledge of the literature of rhetoric, composition studies, and professional writing, including their history, theory, research methods, genres, and practice
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specialized knowledge of focused aspects of the discipline
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the ways in which knowledge is constructed, organized, managed, used, and diffused through language in writing — including writing in print, visual, and digital media
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the history and theory of rhetoric and related theories of language use
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the history and theory of rhetoric for one or more specific purposes (e.g., medical or environmental rhetoric)
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best practices of language use in a variety of settings (academic, corporate, public)
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writing pedagogy theory and practice
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opportunities and challenges posed by technology in rhetoric and writing.