Degree Requirements & Program of Study
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements will include 60 hours of graduate coursework past the
bachelor’s
degree plus 30 hours of research and dissertation. Of those 60 hours of coursework,
up to 30 may be transferred from an appropriate master’s degree. Because
rhetoric and writing are inherently interdisciplinary subjects, this program
invites students to complete some coursework in related fields, such as Language
and Literature, Communication, Science and Technology Studies, Political
Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Engineering Education, as well as
courses in preparing the future professoriate offered by the Virginia Tech
Graduate School.
Program of Study
Core: 9 hours
RW 6304 Disciplinary Issues in Rhetoric and Writing
RW 6314 Classical Rhetoric in Written Communication
RW 6344 Rhetoric in Digital Environments
Rhetoric, Language, and Society (choose four courses from these options): 12 hours
RW 6334 Rhetoric in Society
ENGL 5674 Rhetoric of Science and Technology
RW 6514 Studies in Rhetoric
ENGL 5064 Topics in Language
RW 6524 Theories of Written Communication
Writing Programs and Pedagogy (choose two courses from these options): 6 hours
ENGL 5054 Composition Pedagogy
ENGL 5654 Professional Writing Pedagogy
RW 6554 Composition Studies
Professional Practice (choose two courses from these options): 6 hours
ENGL 5614 Visual Rhetoric
ENGL 5624 Intercultural Communication
ENGL 5644 Genres of Professional Communication Practice
ENGL 5634 Writing and Publishing in Electronic Environments
Research Methods: 6 hours
RW 6364 Research Design in Rhetoric and Writing
RW 6374 Field Methods of Research in Rhetoric and Writing
Electives from Rhetoric and Writing, English, or Other Departments: 6 hours
These electives are related to rhetoric and writing. Students must be
qualified to enroll in courses beyond the department and be welcomed by
the department. Students who do not take courses outside the department
will fulfill their requirements with additional courses in Rhetoric and
Writing. Some
examples --
ENGL 5074 Digital Humanities
COMM 5124 Organizational Communication
COMM 5614 Rhetorical Theory & Criticism
STS 5105, 5106 Contemporary Issues in Science & Technology
Studies
STS 5404/ HIST 5404 Development of Modern American Science
GRAD 5114 Pedagogical Practices in Contemporary Contexts
GRAD 5104 Preparing the Future Professoriate
Cognate Area or Additional Electives: 15 hours
Up to 15 hours from a field other than rhetoric and writing. Some
examples --
English
Communication
Human-Computer Interaction
Science and Technology Studies Certificate (12 hours)
Future Professoriate Certificate (9 hours)
Women’s Studies Certificate (9 hours)
Nonprofit and Nongovernmental Organization Management Certificate (12
hours)
If students do not elect this option or take fewer than 15 hours in a
cognate area, they take additional courses in rhetoric and writing or courses
related to the subject of their dissertation research to reach the required
number of credit hours.
Research and Dissertation: 30 hours
Total: 90 hours