Rhetoric and Professional Communication - Doctor of Philosophy
An MA is required for admission to the PhD program. Students in the doctoral program will develop individualized plans of study in consultation with advisors. Students are required to take
- 60 hours of graduate-level coursework including the doctoral proseminar in the first semester;
- courses in research methods;
- core courses in composition, professional and technical communication, and rhetoric;
- additional coursework in an area of specialization determined in consultation with an advisor;
- an internship; and
- a dissertation.
The Ph.D. also requires a qualifying portfolio, a comprehensive examination and an oral examination. The dissertation must be completed and approved within 5 years after the comprehensive exam. Consult the department for additional instructions regarding the internship, qualifying comprehensive examinations, portfolio and dissertation.
Requirements
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Requirements | ||
| ENGL 610 | Proseminar in Rhetoric and Professional Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 597 | Internship in Technical and Professional Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 600 | Doctoral Research | 3-15 |
| ENGL 700 | Doctoral Dissertation | 15 |
| Methods Courses | 3 | |
| Select one from the following | ||
| Graduate Study in Empirical Research | 3 | |
| Qualitative Research | 3 | |
| Digital Research Methods | 3 | |
| Core Courses | ||
| Select four from the following core courses: | 12 | |
| Core Composition Courses (select one) | ||
| History and Theory of Composition Studies | 3 | |
| Critical Writing Studies | 3 | |
| Core Professional and Technical Communication Courses (select one) | ||
| Critical Conversations in Technical and Professional Communication | 3 | |
| Technical-Professional Communication Pedagogies | 3 | |
| Multimedia Theory and Production | 3 | |
| Core Rhetoric Courses (select two) | ||
| History of Rhetoric | 3 | |
| Graduate Study in Modern Rhetorical Theory | 3 | |
| Rhetoric and Cultural Studies | 3 | |
| Specialized Courses | ||
| Select 21 credits in specialized area determined in consultation with an advisor. 2 | 21 | |
| Transfer Credits (18 credits) | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 78-90 | |
- 1
Graduate assistants must take 3 hours of ENGL 571 Composition Pedagogy and Practicum, during their first semester of teaching.
- 2
Students define their specialized area, a coherent set of related courses drawn from both inside and outside the Department of English, in consultation with their doctoral committee. Possible specializations include Border Rhetorics and Cultures; Writing Program Administration/Writing Center Administration; Assessment; Pedagogy; Literacy Studies; Identity and Political and Social Rhetoric; New Media Rhetoric and Design; Intercultural Rhetorics; Writing Across the Curriculum; Workplace Communication; and the Rhetoric of Science. Up to 6 hours may be taken outside of English.
Transfer Courses (18 credits)
In consultation with an advisor and the Doctoral Committee, courses taken at the Master's level can be used to waive specific area requirements in the PhD, but this will not reduce the minimum number of credits required.
Financial Support
Students are eligible for teaching assistantships and a variety of positions that involve writing around campus and the community. Because many students work full time, many courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate various schedules.
Application Information
Please refer to the online application process described on the NMSU Admissions website for specific instructions for each program.