The doctoral program in writing and rhetoric offers a curriculum that emphasizes theoretical, practical, and productive approaches to composition, professional writing, and public rhetoric. The program is built on the premise that writing and teaching in twenty-first century organizations require the rigorous, integrated study of rhetoric, technology, pedagogy, culture, and research methodologies. In addition to our core curriculum, the program’s proximity to Washington, D.C. makes it uniquely situated to provide opportunities for research and internships that go beyond and enrich the student’s writing and rhetoric coursework.
Admissions
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. Applicants to the PhD in Writing and Rhetoric must already have earned a master’s degree in a relevant field before being admitted to the program.
For further information specific to the PhD in Writing and Rhetoric, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the college website.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate programs, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Required Master's Degree
Applicants must have earned a master’s degree in a relevant field before being admitted to the PhD. The PhD requires 78 credits. Up to 30 credits may be transferred from the required master’s degree. More information can be found in AP.6.5.2 Transfer of Credit.
Program Requirements
To receive the PhD in Writing and Rhetoric, students complete a minimum of 78 credits of coursework, 48 beyond the master's degree. Beyond the basic coursework, a dissertation is required.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 78
Doctoral Coursework
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGH 720 | Histories of Institutional Rhetorics | 3 |
| ENGH 722 | Composition Pedagogies and Programs in Context | 3 |
| ENGH 724 | Professional Writing Theory and Research | 3 |
| ENGH 726 | Rhetorical Theory and Public Spaces | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Required Research Methods Course
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGH 702 | Research Methods in Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
Primary Focus Area
With a faculty advisor, students complete any combination of the following courses totaling 12 credits. The selected courses should form a consistent area of research around a specific object, practice, method, set of theories, or sub-field.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Pedagogical Research | ||
| Studies in Rhetoric | ||
| Proseminar in Composition Instruction | ||
| Topics in Pedagogy | ||
| Advanced Proposal Writing | ||
| Special Topics in Writing and Rhetoric | ||
| Composition Theory | ||
| Core Readings in Writing Studies | ||
| Studies in Rhetorical Theory and Practice 1 | ||
| Writing Program Design and Administration | ||
| Studies in Composition 1 | ||
| Studies in Professional Writing 1 | ||
| Studies in Public Rhetorics 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 1
May be repeated up to four times when topic differs.
Secondary Focus Area
The selected courses form a consistent secondary area of research that supports the student's primary area and developing research interests. It is strongly suggested that the secondary focus courses be taken in other programs or disciplines.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 courses from another program or discipline (see below) and/or the primary area courses, in consultation with advisor | 9 | |
| Art and Visual Technology | ||
| Communication | ||
| Computer Game Design | ||
| Conflict Analysis and Resolution | ||
| Counseling and Development | ||
| Cultural Studies | ||
| Education Instructional Technology | ||
| Education Leadership | ||
| Educational Policy | ||
| Global and Community Health | ||
| Higher Education | ||
| History | ||
| Linguistics | ||
| Philosophy | ||
| Policy and Government | ||
| Psychology | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Reading | ||
| Social Work | ||
| Sociology | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Women and Gender Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students complete elective courses chosen in consultation with an advisor. | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Advancement to Candidacy
Prior to beginning dissertation research (normally after completion of 66 hours of coursework), students will take a written examination, successful completion of which will demonstrate a qualification for advancement to candidacy. The examination will cover foundation knowledge acquired in the writing and rhetoric core courses and in the student's area of primary focus.
Dissertation
The dissertation process, which begins after the student has completed 66 credit hours and passed the written qualifying exam, includes an oral exam on the dissertation proposal, the production of the dissertation, and an oral defense of the dissertation. The student's progress at all stages will be evaluated by the dissertation committee. The dissertation should use theoretical, historical, qualitative, and/or quantitative methods to address a rhetorical problem within an institutional or public context that is framed within a disciplinary field. While these projects are often multidisciplinary in approach, they should address a gap in a discipline's research as well as solve a public rhetorical problem.
Once enrolled in ENGH 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal, students in this degree program must maintain continuous registration in ENGH 998 or ENGH 999 Doctoral Dissertation each semester (excluding summers) until the dissertation is submitted to and accepted by the University Libraries. Once enrolled in ENGH 999, students must follow the university's continuous registration policy as specified in the Academic Policies section of the catalog. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of ENGH 999.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| At least 3 credits of | 3 | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (3 credits required) | ||
| At least 9 credits of | 9 | |
| Doctoral Dissertation (minimum of 9 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Program Outcomes
In addition to developing research, writing, and teaching skills that can be applied to industry, government, nonprofit organizations and public schools, Writing and Rhetoric PhD students will be able to
- define the contours and boundaries of the three main fields of writing studies addressed in the program.
- synthesize and critically evaluate information pertinent to research in writing studies.
- plan and conduct a program of independent research.
- select and apply the appropriate methodological tools to a research question.
- effectively present and discuss academic research.
- write for professional publication.