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2016-2017 University Catalog 
  
2016-2017 University Catalog

Writing and Rhetoric, PhD


Banner Code: LA-PHD-WRTR
Web: writingandrhetoric.gmu.edu

College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences  
Department: English  

The doctoral program in writing and rhetoric offers a curriculum that emphasizes theoretical, practical, and productive approaches to composition, professional writing, and public rhetorics. The program is built on the premise that writing and teaching in twenty-first century organizations requires the rigorous, integrated study of rhetoric, technology, pedagogy, culture, and research methodologies.

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see the Academic Policies  section of the catalog.

Application Requirements


Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Admissions  section of this catalog. 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 web site.

Reduction of Credit


Students must have a master’s degree before being admitted to the PhD in writing and rhetoric. Most students receive a reduction of study of 30 credits based on their previous master’s degree.

Degree Requirements


To receive the PhD in writing and rhetoric, students complete a minimum of 78 credits of course work, 48 beyond the master’s degree. Beyond the basic course work, a dissertation is required. 

Doctoral Course Work (66 credits)


One required research methods course (3 credits)


Four courses (12 credits) in primary focus area


With a faculty advisor, students complete any combination of the following courses totaling 12 credits. Each course offers multiple topics and can be taken up to 4 times. The selected courses should form a consistent area of research around a specific object, practice, method, set of theories, or sub-field.

Three courses (9 credits) in a secondary focus area


With a faculty advisor, students choose 3 courses from another program or discipline (see below) and/or the primary area courses. 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.

Coursework for the secondary focus may be completed with courses from the following departments and programs: anthropology, art and visual technology, communication, cultural studies, education, English, history, linguistics, literature, modern and classical languages, public policy, sociology, and women and gender studies.

Electives (0-30 credits)


Students receiving a reduction of credit of less than 30 will complete the remaining credits through additional elective courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.

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 Research (12 credits)


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 , students in this degree program must maintain continuous registration in 998  or ENGH 999  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 999 .

Total: 78 credits