English, Ph.D., Rhetoric and Composition Concentration

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Concentration Requirements

Information about the rhetoric and composition program is available at sites.gsu.edu/rhetcomp/. Dissertation research may involve digital and workplace projects as well as textual studies, and the dissertation can be a substantial academic project or a digital project with approval of the director. In the interests of facilitating professional specialization within the broad fields of rhetoric, composition, professional writing, and technical communication, the following courses are required:

A total of thirty hours of course work beyond the M.A. level (including, if desired, a maximum of six hours of coursework in related fields offered by other departments);
Nine hours of rhetoric, composition courses, technical communication and strongly related courses
To complete the 30-hour requirement, electives as needed in rhetoric and composition, language, theory, literature, or any strongly related fields of study outside of English (with approval from the student’s advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies and with a maximum of six hours of coursework outside of rhetoric and composition)
At least twenty hours of ENGL 8999 Thesis Research.

ENGL 8999 - Thesis Research 1 to 9 Credit Hours

History and Theory Courses

Nine hours in history and theory courses:

ENGL 8170 - History and Theory of Rhetoric and Composition I 3 Credit Hours (if not taken at the M.A. level)
ENGL 8171 - History and Theory of Rhetoric and Composition II 3 Credit Hours (if not taken at the M.A. level)
ENGL 8180 - Contemporary Issues in Writing Studies 3 Credit Hours (if not taken at the M.A. level)

Academic Research and Publishing Courses

Six hours in academic research and publishing courses:

ENGL 8120 - Proseminar: Writing for Academic Publication 3 Credit Hours (Pro Seminar)
ENGL 8125 - Writing and Research Methodology 3 Credit Hours

Graduate Research Skill Requirement

Satisfaction of this requirement remains the same as for the thesis track M.A in English, Concentration in Rhetoric and Composition .