Graduate Courses

PDF versions of the coursework requirements:
MA in Rhetoric and Composition
PhD in Rhetoric and Composition


Engl 4510/6510. Grant and Proposal Writing
Study and practice in grant and proposal writing in business and organizational settings. Nonmajor undergraduate prerequisite: grade of C or higher in Engl 1102 or 1103. Graduate prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Engl 4520/6520. Gender and Writing
Examines women's contributions and the role of gender in writing and rhetoric from ancient to contemporary cultures. May include writing projects in civic, social, and professional settings. Nonmajor prerequisite: grade of C or higher in Engl 1102 or 1103. Graduate prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Engl 8080. Modern Grammar
Fundamentals of present-day English language constructions in writing and speech: phonology, morphology, syntax, and discourse. Focuses on applying modern linguistic theories to the analysis of form, function, and meaning of English utterances. Especially recommended for those who expect to teach English or English Language Arts.

Engl 8115. Technical Writing
Study of scientific and technical styles; practice in various formats including reports, proposals, instructional manuals, and professional papers.

Engl 8120. Writing for Academic Publication
Study of academic writing and publication opportunities; focus on submitting conference abstracts, book reviews, and journal articles for publication

Engl 8121. Electronic Writing and Publishing
Theory and practice of computer-aided publishing and writing on computer networks. Strong emphasis on rhetorical design principles, theoretical and ethical issues of on-line writing, and practical computer strategies.

Engl 8123. Digital Rhetoric
Practical, "hands-on" course in the design, construction, and maintenance of web-based information systems and other electronic media.

Engl 8125. Writing and Research Methodology
Theory and practice of reading and conducting empirical research for the study of writing. Strong emphasis on theoretical and ethical principles of research methodology important for critically reading empirical research and designing new studies.

Engl 8150. Modern and Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
Survey of rhetorical theory from the late nineteenth-century to the present with emphasis on theorists, philosophers and educators such as Richards, Weaver, Burke, hooks, Baudrillard, de Certeau and their influences on contemporary rhetorical practices; ends with major late twentieth-century and current figures and movements.

Engl 8170. Historical Foundations of Rhetoric
A reading survey in rhetorical traditions from early Greek sophistical discourses to education in the Roman empire.

Engl 8171. Rhetoric: Cicero to Augustine
A survey of the works of the most significant rhetorical theorists from Cicero to Augustine.

ENGL 8172. Enlightenment Rhetoric
Enlightenment Rhetoric. Survey of the development of rhetorical theory from seventeenth-century continental authorities to nineteenth-century educational "reform" with emphasis on major figures, technological developments, feminist rhetorical practices, and Scottish influences on subsequent rhetorical practices

ENGL 8175. Medieval Rhetoric
Medieval Rhetoric. Beginning with Augustine of Hippo, this course examines the late classical rhetorical legacy in the West, exploring how that tradition changed during the thousand years of the medieval period and how the late medieval rhetoric and culture gave rise to the Renaissance.

Engl 8180. Composition Theory
An introduction to composition studies, including the study of bibliographical resources and problems; the relationships of literature, rhetoric, and literary theory to composition studies; writing across the curriculum; the application of composition theory to pedagogy; and major social, political, and curricular issues.

Engl 8195. Composition Pedagogy
An introduction to historical and contemporary practices for teaching writing, in classroom and writing center settings; including the application of pedagogical theories to develop teaching methods and philosophies; a survey of the institutional history of teaching writing in English departments in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries; and the study of the purposes and roles of writing centers as sites of tutoring, teaching, and collaborative learning.

Engl 8230. American English
Historical development of American English and current American grammar, vocabulary, and dialects.

Engl 8900. Topics Courses
Seminars are offered every semester under this general topics number and include Visual Rhetorics, Computers and Writing, and User Centered Design, among others.