33 Rhetoric Degree Programs

JMU’s Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication major occupies rarefied air. The School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication is a community of exceptional faculty, dedicated staff, talented students, and energetic alumni in one of the only stand-alone programs in the U.S. dedicated to writing across a variety of modes and genres. WRTC offers an expansive curriculum and a wide variety of opportunities for hands-on learning. Students learn the kinds of research, analytical and technical skills that allow them to become successful professional communicators as well as competitive candidates for a wide variety of graduate programs. Our faculty is comprised of practitioners and scholars from fields including rhetoric and writing, scientific and technical communication, creative nonfiction, professional communication, digital media, feminist studies, the rhetoric of health and medicine, and science studies.

Using print and digital technologies to create, design, and produce texts now requires new ways of thinking about writing as a concept and practice. As an interdisciplinary examination and application of rhetoric and writing technologies, the Major in Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies prepares students to read, analyze, and compose across academic, workplace, and public spheres. Interactive courses improve reading, critical thinking, argumentation, narrative, and problem-solving abilities as students evaluate the implications of print, digital, and social media compositions in both local and global contexts. With these skills, students can navigate known, new, and emerging writing situations and media; they learn how to be flexible composers who can apply rhetorical strategies and digital skills to their current environments, as well as adapt emerging technologies to new contexts.

To achieve their goals, the programs combine work in theory, writing, text design, and analysis of communication systems and contexts to help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to begin careers in writing, rhetoric, and technical communication. The programs emphasize scholarly, humanistic, and social scientific perspectives on the function and application of writing, rhetoric, and technical communication. Consequently, the programs provide students with not only the knowledge and skills required for careers in industry, business, or government but also the research skills and communication theory that will prepare them for doctoral study in communication and rhetoric. The long-range goal of the degree, then, is to enable program graduates to grow as professionals and, ultimately, to contribute to the developing field of writing, rhetoric, and technical communication. Students work with school advisers to design a program that fits their unique educational needs and career aspirations. Depending on their backgrounds and options they might choose to pursue while in the degree program, students may decide to take additional courses to obtain knowledge or skills in specialized areas. For example, students may choose to take extra coursework to enhance their skills in communication technologies or to deepen their academic training in the writing, rhetoric, and technical communication content areas in which they intend to work as professional writers or editors.

The Master's in Rhetoric and Writing Studies offers a comprehensive graduate program focused on advanced study of rhetoric, writing, and communication. Students engage with theoretical and practical a...

The Rhetoric and Writing Studies department offers a comprehensive program focused on developing advanced skills in rhetoric, composition, and professional writing. The curriculum emphasizes critical ...

The Ph.D. program in Rhetoric & Writing Studies is designed for students interested in deepening their understanding of how writing shapes ideas and communities. The program emphasizes the development...

The program in Rhetoric and Writing Studies, M.A., offers an in-depth exploration of communication, critical thinking, and writing skills tailored for students interested in advancing their understand...

The Rhetoric and Writing Studies—BA program offers students a comprehensive education in analyzing, composing, and evaluating texts across various genres and mediums. The curriculum emphasizes develop...

The Master of Arts in Rhetoric & Writing Studies is designed for students who want to deepen their understanding of how language shapes our world. It offers a variety of courses that explore the theor...

The Master and Doctoral programs in Composition and Rhetoric focus on developing advanced understanding and expertise in the fields of writing, communication, and rhetorical studies. Students engage w...

The program in Rhetoric and Writing Studies with a specialization in Teaching of Writing offers a comprehensive curriculum focused on the theory and practice of teaching writing across diverse context...

The Rhetoric and Writing Studies program offers students a comprehensive education in effective communication, critical thinking, and the analysis of texts within a liberal arts framework. It emphasiz...

The Master of Arts in Rhetoric, Writing, and Digital Media Studies is designed to help students deepen their understanding of how messages are created, shared, and interpreted in various contexts. The...

The PhD program in Composition and Rhetoric offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare scholars for advanced research, teaching, and leadership roles in the fields of writing, rhetoric, and...

The PhD program in Rhetoric and Composition is designed to prepare students for advanced scholarly and teaching roles in the fields of rhetoric, composition, and related areas. The program emphasizes ...