Graduate Curriculum and Requirements | Rhetoric and Composition

Ph.D. and M.A. Requirements

Both degrees require the following core courses, which must be completed at FSU:

  • Theories of Composition
  • Rhetorical Theory and Practice
  • Research Methodologies in Rhetoric and Composition

Additionally, Ph.D. and M.A. students take courses to prepare them for teaching and tutoring responsibilities. Also required are a second language course or certification, and a course in critical theory, both of which can be waived by the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, if they have been fulfilled in other or prior degree programs.

Ph.D. Specific Requirements

PhD students in Composition and Rhetoric take 27 credit hours of coursework (at least 18 in Rhetoric and Composition) and 24 hours of dissertation work for a total of at least 51 hours. In addition to the core courses listed above, Ph.D. students take 2 additional core seminars:

  • Theories of Difference
  • Digital Revolution and Convergence Culture 

Other courses include special topics ranging from discourse analysis to global rhetorics to Black feminist perspectives to designing college writing programs. We also offer a series of 1-hour course options (e.g., pedagogy, reading group, speaker series interviews, manuscript writing workshops). After their coursework is complete, Ph.D. students must pass a written preliminary examination with an oral defense in 3 areas: Rhetoric, Composition, and a Minor area of specialization. They must also complete and defend a dissertation.

M.A. Specific Requirements

M.A. students in Composition and Rhetoric take a total of 33 credit hours. In addition to the requirements listed above, M.A. students take elective credits and complete and defend either a thesis (6 credits) or a non-thesis ePortfolio (3 credits). No examinations are required for the M.A.

Graduate Assistantships

Assistantship opportunities in the Rhetoric and Composition program at Florida State are abundant and provide graduate students with valuable preparation to enter a range of faculty positions upon graduation. These assistantships provide tuition remission as well as a stipend. Many graduate students opt to take classes and teach during the summer for additional funding. Students work with their advising faculty to lay out an assistantship trajectory that meets their strengths and professional goals. While other assistantship are available, the following 3 areas house the majority of assistantship opportunities:

College composition program

  • Instructor: once graduate students have 18 graduate hours in the discipline, they are able to teach their own sections of College Composition.
  • Mentor: TAs who have demonstrated teaching excellence and commitment to community can apply to mentor other teaching assistants new to the program. These mentors meet regularly with their groups, observe courses, and provide feedback and support.
  • Administrator: Advanced Ph.D. students can apply to work as a Program Assistant, which provide insights into and experience in a fuller range of WPA responsibilities (e.g., participating in teacher preparation, scheduling courses, developing curriculum, supporting teachers, responding to problems, etc.).

Reading Writing Center and Digital Studio

  • Tutor/Consultant: graduate students can serve as tutor-consultants in one of several locations of our award-winning writing center or in the digital studio, assisting students and faculty with digital projects such as web and poster design, multimedia composition, video work, etc.
  • Administrator: Advanced graduate students can apply to assist the Director of the RWC-DS in one of several administrative positions, which provide insights into and experience in a fuller range of responsibilities (e.g., participating in tutor preparation, scheduling and supporting tutors, developing tutoring materials, supporting ELL/ESL, responding to challenges, etc.).

Courses in the Major

  • Once advanced graduate students have taken the appropriate coursework, they are qualified to teach courses in the Editing, Writing, and Media (EWM) major, which is nationally recognized for its interdisciplinarity. Eligible courses include Rhetoric (survey course), Writing and Editing in Print and Online, and History of Text Technologies, as well as Advanced Writing and Editing.
  • Advanced Ph.D. students can also apply to teach the practicum for undergraduate tutors and consultants in the RWC-DS.
  • Other advanced graduate students may apply to teach Introduction to English Studies or Article and Essay Technique.

For more information about teaching assistantships, fellowships and scholarship, the graduate student handbook, or the application process, see the English department’s “For Prospective Students” page.