PhD Rhetoric and Composition Checklist

Total 72 credits: 34 graded credit hours, 38 non-graded credit hours

*Please note that an updated version of this checklist will be posted soon.

I. Graded Courses [34 credits]

A. All PhD Students must take [4 credits]

  • ENGL 501: Seminar in the Teaching of Writing: Methodology of Composition *Students on TAship only [3 credits]
  • ENGL 590: Directed Reading [1 credit required, up to 6 credits allowed]
    • English 590 is a graded independent study designed to provide directed research in English studies for individuals (or small groups) in conjunction with one or more faculty members.

B. All PhD Students must take the following courses [9 credits]

  • ENGL 502: Seminar in the Teaching of Writing: Contemporary Theories Enlightenment to the Twentieth Century
  • ENGL 509: Seminar in Classical Rhetoric and its Influences
  • ENGL 515: Contemporary Theories of Rhetoric

Students who have already taken graduate seminars in any of these areas may meet with the Director of Graduate Study to see if they may waive one or more of these requirements.

C. Other Required Courses [21 credits]

  • All PhD Students must take an additional 7 seminars from 500-level English courses. Six hours of 400-level courses in or outside of English may be counted upon approval. 500-level courses outside of English may also be counted upon approval. Students may transfer in 3 of these credits.

II.  Non-Graded Courses [38 credits]

A. ENGL 598: Teaching Apprenticeship [3 credits]

  • 1st Semester: English 101 Preparation [1 credit]
  • 2nd Semester: Weekly Colloquium on Freshman Comp [1 credit]
  • 3rd or 4th Semester: Mentored Teaching or Pedagogy Course [1 credit]

B. Special Projects or Independent Study [4 credits, 1 credit per semester]

  • 1st Semester: ENGL 600 Special Projects or Independent Study [1 credit]    
  • 2nd Semester: ENGL 600 Special Projects or Independent Study [1 credit]
  • 3rd Semester: ENGL 600 Special Projects or Independent Study [1 credit]
  • 4th Semester: ENGL 600 Special Projects or Independent Study [1 credit]

C. ENGL 800: Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination [31 credits]

III.  Additional Requirements

  • Foreign Language Requirement
    • Passed Graduate Foreign Language Translation Exam, or completed a WSU foreign language class at the 306 level or above.                                                            
  • PhD Qualifying Exam                                               
  • Dissertation                                                                                             
  • Dissertation