PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication at East Carolina University

The Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication is a PhD degree offered by East Carolina University at its main campus in Greenville , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 4 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 21, 2027.

About PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication

Are you interested in a PhD program that combines the study of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication? Are you interested in studying writing and communication practices in community or public contexts?

The PhD program in rhetoric, writing, and professional communication, offered by the Department of English, provides opportunities to combine theory and practice in the study of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication. The program is particularly engaged in areas related to cultural, public, and community rhetorics across a range of genres and media. It provides future scholar-teachers with diverse, well-supported teaching experiences and fosters professional development as productive members of intellectual, teaching, and professional communities.

Our program is especially suited for students interested in researching the intersections of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication especially as applied to public or community contexts. Students can expect lots of attention and support in this program.

How Do I Apply
Apply Now

Program Coordinator: Matthew Cox (2211 Bate Building; 252-737-1664; [email protected])

The Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication, PhD offers students the opportunity to combine theory and practice in the study of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication. Focusing on public and community rhetorics across genres and media, the program provides future scholar-teachers with diverse, well-supported research and pedagogical experiences and foster professional development within intellectual and professional communities.

Visit Department of English PhD in RWPC for more information.

Curriculum

The degree requires a minimum of 60 s.h. beyond the master's degree as follows:

1. Required courses - 30 s.h.

ENGL 7600 - Research Methods in Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional Communication
ENGL 7605 - Discourse Analysis
ENGL 7615 - History and Theory of Rhetoric I
ENGL 7620 - History and Theory of Rhetoric II
ENGL 7780 - Theory of Professional Communication
ENGL 8300 - Seminar in Professional Development (minimum of 3 s.h. is required)
ENGL 8600 - Seminar in Writing Studies and Pedagogy
ENGL 8615 - Seminar in Rhetorical Theory
ENGL 8630 - Seminar in Community and Cultural Rhetorics
ENGL 8780 - Seminar in Professional Communication

2. Electives in ENGL or affiliate departments - 9 s.h.

3. Dissertation - 21 s.h.

ENGL 9000 - Dissertation

Note:

Please contact the director of graduate studies in English for additional details concerning application procedures, admission requirements, and specific academic requirements.

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication at East Carolina University

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career Opportunities after Completing PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
Editors
Technical Writers
Writers and Authors

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication at East Carolina University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication at East Carolina University

Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

Contact information for each program, along with their application deadlines, can be found on the Find Your Program feature.

Ready to apply now? Great!

If you have already created an account and/or are applying to multiple programs, please use the same account. After selecting the program of choice, simply login with your credentials.
Use a personal email account (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, AOL) when setting up your ECU application account. Please refrain from creating an account using any ECU associated emails because doing so may prevent you from receiving important email communication from us.

PhD in Rhetoric, Writing and Professional Communication at East Carolina University

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville