PhD in Rhetoric
Admission to the PhD in Rhetoric
Program Contact
Dundee Lackey, PhD
Graduate Program Coordinator
940-898-2331
dlackey@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Fall – February 1 (priority review), July 1
Spring – November 1
Summer – February 1
Admission Requirements
- Master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Applicants who lack the appropriate foundational degree (the bachelor's or master's) in English, literature, writing, or rhetoric may be required to complete a deficiency plan prior to beginning graduate courses in English. Specific requirements depend on an individual student's undergraduate course work in the discipline but may include 12-15 hours. Additional information on deficiency plans may be obtained from the Graduate Program Coordinator.
- Applicants to the program are expected to have earned a master's degree prior to beginning the doctoral program. At least one degree, either the bachelor's or master's, should be in English, writing, rhetoric, or a closely related field. If the department chooses to consider an applicant without a previous English, writing, or rhetoric degree, she or he may be awarded provisional admission. Provisional status may include a leveling plan which includes undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses in the English department.
- Minimum of a 3.0 GPA on previous upper-division and graduate work.
- Score of 79 on TOEFL (iBT) for international students.
How to Apply
Students interested in applying to graduate programs in English and Rhetoric are encouraged to contact the Graduate Program Coordinator prior to applying. Writing samples and statements of purpose are of particular importance in the application process.
- Apply for admission to the TWU Graduate School.
- Applicants must email the following materials in PDF format to the program coordinator with the subject heading "(Full Name) -Ph.D. in Rhetoric Application":
- Statement of purpose
- An academic writing sample
- Three academic or professional references should submit letters of recommendation as PDFs on institutional or organization letterhead directly to the program coordinator. Recommenders should include applicant name and "Ph.D. in Rhetoric" in the subject line.
Graduate Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships are available to students enrolled in the Ph.D. program. Assistantships are competitive as they provide stipends and out-of-state tuition waivers. For best consideration, students are encouraged to apply for assistantships at the same time they apply to the program. Additional information about types of work available and expectations can be obtained from the Graduate Program Coordinator. Please forward your application to the department chair at gwest@twu.edu. A personal interview may be required for graduate students who are seeking an assistantship.
Page last updated 9:09 AM, October 21, 2022