PhD in Rhetoric

Program Contact

Dr. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Minimum of a 3.0 GPA on previous upper-division and graduate work.
4. Score of 79 or higher on TOEFL (iBT) for international students.
5. Statement of purpose.
6. An academic writing sample.
7. Email addresses for three academic or professional references familiar with your academic capabilities, who can provide letters of recommendation to be requested through and submitted into the application. 

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.

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.

Begin by finding your program in TWU's Program, Majors & Degrees listings to see if your program has additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.  (This information is for all programs. The application deadline for your specific program will be listed in the Program Requirements.  Use that deadline as it applies below.  (Example: if a program only admits once a year and has a Fall deadline for 2023 of March 1, you would need to be looking to apply to the next deadline for Fall 2024.)

1. Apply online.
   Apply to Graduate Programs according to the start semester and application portals below:
   
   • Spring 2024 - All programs apply via ApplyTexas EXCEPT applicants to the College of Business, Child Life, or Child Development master's programs or the Child Development and Early Education PhD program who should apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal.
     • Note: When applying through ApplyTexas, you will need to submit any required Documents directly to the program website.
   • Summer & Fall 2024 - All graduate programs apply via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal. Required documents will be asked for and uploaded into the application.
     
     
2. Pay the application fee.
   The $50 fee, ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants can be paid by:
   • Credit card - Online through the portal you applied on (either ApplyTexas or TWU's Online Graduate Application).
   • Certified check or money order by mail or electronically - payable to TWU, sent by mail to:
     TWU Admissions Processing, 301 Research Circle, Room 220; Denton, Texas 76204
     (include your full name and ID number).
   • Cash (no personal checks) - Pay at the Bursar's Office. After paying, bring the receipt to Admissions Processing (2nd floor of GRB).
   • Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar application Fee waiver. Submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission Form.
     
     
3. Submit transcripts to TWU.
   • Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details.
   • International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU.  See the International Admission website for more details.

For more information on graduate admissions or to contact an admissions official, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.