We invite students to advance their career and educational goals by considering graduate study in Rhetoric and Composition. Our Master of Arts program provides a comprehensive curriculum focusing on the intersections among rhetoric, composition, and literacy. Examining both historical and contemporary contexts, students are prepared to understand how rhetorical theory informs the teaching and practice of writing in a variety of academic, professional, cultural, and civic contexts. Through rigorous coursework, individualized mentorship, and professionalization opportunities, students are encouraged to develop their own disciplinary research and teaching interests in a program with 13 dedicated graduate faculty.
Our faculty have a range of research expertise in Rhetoric and Composition, allowing students opportunities to take special topics courses and engage in directed research in areas of study such as:
- Civic and Public Writing
- Critical Race Theory
- Cultural Rhetorics
- Digital Rhetoric and Multimodal Composing
- Professional and Technical Writing
- Rhetoric of Health and Medicine
- Sociohistoric Perspectives of Literacy and Learning
- Transnational Literacy and Rhetoric
- Visual and Material Rhetorics
- Writing Program Administration
why Rhetoric and composition at ucf
A small program with the resources of a large research institution, our faculty provide one-on-one attention to students as they develop as researchers, teachers, and professionals. Our program is especially committed to:
- Preparing students to engage in technologically adept, theory-informed research and teaching about rhetoric, writing, and literacy.
- Sustaining diverse and inclusive learning environments predicated on ongoing practices of advocacy, social justice, anti-oppressive pedagogy.
- Providing a robust and supportive infrastructure for gaining career-enhancing experiences such as opportunities to work in the University Writing Center, Composition Program, and Writing Across the Curriculum Program.
- Supporting students as they develop their own interests and career trajectories.
The program is housed in a stand-alone Writing and Rhetoric department, the first and only of its kind in the state of Florida. Here, students are part of a vibrant community of scholars who engage one other through reading groups, teaching workshops, department symposia, and other events. Many students are supported through University Writing Center and teaching assistantships, which cover the price of tuition and provide a yearly stipend. Students may also be awarded competitive university fellowships and underrepresented and minority students are eligible to apply for additional fellowships through the College of Graduate Studies.
Graduate Accomplishments
Students in the program frequently participate in scholarly conversations at local, state, and national conferences, including flagship conferences such as the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) and the Rhetoric Society of America (RSA) conference. Students are mentored to propose to conferences and are eligible for travel funding to attend and present their research. Additionally, students have won national awards, such as the CCCC Scholars for the Dream Award, in recognition of their scholarly achievements.
Students who successfully complete our program have gone on to:
- Earn and pursue Ph.Ds in top-ranked programs in Rhetoric and Composition,
- Teach in a variety of contexts (high school, 2-year college, 4-year college),
- Direct and coordinate writing programs and centers, and
- Work in a variety of professional industries including government and nonprofit sectors.
Contact
For additional information or to set up an advising appointment, contact [email protected]