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Suggested Curriculum in Rhetoric and Political Culture

Students with a specialization in Rhetoric and Political Culture fullfill requirements specified by the Department of Communication for the Masters or PhD degrees. We seek, however, to provide our students with the best in rhetorical education including a broad basic knowledge supplemented by a developed research expertise.  To meet these general and specific goals, the structure of the masters and PhD degree requirements provide for an individualized program of study approved by the student's advisory committee. It is also important to note that students find quickly that graduate study is a total learning experience that is not confined to taking courses. Thus, in its specific details each program is individualized for the student's research interests. This page is designed to provide a flavor for how students interested in rhetoric and political culture proceed toward receipt of their degrees within the requirements. These requirements describe the work of a full-time graduate student.

Your PhD degree is governed by preparation for a comprehensive examination and for the dissertation research project.  This preparation will generally be built around 39 credit hours (four semesters) of coursework beyond the MA degree, but may shorter or longer depending on your MA preparation and the degree of work in your specialty.

Your preparation involves the following categories:

Foundational Knowledge in Rhetoric and Political Culture

Neither an undergraduate nor a masters degree in Communication is required for your study of Rhetoric and Political Culture.  We do expect, however, that students will acquire the following foundational knowledge before completing their degree:

• Classical through contemporary rhetorical theory.  The department offers this material in COMM 450, 451 and COMM 652.
• A historical understanding of American public discourse.  The department offers this material in COMM 460 and 461.

If you have this material prior to entering our PhD program you will not be asked to take it again unless necessary to fill out your specific interest.  Those who have not had this material will take it as part of their program.

Preparation in Historical and Critical Methods

Students will be expected to develop research competencies in historical and critical methods including

• The philosophy, major schools, and techniques of rhetorical criticism
• The philosophy and techniques of archival and historical research

This translates into enrollment in COMM 711 and 712 as the central courses for methods preparation.  In addition, students may also enroll in the department's qualitative methods sequence (COMM 714 and 715) if this sequence is relevant to their study.  Other dissertation topics may require training in other methods.  For example, dissertations in the area of classical rhetoric or in the rhetoric of non-English speaking communities may require preparation in the relevant language.

Departmental requirements require students to enroll in twelve hours in these first two areas (methods and foundational courses) including one full sequence (711 and 712 for our students).

Comprehensive Exam Areas

You will be required to complete a methods examination during the Comprehensive Examinations plus an examination in two of the following areas:

• History of American Public Discourse
• History of Rhetorical Theory
• Political and Institutional Communication
• Communication in Social and Political Culture and Cultural and Political Change

The comprehensives are a total of twelve hours with the precise time among the three exams (methods and two areas) defined by your examining committee.

Cognate Area

You will take a minimum of six hours in another department at the University of Maryland to develop your cognate knowledge of your disseration area.  Among the departments in which our students have taken courses are:

• African American Studies
• American Studies
• Classics
• English
• History
• Government and Politics
• Journalism and Mass Media
• Sociology
• Women's Studies

Advanced Research Seminars

You should complete 15 credit hours of advanced seminars (courses numbered 600 and above at UM) at the MA and PhD levels including at least 12 credit hours at the University of Maryland.  These seminars should be chosen to prepare you for your comprehensive examination areas and/or your dissertation research.

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