Established over thirty years ago, the University of Louisville Ph.D. program in Rhetoric and Composition prepares its students for research and teaching careers in the theory and practice of rhetoric and composition. Most students seek tenurable employment in colleges and universities; a few go into business and industry as writing consultants.

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A generous gift from Dr. Thomas R. Watson has enabled us to enhance the educational experience for our graduate students. The department hosts an international biennial conference on an issue important to the discipline of Rhetoric and Composition. The 1996 Thomas R. Watson Conference on Composition and Rhetoric brought in more than twenty prestigious scholars who were instrumental in professionalizing composition studies, and over 100 scholars presented papers, and the conference has grown each year. Additionally, the endowment provides for a distinguished visiting professor of Rhetoric and Composition in the the years between conferences.

Doctoral students at the University of Louisville can thus expect to study with at least two visiting professors and to participate in two international conferences on Rhetoric and Composition during their tenure in the program.

For more on the Watson Conference, Symposia, & Scholars...

Coursework : The doctoral program introduces the student to the teaching of writing, to the history of rhetoric, to current issues and research methods in rhetoric and composition, to contemporary theories of interpretation, and to interconnections among literature, rhetoric, and composition. Recent special topic seminars have focused on literacy, writing in the disciplines, new media and composition pedagogy, and the politics of language in composition.

Teaching Opportunities: All  doctoral students teach for at least two semesters in the First-Year Composition Program; many have the opportunity as well to teach advanced writing, technical or business writing, writing about literature, and introductory literature classes.

Administrative Positions:  Students wishing to gain administrative and editorial experience will have ample opportunity to do so. Graduate  assistantships are available in Writing Program Administration, Writing Center Administration, Computer-Aided Instruction, Writing Across the Curriculum, and the Watson Conference. Editorial assistantships are available for The Henry James Review, a journal edited by an English Department faculty member.

  GRADUATE PROGRAM GUIDELINES (PDF)