English (PHD)
Rhetoric and Composition Emphasis
Enrich your understanding of the field of composition and rhetoric while contributing to the progression of the discipline through your unique insights and transformative research.
- Offered Hybrid Online and Face-to-Face in Commerce.
- 4 to 5 years
- 60 credit hours
- Dissertation required
- Foreign language credits optional
Word-Nerds unite!
Do you love words? Do you love writing? A Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition invites you to investigate how language shapes thought, culture and social action. Through advanced study in rhetorical theory, writing studies, pedagogy, and research methodologies, you'll develop the expertise to contribute original scholarship, lead in academic settings and empower diverse communities through effective communication.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
Many people believe that a doctorate in English only prepares you to teach. While teaching at the university level is one of the most common choices for English Ph.D’s, there are many other career opportunities that a doctorate in English can provide!
Careers and Salaries
Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022
Taking Classes
Our flexible programs are designed for current educators and working professionals.
Designed for your life
Whether you are a full- or part-time student, you can complete the program at your own pace. Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times. Locations and times are subject to change.
Online and Face-to-Face
Our Ph.D. program in Rhetoric and Composition is not intended to be completed fully online; however, students may take up to 49 percent of coursework online, as noted in our course catalog. Additionally, we offer many hybrid courses that you can take via Zoom!
Curriculum
Our program will prepare you for academic careers, equipped with comprehensive knowledge of English studies and practical teaching experience.
Credit Hours
The Ph.D. in English requires 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree or 60 semester hours beyond the master's, including 51 hours of coursework and a minimum of 9 hours of dissertation.
Residency
Our students may satisfy residency requirements in one of two ways:
- Serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GAT) or Graduate Research Assistant (GAR) for at least one academic year and complete ENG 675.
- Take four courses per year and maintain a portfolio of “residency activities” that contribute to professional development in their area of focus for each academic year before completing the comprehensive exam.
Adding Value with Certificates
Much like a minor, you can also get a graduate degree in a specific topic along with your Ph.D. in English! Here at East Texas A&M, we offer several graduate certificates to help you widen your horizons!
Women’s and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate and Minor
The Graduate Minor and Graduate Certificate in Gender Studies provide the opportunity for students to focus on the interdisciplinary study of issues that shape and define our understandings of masculinity, femininity and sexuality. The study of gender enhances knowledge of the global world historically and across cultures.
Studies in Children’s and Adolescent Literature Culture Graduate Certificate
Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate
The Professional Advancement in English Studies Graduate Certificate provides students with the necessary English hours for students who wish to teach dual-credit or college-level courses in a field other than English. Students who pursue this certificate should already have a bachelor’s, master’s or PHD in a discipline other than English.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Graduate Certificate
This certificate is ideal for students who either already hold a completed graduate degree or are actively in the process of earning a graduate degree and wish to earn this certificate in conjunction with their degree. In addition to the enhanced professional status that the Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) brings, this Certificate will enable the holder to meet the 18-hour SACS requirement to teach at the College level.
Finding My Community
We believe that education thrives in an environment where collaboration, support, and mutual respect flourish. Our community of students and professors embodies these values, creating an enriching and dynamic atmosphere for learning and growth. Our students come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the table. Our professors are not only experts in their respective fields but also dedicated mentors who are committed to guiding and nurturing the next generation of scholars.
Ashanka Kumari, Ph.D.
Faculty
Rachel McShane, Ph.D.
Alum
Shannon Carter, Ph.D.
Faculty
Mo Reeves, Ph.D.
Alum Staff
Student Organizations
Our campus has many ways to engage and get involved.
EGAD
EGAD (English Graduate Advancement and Development) is a student organization made up of graduate students within the Department of Literature and Languages. EGAD routinely hosts get-togethers, workshops and professional development talks with faculty members. It’s a great way to meet faculty and fellow graduate students and to improve your professional endeavors!
I’m Looking For Something Different
Is this program close, but still not right for you? Check out our related degrees!
Financing My Future
East Texas A&M is one of the most affordable colleges around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Our tuition rates are some of the most competitive in Texas.
Cost Before Financial Aid
$3,669
for Texas residents
/
$7,341
For non-residents
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents. But don’t worry: there are many ways you can get aid, such as scholarships, financial aid, assistantships and more.
Additional Fees May Apply
- Online Courses ($50 per hour)
- Remote Locations ($20 per hour)
- Lab Fees ($5 – $30 per course)
Financial Aid
Financial aid includes a variety of programs, like scholarships, federal and state grants, and federal and state work-study programs. Find out how you may be eligible for scholarships, grants, loans and/or a graduate assistantship.
On-Campus Employment Opportunities
Gain experience with writing methodologies through hands-on classroom and writing center experience.
Gain hands-on university teaching experience! Doctoral students will have the opportunity to teach English 1301, 1302 or 100. Students often serve as teaching assistants in order to meet residency requirements, though students who are not able to serve as teaching assistants may fulfill residency requirements in alternate ways.
Contact Dr. Gavin P. Johnson, writing program coordinator, for more information.
Like working with students, but unsure if teaching is your thing? Consider being an employee in the Writing Center!
Contact Dr. Kelin Loe, Writing Center director, for information!
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- GPA minimum 2.5
- Master’s degree in English or related field
Admission Process
Deadlines
Fall admission consideration: ApplyTexas application due May 1. All documents are due May 15.
Spring admission consideration: ApplyTexas Application due November 15. All documents are due Dec. 1.
Summer admission consideration: ApplyTexas Application due April 1. All documents are due April 15.
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “English, PHD” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
To be considered for admission, one of the following is required
- a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher, or
- a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours, or
- an awarded master's degree with an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher.
If you have a non-thesis master's degree, you must complete a thesis prior to doctoral candidacy (empirical thesis can be completed in our program en route to the dissertation and doctoral candidacy).
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Submit a Statement of Goals (two pages, double-spaced) that addresses the following questions:
- What is your area of study? (linguistics, literature, etc)
- Why do you want to study that particular area?
- What do you hope this degree leads to? What are your goals?
- Are there any professors you would like to study under?
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Submit a sample of your writing that contains:
- a one or two pieces of your academic prose (no more than 10 pages total) and
- a two-page statement of your background, interests and goals as they relate to your graduate work in English.
Request two signed letters of recommendation, on letterhead, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. Those individuals should:
- Email the letter to your graduate coordinator or
- Send the letter to you. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
One or both of the references should hold a doctoral degree.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Deadlines
Fall admission consideration: May 15
Spring admission consideration: October 1
Summer admission consideration: February 15
- Create an account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “English, PHD” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $75 application fee
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
To be considered for admission one of the following is required
- a bachelor's degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher,
- a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours, or
- an awarded master's degree with an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher.
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.
We accept evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.
- If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
- If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.
Submit a Statement of Goals (two pages, double-spaced) that addresses the following questions:
- What is your area of study? (linguistics, literature, etc)
- Why do you want to study that particular area?
- What do you hope this degree leads to? What are your goals?
- Are there any professors you would like to study under?
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
- a one or two pieces of your academic prose (no more than 10 pages total) and
- a two-page statement of your background, interests, and goals as they relate to your graduate work in English.
Request two signed letters of recommendation, on letterhead, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. Those individuals should:
- Email the letter to your graduate coordinator or
- Send the letter to you. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
One or both of the references should hold a doctoral degree.
Record a video of yourself answering each of the prompts below, upload it to the platform of your choice, and share the link to your video with us via an email to your graduate coordinator.
Your video should not exceed 30 minutes in length.
- Begin with a brief self-introduction.
- What motivates you to pursue a Ph.D. degree in linguistics/applied linguistics?
- Do you think you are the right candidate for our Ph.D. program? Why?
- Have you conducted a research project before? If yes, please describe it briefly.
- What research areas would you explore and what research projects would you conduct if you were amitted to our Ph.D. program? Is there a particular faculty member that you would like to work with?
- What teaching experiences do you have?
- Are you interested in the online or face-to-face option?
- How much time/effort do you envisage the Ph.D. to require every week? Have you taken any online courses before?
- Do you have anything else you want us to know?
Note: Do not send the video file directly (e.g., as an attachment to an email). Be sure to use a platform, such as YouTube, which does not require registration or payment to upload the video and remember to check the accessibility of your link before submitting it to us (e.g., If using YouTube, the visibility setting of your video should either be public or unlisted, but not private). Visual aids (e.g., PPT slides) are encouraged but not required. If using visual aids, we would still like to see your face in the video (i.e., no voiceover presentations).
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old
See the Office of International Program's “Confirmation of Financial Resource” for more details.
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor's or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:
- TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
- IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
- PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
- Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
I Still Have Questions
We are here to help! Send us an email. We can answer your questions and assist you in the application process.
Contact the Department
- Department of Literature and Languages
- 903.468.3260
- [email protected]