Rhetoric

[Shahed]

I'm looking into getting a Ph.D. in a year or two and I was wondering if any of you know of Ph.D. programs that are interdisciplinary, focus on writing as an art form and speaking and that are located in California? I've already researched some and I've found UC Berkely and I really love their program however, I would like to have more options. Do you know of any other departments that I can look into that have the interests I mentioned (interdisciplinary, focus on writing and speaking, CA)?

 

 

[ProfLorax]

Shahed: I actually grew up and lived in California, so I searched desperately for a California program that focuses on rhetoric. The sad truth is that California really lacks rhetoric programs. UC Davis has an PhD minor in rhet/comp, but you still have to focus on literature in your primary research. UC Irvine has Jonathan Alexander, who focuses on rhet/comp, and I believe they have a small small small rhet/comp concentration for their PhD. UCSC and Stanford both have interdisciplinary programs (History of Consciousness and MLT), but neither really seem to touch on rhetoric. Even Berkeley's program is less of a Rhetoric program and more of an interdisciplinary, critical theory program. Arizona and Oregon are the closest I could find for real, solid rhetoric programs. 

 

ETA: However, depending on your specific interests, you may be happy also in Communications or Education programs. 

Edited February 20, 2014 by proflorax

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

I think it depends on your interests.

This is a map of doctoral programs if you want to jump in the PhD
http://batchgeo.com/map/1a491427ce89c24f0206905a57091e6e

This is a map of master programs.
http://www.mdcwss.com/map/

Some depts are in Comm. Some are in English. Some are in Education.
Best of luck!

[Shahed]

Shahed: I actually grew up and lived in California, so I searched desperately for a California program that focuses on rhetoric. The sad truth is that California really lacks rhetoric programs. UC Davis has an PhD minor in rhet/comp, but you still have to focus on literature in your primary research. UC Irvine has Jonathan Alexander, who focuses on rhet/comp, and I believe they have a small small small rhet/comp concentration for their PhD. UCSC and Stanford both have interdisciplinary programs (History of Consciousness and MLT), but neither really seem to touch on rhetoric. Even Berkeley's program is less of a Rhetoric program and more of an interdisciplinary, critical theory program. Arizona and Oregon are the closest I could find for real, solid rhetoric programs. 

 

ETA: However, depending on your specific interests, you may be happy also in Communications or Education programs. 

 

Thank you for the Communications idea, I have not thought of that. I'm looking into some right now.

 

Anyone else have any other ideas?

[ComeBackZinc]

Just so you know, Berkeley Rhetoric is a very different animal from most rhet/comp programs. They're far more exclusively theory focused. Not that there isn't a lot of theory in rhet/comp, but the focus is very different, as is the intellectual lineage, and I don't think Berkeley Rhet people do any empirical research.

[Kamisha]

I think it depends on your interests.

This is a map of doctoral programs if you want to jump in the PhD

http://batchgeo.com/map/1a491427ce89c24f0206905a57091e6e

This is a map of master programs.

http://www.mdcwss.com/map/

Some depts are in Comm. Some are in English. Some are in Education.

Best of luck!

 

Great map. Baylor actually has a Rhetoric concentration, as well, and has pulled in some huge names. 

[Tweedledumb]

I had similar interests before applying and ended up applying to three (other than Berkeley) that might interest you, though they are not in California: Case Western Reserve University has a program within their English department called Writing History and Theory (WHiT), Old Dominion University has a program within their English department called Rhetoric and Textual Studies, and Drew University has a History and Culture program that is quite interdisciplinary. I think these are all on the map BowTies provided, but you might look over them since they aren't as well known. I did apply to UC Davis for their emphasis in Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition Studies but they don't have a large rhetoric focus within the department. (These are all PhD programs.) 

 

I know this isn't terribly helpful since you'd like to find California programs, but there just aren't that many in general, let alone in CA.

[rhetoricus aesalon]

I'm not sure I have much to add that hasn't already been offered here, but with your interests ... I don't know ... I'm wondering, are you also considering MFA programs? Or maybe PhD programs with a creative dissertation element? This may be totally off base, but I'm trying to get a good picture of what you mean when you say you're interested in "writing as an art form and speaking." Do you mean all writing as art, or creating artistic forms of writing?