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Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Rhetoric, Theory and Culture—MS, PhD

The shifting technological and media landscape of our globalized world constantly offers up new objects and fresh questions for examination. At Michigan Technological University, we’re training a new breed of scholars who can work across disciplines to grapple with complex cultural realities. Heed the call. Are you ready?

Program Overview

With the master's or doctorate in rhetoric, theory and culture program, you'll engage in creative and critical interdisciplinary research that considers the connections between technology, communication, and globalization. Whether your interest is rhetoric, cultural studies, technical communication, or media studies, you’ll gain a rich understanding of the ways in which communicative practices are embedded in cultural contexts with political, material, and social dimensions.

Delivery Options
- On-Campus: MS, PhD

Rhetoric, Theory and Culture Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the rhetoric, theory and culture program at Michigan Tech.

On-Campus Programs

PhD Requirements, Rhetoric, Theory and Culture

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

MS, Rhetoric, Theory and Culture: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Rhetoric, Theory and Culture: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Rhetoric, Theory and Culture: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about rhetoric, theory and culture at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Dana Van Kooy

Graduate Assistant

Katy Ellenich

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your rhetoric, theory and culture MS and PhD. Sample areas include:

Communication
New/Emergent Media
Cultural Theory
Literacy

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation
Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Previous example of academic writing, 15 to a max of 30 pages
No GRE required
Applicants should demonstrate their ability to articulate an area of proposed research and a research question in their student statement.

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended Score of at least 100 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Overall Band Score of at least 7.0

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis for Spring and Summer.

Fall admissions and funding decisions are typically released by February 15th.

Recommended Deadlines

Fall Semester: January 15 for full financial consideration

Spring and Summer applicants will not be considered for funding

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

Our faculty represent a variety of critical and theoretical standpoints within the humanities, including composition, cultural studies, film studies, linguistics, literature, media and visual studies, philosophy, rhetoric, and technical communication.

Where You'll Work

The possibilities are limitless. RTC students have focused their research on improving technical document usability and access for older adults. They’ve critiqued the ambiguous role of comedians as public intellectuals in media representations of scientific controversies, while others have analyzed the impact of public policy on citizens’ participation in the public sphere. Wherever your passion lies, we’ll help you carve your niche.

Faculty Spotlight

Marika Seigel

Marika Seigel
Associate Professor

"Theory matters most when we can apply it to make a positive difference in people’s lives."

Seigel researches the rhetoric of health and medicine, particularly pertaining to pregnancy and women’s healthcare. She is specifically interested in how political and cultural contexts shape this type of communication, and in strategies for women’s health communication more user centered.

Program Faculty