TO:
Graduate Curriculum Committee
FROM:
Michelle F. Eble, Director of Graduate Studies
DATE:
December 15, 2012
SUBJECT:
PhD Curriculum Revisions and Name Change
Background
The PhD program in Technical and Professional Discourse was created during a
particular historical context that included affordances (ECU and the College really
wanted PhD programs) and limitations (UNC system policies frowned on
duplication of programs). At the time, it seemed that unique, innovative and
interdisciplinary programs were on the rise. The PhD program in Technical and
Professional Discourse is 8 years old and accepted its first students in 2004. Over
a year ago, faculty involved in teaching the required courses in the PhD program
were invited to a preliminary meeting to discuss the PhD program, outcomes, and
assessment. As a result, faculty in Technical & Professional Communication and
Rhetoric & Composition engaged in a series of meetings over the last year. We
reviewed and discussed the current PhD curriculum and its required courses, how
the requirements compare to curricula at other similar programs in the field
including our peer institutions, and how well the program addresses the needs of
students in terms of preparing them for future academic employment. We
compiled information on our graduates of the program to date and time to degree
averages. I reported much of this information in the PhD reallocation proposal
submitted to the graduate school back in October.
New and Revised Course Proposals
As a result of these meetings, faculty members revised/renumbered 5 courses and
created 3 new ones: a history course, a professional seminar course, and a writing
studies and pedagogy seminar. The revisions also distinguish the 8000 level
doctoral seminars from the 7000 level courses, which are open to MA and PhD
students.
Renumbered/Revised Course
7600. Research Methods in Rhetoric, Writing, and Professional
Communication Formerly ENGL 8601 (3) Principles and techniques in research
methods.
New Courses
7620. History and Theory of Rhetoric II (3) Examination of key texts and
concepts in the history of rhetoric since the Enlightenment.
8300. Seminar in Professional Development (3) P: Admission to the PhD
program or consent of program director. Study and discussion of issues relevant
to national and international research and professionalization in rhetoric, writing,
and professional communication.
8600. Seminar in Writing Studies & Pedagogy (3) May be repeated for
maximum of 6 s.h. P: Admission to the PhD program or consent of program
director. Study of practices and topics in writing studies and pedagogy.
Revised Courses
7615. History and Theory of Rhetoric I (3) Examination of key texts and
concepts in the history of rhetoric from the ancients to the Enlightenment.
8615. Seminar in Rhetorical Theory (3) May be repeated for maximum of 6 s.h.
P: Admission to the PhD program or consent of program director. Study of
rhetorical theories and applications.
8630. Seminar in Community and Cultural Rhetorics (3) May be repeated for
maximum of 6 s.h. P: Admission to the PhD program or consent of program
director. Study of rhetorical practices within specific cultures and communities.
8780. Seminar in Professional Communication. (3) May be repeated for
maximum of 6 s.h. P: Admission to the PhD program or consent of program
director. Study of theoretical perspectives and the implications for research and
practice within professional communication.
Banked Course
8605. Advanced Discourse Analysis (3) Principles governing human communicative
interaction in written and oral modalities.
Curriculum Revision
We also found through assessment that the programs of study of past and existing
students could use more structure and cohesion. Currently, the program requires
15 hours of coursework and 27 hours of electives. The proposed revision will
require 30 hours of coursework and 12 hours of electives. This number of
required courses aligns with other similar programs, provides an opportunity for
students to take their classes together as a cohort, and prepares students for a
variety of academic positions.
Name Change
The assessment related to the number and types of applications received over the
last 8 years revealed that applicants don’t always understand the purpose of the
PhD program or erroneously believe they can concentrate within one area of the
department. In some cases, attrition (albeit a small number) can be explained by
this misunderstanding of the program. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that
potential applicants look at our program but don’t end up applying. Potential
applicants are not sure what kind of PhD program we have since it is different
enough in name from other similar programs, and until relatively recently, we had
very few graduates of the program to show placement. This is one of the things
potential applicants look for when researching PhD programs. Based on this
information, faculty in TPC and Rhet/Comp propose the following name change
from PhD in Technical and Professional Discourse to PhD in Rhetoric, Writing,
and Professional Communication.
The following are reasons we arrived at this particular name:
1. We researched similar PhD programs and the number of applicants they
receive (approximately 50-60 applicants for 8-10 slots; the largest number we
have received to date is 16). The most common word among programs similar
to our own included rhetoric in the title. We use the term writing in its most
extended meaning to include composition/composing, new media, literacy,
pedagogy, etc. We use the term professional communication as an inclusive
term to account for technical, science, medical, and business writing as well as
areas of study that go beyond written texts such as document/information
design, visual discourse, content management, and editing. The new name will
align us with similar programs at other institutions including our peers and
help to increase the number of applicants.
2. The new program name also corresponds to many of the terms used in job
advertisements since the proposed name relates the specific disciplines
rhetoric, writing, and professional communication.
3. The CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code for the PhD program
was changed in 2010. As a result, the PhD program was moved from CIP code
23.11 (Technical and Business Writing) to CIP code 23.1303 (Professional,
Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing), which appears within the newly
developed CIP code 23.13 (Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies).
The Doctoral Program Steering Committee (DPSC) approved the courses,
curriculum revision, and program name change on November 25, 2012 and the
Graduate Committee approved the courses, curriculum revision, and program
name change on November 25, 2012. The graduate faculty approved these items
on December 3, 2012.
Along with course proposals and marked catalog copy, I have attached a list of
PhD programs used in our research, CIP code change documentation,
correspondence from the registrar’s office as well as an email exchange with Dr.
Linda Kean, Director of the School of Communication.