The Master of Arts in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse (WRD) combines a strong theoretical foundation in rhetoric and discourse with practical training in the areas of teaching writing and language, professional and technical writing, and digital content creation. The program’s mix of theory and practice prepares students to write and to create digital content in professional, technical, or nonprofit settings; to teach writing and English in post-secondary institutions; and to continue academic study in related PhD programs.
The MA in WRD may also be expanded to include select graduate certificate programs covering particular areas of interest. Students participating in a combined MA/certificate program should consult with their academic advisor to determine what coursework might count toward both programs. A separate application process for the certificate is required. Students who are interested in any of the following combination programs should contact the Graduate Student Services Office for additional information.
- WRD + Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate
- WRD + Teaching English in Two-Year Colleges Certificate
- WRD + Women’s and Gender Studies Certificate
- WRD + Strategic Writing and Advancement for Nonprofit (SWAN) Certificate
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Degree Requirements | 48 |
| Total hours required | 48 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Describe key concepts, theories, and histories in the study of writing and rhetoric.
- Produce complex written arguments that demonstrate a clear, cohesive, and appropriate written style.
- Design persuasive multimodal texts.
- Assess the ethical, civic, or political dimensions of rhetoric, language, or writing technologies, including dynamics of culture and power.
Degree Requirements
Course Requirements
Students complete 12 courses (48 credits) to graduate from the MA in WRD program. Program requirements vary based on whether or not the student declares a concentration.
Required Course (4 credits)
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WRD 500 | PROSEMINAR (To be taken within the first 4 courses of the program) | 4 |
Rhetoric and Discourse Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three from the following: | 12 | |
| CONTEMPORARY RHETORICS | ||
| MULTICULTURAL RHETORICS | ||
| GLOBAL ENGLISHES | ||
| DISCOURSE AND STYLE | ||
| GENRE THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| TOPICS IN RHETORICAL HISTORY | ||
| TOPICS IN COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND IDENTITY | ||
| TOPICS IN LANGUAGE | ||
| SEMIOTICS | ||
| SOCIOLINGUISTICS | ||
| THE ESSAY | ||
Optional Concentrations (16 credits)
Professional & Digital Writing
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four from the following: | 16 | |
| TECHNICAL WRITING | ||
| WRITING IN THE PROFESSIONS | ||
| EDITING | ||
| DOCUMENT DESIGN | ||
| GRANT AND PROPOSAL WRITING | ||
| TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL AND DIGITAL WRITING | ||
| DIGITAL STORYTELLING | ||
| CONTENT STRATEGY | ||
| WRITING ACROSS MEDIA | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL AND DIGITAL WRITING | ||
Teaching Writing & Language
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four from the following: | 16 | |
| TEACHING WRITING | ||
| COMPOSITION THEORY | ||
| URBAN LITERACIES | ||
| TEACHING ESL WRITING | ||
| TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE | ||
| TEACHING WRITING ONLINE | ||
| AP INSTITUTE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION | ||
| TOPICS IN TEACHING WRITING AND LANGUAGE | ||
| TEACHING APPRENTICESHIP PRACTICUM | ||
| WRITING CENTER THEORY AND PEDAGOGY | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN TEACHING WRITING AND LANGUAGE | ||
Electives (8-32 credits)
- Students who declare a concentration take four elective courses (16 credits); students who do not declare a concentration take eight elective courses (32 credits).
- Students may declare a concentration by emailing the request to LASgraduateoffice@depaul.edu.
- All 500-level WRD courses count for elective credit.
Exit Requirement
All students will deliver a presentation during their last quarter in the program. This presentation will incorporate research, analysis, and reflection to critically consider the student's pathway through the MAWRD program and look ahead to post-graduate plans. It will be presented to an audience of peers and faculty.
Probation
According to College policy, students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 will be placed on probation and given two quarters to raise their average to the minimum 2.75 level. Students on probation are required to consult with the program director before registering for classes. Failure to meet these requirements constitutes grounds for dismissal.
Dismissal
A student may be dismissed from the program in any of the following cases:
• failure to maintain a GPA above 2.75 for three consecutive quarters;
• failure to meet with the program director before registering for classes while on academic probation; or
• failure to complete at least two courses in WRD within twelve months of their admission to the program.
Undergraduate Courses
Students may take one undergraduate-level WRD course for credit toward their graduate degree as a 500-level graduate course. Students must work with the instructor to adapt course requirements to meet graduate-level expectations and then receive approval from the WRD Graduate Committee.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from the program, students must complete all program requirements with a total of 48 credit hours (12 courses) and a minimum GPA of 2.8.
Graduation with Distinction
To graduate with distinction, students must have a final GPA of 3.9 or higher.
Non-WRD Courses
Students may take up to two non-WRD courses at DePaul to count toward their degree. Students must complete six courses in WRD before taking courses outside of the program. In exceptional cases (e.g., students completing certificate programs that require non-WRD courses), students may be granted permission to take courses outside of the program earlier in their degree study. All non-WRD courses must be approved by the WRD Graduate Committee prior to enrollment in the course.
Students who have transferred in two or more courses from another institution must take all of their remaining courses in the WRD program.
Independent Studies
WRD 595 Independent Study is offered to allow students the opportunity to explore specific interests for which a formal WRD course is not offered. In general, WRD 595 courses will count as electives in a student’s degree program. WRD 595 can only fulfill area requirements (Rhetoric & Discourse or a concentration area) when these requirements cannot be filled through a formal course (e.g., because such a course is not offered). Students should consult with the Director of the MA in WRD to learn about the process for proposing an Independent Study and getting it approved.