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Graduating Top-Rated Teacher-Scholars of Writing and Rhetoric
We are currently accepting Fall 2026 applications for our Ph.D. program only.
The Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric allows you to pursue a variety of interests in the field. Our nationally-prominent, award-winning faculty are deeply committed to helping you pursue your interests, expand your knowledge and expertise, and assist you in launching your professional career.
Composition and Rhetoric Ph.D. Curriculum and Courses
Ph.D. students take eight seminars during their first two years that include core foundation courses as well as electives of their choice. Four required foundation courses offer a breadth and depth in the field; two seminars are additional composition and rhetoric courses, and two seminars are open electives in English at the 600 level or above that are relevant to the individually planned course of study.
A course of study might center on any one of the subfields in the discipline, such as composition theory, composition pedagogy, digital media studies, ethnic rhetoric, historical rhetoric, linguistics, literacy studies, professional writing, writing center study, women’s rhetoric, or any devised interdisciplinary field. It might focus on a single historical period or cut across them in order to achieve historical range. It might use any of a variety of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative research.
Facts and Stats
College for Producing Fortune 500 CEOs Nationwide
National Public University
Among U.S. Public Universities for Alumni Wealth
Altrata
Best Public Colleges for Future Leaders
TIME
Administrative Opportunities
A considerable strength of our program is that we offer extensive and diverse administrative opportunities for graduate students to gain professional, administrative experience while contributing in positive ways to the university community. For doctoral students especially, this level and scope of administrative experience provides a strong professional credential for university writing program administration.
Assistant Directors and Consultants, Howe Center for Writing Excellence
The Howe Center for Writing Excellence is a university-wide center that involves both a writing-across-the-curriculum (WAC) program and the Howe Writing Center (a student writing center where undergraduate and graduate consultants work with student writers). A variety of assistantships and paid hourly opportunities exist for Ph.D. students to work as Writing Center consultants and as assistants on various WAC projects and other initiatives, providing graduate students with excellent opportunities for gaining experience in these important areas of writing studies.
Assistant Directors of Composition
Each year two doctoral students are awarded positions as Assistant Directors of Composition. In this capacity, they serve as co-administrators with the Director of Composition, helping with administration, curriculum development, and teacher preparation in the first-year composition program. Their primary responsibilities are:
- to co-teach with the Director the graduate seminars and practica on the teaching of writing (ENG 731 and ENG 606);
- to advise and work with the new TAs who are teaching first-year composition (ENG 111) and advanced composition (ENG 225).
The Ohio Writing Project and Department of English Master of Arts in Teaching
One of the first sites of the prestigious National Writing Project, the OWP is an active professional development program offering workshops and seminars for K-16 teachers. The OWP offers an annual youth writing camp, a large fall teacher conference, and administers Miami’s Master of Arts in Teaching English (MAT). The OWP welcomes students who are interested in writing program administration, middle/high school writing center development, and K-12 literacy projects.
Teaching Opportunities
In addition to first-year composition, graduate students have opportunities to teach in the Professional Writing major, the Rhetoric and Writing minor, the College Composition program and in other programs, such as Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Interactive Media Studies.
Teaching Composition
Teaching assistants take a graduate pedagogy seminar (ENG 731) in their first semester and a teaching practicum in their second semester to support their teaching of English 111. While all sections of English 111 have common outcomes and curriculum, students have considerable flexibility in designing, implementing, and research innovative composition assignments. In fact, our composition teacher’s guide and student publication are substantially revised by a team of graduate students each year. All sections are taught in digital environments and students employ digital technologies to compose and circulate digital texts for public audiences. Teachers in the program receive extensive support and mentoring in digital pedagogy.
Teaching in the Professional Writing Major
Ph.D. students at Miami have the opportunity to teach within the department’s Professional Writing major. Current Ph.D. students teach courses such as Digital Writing and Rhetoric, Composition Theory and Research, Business Writing, Technical Writing, Advanced Composition, and Digital Humanities, and this teaching experience often helps our students find successful tenure-line positions. Our students always teach in digital environments, and our program offers extensive support for teaching with digital technologies.
Funding Opportunities
Ph.D. Graduate Teaching Assistantships provide students with tuition remission and a stipend to support their graduate work for five years, with the possibility of a dissertation fellowship in the fourth, fifth, or sixth year.
For assistantships, students have opportunities to teach in the College Composition Program, the Professional Writing major, and the Rhetoric and Writing minor in the English Department and in other programs, such as Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies or Emerging Technology in Business and Design.
Admission and Funding
This is Where Your Journey to Miami University Begins
Explore what it means to be a graduate student at Miami University, where students prepare to go anywhere and everywhere. We’ll be here to help every step of the way as you prepare for college admission, enrollment, and success.
Contact Us
Graduate Admission
513-529-GRAD (4723)
[email protected]
Department of English
Tim Lockridge, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
196 Harris Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
[email protected]