Use the navigation sidebar links to find information on the research internship, qualifying and comprehensive examinations, dissertation, relevant forms, and important policies.
Coursework
The Technical Communication and Rhetoric (TCR) PhD requires a minimum of 60 approved semester credits beyond a Master’s degree. In your first two years of the PhD program you will complete your coursework (36 of 60 credits). Up to 12 graduate level credits may be transferred and applied toward this degree with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies and the Technical Communication and Rhetoric faculty. In order to make sure that you are taking courses that will count toward your PhD degree, be sure to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies on a regular basis. Please note that coursework used to fulfill the requirements of a Master’s degree may not be used to fulfill the requirements for this PhD program.
For curriculum overview, refer to the catalog. The remaining 24 credits (of 60) will be comprised of your Research Internship (ENGL 7900; 6 credits) and Dissertation Research (7970; 18 credits). In addition to the minimum 60 credits of coursework, you must take Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training, a brief online training on ethical conduct in research that the university requires of all PhD students.
Supervisory Committee
When you complete your 36 credits of coursework, you must form a Supervisory Committee composed of faculty members willing to supervise your Comprehensive Exam and dissertation. This committee will consist of a chair (aka major professor) and two members from within the core TCR faculty (Profs. Chen, Colton, Edenfield, McLaughlin, Moeller, Pollak, and Walton), a fourth member from within the department but outside the core TCR faculty, and a fifth member from outside the department. All members of this committee must have doctoral degrees and be approved by the Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Studies in accordance with the Utah State University General Catalog. Once you have received verbal commitments from faculty willing to serve on your committee, immediately inform the Director of Graduate Studies in order to make sure the official paperwork is completed.
Timeline to Graduation
As a student in USU's TCR PhD program, you will typically be able to complete your doctorate in four years if you follow the schedule below.
First Year
First Fall Semester
You should immediately meet with the Department's Director of Graduate Studies, Jared Colton (jared.colton@usu.edu), and your supervisory committee to plan coursework for the first academic year.
NOTE: Plan to take 18 credits your first year by either taking 9-credit hours each in the fall and spring, or by taking a lesser combination in fall and spring plus additional credits over the summer to make up the difference.
First Spring Semester
In April of your first year, complete the annual review progress report, your CV, your biographical statement, and your Program of Study worksheet. Submit these materials to your preliminary supervisory committee chair for the TCR committee to review. This review constitutes your qualifying examination.
Second Year
Second Fall Semester
During the semester, complete an updated copy of your Program of Study worksheet and submit it to your Supervisory Committee Chair for approval. This is preliminary to the next step, which is completing your Program of Study Form with the School of Graduate Studies listing all the courses that will count towards your degree. Your Supervisory Committee should sign the form. Once you have taken ENGL 7000, you should be thinking about your internship, which you should begin your second summer semester.
Second Spring Semester
You must submit a second-year annual review progress report by April 1 to your Supervisory Committee or to the entire Technical Communication and Rhetoric (TCR) committee if required.
Submit a proposed reading list to your Supervisory Committee Chair. Work with your Supervisory Committee to secure written approval of the list before the end of the semester the coursework is completed.
At the end of this semester, you should be prepared to begin your research internship.
NOTE: Following this schedule, students should have completed 36 ENGL 7000-level credits. At this point, their assigned Supervisory Committees will be dissolved and they must form a Dissertation Supervisory Committee made up of three faculty members from the TCR faculty (one serving as the “Major Professor”), a member of the English Department outside the TCR faculty, and a member outside of the English Department.
Second Summer Semester
Research internship (6 credits).
Third Year
Third Fall Semester
Use this semester to prepare for your Comprehensive Examination. Your coursework and reading list will be your foundation for taking the exam, but your research idea for your dissertation should be your guiding principle.
NOTE: Students must complete their Comprehensive Examination by the end of the semester (not including summer) immediately following the semester in which coursework is completed and reading list is approved. Failure to complete the Comprehensive Examination within this timeframe could be grounds for probation.
Fourth Year
Fourth Fall and Spring Semesters
Submit a fourth-year annual review progress report by April 1 to your Supervisory Committee or to the TCR committee if required. Use this time to research and write your dissertation. You should be able to defend it in the spring. If you defend it early enough, or if it is clear it will be approved by your committee, you may walk (go through the graduation ceremony) in May of your fourth year.
NOTE: The date and time for the oral defense of the dissertation must be scheduled with the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 working days before the defense.
Utilize the sidebar navigation for more information relevant to the TCR PhD.