The MA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse (WRD) combines a strong theoretical foundation in rhetoric and discourse with practical training in the areas of Teaching Writing & Language and Professional & Technical Writing. This particular mix of theory and practice prepares students to become future teachers of post-secondary writing, to work as professional and technical writers in Chicago's corporate and non-profit sectors, and to study rhetorical theory and history, literate practices in contemporary culture, and language and style as it informs non-literary textual production. Our students go on to teach writing in post-secondary contexts; to work as writers in professional, technical, and other workplace contexts; and to continue their academic study in PhD programs.
Program Features
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Strong curriculum: The MA in WRD offers a rich graduate curriculum that engages students in a range of professional, academic, and civic genres and experiences. Required courses in rhetoric and discourse provide students with breadth in a range of theoretical and historical disciplinary perspectives, while optional concentrations allow students to focus in depth in an area of particular relevance to their own professional goals.
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Community orientation: The MA in WRD offers students unique internship and community-based experiential learning opportunities, drawing on the city of Chicago as an extension of our classroom. These opportunities will give students practical experience in grant writing, workplace writing, writing for the web, and teaching and tutoring adult literacy and English as Second Language (ESL) in community centers and two-year colleges. This commitment to the city and its neighborhoods is reflected throughout many of our courses.
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Faculty expertise and experience: The MA in WRD faculty are teacher-scholars and active professionals. The faculty share a strong commitment to graduate education, and the program incorporates numerous events which aim to mentor and support our graduate students.
Information Sessions
Interested in applying to the MA in WRD graduate program? We invite you to attend an information session to learn more about program content, degree requirements, and meet with the program director.
