For the Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Professional Communication, students complete a minimum of 60 credit hours above the B.A. or B.S., plus 12 hours of dissertation credit.
Students also choose a related field, from which they choose four courses.
Students have chosen from a wide range of fields, such as computer science, design, women's studies, sociology, literature, education, psychology, and history. Professional preparation beyond course work Students are considered apprentice professionals, and in addition to course work they work closely with faculty on a range of activities. And they collaborate with faculty on research, administration, and program development throughout the university, as well as serving on committees. This kind of professional preparation is considered an integral part of the curriculum. The examinations are also part of professional preparation.