About this Program

Rhetoric is one of the oldest academic disciplines in the Western tradition. Tracing its origins back to the classical period, it is broadly concerned with understanding and exploiting the power of language in all of its various guises. At once theoretical, historical, critical, and applied, this program is designed to help students better understand how language creates meaning across a wide range of discourses and cultural practices. It is also designed to train students to effectively use language to create meaning, whether through scholarship, pedagogy, media production, or any number of related endeavors. This program will prepare students for doctoral-level work in rhetoric and composition.

Program Highlights

  • Interdisciplinary: this program recognizes that effective communication and pedagogy depends on a variety of different disciplines and approaches.

  • Technological: this program recognizes that effective communication and pedagogy is also accomplished through and impacted by a number of different media.

  • Theoretical: this program helps students understand effective communication and pedagogy via a wide range of critical methodologies, including (but not limited to) critical race studies, cultural studies, disability studies, feminist rhetoric, historical rhetoric, queer-theory, and visual rhetoric.

  • Hands-on: this program provides students with opportunities to experiment with a diverse range of approaches, pedagogies, techniques, and technologies.

  • Individualized: this program affords students a large amount of flexibility and customization in designing their courses of study.

  • Expertise: this program features award-winning, nationally, and internationally recognized scholars in the field of Rhetoric and Composition.

AT A GLANCE
Degree Level
Graduate
Degree Earned
Master of Arts
Delivery Modes
On-Campus

Careers

Check out these ideas from ODU Career Development Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

$75,640 Median Salary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

$78,720 Median Salary

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

$72,120 Median Salary

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary

$77,660 Median Salary

Teach courses in English language and literature, including linguistics and comparative literature. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Rhetoric & Composition (English, M.A.) at ODU?
Students entering the Master of Arts program in Rhetoric & Composition (English, M.A.) should meet the minimum university admission requirements Graduate Admission.

Cost

Estimated rates for the 2023-24 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.

Virginia Resident
Cost Per-Credit $599
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Cost Per-Credit $623
Non-Resident
Cost Per-Credit $1,439

Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending ODU. For more information visit University Student Financial aid

Contact

Associate Professor

4042 BATTEN ARTS & LETTERS
NORFOLK, 23529