1. Graduate Study in PC:
Skills and
Competencies
A Brief Overview I Jack
Hennes

2. Purdue University
PhD in Rhetoric &
Composition
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Letters of
1 Writing sample 3 Recommendation 5 Perceived fit of
applicant with
program goals
Goals/Statement Type of MA 6 Teaching
2 4 experience
of Purpose degree

3. Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
PhD in Communication &
Rhetoric
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Perceived fit of Personal knowledge
1 applicant with 3 GRE scores 5 of applicant
program goals
Goals/statement 6 Letters of
2 of purpose
4 Graduate GPA
recommendation

4. Texas Tech University
PhD in Technical
Communication &
Rhetoric
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Goals/statement Perceived fir of
1 3 5 Graduate GPA
of purpose applicant with
program goals
2 Letters of 4 Writing sample 6 Teaching experience
recommendation

5. Michigan Tech
University
PhD in Rhetoric & Technical
Communication
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Letters of
1 Writing sample 3 Recommendation 5 Perceived fit of
applicant with
program goals
Goals/Statement Type of MA 6 Teaching
2 4 experience
of Purpose degree

6. Michigan State
University
PhD in Rhetoric & Writing
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Goals/statement Perceived fit of Letters of
1 3 applicant with 5
of purpose recommendation
program goals
2 Writing sample 4 Teaching experience

7. Clemson University
PhD in
Rhetorics, Communication, &
Information Design
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Perceived fit of
1 Writing sample 3 applicant with 5 GRE scores
program goals
Letters of Goals/statement 6 Teaching experience
2 4 of purpose
recommendation

8. Virginia Tech
PhD in Rhetoric &
Writing
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Perceived fit of
1 applicant with
3 Writing sample 5 Type of MA degree
program goals
Goals/Statement Letters of 6 Teaching experience
2 4
of Purpose recommendation

9. Iowa State University
PhD in Rhetoric &
Professional
Communication
Highest-ranked criteria for admittance
Perceived fit of Letters of
1 applicant with
3 5 Work experience
Recommendation
program goals
2 Writing sample 4 Graduate GPA 6 Source of MA degree

10. How do I get involved?
1. Establish strong relationships with
your professors and advisors
2. Write every essay as if it were a
potential writing sample
3. Maintain a strong GPA
4. Get involved and present at local
and regional conferences
5. Get published (book reviews,
graduate student journals, etc.)

11. # Criteria for Admittance
Statement
of Purpose