Majoring and Minoring

For complete information about majoring and minoring, see the online catalog.

The major and minor in Rhetoric and Media studies combine a common set of core courses with the flexibility of electives. Required courses engage students with the theory and methods employed by scholars in rhetoric and media studies and electives pursue these topics within various kinds of media and contexts. A student’s course of study culminates in the completion of a major project in their capstone course. Students are well-prepared for employment in rhetoric- and media-related fields and for post-graduate study.

Students should declare the major by the end of the sophomore year to provide maximum flexibility in planning for core requirements and electives. Students are also encouraged to consult with their department advisors about how coursework from other departments can be integrated into their study of rhetoric and media studies. 

Course descriptions may be found in the Course Catalog and information about scheduled offerings of courses are available in Webadvisor.

Major Requirements

A minimum of 40 semester credits, distributed as follows:

• RHMS 100 Introduction to Rhetoric and Media Studies
• RHMS 203 Rhetorical Theory
• RHMS 200 Media Design and Criticism
• RHMS 302 Media Theory

 One of these:

• RHMS 221 Argument and Debate
• RHMS 260 Argument and Empirical Methods
• RHMS 321 Argument and Social Justice

 One of these:

• RHMS 301 Rhetorical Criticism
• RHMS 303 Discourse Analysis

 One of the following 400-level capstone courses:

• RHMS 406 Race, Rhetoric, and Resistance
• RHMS 408 Argument and Persuasion in Science
• RHMS 425 American Cinema Studies: Advanced Analysis and Criticism
• RHMS 431 Feminist Discourse Analysis
• RHMS 475 Television and American Culture

Twelve additional semester credits to complete the 40-credit requirement. Eight of these semester credits must be at the 300 or 400 level. Students may apply up to 4 semester credits to the major from RHMS 244, RHMS 245, RHMS 299, or RHMS 499.

 Minor Requirements

A minimum of 24 semester credits, distributed as follows:

• RHMS 100 Introduction to Rhetoric and Media Studies

One of the following combinations selected in consultation with the minor advisor to complement rhetoric and media studies coursework and the student’s major:

• RHMS 200 Media Design and Criticism and an additional media studies course at the 300 or 400 level, or
• RHMS 203 Rhetorical Theory and an additional rhetoric course at the 300 or 400 level

One of the following 300-level courses:

• RHMS 301 Rhetorical Criticism
• RHMS 302 Media Theory
• RHMS 303 Discourse Analysis

Eight semester credits of rhetoric and media studies electives, 4 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level. Practicum and independent study coursework do not count toward the minor.