Frequently Asked Questions
The answers below address common questions about the Rhetoric PhD program. For current application deadlines, requirements, and instructions, please review the Graduate Admissions page.
Applying to the Program
Is the Rhetoric PhD program a good fit for my research interests?
The Rhetoric PhD is designed for students pursuing theoretically informed, interdisciplinary research centered on discourse, broadly conceived. The program provides advanced training in academic research and teaching and culminates in the PhD degree. The department does not admit students to a standalone MA program. Applicants come from a range of disciplinary and methodological backgrounds, including the arts. Strong applicants should be able to identify a general area of inquiry and, when possible, a specific research object or set of objects. They should also explain why their proposed research is especially well suited to Berkeley Rhetoric rather than a more traditional disciplinary program. Applicants should review the department’s faculty profiles and areas of study when considering whether the program is a good fit for their research interests.
Does the department admit students for the spring semester?
No. The department admits new PhD students for the fall semester only.
Is the GRE required?
No. The GRE is not required.
Do I need a master's degree to apply?
No. Applicants must hold, or expect to hold before beginning the program, a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent. Students enter the PhD program with a range of academic backgrounds. Some hold only a bachelor’s degree, while others have completed an MA, MFA, or another graduate degree.
Do I need to find a faculty adviser before applying?
No. Applicants apply to the Department of Rhetoric as a whole, not to an individual faculty member. Applications are reviewed holistically by a faculty admissions committee. The application asks applicants to identify up to three Rhetoric faculty members whose research interests are relevant to their proposed work, but applicants do not need to secure a faculty sponsor before applying.
Should I contact faculty before applying?
Contacting faculty is not required and does not affect whether an applicant is eligible for admission. Applicants should first review faculty profiles and current research interests. Applicants may contact an individual faculty member with a specific academic question, but faculty members do not individually approve applicants for admission.
How long should the statements and writing sample be?
The department does not have a strict word limit for the Statement of Purpose or Personal History Statement. Approximately 1,000 words for each statement is generally sufficient. Applicants may submit one or two writing samples, including published work. The department recommends that the combined writing sample not exceed 15,000 words. Applicants should select work that best demonstrates their ability to develop and support an original argument, engage critically with sources, and conduct advanced academic research.
What is the difference between the Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement?
The Statement of Purpose should describe the applicant’s academic preparation, research interests, proposed areas of study, and reasons for applying to the Rhetoric PhD program. The Personal History Statement should explain how the applicant’s background and experiences have shaped their decision to pursue graduate study. It should complement rather than repeat the Statement of Purpose. Graduate Division provides additional guidance on writing both statements.
What transcripts do I need to submit?
Applicants must upload unofficial academic records from every postsecondary institution they have attended. Applicants who attended institutions outside the United States may also need to upload degree certificates and English translations. Please review Graduate Division’s academic-record requirements for complete instructions. Official records are generally not required during the application process. Applicants who accept an offer of admission will receive instructions about submitting official documents.
Do I need to calculate an advanced GPA?
Applicants who earned their bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution must calculate their advanced GPA and upload the requested GPA calculation worksheet. No other departmental GPA calculations are required. Applicants who earned their bachelor’s degree from an international institution should not convert their grades to a U.S. GPA. They may leave the GPA calculation section blank and upload the required transcripts and degree certificates.
Do I need to submit an English-proficiency test?
Applicants should review Graduate Division’s English Language Proficiency requirements and exemptions to determine whether they must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Requirements depend on the applicant’s educational background, the location and accreditation of the degree-granting institution, and any applicable exemptions.
How are letters of recommendation submitted?
Three letters of recommendation are required. Applicants enter each recommender’s name and email address in the online application. The system then sends the recommender a link to upload the letter directly. Applicants may also use Interfolio by entering the unique email address generated by Interfolio for each letter. The department asks that all three letters be submitted by the application deadline. Applicants may submit their application before their recommenders upload their letters.
When will admission decisions be released?
Admission decisions are generally released by early March. Applicants will receive an email when an update is available in the application portal. The Graduate Division issues the official offer of admission.
Does the department provide funding?
Yes. All admitted students receive a five-year funding package, as outlined in each student’s official funding offer. The package covers applicable tuition, required fees, and student health insurance and includes financial support during the academic year and summer. During the fall and spring semesters, support is provided through fellowship funding or Graduate Student Instructor appointments. Please review the Student Financial Support and Employment page for additional information.
Who can answer application and funding questions?
For questions about the application process, required materials, or financial support, contact Graduate Student Services at rfahgradadvising@berkeley.edu.
Who can answer academic questions?
You may contact Professor Samera Esmeir, Head Graduate Advisor for the Department of Rhetoric, at samera@berkeley.edu.
Degree Requirements and Program Structure
Does the Department of Rhetoric offer a standalone MA program?
No. The department does not admit students to a standalone MA program. Students enrolled in the Rhetoric PhD program may choose to earn an MA after the Year 2 Review by completing the applicable coursework and MA thesis requirements.
Can a previous MA or other graduate degree be applied toward the PhD requirements?
Previous graduate coursework does not transfer directly into the Rhetoric PhD program or automatically reduce the department’s degree requirements. All admitted students enter the same PhD curriculum, regardless of whether they previously completed a graduate degree.
Does Rhetoric offer a concurrent JD/PhD with Berkeley Law?
No. The Department of Rhetoric does not have a formal concurrent JD/PhD program with Berkeley Law. Berkeley Law’s concurrent JD/PhD program is specifically offered with the Jurisprudence and Social Policy (JSP) PhD program. Berkeley Law does not offer concurrent degrees with other Berkeley PhD programs. Students interested in pursuing both a PhD in Rhetoric and a JD would need to apply to and pursue the two degree programs separately. The Department of Rhetoric’s PhD program is interdisciplinary, and its students may take relevant coursework outside the department as part of their graduate studies.
Can Rhetoric students complete a Designated Emphasis (DE)?
Yes. A Designated Emphasis allows a PhD student to complete an approved interdisciplinary area of study in addition to the requirements of the home department. Designated Emphases commonly pursued by Rhetoric students include Critical Theory, Film Studies, Folklore, Renaissance and Early Modern Studies, Study of Religion, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality. Other Designated Emphases may also be available depending on the student’s research interests and eligibility. Students apply directly to the relevant Designated Emphasis and must be admitted before taking the Qualifying Examination. Each program has its own course requirements, application procedures, and deadlines.
Is there a foreign language requirement?
Yes. Students must demonstrate advanced competence in one language other than English. The requirement should ideally be completed by the end of the fall semester of Year 3 and must be completed before the oral Qualifying Examination. Applicants do not need to have completed the language requirement before entering the program, but they are asked to list their current language proficiencies in the application.
Do students take courses outside the Rhetoric Department?
Yes. Interdisciplinary coursework is an essential part of the program. By the end of Year 2, students must complete Rhetoric 200, Rhetoric 205, three elective graduate seminars in Rhetoric, and one elective graduate seminar outside Rhetoric. Students may take additional courses in other departments when relevant to their research and degree progress.
Can I pursue a doctorate while living outside of the San Francisco Bay Area?
The Rhetoric PhD is an in-person, residential program. It is not offered online or designed to be completed primarily through remote or commuter study. Students must be able to attend seminars, examinations, advising meetings, teaching assignments, and other academic responsibilities on campus. Extended research travel or temporary relocation may be possible later in the program when appropriate for the student’s dissertation research and academic responsibilities.
Can I visit a graduate seminar?
Visits are at the discretion of the instructor. Prospective students may review the current course schedule and contact the instructor directly to ask whether a class visit is possible.
Can I contact current graduate students?
Yes. Profiles, research interests, and contact information for current graduate students are available on the Graduate Students page.