< College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Rhetoric

The advanced rhetoric program permits a student to work in creative or professional writing. Except for the tutorial RHET 355, all creative writing courses are taught as workshops by a veteran faculty consisting largely of producing writers. The program provides excellent preparation for graduate work in writing and is administered by the Department of English. See also major in English.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

E-mail: english@english.uiuc.edu

Web address for most current program requirements:
http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/RHET/f_RHET.shtml

Degree title: Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required core and supporting course work normally equates to 54-59 hours including 15 hours of Rhetoric and 15 hours of English and American Literature.

General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: A student must enter the honors program with a 3.25 grade point average and complete two English honors seminars and a significant writing project in RHET 355. The level of distinction is assigned by the honors committee based on work in rhetoric courses and honors seminars and on the readers' evaluations of the writing project. Interested students should consult the departmental adviser for details.

Students must select one option.

Creative Writing Option

HOURS     REQUIREMENTS

3         One course in expository writing, choose from:

          RHET 143-Intermediate Expository Writing

          RHET 227-Advanced Expository Writing

12        Rhetoric courses selected from:1 

          RHET 144-Introductory Narrative Writing

          RHET 146-Introductory Poetry Writing

          RHET 204-Intermediate Narrative Writing

          RHET 227-Advanced Expository Writing

          RHET 304-Advanced Narrative Writing

          RHET 306-Advanced Poetry Writing

          RHET 355-Creative Writing Tutorial

3         One course in Shakespeare:

          ENGL 300-Writing About Literature (when offered

           on a Shakespeare topic)

          ENGL 318-Shakespeare, I

          ENGL 319-Shakespeare, II

12        English and American literature courses selected 

           from 200- and 300-level courses.

6-8       Western civilization. Select from:

          HIST 111-Western Civilization from Antiquity to 

           1660 (or HIST 110), and

          HIST 112-Western Civilization from 1660 to the 

           Present (or HIST 113)

     or

          HIST 231-British Isles to 1688, and

          HIST 232-The History of Great Britain Since 1688     

     or

          C LIT 141-Masterpieces of Western Culture, I, and 

          C LIT 142-Masterpieces of Western Culture, II

18-21     Select from one of the following options with the 

           approval of a rhetoric adviser:

          An official minor in another department or unit, 

           or 20 additional hours in another department

     or

         Twenty hours of courses from two or more fields and 

          combined into an intellectually or professionally

          coherent study. At least 6 hours of advanced 

          (300-level or designated 200-level courses) are

          required. Up to 6 hours in English or cross-listed

          in English, Rhetoric, or B&T W and not counted 

          toward major requirements may be approved for a 

          topically organized study. Possibilities for topical 

          studies include prelaw, premedicine, precommerce, 



          business communications, marketing, publishing, 

          medieval studies, and other cross-disciplinary 

          topics.

1. With the written permission of a rhetoric adviser, 3 of these 12 hours may be selected from the following courses: ENGL 301, 302, 303, 381; B &T W 250, 253, 261, 263, 271; SPCOM 210, 315, 317, 322, 323, 332; JOURN 326; and PHIL 102.

Professional Writing Option

Hours     Requirements

9         At least three courses selected in consultation with

           an adviser in professional writing, including one 

           course which is approved for COMP II

3         One course in communication technologies selected 

           in consultation with an academic adviser

9         At least three courses in writing theory and 

           practice selected in consultation with an academic 

           adviser

9         Three additional courses in literature, critical 

           theory, or creative writing

6-8       Select from:

          HIST 111-Western Civilization from Antiquity to 

           1660 (or HIST 110), and

          HIST 112-Western Civilization from 1660 to the 

           Present (or HIST 113)     

     or

          C LIT 141-Masterpieces of Western Culture, I, and 

          C LIT 142-Masterpieces of Western Culture, II

     or

          HIST 231-British Isles to 1688, and 

          HIST 232-The History of Great Britain Since 1688

18-21     Select from one of the following options with the

           approval of a rhetoric adviser:

          An official minor in another department or unit, 

           or 20 additional hours in another department

     or

          Twenty hours of courses from two or more fields 

           and combined into an intellectually or 

           professionally coherent study. At least 6 hours 

           of advanced (300-level or designated 200-level 

           courses) are required. Up to 6 hours in English 

           or cross-listed in English and not counted toward 

           major requirements may be approved for a topically 

           organized study. Possibilities for topical studies 

           include prelaw, premedicine, precommerce, business 

           communications, marketing, publishing, medieval 

           studies, and other cross-disciplinary topics.

For All Options:

Twelve hours advanced-level (300- and approved 200-level) courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.

Teacher Educaton Minor in Rhetoric

E-mail: english@english.uiuc.edu

Web address for most current program requirements:
http://www.las.uiuc.edu/students/programs/RHET/f_RHET.shtml

Teacher education minors are available only to students seeking to add additional teaching fields to their teaching major. This minor does not lead to high school endorsement in an additional teaching field.

Students are advised that additional course work may be necessary to teach middle grades six through eight. Consult the certification officer in 130 Education Building for additional information.

HOURS     REQUIREMENTS

6-7       Select one group of courses:

          RHET 105-Principles of Composition, and a speech

           performance elective

     or

          RHET 108-Forms of Composition, and a speech 

           performance elective

     or

          SPCOM 111-Verbal Communication, and 

          SPCOM 112-Verbal Communication

3         Select one of

          RHET 133-Principles of Composition

          RHET 143-Intermediate Expository Writing

3         RHET 144-Introductory Narrative Writing

3         ENGL 302-Descriptive English Grammar



3         ENGL 381-Theory and Practice of Written Composition

6-7       Electives in rhetoric or related fields

24-26     Total

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