Program Overview

MA Rhetoric and Communication Design

The Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Communication Design (MA-RCD) is a program that anchors research in the foundational course of rhetorical theory (ENGL 700). Students follow a program of study involving fields such as rhetoric, discourse analysis, semiotics, multimedia design and critique, composition pedagogy, and professional writing. MA-RCD graduates are employed in various sectors, including private industry, government, educational organizations, non-governmental organizations, and their own businesses, while others pursue doctoral programs.

Program Streams

The MA-RCD can be taken in the co-op stream. The program offers three streams:

• Course work
• Major Research Project (MRP)
• Thesis

Shared Requirements

All students are required to complete a University of Waterloo workshop on academic integrity and sign a pledge to conduct their research with scrupulous honesty. The workshop takes place before classes begin, and students will not be allowed to take classes until they have signed the pledge.

Stream-Specific Requirements

Course Work Stream

• Courses: Coursework students must complete the following 8 courses:
  • ENGL 700 Rhetorical Studies
  • ENGL 702 Rhetorical Research Methods
  • 3 courses designated as Rhetoric and Communication Design
  • 1 course designated as Literature
  • 2 elective courses from either within or outside the department
• Program Schedules: The recommended program schedules for different ways of completing the MA-RCD coursework degree are provided in a table.

Major Research Project Stream

• Courses: MRP students must complete the following 6 courses:
  • ENGL 700 Rhetorical Studies
  • ENGL 702 Rhetorical Research Methods
  • 2 courses designated as Rhetoric and Communication Design
  • 1 course designated as Literature
  • 1 elective course from either within or outside the department
• Program Schedules: The recommended program schedules for different ways of completing the MA-RCD MRP degree are provided in a table.
• Major Research Project (MRP): The MRP can take two forms in the MA-RCD program:
  • A direct critical or theoretical study in rhetoric, 40-50 pages in length, offering an in-depth inquiry into a rhetorical problem.
  • The design of communicative artefacts, documenting the design process; in relation to current theory and/or practice, 30-35 pages in length.
• Proposal: Students planning to complete their MA-RCD through the MRP option should arrange for a supervisor and a reader, both of whom must be members of the faculty, and under their guidance prepare a proposal to submit to the Departmental Graduate Committee.
• Submission: The MRP is due to the supervisor and reader in the last term of study.

Thesis Stream

• Courses: Thesis students must complete the following 4 courses:
  • ENGL 700 Rhetorical Studies
  • ENGL 702 Rhetorical Research Methods
  • 1 course designated as Rhetoric and Communication Design
  • 1 course designated as Literature
• Program Schedules: The recommended program schedules for different ways of completing the MA-RCD Thesis degree are provided in a table.
• Thesis: The Rhetoric and Communication Design thesis is a direct critical or theoretical study in rhetoric, 80-100 pages in length, offering an in-depth inquiry into a rhetorical problem.
• Proposal: Students planning to complete their degrees through the thesis option should arrange for a supervisor and two readers, all of whom must be members of the faculty, and under their guidance prepare a proposal to submit to the Departmental Graduate Committee.
• Submission: The Thesis is due to the supervisor and readers in the last term of study. Once completed and approved, the thesis must be submitted to UWSpace for publishing.