The Rhetoric, Culture, Engagement (RCE) specialization focuses on rhetoric as world-making by attending to the discursive intersections between materiality, culture, and power in an ever-changing world. The program is designed to cultivate cultural critics who are sensitive to the creative currents of rhetorical theory and praxis, with particular interest in modes of public engagement and cultural studies.

The program is designed to give candidates a mature grasp of the varied specialties and perspectives embraced by the field so that they can develop research competence essential to a life of productive scholarship. Cognate work of interest to students can be found in the other two graduate programs in the department. Students often pursue certificates in African American Studies, Public Digital Humanities, and Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies, developing interdisciplinary research programs. In addition, work in related departments—African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Cinematic Arts, English, Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies, History, Journalism and Mass Communication, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Sociology—complements RCE course offerings. 

Current graduate courses in Rhetoric, Culture, Engagement include:

• Introduction to Rhetorical Studies
• Criticism and Public Culture
• Body Rhetorics
• Feminist Criticism
• Black Feminist Rhetoric
• Rhetoric, Race, and Racism
• The Politics of Care and Reproduction 
• Queer & Trans Public Culture
• The Public Sphere
• Political Marketing
• The Politics of Everyday Life
• Magic Machines
• New Materialisms
• Critical Approaches to Digital Culture
• Globalization and Culture