The communication discipline began as the study of rhetoric, and some of the courses in this area explore rhetorical theory. Other courses in this concentration include both rhetorical criticism and modern critical theories of communication.

Faculty

The faculty listed below emphasize this area of study in their teaching and research, though most have additional areas of expertise. This list is not exhaustive, as many University of Washington faculty outside the Department of Communication also teach courses and conduct research in this area.

Courses

Graduate students who wish to learn more about rhetoric and critical/cultural studies can enroll in the Department of Communication courses listed below. Students also typically enroll in other courses within and outside the Department, and students are welcome to develop programs of study that combine different area emphases.

Ph.D students may be interested in the joint-doctoral Program in Theory and Criticism housed in the Department of Comparative Literature. This program combines the doctoral program in a student’s home department with a set of courses in theory and criticism in an integrated course of study. Participating departments include the Department of Communication and nine other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.