ccr handbook :: curriculum

The program offers a set of rigorous core courses complemented by two tracks: 1) Composition Studies and 2) Cultural Rhetoric. The core courses provide a series of general introductions to the fields of rhetoric, composition, and literacy, as well as courses that address scholarship as a process, including instruction in practices of interdisciplinary reading and criticism, reading and evaluating research in different methodological paradigms. Track courses address history, theory, and education as aspects of composition studies or cultural rhetoric.

CORE COURSES (12 CREDITS TOTAL)

Our core courses introduce students to the scholarship of rhetoric and composition studies, the history of composition studies, 20th century rhetorics, and introduction to research methods and methodologies.

CCR 601 Introduction to Scholarship in Composition and Rhetoric Contemporary theories and practices of scholarship. Methodological debates and controversies. Connections between composition and rhetoric.

CCR 611 Development of Modern Composition Studies Situates historically the development of composition studies in American higher education from 1960s to present. Theory and research, pedagogical practices, theoretical and sociocultural influences on the field.

CCR 631 Twentieth Century Rhetorical Studies Surveys and situates historically the multidisciplinary development of rhetorical studies in the 20th century, emphasizing American contributions to the study of written discourse.

CCR 691: Comparative Processes and Premises of Research Evaluating research, with special attention to methods and methodological quality.

TRACK COURSES (12 credits total in the track selected by the candidate)

CULTURAL RHETORIC TRACK:

Our program situates cultural rhetoric as the historical and contemporaneous study of the persuasive practices of specific cultural groups (e.g., traditions of American racial and ethnic groups in their struggles for justice and equality), cultural sites (e.g., the workplace, classrooms), and political movements (e.g., feminism, LGBT studies), as well as the linguistic, discursive, and persuasive issues involved in global interactions between people of different cultures and historical moments.

Students in the Cultural Rhetoric Track take the following three courses, and a fourth as explained below:

CCR 711 Advanced Theory and Philosophy of Rhetoric Current issues in rhetorical theory and its application to the study of writing and written discourses. Emphasizes definitions and functions of theory, the formation of debates and controversies, relations of theory to practice.

CCR 731 Ancient Rhetoric and its Reception Critical studies in ancient rhetorical theory (Presocratics to Romans) and its reception in subsequent periods (medieval to 20th century). Emphasizes intellectual contexts that shape formation of rhetorical traditions.

CCR 751 Studies in Social History of Rhetoric Integrates study of historiography and cultural rhetoric. Investigates historical rhetorical practices, their construction and functions in social life, their documentation through archival research. Includes wide range of cultural and textual forms.

COMPOSITION TRACK:

Addressing written language in both academic and nonacademic settings, the Composition track is concerned broadly with scholarship on literacy and how it is taught and learned, used and transformed over time, with particular attention to the role of pedagogical and institutional practices. Specializations can be pursued in areas such as writing program administration, professional and technical communication, and community literacy, among others.

Students in the Composition Track take the following three courses, and a fourth as explained below:

CCR 712 Advanced Theory and Philosophy of Composition Current theories and major theorists in composition studies. Formulating critical problems that organize debate. Definition and functions of theory, relations to practice, rhetorical processes of scholarship.

CCR 720 Interdisciplinary Influences on Composition and Rhetoric: Special Topics Explores intellectual sources for modern and postmodern composition/ rhetoric studies, emphasizing language theories. Individual offerings of the course focus on selected fields or topics.

CCR 732 Critical Studies in Writing Curriculum Issues and controversies in curriculum, pedagogy, purposes and contexts for writing instruction. Variations in post secondary pedagogical practices and institutional designs. Their rationale in scholarship from composition and cognate fields.

For the fourth course in either track, students should take either 651 or 735. They also have the option of substituting a suitable elective.

CCR 651 Interdisciplinary Studies in Language and Literacy Language and literacy viewed from cognitive, social, historical, political, compositionist, and literary perspectives. Institutional practices of literacy and the role of language and literacy in identity construction. Language variation, language protectionism, and pluralistic cultural literacy.

CCR 735 Discourse Practices of Written Language Applies multidisciplinary methods from humanities and social sciences to analyze situated practices and genres of discourse in society, including the workplace, professions, academy, public sphere, and everyday life. Focuses on written language use.

ELECTIVE COURSES IN CCR (Students take 12 credits or more of elective course inside and outside the department).

Possible CCR electives are listed below:
CCR 607: Composition Pedagogy
Introduction to the practices and debates in composition pedagogies. Develops practical strategies in teaching writing.

CCR 740 Key Figures for Composition and Cultural Rhetoric: Selected Topics
Seminar on one or more key figures influential in the history of contemporary development of composition or cultural rhetoric.

CCR 760 Advanced Studies in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric: Selected Topics
Seminar on topics in composition or cultural rhetoric. 

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION CREDITS: 3 credits in Doctoral Readings (preparation for comprehensive examinations) and 9-18 credits Dissertation are required.

CCR 887 Doctoral Readings
Advanced readings and seminar discussion in preparation for doctoral qualifying examination.

CCR 999 Dissertation

OTHER CREDIT OPTIONS

Transfer Credit & Waivers

Students entering with a Master's degree in Rhetoric and Composition, or who have satisfactorily completed graduate courses in appropriate areas of study (e.g., composition, rhetoric, literacy, communication, or discourse studies) at Syracuse University or at other institutions, may have up to 12 hours applied to their required course credits. Upon entering the graduate program, those who wish to "transfer" in credits should make an appointment with the Graduate Director to discuss the transfer course(s).  The Graduate Director will then

  • review transcripts from the student's previous graduate work;
  • review previous syllabi, reading lists, or papers for the course(supplied by the student).


After review of these documents, the Graduate Director will decide whether or not the course work is appropriate for transfer credit.

In addition, when appropriate, students may petition to have a course from inside or outside the department substitute for a core or track course.  The case for such a substitution must be made to the Graduate Director.  If the Graduate Director approves the petition, then the candidate must complete the necessary paper work in consultation with the Graduate Director.

Independent Study

Students are allowed up to 9 credits of independent study courses in the CCR program or in other departments. Independent studies will count toward the 12 elective credits for the degree. Normally, independent studies are undertaken when students have research interests and intellectual projects that cannot be accommodated within the usual cycle of required, core, or elective courses.

To launch an independent study, the student will seek a faculty advisor with knowledge or interest in the student's proposed topic to sponsor the independent study. In consultation with the faculty advisor, the student will establish the course reading list (where appropriate) and the intellectual project or projects to be completed within the time frame of the independent study. Once the student and faculty advisor have agreed upon the plan for the independent study, the student should submit the following to the Graduate Director and the Graduate Committee:

  • The College of Arts and Sciences Independent Study Form with the sponsoring faculty advisor's signature.
  • A one page addendum with a brief rationale (1-2 paragraphs) for the independent study, a reading list if appropriate, and a brief description (1 paragraph) of the intellectual projects that will be completed.
  • The student/faculty advisor should indicate the number of credits being proposed.

Barring unusual circumstances, the independent study forms should be submitted by the end of the semester prior to the semester in which the student and faculty member plan to start the independent study. After the Graduate Committee reviews the proposal and the Graduate Director and the Department Chair provide their signatures, the student should register for the appropriate course number. For independent studies in CCR, the course number is CCR 690.
While many faculty are usually willing to sponsor independent studies, students should keep in mind that independent studies are done on top of the faculty's regular research, teaching, administration, and service loads and no extra compensation is granted.