To earn the Ph.D. in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric, a student must complete 45 credits beyond the Master's degree (counted as 30 credits) for a total of 75 credits. Students complete 36 hours of Core, Track, and elective coursework, pass comprehensive written qualifying exams, and complete a written dissertation that is a book-length work of scholarship and defend it viva voce. The program is designed to be completed in 4 years.

The 45 credits are distributed as follows:

• 12 course credits in a required Core
  
• 12 course credits in a selected Track (Composition Studies or Cultural Rhetoric)
  
• 12 course credits (minimum) in electives, which may be taken in any department
  
• 3 credits in doctoral readings (in preparation for qualifying examinations)
  
• 6-18 credits of dissertation.

Students establish a plan for coursework with the advice of the CCR Director of Graduate Studies. Qualifying exams are drawn from the student's interests and coursework, with the major exam area taken from the student's selected Track, and the two minor exams emerging from the student's individual interests.