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Rhetoric and Technical Communication

Communication is knowledge, and knowledge is power—especially in the hands of people in remote or underserved populations. If you’re a skilled communicator with an interest in helping others, Michigan Tech’s Peace Corps Master’s International program in Rhetoric and Technical Communication may be the degree option for you. You’ll do more with your degree, learning how to share language skills and health information with the people who need them most. 

Study Locally, Learn Globally

Start by gaining a broad education about crucial, real-world topics—language, education, technology, community development, writing, and more. Then, receive your Peace Corps placement and travel abroad, using your knowledge to respond to the needs of people in your host country. 

We offer four concentrations: 

  • Secondary English Teaching
    Teach conversational English, English as a foreign language, or content-based English in middle and high schools.
  • Secondary English Teacher Training
    Train student teachers at teachers' colleges or provide in-service training to experienced teachers.
  • University English Teaching
    Work with university-level students who need enhanced English-language skills to utilize academic and technical resources published in English.
  • Health Extension
    Volunteers carry out social and behavior change activities for improved public health, while enhancing the capacity of community partners and service providers.

Course Work and Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 3.0 GPA and GRE composite score of 1000, and 4 on the analytical written test (We will consider students with lower GPAs/GRE scores who are very strong in other areas.)

Desirable

  • Proficiency in a foreign language, particularly French or Spanish

Course Schedule

Students in our program can choose between two tracks: Education (encompassing Secondary English Teaching, Secondary English Teacher Training, and University English Teaching) and Health Extension.

  1. If you have been awarded a Graduate Teaching Assistantship, take HU5931 Oral, Written and Visual Communication Pedagogies = 3 credits  (Please note: Even if you are not awarded a teaching assistantship, you may want to take this course since it will help to prepare you for teaching English in the Peace Corps; otherwise, you may take an elective course.)
  2. Take four courses in your chosen major stream (the five major streams are Writing, Literacy, and Technical Communication; Philosophy and Rhetoric; Culture and Communication; Language, Literatures, and Globalization; and Technology, Media, and Visual Studies) = 12 credits
  3. Take two courses in your chosen minor stream = 6 credits
  4. Your required third stream in the RTC program will be the PCMI stream: Take (A) the two required PCMI courses (SS5201 Cultural Dimensions of International Immersion and Research [1 credits] and FW5770 Rural Community Development and Planning Analysis [2 credit] and (B) 3 credits of either HU5119 Fieldwork in International English Education or HU5120 Fieldwork in International Health Education (one credit during each term of active Peace Corps service) = 6 credits
  5. Thesis or Project Credits: Take (A) up to an additional 4 credits of either HU5119 Fieldwork in International English Education or HU5120 Fieldwork in International Health Education (one credit during each term of active Peace Corps service) to apply toward thesis credits. And (B) 5 credits of either HU5990 Thesis or HU5991 Special Projects on return to campus to complete your thesis or project = 9 credits

Total = 36 credits

Education track

Required courses

  • HU5001 Proseminar in Rhetoric and Technical Communication 

  • FW5770 Rural Community Development and Planning Analysis 

  • HU5119 Fieldwork in International English Education (10 credits—1 credit per semester while serving in the Peace Corps; 3 credits upon return)
  • SS5201 Cultural Dimensions of International Immersion and Research


Elective courses

  • 4000 level language course (French or Spanish)
  • HU4140 Methods of Teaching English

  • HU5002 Rhetoric, Composition, and Literacy Studies

  • SS5201 Cultural Dimensions of International Immersion and Research

  • HU5020 Composition Theory

  • HU5021 Literacy Theory and Research

  • HU5050 Intercultural Communication

  • HU5931 Oral, Written and Visual Communication Pedagogies


Health track

Required courses

  • HU5001 Proseminar in Rhetoric and Technical Communication
  • FW5770 Rural Community Development and Planning Analysis

  • HU5120 Fieldwork in International Health Education (10 credits—1 credit per semester while serving in the Peace Corps; 3 credits upon return)
  • SS5201 Cultural Dimensions of International Immersion and Research


Elective courses

  • 4000 level French or Spanish

  • HU4625 Risk Communication

  • BL3970 Current Health Issues

  • HU5004 Communication in Cultural Contexts

  • SS5201 Cultural Dimensions of International Immersion and Research

  • HU5011 Technology, Culture, and Communication

  • HU5030 Linguistic Analysis

  • HU5050 Intercultural Communication

  • HU5113 Cultural Studies