Degree Requirements
Use the navigation sidebar links to find information on the research internship, qualifying and comprehensive examinations, dissertation, relevant forms, and important policies.
Coursework
Please refer to the catalog for coursework requirements and curriculum overview.
Timeline to Graduation
As a student in USU's TCR PhD program, you will typically be able to complete your doctorate in four years if you follow the schedule below.
First Year
First Fall Semester
You should immediately meet with the TCR Program Director (DGS), Chen Chen (chen.chen@usu.edu) to plan coursework for the first academic year and start planning your program of study.
NOTE: Plan to take 18 credits your first year by either taking 9-credit hours each in the fall and spring, or by taking a lesser combination in fall and spring plus additional credits over the summer to make up the difference.
First Spring Semester
You should complete and submit the Annual Review/Progress form every year in April to prepare for an annual review meeting later that month. The TCR program director will email the form to all students and give instructions on how to submit it. For first- and second-year students, the annual review meeting constitutes your qualifying examination. The form will ask for your program of study, a report on your current progress and future professional development plans, as well as a professional bio and a CV.
Second Year
Second Fall Semester
During the semester, complete an updated Program of Study Form with your Supervisory Committee Chair (Major Professor) or Program Director. The form lays out the coursework you will take to earn a degree in your specific program. Found in your Banner account under “Degree Works.” Once you have taken TCR7110, you should be thinking about your internship, which you should begin your second summer semester. Before the end of your third semester, consult with the program director to identify an eligible faculty member to serve as your major professor, and consult with them to form the Dissertation Supervisory Committee.
Second Spring Semester
You must submit a second-year annual review progress report by April 1 to your Supervisory Committee or to the entire Technical Communication and Rhetoric (TCR) committee if required.
Submit a proposed reading list to your Supervisory Committee Chair. Work with your Supervisory Committee to secure written approval of the list before the end of the semester the coursework is completed.
At the end of this semester, you should be prepared to begin your research internship.
NOTE: Following this schedule, you should have completed 36 TCR7000-level credits and have formed a Dissertation Supervisory Committee. The Committee must be composed of faculty members willing to supervise your Comprehensive Exam and dissertation. The Dissertation Supervisory Committee is made up of at least three (3) faculty members from the Communication and Media department. At least 2 of those 3 faculty members including the Major Professor should be from the TCR Program, and at least 1 external member should be from outside of the department. It is advised that 1 committee member be from within the department but outside TCR. All committee members must meet USU Graduate School requirements. Once the committee is built, you should complete the Supervisory Committee Form. *Note that this form is updated frequently so make sure you are using the most current version on the USU Graduate School website.
You should also identify a First Reader Committee Member. The First Reader Committee Member is generally responsible for reading the entire dissertation before it goes to the committee in preparation for the dissertation defense. If not decided before the students’ dissertation proposal defense, the student’s committee should assign a first reader at the meeting. The dissertation production timetable should include at least 2 weeks for the first reader to read each chapter and provide feedback to the student with time for revisions before needing to continue on to the dissertation committee. Any adjustments to this procedure should be agreed upon in advance between the committee chair, student, and first reader.
Second Summer Semester
Research internship (6 credits).
Third Year
Use this semester to prepare for your Comprehensive Examination. Your coursework and reading list will be your foundation for taking the exam, but your research idea for your dissertation should be your guiding principle. You should also defend your dissertation proposal and have it approved by your Supervisory Committee, after which you will become a PhD candidate. Once your dissertation is designed and IRB protocols are approved, you should complete the Application for Candidacy form. The form is due at least three months prior to the final dissertation defense; it must be accompanied by a signed copy of the Proposal Cover Sheet. The Application for Candidacy form, signed by all members of the committee and the department head, attests that the student is ready to conduct independent dissertation research.
NOTE: Students must complete their Comprehensive Examination by the end of the year (not including summer). Failure to complete the Comprehensive Examination within this timeframe could be grounds for probation, except in situations where the student has worked with their supervisory committee or TCR faculty to adjust the timeline.
Fourth Year
Fourth Fall and Spring Semesters
Submit a fourth-year annual review progress report by April 1 to your Supervisory Committee or to the TCR committee if required. Use this time to research and write your dissertation. You should be able to defend it in the spring. If you defend it early enough, or if it is clear it will be approved by your committee, you may walk (go through the graduation ceremony) in May of your fourth year.
NOTE: The date and time for the oral defense of the dissertation must be scheduled with the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 working days before the defense. Additional forms will need to be completed below.
Appointment for Examination
Due at least 10 working days before the final defense. Notifies the Grad School that you will be defending your dissertation. Ensures that committee members have read the dissertation ahead of time and agree that it is ready to be defended.
Record of Examination
This form is brought to your dissertation defense by the outside member of your dissertation committee, who serves as the representative of the Grad School at the defense. The form is mailed to the outside committee member prior to the defense.
Dissertation Format and Style Form
This form must accompany a dissertation presented to the School of Graduate Studies for approval.
Dissertation Embargo Request
USU is committed to the open dissemination of knowledge and requires that theses and dissertations be submitted to UMI/ProQuest and to DigitalCommons@USU. However, the Embargo form is used to restrict electronic release of your thesis or dissertation. A dissertation document may be embargoed for five years after submission, however, a printed copy of the document must still be submitted to the Merrill Cazier Library along with a binding fee. Embargo of a dissertation must be approved by the advisor, the department head, and the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies.
Utilize the sidebar navigation for more information relevant to the TCR PhD.