Major in Rhetoric

In Sewanee’s Rhetoric program, students learn to research, compose, and critique public discourse and to do so from a wide variety of theoretical perspectives and preceptual traditions. Students take courses in public speaking,  argumentation and debate, ancient and modern rhetoric, the history of oratory and public discourse, women’s voices, protest, the rhetoric of mass and social media, propaganda, intercultural communication, and the rights and responsibilities of speakers. Accordingly, the study of rhetoric is excellent preparation not only for civic life but also for vocational callings in law, teaching, ministry, activism, advocacy, conflict resolution, diplomacy, and  politics, as well as careers in communication, commerce, and the arts. Students have the opportunity to study with award-winning teachers and scholars, conduct, present, and publish undergraduate research, and work in and with our state-of-the-art Center for Speaking & Listening.

Successful completion of the major requires a total of five courses: the two required foundational courses and three additional 4-credit courses. These courses are listed below, as well as an indication of general education attributions.

Foundational and Required Courses
RHET 101: Public Speaking
RHET 201: Introduction to Rhetoric (G1)
RHET 301: Junior Seminar in Rhetoric
RHET 401: Senior Seminar in Rhetoric

In addition, students are required to complete five additional courses, only one of which can be a lower-level course (100- or 200-level). All others (four total) must be at the 300- and 400-level.

Additional Courses

RHET 110: Argumentation and Debate
RHET 311: U.S. Public Address I: 1620-1865 (G1, G4)
RHET 312: U.S. Public Address II: 1865-Present (G1, G4)
RHET 321: Rhetoric in the Ancient World (G1, G4)
RHET 331: Voices of American Women (G7)

RHET 351: Intercultural and Cross-Cultural Communication (G7)
RHET 341: Rhetoric of Mass and Social Media
RHET 401: Speakers’ Rights and Responsibilities

RHET 411: Rhetoric in the Age of Protest I: 1948-1973

RHET 412: Rhetoric in the Age of Protest II: 1973-present

RHET 431: Public Dialogue and Deliberation
RHET 440: Directed Research and Writing 
RHET 444: Independent Study
RHET 491: Topics  

Note: The two-credit course for training Center for Speaking & Listening tutors (RHET 220: Teaching Speaking & Listening) will not count as one of the five courses required to complete the major.