Testimonials

Rene De los Santos, Assistant Professor, DePaul University
"While I found that I like reading fiction, I began to be more interested in the writing of everyday life, of how people through attempts at communicating sought to construct the symbolic and material world around them. The study of rhetoric here at SDSU helped me better understand how such things work. I found it so interesting that I decided to pursue a Ph.D., and am now an assistant professor in Chicago. The study of rhetoric is a great choice for anyone interested in how things happen via language and other ways, and is a study broad enough to accommodate a wide range of interests and research. Of the faculty here at SDSU I have nothing but the highest praise and admiration. They not only provided a stimulating and engaging intellectual environment, but the faculty was very supportive and encouraging of my research and teaching interests. I felt well prepared for the next stage of my academic life, and I highly recommend pursuing a degree here."

Jonathan LeMaster, High School English Teacher
In 2004, I set out to find a Master’s program that would improve my craft as a teacher. Specifically, I wanted to learn more about reading and writing. Having earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and obtaining a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English, I had convinced myself that I was ready for a different learning experience. Rhetoric and Writing Studies was a completely new discipline to me, a subject that I new very little about. I was ready to engage in new conversations, especially those that would deepen my understanding of language and its relationship to meaning and knowledge. The Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies was a perfect fit for me. Offering an emphasis in the teaching of writing, this Master’s program taught me the value of reading and writing rhetorically and developed in me the necessary skills and vision needed to prepare modern students for the rigors of academic environments. Rhetoric and Writing Studies is a program constructed of thoughtfully developed courses by highly competent professors. The professors in this program care deeply about their students and make every effort to develop relevant, challenging curriculum. Completing this program has enriched both my academic and professional career. I am forever grateful.

Megan Little, doctoral student, UT Austin
"I started studying rhetoric and composition at SDSU while working as a technical writer in the software industry. I wasn't sure I wanted to keep working as a technical writer, and I was intrigued by the little bits I learned about rhetorical theory in my technical writing class. I also wanted the opportunity to teach writing. It turns out that I enjoyed studying rhetoric and composition so much that I decided to pursue a PhD in it, and I'm finding that the classes I took at SDSU gave me an excellent foundation. Studying rhetoric is a great choice for someone who wants to embark on graduate work but keep their options open. There's just so many directions you can take your skills...into industry, into teaching, further into academia. The faculty at SDSU were also great to work with. They provided me loads of support and encouragement, especially in terms of professional development."

Kellie Sharp, doctoral student Illinois State University
"The Rhetoric and Writing Program at San Diego State University definitely prepared me to pursue a Ph.D. in English with the same emphasis (where I am now!). The coursework gave me the footing to participate in the field of rhetoric and composition; I feel like I am prepared to discuss the critical issues of the discourse as well as contribute my own scholarship. Alongside coursework, my experience teaching first year composition courses has been central in my adapting to the rigors of doctoral study. Where some of my peers are teaching for the first time and struggling to balance their schedules, I have multiple semesters' experience that allow me to approach teaching and studying with confidence."

Christine Spicer, Point Loma Nazarene University
"I can’t speak highly enough about the Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies at San Diego State University. One of the highlights is the faculty. The professors are intelligent, engaging, and highly committed to helping students. I was very impressed with the level of personal attention we each received. In addition, I found my fellow graduate students to be thoughtful, talented, and creative people who enriched my experience greatly. In terms of the program itself, I received a strong foundation in rhetorical theory and history, and I benefited from courses in teaching writing and professional writing that offered strong practical value. Today, as the editor of Point Loma Nazarene University’s magazine, I find myself drawing on the tools of rhetorical analysis I learned at SDSU. When I have taught freshmen composition at PLNU, I have relied upon my experiences as a teaching associate. In short, earning my master’s degree in rhetoric and writing was a delightful, stimulating experience. I would recommend the program to anyone who has a passion for language and its many purposes."