PhD in Cultural Studies - Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition Studies in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The UC Davis Graduate Group in Cultural Studies provides a cross-disciplinary framework for examining culture and society, emphasizing how factors like sexuality, race, ability, citizenship, gender, nationality, class, and language shape identities, social dynamics, and cultural artifacts. Under faculty mentorship, students conduct interdisciplinary research spanning diverse fields such as critical race studies, ecocriticism, fashion theory, queer studies, media analysis, science and technology studies, Marxist critique, travel cultures, food studies, disability studies, cultural geography, transnational politics, globalization, religious studies, rhetoric, performance theory, and critical philosophy. While both Ph.D. and M.A. options exist, the program exclusively accepts Ph.D. applicants, with the M.A. serving as an intermediate step toward doctoral completion.

The Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition Studies (WRaCS) Designated Emphasis equips Ph.D. candidates for leadership positions in writing research, pedagogy, and program management. This specialization delivers both theoretical foundations and practical skills in writing instruction, administrative oversight, and scholarly investigation. The program's focus on creating tailored teaching approaches and evaluation systems proves particularly valuable for graduate students examining writing development across secondary and higher education contexts.