Texts and Technology (PhD)

Program Prerequisites

Applicants must hold an earned master's degree from a accredited institution recognized by UCF or recognized foreign institution prior to entering the Texts and Technology program. Fields with a technological and/or textual theory component, such as digital humanities, public history, technical communication, digital media, cultural studies, philosophy, rhetoric, or linguistics, are especially applicable.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• Complete all of the following
  Core - 15 Hours
  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete the following:
      • ENG6800 - Introduction to Texts and Technology (3)
      • ENG6801 - Texts and Technology in History (3)
      • ENG6810 - Theories of Texts and Technology (3)
      • DIG6836 - Design and Development for Texts and Technology (3)
      • ENG6005 - Dissertation Research Design in Texts and Technology (3)
    • Earn at least 0 credits from the following:
      • ENG6826 - Professionalization in Texts and Technology (0 - 99)
  Research Methods
  • Complete all of the following
    • Complete at least 1 of the following:
      • ENG6812 - Research Methods for Texts and Technology (3)
      • DIG6825 - Research Methods for Interactive Media (3)
      • ENC6720 - Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition (3)
      • HIS6159 - Historiography (3)
    • Select one course from the list above, or an alternate 6000-level methods course subject to approval by the instructor and the Texts and Technology Program Director.

Area of Specialization (See Program Details Section for Descriptions)

• Complete 1 of the following
  Digital Humanities - 12 Hours
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • ARH5897 - Advanced Seminar in Art History (3)
    • DIG5137 - Information Architecture (3)
    • DIG5508 - Programming for Digital Media (3)
    • DIG6812 - Digital Interaction for Informal Learning (3)
    • DIG6647 - History and Theory of Dynamic Media (3)
    • ENC6425 - Hypertext Theory and Design (3)
    • ENC6426 - Visual Texts and Technology (3)
    • ENC6428 - Digital Literacies (3)
    • ENG6074 - Historical Movements in Literary, Cultural, and Textual Studies (3)
    • ENG6078 - Contemporary Movements in Literary, Cultural, and Textual Theory (3)
    • ENG6624 - Social Media Research for Humanities (3)
    • ENG6806 - Digital Editing and Databases (3)
    • ENG6808 - Narrative Information Visualization (3)
    • ENG6811 - Cultural Contexts in Texts and Technology (3)
    • ENG6813 - Interdisciplinary Teaching (3)
    • ENG6814 - Gender in Texts and Technology (3)
    • ENG6819 - Critical Making for Humanist Scholarship (3)
    • HIS6167 - Spatial History (3)
    • LIT6216 - Issues in Literary Study (3)
    • LIT6936 - Studies in Literary, Cultural, and Textual Theory (3)
    • PHI5665 - Knowledge, Responsibility, and Society (3)
    • PHI6679 - Digital Ethics (3)
    • PHM5035 - Environmental Philosophy (3)
    • THE5307 - Contemporary Theatre Practice (3)
    • THE5545 - Theatre for Social Change (3)
    • TPA6186 - Immersive Experience Studio (3)
    • TPA6188 - Visualizing Themed Environments (3)
    • WST5347 - Research in Women and Gender Studies (3)
    • WST5601 - Theories in Gender Studies (3)
  Digital Media
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • DIG5137 - Information Architecture (3)
    • DIG5487 - Media Aesthetics (3)
    • DIG5508 - Programming for Digital Media (3)
    • DIG5831 - Computational Media (3)
    • DIG6136 - Design for Interactive Media (3)
    • DIG6432 - Transmedia Story Creation (3)
    • DIG6436 - Ethnographic Storytelling and New Media (3)
    • DIG6546 - Previsualization and Concept Development (3)
    • DIG6551 - Theory and Practice of Interactive Storytelling (3)
    • DIG6605 - Physical Computing (3)
    • DIG6647 - History and Theory of Dynamic Media (3)
    • DIG6812 - Digital Interaction for Informal Learning (3)
    • DIG6817 - Contemporary Topics in Interactive Media (3)
    • ENC6225 - User-Centered Design for Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6296 - Interactive Design in Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6421 - Digital Rhetorics (3)
    • ENC6425 - Hypertext Theory and Design (3)
    • ENG6624 - Social Media Research for Humanities (3)
    • ENG6806 - Digital Editing and Databases (3)
    • ENG6808 - Narrative Information Visualization (3)
    • ENG6813 - Interdisciplinary Teaching (3)
    • ENG6819 - Critical Making for Humanist Scholarship (3)
    • HIS6167 - Spatial History (3)
    • PHI6679 - Digital Ethics (3)
  Editing, Publishing, and Interdisciplinary Curating (EPIC) - 12 Hours
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • ARH5897 - Advanced Seminar in Art History (3)
    • CRW6025 - Advanced Graduate Writing Workshop (3)
    • CRW6721 - Literary Journal Editing (3)
    • CRW6976 - Scholarship and Publication Models (3)
    • DIG6136 - Design for Interactive Media (3)
    • DIG5487 - Media Aesthetics (3)
    • DIG6436 - Ethnographic Storytelling and New Media (3)
    • DIG6812 - Digital Interaction for Informal Learning (3)
    • ENC6216 - Editing Professional Writing (3)
    • ENC6217 - Technical Editing (3)
    • ENC6257 - Visual Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6297 - Production and Publication Methods (3)
    • ENC6426 - Visual Texts and Technology (3)
    • ENC6428 - Digital Literacies (3)
    • ENG6806 - Digital Editing and Databases (3)
    • HIS5083 - Cultural Heritage Management (3)
    • HIS5088 - Readings in Curation and Public History (3)
    • HIS6094 - Seminar in Curation and New Media (3)
    • LIN5675 - English Grammar and Usage (3)
    • LIT6216 - Issues in Literary Study (3)
    • PHI6679 - Digital Ethics (3)
  Public History - 12 Hours
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • AMH5636 - Colloquium in US Environmental History (3)
    • AMH5378 - History of Technology (3)
    • AMH6346 - Seminar in the History of American Automobility (3)
    • AMH6429 - Seminar in Community and Local History (3)
    • ENG6808 - Narrative Information Visualization (3)
    • HIS5067 - Introduction to Public History (3)
    • HIS5083 - Cultural Heritage Management (3)
    • HIS5088 - Readings in Curation and Public History (3)
    • HIS5925 - History in the Digital Age (3)
    • HIS6094 - Seminar in Curation and New Media (3)
    • HIS6096 - Seminar in Historic Preservation (3)
    • HIS6165 - Digital Tools for Historians (3)
    • HIS6167 - Spatial History (3)
    • HIS6942 - Internship (3)
    • PHI6679 - Digital Ethics (3)
  Rhetoric and Composition
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • ENC5337 - Rhetorical Theory (3)
    • ENC5705 - Approaches to Teaching College Composition (3)
    • ENC5920 - Colloquium in Rhetoric and Composition (3)
    • ENC6245 - Teaching Professional Writing (3)
    • ENC6332 - Gendered Rhetoric (3)
    • ENC6333 - Contemporary Rhetoric and Composition Theory (3)
    • ENC6335 - Rhetorical Traditions (3)
    • ENC6338 - The Rhetorics of Public Debate (3)
    • ENC6339 - Rhetorical Movements (3)
    • ENC6428 - Digital Literacies (3)
    • ENC6712 - Studies in Literacy and Writing (3)
    • ENC6740 - Topics in Rhetoric and Composition (3)
    • ENC6945 - Community Literacy Practicum (3)
    • ENG6624 - Social Media Research for Humanities (3)
    • ENG6808 - Narrative Information Visualization (3)
    • ENG6811 - Cultural Contexts in Texts and Technology (3)
    • PHI6679 - Digital Ethics (3)
  Scientific and Technical Communication
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
    • ENC6217 - Technical Editing (3)
    • ENC6261 - Technical Writing, Theory and Practice (3)
    • ENC6292 - Project Management for Technical Writers. (3)
    • ENC6296 - Interactive Design in Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6297 - Production and Publication Methods (3)
    • ENC6425 - Hypertext Theory and Design (3)
    • ENC6421 - Digital Rhetorics (3)
    • ENC6247 - Proposal Writing (3)
    • ENC6257 - Visual Technical Communication (3)
    • ENC6338 - The Rhetorics of Public Debate (3)
    • ENG6624 - Social Media Research for Humanities (3)
    • ENG6808 - Narrative Information Visualization (3)
    • LIN5675 - English Grammar and Usage (3)
    • LIT6435 - Rhetoric of Science (3)
    • PHI6679 - Digital Ethics (3)

Elective Courses - Interdisciplinary Electives

• Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: Students select 9 credit hours of interdisciplinary electives from any Area of Specialization, or from other departments within the university, subject to approval by the instructor and the Texts and Technology Program Director. This requirement encourages students to find graduate-level coursework best suited to develop their research agendas and to prepare for their dissertations.

Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy Examination
• Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: ENC 7919 Doctoral Research 3 credit hours Students are admitted to doctoral candidacy status upon completion of a written examination with three parts—one part based on a reading list reviewed biennially by the Texts and Technology faculty and the other two parts based on reading lists prepared by each student and approved by the examination committee. The candidacy examination for each student is written and evaluated by a committee of three UCF Texts and Technology graduate faculty members chosen by the student. Students must be registered for ENC 7919 during the semester in which they take their candidacy examination and they must find a Texts and Technology core faculty member to serve as the chair of their examination during the semester before enrolling in ENC 7919. Students cannot register for dissertation credit (ENC 7980) until the semester after they have successfully passed the candidacy examination. Students who fail the candidacy examination a second time cannot continue in the program. The following are required in order to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours: Successful completion of all coursework, except for dissertation hours. Successful completion of the candidacy examination. Completion of College of Graduate Studies CITI and Academic Integrity Training. An approved dissertation advisory committee is on file, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars. A current, approved program of study is on file.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

• Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: ENC 7980 Students choose their dissertation adviser and committee from among the faculty in the Texts and Technology PhD program and must have one member from outside the College of Arts and Humanities. Students choose the adviser after they have completed approximately 27 credit hours toward the degree or after the first year-and-a-half of coursework. All dissertation committee members, including outside readers, must hold a PhD or another relevant degree or, if serving as a UCF Graduate Scholar, the external member must have documented evidence of exceptional relevant experience and/or scholarly or creative productivity. Students must write a dissertation on their research that will explain and defend a significant original contribution to the field of Texts and Technology. It may be of a theoretical, historical or pragmatic nature, but must meet conventional academic standards. Students are required to submit and defend a written dissertation proposal (the prospectus) during the first year in dissertation. The dissertation committee administers the candidate's oral defense of the dissertation, with passing determined by acceptance by a majority of the committee. The dissertation adviser, the dissertation committee and the dean of the college or designee must approve the final dissertation. Format approval is required from the Thesis and Dissertation Office and final approval of degree requirement completion by the College of Graduate Studies (Millican Hall 230). Students will submit at least one substantial scholarly article to a national and/or international peer-reviewed journal or proceedings conference with the approval and assistance of the dissertation chair and the director of the doctoral program.

Grand Total Credits: 57

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

• One transcript from each college/university attended, demonstrating a competitive GPA in the student's major field of study.
• Applicants must hold an earned master's degree from an accredited institution recognized by UCF or recognized foreign institution prior to entering the Texts and Technology program. Fields with a technological and/or textual theory component, such as digital humanities, public history, technical communication, digital media, cultural studies, philosophy, rhetoric, or linguistics, are especially applicable. The total Texts and Technology doctoral program is a combination of an earned master's degree and the Ph.D. core, Area of Specialization, and interdisciplinary elective coursework, and dissertation hours. The Texts and Technology (T&T) PhD requires a minimum of 42 credit hours of coursework beyond the master's degree, including a minimum of 3 hours of doctoral research and 15 hours of dissertation. Eighteen credit hours are required in seven core courses. These core courses provide an interdisciplinary framework for all students. The remaining credit hours consist of additional courses in an Area of Specialization, interdisciplinary electives, and research hours. Earned Master's Degree (minimum 30 credit hours) + 42 UCF Graduate Credit hours = 72 graduate credit hours.
• The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
• Three letters of recommendation. These should be from faculty members, university administrators, or employers. The letters should be current to the application and should address the relevant skills of the applicant, the aspirations of the candidate, and an assessment of the applicant's ability to perform graduate-level research. Letters that provide specific examples are more helpful than those that speak about the applicant's abilities in vague generalities. Confidential letters are preferred.
• Statement of Purpose:
  • The statement should explain the motivation behind the pursuit of an interdisciplinary doctoral degree in Texts and Technology and discuss future career goals.
  • The statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous research experience.
  • The statement should address why the interdisciplinary composition of Texts and Technology is appropriately aligned with the applicant's future research goals.
  • The applicant must clearly describe the particular area(s) of research interest and identify any UCF faculty members who share a similar research focus and with whom the applicant would like to work. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Texts and Technology website for additional information regarding the program and faculty (http://www.tandt.cah.ucf.edu).
  • The statement should be between 500 and 1,200 words.
• A substantial academic writing sample (between 10 and 25 double-spaced pages) and an optional digital portfolio illustrating the applicant's ability to engage in advanced academic work should be submitted as part of the application materials. Acceptable writing samples may include a chapter from a master's thesis, a conference paper, a term paper for a seminar, or other research projects that demonstrate the applicant's ability to pursue the type of research that could possibly lead to a completed dissertation. The optional digital portfolio may include examples of digital humanities or interactive media projects that are annotated appropriately to explain the applicant's contribution to the design and development process.
• Résumé or CV.
• Applicants to this program, except those that have earned or will earn a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. institution recognized by UCF, who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is competitive and is based on a comparative evaluation of each applicant's proficiencies, past performance, recommendations, as well as the match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.

Application Deadlines

*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.