Is Texts & Technology an online program?
No. All of our core, required courses are in-person. However, many elective courses, both offered by T&T and by other departments, are online courses.
Can you give me an overview of the curriculum?
There are five core required courses, one procedural literacy course for which you have a choice, four elective courses in your area of specialization, and three open electives. Full time students usually complete coursework (required and elective) in the fall of the third year. Part time students usually complete coursework in the summer of the third year. See the Curriculum page and the T&T Handbook.
How many credits does one need to accumulate in total to receive the PhD?
57 credits. See the Curriculum page and the T&T Handbook.
How long does it take for a student to complete the PhD program?
The recommended timeline for a full-time student is four years. The recommended timeline for a part time student is six years. See the Curriculum page and the T&T Handbook.
When are classes held?
All of our core, required courses are offered in the evenings, usually from 6-9pm. Elective courses may also be in the evening, or another time of day, or they may be online asynchronously.
How many classes does a student usually take during a semester and how many times during a week do they come to campus?
Full time students take three classes at a time. Part time students take two. If the courses are in person, each course meets once a week, so it could be two to three times per week coming to campus, or fewer if some courses are online.
Is there a pedagogical component to the curriculum? Are students given the opportunity to teach classes?
Teaching is not a required part of the program, but students who receive funding usually work as Graduate Teaching Assistants, either grading for a professor or teaching their own courses.
What academic background do T&T students have?
T&T students enter the program with Master’s degrees in a wide variety of fields, from those in which we offer a specialization like Public History and Technical Communication, to other humanities fields like English Literature and Film, to different disciplines like Education and Business. A Master’s degree, whether a MA, MS, or MFA, is required to apply to the program.
How much does the program cost per credit, per semester, or annually?
Tuition rate information, as well as a calculator, are available on the Student Account Services website.
Is funding available for students?
Some students work as Graduate Teaching Assistants or Graduate Research Assistants. These positions provide include tuition, health insurance, and a stipend, and require that students work 20 hours per week in Fall and Spring. Other students have either internal UCF fellowships or funding from external sources, which do not have a work requirement. To be considered for UCF fellowships or assistantships when you apply, check the box on the application that asks “Are you interested in an assistantship and/or fellowship?” For information on external fellowships, see the College of Graduate Studies Fellowships page.
Where can I learn more about the kind of research people do in T&T?
Follow us on Twitter or check out the collection of T&T dissertations in the UCF STARS repository.