“Speech is a powerful master” said Gorgias. We shape who we are and how we live by the ways we speak and express ourselves – publicly and privately. Since ancient Greece the theory and practice of “speaking well” has been at the heart of European culture and public life and of our ideals of free speech and human dignity. As communication cultures change, our rhetoric changes as well. This course provides a unique opportunity in the UK to study an exciting and rich field of intellectual and practical relevance and a unique preparation for a wide field of professional careers.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Upper second class BA/BSc in a relevant discipline (e.g. Languages or other Humanities disciplines, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Politics, Media and Communication related disciplines)

Course Content

The new MA in Rhetoric at Uclan is unique in the UK. It provides you with the opportunity to study the rich history and theory of the practice of speaking, or more broadly, communicating, well – and to master that practice yourself. For the rhetorical tradition, human expression and meaning are a unity of action, emotion and reason. Expression reflects the life we live, and it helps to sustain, change and improve it; Rhetorical ideas are at the heart of what it means to be human. Rhetoric has been at the centre of European culture since its beginning and is a fascinating and intellectually serious and challenging topic in its own right, as well as a unique preparation for a career in many fields of professional activity or in research and education. The ability to express your thoughts and motivations, reason convincingly, speak persuasively and deliberate with others constructively is crucial in politics, art, science and business – in all fields of public life. But also in the personal sphere it is in language that we shape who we are and how we live. Everywhere where language is used to investigate, express, influence, shape and contest identities and truths, to relate people to each other, to overcome, respect or indeed create differences and to create and disseminate knowledge and understanding, rhetoric is working.

In today’s society, communicative practice and competence is more important than ever before and changing faster than ever before. Understanding the rhetorical dimension and mastering it is enriching for anyone and significant to the world you live in. In the words of the Roman rhetoricians: “speaking well means living well”. Become human, study rhetoric!

The course consist of the following modules:

1. History and Theory of Rhetoric 1 (antiquity to 19th Century)
2. History and Theory of Rhetoric 2 (20th Century and contemporary developments)
3. Political Rhetoric
4. Rhetoric of Narrative and Image
5. Power in Talk
6. Research Seminar – Guided Research Topic
7. Dissertation

Course at a Glance

Year 1

1. Comprehensive understanding of the history, theory and current status of the field of rhetoric.
2. Ability to apply rhetorical theory and skills in a critical and reflective manner to the functioning of discourse in culture and society broadly construed and in a variety of personal and professional settings.
3. Ability to carry out research at MA level in aspects of rhetoric

Links with Professional Bodies:

Links with academic societies across the world are being developed; conference participation by students is encouraged and supported.

Assessment:

Assessment is by coursework and a dissertation (MA only)

Learning Environment:

Seminars, lectures, self study, tutorials, workshops, on-line learning activities

Careers:

The MA in Rhetoric is a unique preparation for a career in a variety of professional fields, including general management, policy development, communication professions, law, research in relevant fields and teaching

Other Opportunities:

The course has a student-led research component as preparation for the dissertation, which allows for in-depth exploration of a chosen topic and gives you the chance to acquire transferable research skills to a high level.

Fees and Finance

The standard fee for this course will be: TBC

For further information including the availability of bursaries/scholarships or student financial support please view our Fees and Finance pages.