The University of California at Berkeley UC Berkeley offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Rhetoric, which focuses on the history, theory, and practice of rhetoric, with an emphasis on argumentation and the analysis of discourse. Students in this program develop a strong understanding of rhetorical analysis, including logic, style, and the use of images, while also exploring the historical development of rhetorical theory. [1, 2]
Key aspects of the Rhetoric BA at UC Berkeley:
- Interdisciplinary approach: Rhetoric at Berkeley is an interdisciplinary field, drawing on various disciplines like literature, philosophy, history, and social sciences. [1, 1, 3, 3, 4]
- Core coursework: The program includes introductory courses like “Introduction to Practical Reasoning” and “Rhetorical Interpretation,” as well as upper-division courses on “Approaches and Paradigms in the History of Rhetorical Theory”. [5, 5]
- Focus on critical thinking and argumentation: Students learn to analyze, construct, and critique arguments, developing strong critical thinking and communication skills. [5, 5, 6, 6]
- Exploration of diverse rhetorical contexts: The curriculum covers a wide range of rhetorical contexts, including legal, political, cultural, and digital media. [1, 1, 7, 7, 8, 8]
- Career preparation: Graduates are well-equipped for various careers in writing, communication, law, education, and other fields that require strong analytical and persuasive abilities. [9, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11]
- Faculty expertise: The Rhetoric Department at UC Berkeley boasts faculty with expertise in various areas of rhetorical theory and practice. [3, 3, 12, 12]
- Strong emphasis on historical and theoretical foundations: Students gain a deep understanding of the historical development of rhetoric and its relationship to contemporary critical theory. [1, 1, 13, 13]
- Engagement with contemporary issues: The program encourages students to apply rhetorical analysis to contemporary issues, such as the rhetoric of new media, the rhetoric of climate change, and the rhetoric of lies, according to the UC Berkeley course search. [7, 7, 14, 14]
[1] https://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/rhetoric/
[2] https://guide.berkeley.edu/courses/rhetor/
[3] https://rhetoric.berkeley.edu/about
[4] https://guide.berkeley.edu/graduate/degree-programs/rhetoric/
[5] https://discovery.berkeley.edu/getting-started/major-maps/rhetoric
[6] https://rhetoric.uiowa.edu/about/what-is-rhetoric
[7] https://guide.berkeley.edu/departments/rhetoric/
[8] https://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2025-spring-rhetor-20-001-lec-001
[10] https://www.collegevine.com/faq/20568/rhetoric-vs-philosophy-picking-a-major
[11] https://www.unt.edu/academics/programs/english-writing-and-rhetoric-degree.html
[12] https://rhetoric.berkeley.edu/home
[13] https://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/rhetoric/rhetoric.pdf
[14] https://classes.berkeley.edu/content/2024-spring-rhetor-121-001-lec-001