Ph.D. Program of Study | Department of Communication

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The general aim of the Ph.D. program in Communication is to provide students with a rigorous course of study that will prepare them for careers in either the academic or commercial spheres. The curriculum is not directed toward either of these domains, but rather attempts to give students a breadth of scholarly training that will allow them to pursue either of these career paths.

Academic Sphere. There is a very strong academic research component to communication. Persons with interests in communication are currently found on Communication faculties and in schools of Journalism and Mass Communication. Communication is an established academic area, as reflected in published research by faculty members in departments of Communication.

Commercial Sphere. Many organizations realize the value of research in mass communication effects, advertising, audience analysis, and other areas of communication. They have created a significant number of positions in communication. At the middle and upper management level, these are often filled by people with Ph.D. degrees. Training for persons filling these positions is often obtained in programs which do not equally emphasize communication theory and methods. The Ph.D. program in Communication is designed to provide the student with strong knowledge of communication theory, coupled with very strong research skills. A graduate of this program can step into a commercial research position without facing a period of hit-or-miss “on-the-job” training.

Ph.D. Program Elements

Length of Program

The time required for completion for the Ph.D. program will differ, depending on the degree status of entering students, and the courses already completed by the student at the graduate or undergraduate level. It is expected that students entering with a master’s degree will require approximately four years to complete the requisite course work, pass qualifying exams, and then write and defend the dissertation. (Note that students who earn an M.A. degree from our own program will require approximately three years, having already taken some of the required coursework.) The final program of course work and research for a student is created in consultation with his/her academic advisory committee. This program takes into account the student’s prior coursework and career objectives.

Research Requirement

Students participate in at least two research projects mentored by faculty before beginning their dissertation. These projects provide students with the necessary research experience before beginning the independent research required by the dissertation. They also put students in a better position to enter the Ph.D. job market.

Elective Courses (9 credits)

Choose two of the following, or similar with the approval of the committee; note that COMM 5003
or COMM 5004 can be counted as an elective methodology course if not taken to fulfill the
methodology requirements above.
One must be an advanced course as indicated by *

Qualifying Exams

After coursework is completed, students take a general exam. When they pass, they are considered “Ph.D. Candidates” or “A.B.D.” (all but dissertation).

Dissertation

An original research project designed by the student, approved by the advising committee.

Ph.D. Program Coursework Overview

Required for All Tracks

4 Required Methodology Courses:

COMM 5000 Fundamentals of Theory,Research, and Design
COMM 5001 Introduction to Graduate Communication Research
COMM 5002 Communication Research Methods
COMM 5003 Advanced Communication Research Methods OR COMM 5004 Qualitative
Research Methods in Communication

2 Elective Methodology Courses (choose two of the following, or similar with approval of committee) — one must be an advanced course (as indicated by *):

AH 6005 Multilevel Mediation and Moderation Modeling*
COMM 6001 Proseminar in Communication Research*
EPSY 6615 Structural Equation Modeling*
HDFS 5002 Special Topics: Longitudinal Methods*
HDFS 5005 Qualitative Research Methods
MKTG 6203 Quantitative Models in Marketing
NURS 6130 Intro to Qualitative Methods in Nursing
NURS 6165 Mixed Methods in Nursing Research
PSYC 5702 Field Research Methods
PSYC 5130 Causal Modeling in Social Psychology*
PSYC 5131 Meta-Analysis: Theory and Practice
PSYC 6130 Measurement and Scaling
SOCI 5231 Qualitative Methodology
STAT 5515 Design of Experiments

1 Directed Research Requirement:

COMM 6800 Seminar and Directed Research in Communication

3 Required Communication Theory Courses (determined by track—see options below)

5 Emphasis Area Courses (1 must be COMM; determined by track—see options below)

Substitutions to required courses may be possible for students who have already completed the required course(s) elsewhere with a grade of B or higher. In such cases, students may substitute a different course within the requirement area (e.g., methods, content, theory, etc.) with approval of the advising committee.

Note on Emphasis Area Courses: Students may add a secondary sub-track as their emphasis area by taking any of the required courses for the secondary track to complete the requirements for the emphasis area.