Return to: 3200 Department of Communication
The Ph.D. in Communication Studies is mainly designed to prepare students for positions in academia, but also equips those seeking professional advancement in research-based communication industry careers. Doctoral training is grounded in multiple approaches to theories and methods in communication as well as communication pedagogy. With foundational knowledge in place, a student can build specializations in such areas as health communication, strategic communication/persuasion, global communication, media uses and effects, and critical and cultural studies of communication (among others).
Additional Admission Requirements
In addition to the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Communication has the following requirements:
- A statement of educational or career goals
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s potential to do graduate work in Communication
- An above average undergraduate and master’s grade point average
- A sufficiently high score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) prior to consideration for acceptance into the graduate degree program (and for international students, the TOEFL examination)
- A writing sample that demonstrates their ability to conduct and effectively present academic research
NOTE: All applicants for the Ph.D. in Communication must have earned a master’s degree before entering the program.
Students who have substantial records of professional experience in a communication field may also provide a one-page summary of their experience.
Applicants for the Ph.D. program will be admitted for the fall semester only. The department will not consider requests for Special Graduate Status admission.
