phd mass communication in usa

Ph.D. in Mass Communications

Our doctoral program in mass communication, jointly administered with the Department of Life Sciences Communication, is internationally recognized for our faculty and areas of research. Applicants to the Joint Ph.D. in Mass Communications may apply to one or both departments, depending on your areas of research interest. Options are:

• Mass Communications: Journalism & Mass Comm (code G630L)
• Mass Communications: Life Sciences Comm (code G630A)

The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors. Our Ph.D. graduates become some of the most successful researchers and leaders in the field of mass communication.   We require our students to engage in a systematic search for answers to well-formulated and substantive questions. The research process culminates in the discovery and reporting of new knowledge to others.

A doctoral dissertation in Mass Communications demonstrates a student’s ability to examine in detail an important issue in the field, using original research. Faculty members expect the dissertation to be clearly presented while conveying the student’s close familiarity with his or her research area.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

• civic and political communication
• health and environmental communications
• history of media institutions
• information technologies
• social networking and digital media
• processes and effects of mediated communication
• law and ethics of media
• international and inter-cultural communication
• public opinion
• science and risk communication
• social marketing
• journalism studies
• media ecologies
• race and media

Working closely with their advisor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their area of specialization.

Visit the Ph.D. in Mass Communications website for more information.

Visit  Ph.D. in Mass Communications  for more information.

Ph.D. Handbook (PDF)

Request more information

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Doctor of philosophy in mass communication.

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Mass Communication requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. The program provides training in research methods, communication theory, and teaching skills. Students in this program prepare for careers as professors, teachers and industry researchers.

The program emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, with coursework and research tailored to each student’s interests under the guidance of faculty members. The school offers several areas of strength to support graduate student research:

• critical and cultural studies 
• sports media
• global media
• health communication
• journalism studies
• digital media

Students who enter the Ph.D. program with a completed relevant master’s degree at the time of enrollment can transfer up to 30 hours of graduate credit from academic courses, including up to 3 credit hours for the thesis. Students who will have not completed a relevant master’s degree by the time of enrollment should apply for our M.A. program. M.A. students who complete their degree requirements and successfully pass the qualifying exam will be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program.

For more information, refer to the Graduate Student Handbook or Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about SJMC graduate programs. In addition, listed below are the general categories of coursework required to earn the degree; for more specific information on courses, curriculum, and requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy in mass communication, visit the UI General Catalog . Don’t find an answer to your question? Email it to us at [email protected].

Important Deadlines

Application Deadline : January 1st (for Fall admission)

Admission decisions are based on prior academic performance, letters of reference, and the applicant's statement about background and purpose. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the  Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College  on the Graduate College website. For more information, see the  Graduate Admissions Process  page.

Comprehensive Examination

In the third year, each doctoral student completes and defends a dissertation proposal, which serves as their comprehensive exam. The dissertation proposal must indicate clearly the logical steps necessary for the completion of the project and suggest a plan of action. Generally, a dissertation proposal will include these areas: Introduction, Context for the Study, Conceptual/Theoretical Foundation, Research Questions, Research Methods, Bibliography, Chapter Outline, and Tentative Timeline. Once written, the student is required to present the dissertation proposal to the Communication and Media Colloquium. Following the Communication and Media Colloquium presentation, an oral examination will be conducted by the student’s committee, usually within two weeks of the completion of the written proposal.

Dissertation

Students who are enrolled in the Ph.D. program are required to complete a scholarly dissertation. The dissertation committee is composed of at least four faculty members. At least three must be members of the University of Iowa tenure-track faculty, at least two must be members of SJMC (which may include faculty with 0% appointments), and at least one must come from outside the department. By special request, the program may request permission from the Graduate College to replace one committee member with a recognized scholar of professorial rank from another academic institution. Changes to committee membership are often necessary, and can be made at various stages in a student’s program, but should always be done in close consultation with their advisor and/or the Director of Graduate Studies.

NOTE :  Any research which involves "human subjects" must be reviewed by the University of Iowa  Institutional Review Board (IRB)  prior to the initiation of the project.  Proof of the determination/review process must also be submitted to the International Studies Program before the international experience proposal can be approved. For all questions contact the IRB at (319) 335-6465; or complete the  IRB Determination Form  to find out if your research meets the definition of human subjects research.

PhD in Mass Communication (General Catalog)

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

Journalism and Mass Communication, PhD

• Program description
• At a glance
• Degree requirements
• Admission requirements
• Tuition information
• Application deadlines
• Global opportunities
• Career opportunities
• Contact information

Audience Research, Broadcasting, Criticism, Cultural Studies, Journalist, Professor, Qualitative, Quantitative Reasoning, Research, Strategic Media, Technology, Television, cronkite, digital, law

If you are interested in a deeper examination of the role and influence of media and media technologies in today's increasingly complex world, this program can help you become a thought leader or educator in the fields of journalism, strategic communication and global mass communication.

The PhD program in journalism and mass communication at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is a highly individualized program that attracts seasoned media professionals transitioning to academia, as well as recent graduates of master's degree-level programs in journalism and communication, social and behavioral sciences, or the humanities.

Students have access to the resources, training and mentorship they need to answer critical questions that challenge the fields of journalism, digital and social media, strategic communication and audience studies, and global mass communication.

The program is designed around core values of inclusion, collaboration and mentoring, transdisciplinarity and original research.

Students are able to develop individual programs of study, taking coursework and drawing on knowledge and methodologies from diverse fields that have a bearing on questions within mass communication. Examples include political science, film, computer and data sciences, sociology, anthropology and more.

Within the Cronkite School, students work closely with faculty mentors and fellow students on collaborative projects, develop their own research programs, and benefit from the advice and examples of senior scholars for personalized guidance.

The ultimate goal of the program is to train scholars capable of identifying key questions, designing appropriate studies to investigate those questions, and conducting independent and impactful research. Students are exposed to a wide range of theories and methods so they can forge their own scholarly identity based on interests and aptitudes.

The Cronkite School is committed to creating an environment in which everyone feels they are represented, their experience is equitable, they are fully accepted for who they are and they are valued. The school strives daily to be a welcoming place for all members of the community, where the importance and contribution of each individual is valued and respected.

• College/school: Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
• Location: Downtown Phoenix

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (18 credit hours)

Electives (18 credit hours)

Other Requirements (24 credit hours) previous master's degree or additional hours approved by the supervisory committee (24)

Research (12 credit hours)

Dissertation (12 credit hours)

Additional Curriculum Information Students should see the academic unit for an approved course list.

Students entering the program with a master's degree in journalism or mass communication or a related field must complete 60 credit hours of coursework. Students who are admitted to the program without a master's degree are required to complete an additional 24 credit hours of coursework.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• three letters of recommendation
• personal statement of interest
• statement of research goals
• samples of scholarly work (optional)
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. TOEFL scores must be at least 100 on the internet-based test; a Duolingo score must be at least 120.

The personal statement of interest should be approximately 1,000--1,500 words and explain why the student wants to pursue a doctorate in mass communication as well as why the Cronkite School program fits their career and personal aims.

The statement of research goals should indicate at least two Cronkite research faculty members with whom the student would like to work, supported by relevant citations of the faculty members' scholarly publications.

Students should see the program website for application deadlines and admission terms. Applicants must meet all deadlines and application requirements to be considered.

The Cronkite School's doctoral committee reviews complete applications. Recommendations for admission are made to Graduate Admission Services, where the final admission decisions are made.

The Cronkite doctorate program is multicultural, with students and alumni hailing from all over the world and bringing their experiences into seminar discussions and research. There are also opportunities to work on international grant-funded research projects led by Cronkite faculty to broaden students' perspective on issues within the discipline. More information on available programs can be found on the Global Education Office website .

Graduates with a doctorate in journalism and mass communication are prepared for any of a number of career opportunities.

Professionals with expertise in mass media and communications are in high demand as universities and institutions train the next generation of media professionals. Career examples include:

• industry researcher or trainer
• media analyst
• media consultant
• university professor

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm | CRONK 302 [email protected] 602-496-5555 Admission deadlines

• Future Students
• Parents/Families
• Alumni/Friends
• Current Students
• Faculty/Staff
• MyOHIO Student Center
• Visit Athens Campus
• Regional Campuses
• OHIO Online
• Faculty/Staff Directory
• Prospective Students

Scripps College of Communication

• Faculty and Staff
• Undergraduate Degrees
• Graduate Programs
• Online Degrees
• Online Graduate Certificates
• Schools & Centers
• Schoonover Center for Communication
• WOUB Public Media
• Dean's Office
• Awards and Accomplishments
• Our Social Media Channels
• Dean's Advisory Council
• Scripps Parent Advisory Council
• Crisis Communication Workshop
• Communication Fellows Program
• OHIO Communication Hall of Fame
• Farfel Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism
• Calendar of Events

Helpful Links

Navigate OHIO

Connect With Us

Ph.D in Mass Communication

Mass Communication Ph.D. – a joint program with the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the School of Media Arts and Studies

We are pioneers in journalism education and research and media studies scholarship. Scripps’ Mass Communication doctoral graduates hold key positions at colleges and universities around the world. We lead scholarly organizations and are professors, chairs and deans at Carnegie R1 institutions. We focus on innovation in our changing media environment.

Our faculty have significant experience in industry and the academy, preparing our doctoral students for research in journalism, mass communication, strategic communication (advertising and public relations), social media, data analytics, critical cultural studies, First Amendment theory and policy, media ethics and history, political communication, and international communication.

Scripps offers a caring community where students collaborate with faculty, each other and scholars across our university community. We provide students with mentorship in their academic areas, in scholarly publishing, in the timely completion of their degrees as well as assistance with job placement.

Our financial aid (tuition waivers and stipends) are highly competitive, and we offer travel grants for students to present their research across the country and the world. Recently, doctoral students have presented their research and completed field work in such countries as Romania, England, China, Germany, Cambodia and India, just to name a few.

We offer the prestigious Scripps Howard Teaching Fellowship to our best candidates who have significant professional experience in the news industry. Doctoral students have the opportunity to teach some of the best undergraduate media, journalism and strategic communication majors in the country.

Our students are driven to conduct research that strengthens democracy, improves health communication in an effort to improve health outcomes, and focuses on media for and about under-represented groups. Join us in the beautiful foothills of Appalachia, in Athens, Ohio, a small town with a world view.

About the Program

Meet current students

Program outcomes

Past graduate students have on gone on to work as faculty at universities and colleges, professionals in the media production industry, researchers and activists at NGOs, and journalists around the world. Learn more about our program alumni.

How to Apply

Please apply through OHIO's  Graduate College portal . The Ph.D. in Mass Communication program has two tracks: choose program code PH5307 for Media Arts and Studies (MDIA), and program code PH5308 for Journalism (JOUR). 

Applications are accepted for fall admission only (the start of the academic year). For each academic year's admissions, the application portal will open on September 30 the year prior.  

We ask for the following materials as part of your application:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Optional. We encourage the submission of GRE scores, but we will evaluate each applicant in a holistic manner. If you are including your GRE scores, they must be sent by the testing agency to the Graduate College. Please note in your application if you are not submitting scores. 
• International applicants must provide TOEFL or IELTS scores to the Graduate College, except for those who fulfill one of the exemptions listed here. No other test of English proficiency (such as Duolingo) can be accepted as a substitute.
• Official transcripts from all universities previously attended
• Statement of purpose: 500-1,000 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. in Mass Communication, and why you would be a strong applicant for an Ohio University doctoral program
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing sample
• The GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS  reporting code  for Ohio University is  1593 .

You also are welcome to submit samples of your professional work, but they are not required.

Applicants should have a Master's degree. You need not have an undergraduate major or master’s degree in mass communication, media studies, or journalism to apply for a Ph.D. in mass communication. However, the admissions committee will look favorably on relevant academic and professional experience.

Application deadlines:

The deadline for all applicants (U.S. citizens/permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents) is January 2, 2024.

Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are competitively awarded based on academic record, professional experience, recommendations and current needs of the School of Media Arts and Studies and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. All doctoral students with a graduate assistantship are required to work a minimum of 15 hours per week (and no more than 20 hours) in exchange for a stipend and full tuition waiver and may be assigned as teaching assistants, research assistants, or instructors. 

For questions or more information about our doctoral program, contact:

Mass Communications Ph.D.

Our fully-funded, interdisciplinary doctoral program will prepare you for a rewarding career in communications research and teaching.

Our program offers a stimulating intellectual environment where you may explore and specialize in a variety of topics, including media ethics and diversity; media sociology; new media; political communication; popular television; public relations; or social effects.

The doctoral program is designed to be completed in four years, with two years of coursework followed by qualifying exams and the dissertation.

Regina Luttrell

Associate dean, research and creative activity, associate professor, public relations, co-director, real chemistry emerging insights lab.

Anne Osborne

Doctoral program, media studies, communications.

Kristen Northrop

Assistant director.

Jenn Yoshioka

Administrative specialist.

Ph.D. in Mass Communications

Applications are due December 15th

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Mass Communications is offered jointly by the Department of Life Sciences Communication and the  School of Journalism and Mass Communication .

The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors. Our Ph.D. graduates become some of the most successful researchers and leaders in the field of mass communication.   We require our students to engage in a systematic search for answers to well-formulated and substantive questions. The research process culminates in the discovery and reporting of new knowledge to others.

A doctoral dissertation in Mass Communications demonstrates a student’s ability to examine in detail an important issue in the field, using original research. Faculty members expect the dissertation to be clearly presented while conveying the student’s close familiarity with his or her research area.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

• civic and political communication
• health and environmental communications
• history of media institutions
• information technologies
• social networking and digital media
• processes and effects of mediated communication
• law and ethics of media
• international and inter-cultural communication
• public opinion
• science and risk communication
• social marketing
• journalism studies
• media ecologies
• race and media

Working closely with their advisor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their area of specialization.

• Skip to Content
• Catalog Home
• Mass Communications, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in mass communications is an interdisciplinary program offered jointly by the Department of Life Sciences Communication and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

• civic and political communication
• health and environmental communications
• history of media institutions
• information technologies
• social networking and digital media
• processes and effects of mediated communication
• law and ethics of media
• international and inter-cultural communication
• public opinion
• science and risk communication
• social marketing
• journalism studies
• media ecologies
• race and media

Working closely with their major professor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across the campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their areas of interest.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

See details at the Mass Communications PhD admissions webpage .

Applicants for this program are expected to have demonstrated an interest and background in communication research by having earned a thesis-based M.A. or M.S. degree in communication or other relevant disciplines. The admissions committee, however, may accept other evidence of suitable preparation.

Students must meet the minimum requirements for admission set by the Graduate School. Applicants must submit an online application, GRE scores, a statement of purpose, official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, a CV, and three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should come from people who can speak to the scholarly abilities of the applicant. International applicants are required to take and attain a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Test scores must be furnished to the school before the application is considered complete.

For more information, visit the Mass Communications Ph.D. website .

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Prospective students should see the program website for funding information.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Required courses.

65 credits minimum in theory and methods/statistics courses, selected in consultation with the faculty advisor and approved by the Graduate Committee of the student's home department. Attendance of both seminars in the joint seminar sequence ( JOURN 901 Colloquium in Mass Communication and LSC 700 Colloquium in Life Sciences Communication ) is strongly recommended for new graduate students.

Additional requirements are detailed in the Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook for Graduate Work in the joint Ph.D. program in mass communications.

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

In consultation with the student’s advisor, and with program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 33 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

With program approval, up to 7 credits numbered 600 and above from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to count toward the degree. Coursework earned ten years or more prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.  

UW–Madison University Special

In consultation with the student’s advisor and with program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 12 credits of coursework numbered 600 and above taken as a UW–Madison Special student. Coursework taken ten years prior to admission to the doctoral program is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Doctoral students must do the following to maintain satisfactory progress:

Earn a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA by the end of the second semester in residence and maintain that GPA for the duration of the degree program.

Remove grades of Incomplete in the semester following their occurrence. A course proposal cannot be approved until all incompletes are removed.

Complete preliminary exams within three to six months of completing coursework.

Maintain steady progress toward completion of degree, including final oral exam and deposit of dissertation. Fulltime students can expect four to five years; completion will vary for part-time students.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

Doctoral committees must include at least two members from outside the Department of Life Sciences Communication and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time constraints.

A candidate for a doctoral degree who fails to take the final oral examination and deposit the dissertation within five years after passing the preliminary examination may be required to take another preliminary examination and to be admitted to candidacy a second time.

grievances and appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

  For students in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences:

College of agricultural and life sciences: grievance policy  .

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

• The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
• If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
• If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
• If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
• The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
• If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
• If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
• If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

  For students in the College of Letters & Science:

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

Applicants are considered for funding as part of the admissions process. We offer a range of funding, including graduate assistantships, fellowships and research scholarship awards.

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

We offer two research colloquia ( JOURN 901 and LSC 700 ) during the academic year where faculty share their research findings and methods and engage students in lively conversations about how to conduct research. We offer a teaching colloquium ( JOURN 902 ) that explores pedagogical principles and applications that prepares students for teaching careers. Teaching assistantships provide hands-on training. 

Within our research groups and centers, graduate students work side by side with faculty and with each other, allowing the senior students to mentor younger students and for faculty to mentor students who are not their advisees. Our graduate students organize and host an annual day-long conference where they present their research in a series of panels, and they present their research at conferences around the world.

We offer a series of professional development workshops for graduate students with faculty and alumni panelists. The topics include: navigating the academic job market, exploring the non-academic job market, turning a paper into a presentation and how to find funding for research.

• Articulate research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory, knowledge, and practice within the field of study. Demonstrating comprehensive and intensive knowledge of the theories, concepts, frameworks, empirical findings, and controversies in the field.
• Formulate ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within the field of study. Demonstrating a comprehensive and intensive knowledge of appropriate and relevant research methods and analytical techniques.
• Create research or scholarship that makes a substantive contribution to knowledge.
• Demonstrate breadth within their learning experiences.
• Advance contributions of the field of study to society.
• Communicate complex ideas effectively.
• Foster ethical and professional conduct.

Faculty : Professors Brossard (LSC Chair), Downey, Friedland, Kim, McLeod, Riddle (SJMC Director of Graduate Studies), Robinson, Rojas (SJMC Chair), Scheufele (LSC Director of Academic Programs), D Shah, H Shah, Wagner, Xenos. Associate Professors: Culver, Graves, Palmer, Shaw. Assistant Professors: Cascio, Chen, Chinn, Christy, Li, McGarr, Newman, Yang.

• Requirements
• Professional Development
• Learning Outcomes

Contact Information

Lisa Aarli, Graduate Advisor [email protected] Journalism and Mass Communication journalism.wisc.edu/graduate/ph-d-in-mass-communication/

Lynn Bartholomew, Student Services Coordinator [email protected] Life Sciences Communication https://lsc.wisc.edu/

Michael Wagner, Director of Graduate Studies [email protected] 608-263-3392 School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 5115 Vilas Hall 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706

Dietram Scheufele, Director of Academic Programs [email protected] Life Sciences Communication

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

• /​pdf/​
• Explore Graduate Opportunities
• Explore UW-​Madison's Undergraduate Opportunities
• Accounting and Information Systems
• African American Studies
• African Cultural Studies
• Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Agricultural and Life Sciences -​ College-​Wide
• Animal and Dairy Sciences
• Anthropology
• Art History
• Asian Languages and Cultures
• Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• Bacteriology
• Biochemistry
• Biological Systems Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
• Business -​ School-​Wide
• Cell and Regenerative Biology
• Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Chicana/​o and Latina/​o Studies
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Civil Society &​ Community Studies
• Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
• Communication Arts
• Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Community and Environmental Sociology
• Computer Sciences
• Counseling Psychology
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
• Educational Policy Studies
• Educational Psychology
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Engineering -​ College-​Wide
• Food Science
• Forest and Wildlife Ecology
• French and Italian
• Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
• Gender and Women's Studies
• German, Nordic, and Slavic
• Graduate -​ School-​Wide
• Horticulture
• Human Ecology -​ School-​Wide
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Information School
• Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
• Institute for Regional and International Studies
• Integrative Biology
• Journalism and Mass Communication, M.A.
• Mass Communications, Doctoral Minor
• Kinesiology
• La Follette School of Public Affairs
• Language Institute
• Language Sciences
• Law -​ School-​Wide
• Life Sciences Communication
• Management and Human Resources
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mead Witter School of Music
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Physics
• Medicine and Public Health -​ School-​Wide
• Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics
• Nursing -​ School-​Wide
• Nutritional Sciences
• Operations and Information Management
• Pharmacy -​ School-​Wide
• Planning and Landscape Architecture
• Plant Pathology
• Political Science
• Population Health Sciences
• Real Estate and Urban Land Economics
• Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education
• Religious Studies
• Risk and Insurance
• Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work
• Soil Science
• Spanish and Portuguese
• Veterinary Medicine -​ School-​Wide
• Nondegree/​Visiting Student Guide
• Pharmacy Guide
• School of Medicine and Public Health Guide
• Undergraduate Guide
• Veterinary Guide

• Graduate Studies

Ph.D. in Media and Communication

Our doctoral program in Chapel Hill prepares students to lead in the academy and industry.

• Cost & Funding

We offer a close-knit community where students learn, develop as scholars and collaborate with faculty advisers and mentors.

You’ll learn cutting-edge research methods and acquire a deep understanding of communication theory to help you develop a research program that fits your interests. Our graduates are training the next generation of scholars, improving public health, strengthening democracy and helping leading organizations across the world innovate in a changing media environment.

Numbers of Distinction

AEJMC Nafziger-White-Salwen Dissertation Awards since 1984: No other program comes close.

New graduates in the last five years who have become assistant professors or postdoctoral fellows, with 61% of those assistant professors at Carnegie R1 institutions

Value, over three years, of a Park Fellowship

One-year expenditures for externally sponsored research

Online info session: Ph.D. in Media and Communication

November 6, 2023.

Sign up to attend an online info session about our doctoral program. Hear from program director Shannon McGregor and ask questions about the admissions process.

A network of support, at Carolina and beyond

As she completed her master's at the Hussman School, Kyla Garrett Wagner wasn't sure whether she'd stay in Chapel Hill for her doctorate. She applied to eight other programs but decided to stay where she felt her ideas were most supported. "While it is a competitive school and one of the best schools, we're not competitive with one another on the inside," she says. "We all can work together, and that's an incredible feeling."

Why Carolina?

• Get access to world-class resources on campus and a worldwide network of more than 16,000 UNC Hussman alumni.
• Chapel Hill and the Research Triangle region are home to college-town charm, abundant culture and high-tech industry.

Learn about the Hussman School

Our vibrant and collaborative interdisciplinary research culture creates new knowledge, advances scholarship and helps reinvent media.

Explore our research

The Roy H. Park Fellowships are among the most generous among media and journalism programs nationwide, providing top UNC Hussman doctoral applicants the financial support necessary for the students to focus on their academic and professional development.

Complete this form, and we’ll send you more information and program updates.

Or contact the Graduate Studies team at [email protected] or (919) 843-8307.

Student and Faculty Research

Doctorate in Communication

With one of the nation's premier doctoral programs in Communication, the Annenberg School is a tight-knit, supportive community of scholars committed to advancing knowledge of our media environment.

Founded through the generosity and vision of publisher, diplomat, and philanthropist Walter Annenberg, the Annenberg School for Communication is devoted to furthering our understanding of the role of communication in public life through research, education, and service. Our five-year doctoral program has a strong reputation as one of the best in Communication, based on Annenberg’s unparalleled combination of world-class faculty , students , and alumni , as well as access to the larger intellectual and cultural resources of the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia .

In an inherently interdisciplinary field, Annenberg researchers are engaged with a spectrum of topics related to health, politics, media systems, networks and digital culture, journalism, race and gender, and more, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Our Ph.D. program allows students to tailor a curriculum to suit their specific interests, and provides them the financial resources to launch their academic career. 

In addition to a full tuition waiver, our students currently receive an annual stipend as well as a budget for research and travel and health insurance for all five years.

Annenberg is the smallest of the 12 schools at Penn, and it functions as close-knit community of scholars whose doors are always open to one another. Our students also appreciate our staff , who routinely go above and beyond to support them.

Please note that we do not have a standalone master’s degree program at this time. All students are admitted directly into the doctoral program.

Request for More Information

Our Students By the Numbers

Here are some fast facts about our students and the admissions process . Get to know Annenberg!

Students currently in the program

Different nationalities represented by our students, applicants each year, students accepted each year, average undergraduate gpa of applicants, average toefl of admitted candidates, of students came from a previous graduate degree program, of students worked in a career before joining annenberg, of students came straight to annenberg from an undergraduate degree.

Our Faculty

Our graduate faculty is at the heart of the school. Their innovative work, often in collaboration with students, pushes the field of Communication forward.

Students on Video

Hear from some of the Annenberg School's doctoral students as they talk about their work and what brought them to Annenberg.

What is it like to be a doctoral student at the International Communication Association annual conference? We followed four students to find out.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctoral candidate Kelly Diaz used her phone to document the many signs displayed in yards and windows around her West Philadelphia home. She has now collected that body of work into a  photo essay .

Doctoral Candidate and artist Roopa Vasudevan studies the ways that the everyday technologies shape our daily lives.

What is it like to be a Ph.D. student? We followed five of our students through their daily activities.

Prateekshit Pandey works with the Communication Neuroscience Lab to study how the brain reacts to humor. 

Buenos Aires-native María Celeste Wagner looks at how gender influences credibility in news. 

Jennifer Henrichsen studies the way that journalists adopt information security technologies to protect themselves and their sources.

Our Students

Annenberg's doctoral students represent a broad spectrum of interests, methodologies, and backgrounds. Here are just a few of our incredible students.

Arlene C. Fernández

Azsaneé Truss

Antoine Haywood

Danielle Clark

Neil Fasching

Tom W. Etienne

Congratulations to Annenberg’s 2024 Ph.D. and M.A. Graduates

Thirteen students earned their doctoral degrees, and fifteen students received M.A. degrees.

Student Profile Video: Kate Okker-Edging

Proust, Smith, and Truss Win 2024 James D. Woods Award

Azsaneé Truss Receives Penn Prize for Excellence in Teaching

Three Annenberg Doctoral Candidates Awarded 2024 Sachs Program Grants

Explore the Program

Learn more about life in the Annenberg Ph.D. program.

Financial Support

Curriculum & Milestones

Student Life

Applications for 2025-2026 will open by October

More in doctorate in communication.

• Graduate Programs
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Degree Programs >

PHD, Mass Communication

The graduate studies program of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers two graduate degrees for students preparing for professional and academic careers: the M.A. degree and the Ph.D. degree.

Degree Type: Doctoral

Degree Program Code: PHD_MCOM

Degree Program Summary:

The M.A. program emphasizes the integration of mass communication theory, research methods, decision making, and critical thinking and provides preparation for further study and/or for careers in advertising, journalism, mass media studies, public relations, and telecommunications. The Ph.D. program is designed to produce critical scholars capable of independent and original research. The program offers advanced study and specialization in preparing for careers in teaching and research or for positions of responsibility in mass media, industries, or government. Applicants accepted for the M.A. and Ph.D. program begin their program in the fall semester. Admission is based on undergraduate grade point average, the results of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation, as well as previous professional experience and scholarly work. Anyone holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is eligible to apply for admission to the master’s programs. A master’s degree is required for acceptance into the Ph.D. program. The program is open both to students with undergraduate majors in journalism and mass communication and to those who have majored in other areas. Master’s students without backgrounds in journalism and mass communication may be required to take 9 or more credit hours of undergraduate-level foundation courses before registering for more than 6 hours of graduate courses. If not previously completed, a course in statistics is also required. Applications and additional information may be obtained from the Graduate Studies Office, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Grady College’s Ph.D. program in mass communication is designed to prepare scholars for academic careers in teaching and research or for professional careers in industry or government. The program draws mainly on the resources and facilities of the College’s three departments: advertising / public relations, journalism, and telecommunications.

The primary objective of the Ph.D. program is to develop mass communication scholars who are capable of critical thinking and independent scholarship. The degree is granted in recognition of research proficiency, breadth and soundness of scholarship, and thorough knowledge of selected aspects of mass communication and related fields. Degree requirements are fulfilled in three stages:

• successful completion of an approved program of study;
• the passing of written and oral comprehensive examinations; and
• the execution and presentation of an acceptable dissertation based on independent research.

Students are encouraged to develop their own theoretical and methodological approaches to mass communication research. Some Ph.D. students work within and from traditional social science models of inquiry; others adopt historical, critical theory, naturalistic, or cultural studies perspectives on mass communication phenomena.

Locations Offered:

Athens (Main Campus)

College / School:

Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

120 Hooper Street Athens, GA 30602

706-542-1704

Graduate Coordinator(s):

Phone Number:

706-583-8268

Search for another degree

Find your graduate program.

Offering 200+ degrees, certificates and programs of study, we’ll help you get started on your graduate journey.

 or 

Search by keyword, program of study, department or area of interest

Interested in earning both a bachelor’s & master’s degree in five years or less?

Learn more about Double Dawgs .

Unlocking potential. Building futures.

Apply Today

The Graduate School Brooks Hall 310 Herty Drive Athens, GA 30602 706.542.1739

• Administration
• Graduate Bulletin
• Strategic Plan
• Virtual Tour
• Request Information
• Requirements
• Application Fee
• Check Status
• UGA Main Campus
• UGA Gwinnett
• UGA Griffin
• UGA Atlanta-Buckhead

Ph.D. in Mass Communications

Our doctoral program in mass communication, jointly administered with the Department of Life Sciences Communication, is internationally recognized for our faculty and areas of research. Applicants to the Joint Ph.D. in Mass Communications may apply to one or both departments, depending on your areas of research interest. Options are:

• Mass Communications: Journalism & Mass Comm (code G630L)
• Mass Communications: Life Sciences Comm (code G630A)

The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors. Our Ph.D. graduates become some of the most successful researchers and leaders in the field of mass communication. We require our  students to engage in a systematic search for answers to well-formulated and substantive questions. The research process culminates in the discovery and reporting of new knowledge to others.

A doctoral dissertation in Mass Communications demonstrates a student’s ability to examine in detail an important issue in the field, using original research. Faculty members expect the dissertation to be clearly presented while conveying the student’s close familiarity with his or her research area.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

Working closely with their advisor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their area of specialization.

Visit the  Ph.D. in Mass Communications  website for more information.

• Admissions Info

Admissions requirements:

The Graduate School establishes  minimum admission criteria for all students who enter the University of Wisconsin–Madison. International applicants should refer to the Graduate School’s website for information on English proficiency requirements and financial resource information.

Application deadline:

December 15

Application requirements:

• Online application
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• GRE: The GRE is optional for Mass Comm-Life Sciences Communication applicants for the fall 2023 application cycle.

The online application is available  here .

Writing samples are not required for applications to Mass Comm-Life Sciences Communication.

Fee Waivers

The UW-Madison Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee waivers for eligible students. Please visit the  Graduate School website  to see if you qualify and to apply. If you are from an AOF Graduate Research Scholars-eligible group and do not already qualify for a waiver from the Graduate School, please contact our academic advising manager Lynn Bartholomew at [email protected] at least one week prior to the application deadline to inquire about a fee waiver. Unfortunately, LSC is not able to provide fee waivers to international students or other domestic students who are not AOF GRS-eligible.

LSC Resources

LSC Ph.D. student handbook appendix Mass Comm PhD Joint-Program Handbook LSC funding and financial aid

Academic Resources

Deadlines for graduate students Enrollment information (deadlines, procedures, FAQs, etc.) Academic Policies and Procedures

Graduate School Resources

Graduate School Home Graduate School Contacts Graduate student family and parent resources Guide to student life Professional development

Other Resources

Assistantship appointment rates CALS Career Services Commencement McBurney Disability Resources Center Scholarship application and information Student Privacy Rights (FERPA) Tuition UW-Madison emergency procedures University Health Services UW-Madison Grants Database

Do I need to secure an advisor prior to applying to the program?

No, in fact, students are admitted to the program without a formal advisor and will typically pick one during their first year. In order to help students get started in the program, they are assigned an orientation advisor who will help them prepare for and proceed through their first year in the program. In many cases, students work with this advisor throughout their time in the program. We also have a process for switching advisors if a student later decides that a different faculty advisor would be a more appropriate fit.

Is funding available for students in this program?

Yes. Please refer to our funding page for more information.

What can I do with this degree?

Students with a Ph.D. in Mass Communications go on to a variety of careers in academia and industry. Check out this page for a list of first jobs secured after graduation by our doctoral students.

Is the program offered in an online modality?

No, we do not offer an online Ph.D. in Mass Communications.

Plan a Visit to the Department of Life Sciences Communication We encourage all potential graduate student applicants to visit the Department of Life Sciences Communication (LSC) at Hiram Smith Hall. The best time to visit is when most faculty and students are on campus, September through May.

We encourage applicants to contact  specific faculty members  to explore mutual interests.

Before scheduling a visit, please contact our Academic Advising Manager,  Lynn Bartholomew , or the Director of Graduate Studies, Dietram Scheufele .

While visiting LSC, sit in on a  class  or a  SCIMEP research group  meeting, or tour campus facilities and attractions, such as the  student unions , or the  Wisconsin Institute for Discovery .

Finding LSC LSC is located in Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive.   Use the campus map to find us .

Getting Around Campus The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus is located in downtown Madison. Public transportation is an easy way to travel on campus and buses frequently stop close to Hiram Smith Hall. Information about bus routes can be found on the Madison Metro website and also at the bus stops themselves.

• Madison Metro Route 80 is a free campus shuttle that covers most of campus with a stop close to Hiram Smith Hall.
• All City/UW bus routes can be found at  Madison Metro
• For more information about getting around campus, use the  Transportation Services  link and the official  map of UW-Madison Campus

Parking The closest public parking ramp to Hiram Smith Hall is Lot 36. There is also free after hours and weekend parking on campus. View the online campus  maps with parking locations .

More Information UW Visitor & Information Programs  has information about the entire campus as well as the beautiful city of Madison.

Theory and Research Ph.D.

Main navigation.

The Ph.D. program prepares students to conduct original research on communication processes, their origins, and their psychological, political and cultural effects. Most of our doctoral graduates enter academic teaching and research careers, or communication-related professions that require research skills.

Students usually enter the program with strong interests in one of our three areas of special strength:  Media Psychology ,  Political Communication , or  Journalism, Media and Culture . Within the program, students tend to anchor in one area while exploring key empirical and theoretical concerns in the others. After a core curriculum of courses in quantitative and qualitative methods, statistics, and mass communication theory, each student builds a research specialization through advanced courses and seminars in Communication and related departments, research projects, teaching, and an examination in the area of concentration. These requirements are normally completed within four years, and the dissertation within six.

Ph.D. Requirements and Procedures

• Alumni & Donors

Graduate Programs

Ph.D. Mass Communications

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications offers advanced study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in mass communications. The purpose of the program is to prepare graduates for entry into college and university teaching and research and for a variety of communications-related professions.

Program Preparation

The program integrates preparation in teaching and research as complementary endeavors. Doctoral students begin the program in the fall semester and, during the first year, complete two semesters of the doctoral proseminar, colloquium, and typically at least one course in communications research methodology. By the end of the first year, doctoral students must form a committee of faculty members to guide their subsequent course of study. The remainder of the Ph.D. program is determined, in close consultation with the student, by his/her doctoral committee who is responsible for the formal approval of the proposed program.

Search NYU Steinhardt

Doctor of Philosophy Media, Culture, and Communication

Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to the study of media and culture, our doctorate draws from a rich array of disciplines and theoretical frameworks. Department expertise spans the globe: the Middle East, East Asia, the Global South, Africa, and Europe. Our faculty generate some of the most original scholarship in their respective fields, creating a stimulating environment in which to pursue graduate work.

Degree Details

Official degree title.

PhD in Media, Culture, and Communication

Research Focus

Alumni placements, funding for full-time phd students.

Five research areas operate as guiding frameworks for intellectual inquiry across the department: Global Communication and Media, Technology and Society, Visual Culture and Sound Studies, Media Industries and Politics, Interaction and Experience.

Your work as a doctoral student will be shaped by our commitment to:

• Engaging with theoretical concepts from a range of disciplines—media and cultural studies, visual culture, history, science and technology studies, anthropology, sociology, disability studies, sound studies, political science.
• A multi-methodological approach to research—from semiotics, global ethnography, gender and queer theory, critical race theory, qualitative and quantitative discourse analysis, to political/cultural economy, among other critical frameworks.
• A global perspective—conceiving of the global mediascape as transnational and transcultural.
• Recognizing media and technology’s long history and antecedents.

Read some sample dissertation abstracts .

After graduating, alumni join academic departments of media and communication, with placement in the social sciences and interdisciplinary humanities becoming increasingly common. MCC PhDs who graduated in the past ten years are now tenure-track or tenured professors at the University of California, Berkeley; University of Washington, Seattle; Cornell University; Stanford University; UCLA; Rutgers; Fordham; University of Michigan; George Mason University; University of North Carolina; University of Arizona; College of Charleston; Memorial University of Newfoundland; University of San Francisco; Scripps; Pratt; University of Maryland; American University of Beirut; American University of Paris, Ryerson University; Trent University; St. Joseph’s College.

Over the past decade, our PhD graduates have received numerous prestigious postdocs, including a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities in the Department of Comparative Media Studies/Writing at MIT; Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT's Center for Art, Science, and Technology; Postdoctoral Fellow, Berkman Klein Center, Harvard University; Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science; Postdoctoral, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University; Postdoctoral Fellowship at Rice University in Technology, Culture, and Society; Research Associate, Center for Digital Humanities, Princeton University; Postdoctoral Fellow, Media, Inequality & Change Center, University of Pennsylvania.

If you are accepted as a full-time NYU Steinhardt PhD student without an alternate funding source, you are eligible for our competitive funding package, which includes a scholarship and tuition remission.  Learn more about our funding opportunities .

Graduate Leadership

Associate Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication; PhD Director

Susan Murray

Department chair and professor of media, culture, and communication.

If you have additional questions about our degree, please contact us at [email protected] .

Alumni Profiles

Jacob Gaboury (PhD 2014)

Jacob is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Film & Media at the University of California, Berkeley. His dissertation "Image Objects: An Archaeology of Computer Graphics, 1965-1979" investigated the early history of computer graphics and the role they play in the move toward new forms of simulation and object oriented design.

Xiaochang Li (PhD 2017)

Xiaochang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University. Her teaching and research interests include the history of computing and information systems, AI and algorithmic culture, speech and language technology, and software/platform studies. Before joining Stanford, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin.

Hatim El-Hibri (PhD 2012)

Hatim is Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at George Mason University. His research examines media technologies and urban space in the Middle East. His dissertation traced the history of the visualization of Beirut, from the politics of aerial photography and mapping during the French Mandate, to the visual economy of postwar construction, to the materiality of Hizballah's live satellite television.

Liz Koslov (PhD 2017)

Liz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. Previously, she was a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT. Her research examines the cultural, political, and sociological dimensions of climate change adaptation. Her first book project, Retreat: Moving to Higher Ground in a Climate-Changed City , is under advance contract with the University of Chicago Press.

Devon Powers (PhD 2008)

Devon is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Advertising, Media & Communication at Temple University. Powers' research interests include popular music, 20th century history, and cultural intermediation – the people and processes that operate "in between" the production and consumption of culture. Powers completed a fellowship at the University of Leeds in 2014, and was recently elected Vice Chair of the Popular Communication Division of the International Communication Association.

Matthew Powers (PhD 2013)

Matthew is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington-Seattle. His dissertation "Humanity's Publics: NGOs, Journalism and the International Public Sphere" examined reporting roles assumed by international NGOs as legacy media outlets cut their foreign news budgets, and received the Gene Burd Outstanding Dissertation in Journalism Studies award from the International Communication Association. 

Media, Culture, and Communication

239 Greene Street, 8th floor New York, NY 10003 212-998-5191 | contact

Land Acknowledgement

Take the Next Step

Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.

PhD in Communication

Doctor of philosophy in school of communication.

• Request Info

Explore More

(202) 885-2040

[email protected]

McKinley Building, Room 111 on a map

Back to top

At the Intersection of Media, Technology, and Democracy

The AU School of Communication's Doctor of Philosophy in Communication allows you to research at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy. We study how media and technology interact with democratic culture and politics. Communication creates culture; communication is a vector of power; communication is central to democratic action. Our normative orientation toward a healthier democratic process is a theme consistent with the core public service mission of American University. Internet governance, podcasts as news sources, disinformation on Twitter, digital surveillance, facial recognition and power, racism on social media, and state social-media propaganda are all topics of recent dissertations.

Our focus is at the cutting edge of the field of communication studies today, and our students routinely present at our leading conferences. Our approach is also interdisciplinary, and we benefit from the diverse intellectual resources across American University, such as those showcased at the Internet Governance Lab , the AU Game Center ,  the Center for Media & Social Impact , the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies , and the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) . We also tap into our relationships with NGOs, media companies, foundations, and government institutions throughout the Washington metro area. 

In our doctoral program, you'll produce scholarship, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, that has real-world connection and impact . Your work will position you well to pick from career options that range from the professoriate to public policy research to media production to government. 

This is a three-year PhD, and from the moment you arrive, you will be working in a highly-structured program toward your dissertation research, building your networks, and developing publishable projects. You will join us in using knowledge to address our most pressing political and social challenge s . We welcome your application to become a part of the next generation of communication scholars, professors, leaders, and practitioners.

Demonstrate Your Commitment and Interest

Applicants for the Communication (PhD) degree program must hold an accredited bachelor's degree and a master's degree in communication, or a related field, with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, unless the applicant demonstrates comparable experience. The degree does not have to be in the field of communication or be research-based, as many of our PhD students have master's degrees in film or journalism. 

Applicants must submit a statement of purpose that outlines the intended research area, what research methods and theories the applicant will use, and which faculty members the applicant hopes to work with.

The candidate must also submit either a master's thesis or another example of substantial research. The GRE is optional. Students should submit their official GRE scores to CEEB code 5007 if desired.

The School of Communication's PhD program operates on a hard deadline. Applications must be received by December 15th.  Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

A complete PhD application consists of the following:

• Statement of purpose
• University transcripts from all universities attended (transcripts from outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by a NACES approevd organization)
• Two letters of recommendation
• GRE scores (optional)
• Master's thesis (or another example of substantial research)
• Proof of English proficiency (100 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS, 120 on Duolingo, or a bachelor or master's degree from a university in an English speaking country)

The admissions committee may ask applicants to interview with the program director and affiliated faculty. Interviews are conducted either on campus or virtually.

Financing Your Education

Each year, we welcome several doctoral students with full tuition remission as well as a graduate assistantship . We may also offer admission to top candidates without merit funding. If funding becomes available, students admitted without funding may be eligible to receive a merit package from the school.

The PhD in Communication is 54 credit hours. To estimate the cost of tuition , please see the current cost per credit hour for graduate students.

Students whose funding package includes a graduate assistantship will work as research or teaching assistants for 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. 

The School of Communication offers graduate students both merit-based and need-based financial aid . Merit awards, named scholarships, and fellowships are administered by the SOC Graduate Admissions Office, while need-based awards are administered by the American University Office of Financial Aid . Several prestigious graduate fellowships are also available for students in the Political Communication program. Additional financial support is available for veterans .

Each year, we welcome several doctoral students with full tuition remission as well as a graduate assistantship. We may also offer admission to top candidates without merit funding. If funding becomes available, students admitted without funding may be eligible to receive a merit package from the school. 

All merit awards are based on your academic merit and professional experience , specifically your undergraduate grades and leadership activities as well as career-related accomplishments. Merit awards are valid for one year-they vary in amount, are typically divided evenly between the fall and spring semesters, and are not typically renewable.

Some merit awards come in the form of graduate assistantships , which consist of graduate tuition remission, a stipend, or both. Tuition remission will vary in the number of credits offered. If you are offered a stipend, you must employed as a graduate assistant for a School of Communication faculty member for 10 hours per week.

Graduate Fellowships for Political Communication

The School of Communication offers prestigious merit-based fellowships in partnership with leading Washington, DC-based media organizations. These fellowships provide varying amounts of tuition remission and stipend and allow you to pursue professional projects with some of the finest media organizations while completing your graduate program. Separate applications are required . 

Research fellowships at academic centers within the School of Communication and throughout the university may also be available.

Unless indicated, students may not accept both a graduate assistantship and a graduate fellowship.

 Advanced Study at Your Convenience 

The School of Communication makes continuing on for your advanced degree a simple, straightforward process. You may apply for admission to our combined bachelor of arts/master of arts program during the second semester of your junior year (after completing 75 credits, but before you have completed 90 credits). Students in any undergraduate major at AU are eligible for consideration. An undergraduate degree in communication is not required.

You may apply for combined degrees in Political Communication, Strategic Communication, Film and Video, Journalism and Public Affairs, Game Design, or International Media.

More information about admissions requirements can be found here.

Meet Our Students

Our students produce scholarship, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, that has real-world connection and impact.

Democracy is a Laughing Matter

In the Top 5 percent of Best Ranked Programs in Communication and Media Studies

According to College Factual

Course Progression

Complete your degree in three years.

In contrast to the traditional 9-month-per-year schedule, your annual course of study takes place over 11 months, including faculty supervision and mentoring via formal course work, organized research group meetings, and online collaboration. The  accelerated structure  of your program allows you to complete your degree in three years.

You'll take six required courses, three each in the fall and spring semester. Depending on your past master's coursework and professional experience, you may be able to petition for credit for methods and/or statistics course work, substituting an advanced methods course or other elective. The required teaching seminar prepares you to work as a teaching assistant in an undergraduate course during your second year of coursework. Students who have prior college teaching experience or who have already taken a similar teaching seminar as part of their master's program can place out of this course, substituting an additional elective. In the summer immediately following your first year, you'll enroll in one course for credit and participate in research group meetings.

COMM-704: Media, Technology & Democracy (3) This is a foundation overview course focused on scholarship and analysis concerning the intersections of media, technology, and democracy. It also introduces other core courses and study concentrations for advanced study in these topics.

COMM-750: Advanced Media Theory (3) This course examines a range of theories for explaining the complex interrelationships among media, technology, human behavior, social interaction, and democratic processes. It provides an in-depth comparative analysis of theoretical approaches from a variety of academic fields including mass communication, cultural studies, film criticism, and digital media.

COMM-751: Advanced Media Research Methods (3) This course covers major social scientific, historical, ethnographic, qualitative, and critical approaches to media research, including discussions of epistemology, conceptualization, measurement, and ethics.

COMM-754: Media, Law & Policy (3) This course equips students with a strong grounding in U.S laws, policies, and regulatory infrastructure. It analyzes how public debates and political struggles over policy issues have shaped the culture, structure, and operations of contemporary U.S. media industries and institutions.

COMM-711: Teaching Seminar (3) This course provides students with career preparation knowledge, including understanding the culture and history of higher education, teaching skills, and career skills including submission to journals, book proposals, finding appropriate job opportunities, writing cover letters and doing job interviews. Some individual coaching is also involved.

NOTE: This course begins the Friday BEFORE school starts in spring semester, with attendance at an all-day event, the Ann Ferren Conference. This affects your travel schedule over winter holidays!

Approved graduate statistics or research methods course (3) (by preference) OR

Elective selected in consultation with faculty mentor (3)

Note: Students will work with their faculty mentor, who must have an appropriate terminal degree, to select two electives for the first fall semester.

COMM-755: Research Design in Communication (3). This course strengthens student skills in defining an answerable research questions and finding appropriate methodologies.

In the fall, you'll take two electives and a course to prepare you for the comprehensive examinations. By the end of your fall semester, you'll be expected to have gained approval and to have finalized the four faculty members of your doctoral committee, with at least one member being from outside of the School of Communication. At the beginning of your spring semester, you'll begin your qualifying exams. This process takes approximately one month from the assignment of questions to a successful written and oral defense. You will also take a seminar to guide you in developing your dissertation proposal. By the end of the spring semester or beginning of the summer, students are expected to have successfully defended their dissertation proposals and to spend the summer focused on dissertation research.

COMM-860 Seminar in Doctoral Teaching and Research (3) Creation of dissertation literature review and preparation for the comprehensive exam. Introduction to teaching philosophies and strategies, preparation for scholarly career in Communication Studies.

Approved elective courses (6)

Approved graduate statistics or research methods course (3)

COMM-861: Advanced Research & Project Development (3) Prepares students for advancing to candidacy by taking the comprehensive exam and preparing a dissertation proposal.

COMM-898: Doctoral Continuing Enrollment (6) May be taken by doctoral students completing coursework, exams or proposals in preparation for advancement to candidacy.

In the fall and spring semesters, you'll register for dissertation research credits. During the fall and spring semesters, you will also probably be applying and interviewing for jobs, drawing upon information from your first-year course, COMM 711 and on your mentors’ advice. By late spring, your dissertation committee expects to have about six weeks to read and respond to a dissertation draft and to read and respond to a revised version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should apply to the phd in communication program.

Applicants could be interested in tenure track, faculty positions in academia, or seeking careers at prestigious institutions in government, industry, and/or the nonprofit community.

How can the PhD program help strengthen my pedagogical skills?

In addition to the teaching seminars and teaching assistantships that are part of the regular doctoral curriculum, The Art of Teaching is a one-credit course offered each spring semester for PhD students who want to learn more about educational pedagogy. The course was originally designed by American University's former provost, Milton Greenberg.

Previously known as the Greenberg Seminars for Effective Teaching, this course complements the PhD academic experience, providing hands-on, practical introduction to professional development and classroom techniques. PhD students can participate at any time during their PhD program. There is no tuition fee for the course.

What are areas of faculty expertise?

Our program is focused on impactful research at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy. Our faculty and students study how media messages and communication technologies shape, and are shaped by, social and governmental processes. Specific sites of research range from Internet governance to music and film culture to social and political organizing to journalism to new media and games. We study communication patterns and their meanings across and between societies on a global scale, including, every continent in addition to indigenous and stateless groups. We draw upon cultural production, critical communication, science and technology studies, law and society perspectives, and other theories, and we use both quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as policy analysis.

What kinds of positions do alumni have now?

Our alumni have found full time and tenure-track jobs at universities throughout the U.S. and around the world, as well as prestigious post-doctoral positions and non-profit and government posts.

What kinds of collaborations can I expect with faculty?

You are assigned a mentor when you first arrive, a selection that results from both your stated interests and faculty interest. This assignment can change by request. You can expect to work with your mentor and, potentially, other faculty on research resulting in joint publications and conference presentations. In your second year, you may assist a faculty member with teaching. Several recent alumni have continued to collaborate with SOC faculty and student colleagues after graduation, resulting in dozens of published research articles, book chapters, and policy papers.

What other opportunities do the school and university offer?

The PhD program offers several PhD Symposia throughout the year, offering informal presentations of completed work and work in progress by both students and faculty. The  Internet Governance Lab , a joint program in the School of Communication and School of International Service, offers a range of activities throughout the year, putting a spotlight on Internet policy. The Center for Media & Social Impact offers workshops, events, a biannual conference, and research projects for which you can apply as research assistant. The AU Game Center  provides a community of scholars and graduate students in numerous programs across the university engaged in the design, production, and study of games, including the cultural and social impact of the medium, with substantial opportunities for collaboration with faculty, staff, and students across multiple related fields and contexts. The Institute for Immersive Designs, Experiences, Applications, and Stories (Institute for IDEAS) offers paid fellowships and research projects for which you can apply as a research assistant, often collaborating with faculty at other institutions. The PhD programs in the School of Communication, School of International Service, and School of Public Affairs jointly host a day-long research conference featuring work in progress by their PhD students, in February. The university-wide Center for Teaching, Research and Learning (CTRL) provides tools and programs throughout the year to help faculty and PhD students with best practices in teaching, and hosts an annual conference on teaching in January. PhD students are welcome, at no cost. CTRL also offers training and access to research tools . Finally, each PhD student receives enough annual funding to attend at least one major scholarly conference or event, anywhere in the world.

What are examples of dissertations students have written?

Our students have explored a wide diversity of interests with rigorous research, including dissertations such as:

• Lucy Odigie, “Digital Margins: Digital Technology Use, Social Change and the Empowering Strategies of Domestic Workers of Color in Brooklyn, NY”
• Isabelle Zaugg, “Ethiopic: Coding for Linguistic Survival in the Face of Digital Extinction”
• Aras Cosuntuncel, “Networking Authoritarian Neoliberalism: Realigned Strategies of Information Control and Resistance in the Case of Turkey” Dorian Davis, “The Twitter Election? New Perspectives on Agenda-Building during the 2016 Campaign”
• Louisa Imperiale, “Democracy for Sale: A Critical Examination of the Political-Media Complex at work in Campaign Finance and Political Broadcast Regulation in U.S. Presidential Elections from 1976 to 2016”
• Fernanda Rosa, “Global Internet Interconnection Infrastructure: Materiality, Concealment and Surveillance in Contemporary Communication”
• Donte Newman, “Straddling the Fence: How White Facebook Users Express Ambivalence to Navigate the Context Collapse”
• Emily O’Connell, “Hybrid Systems and Hybrid Genres: Exploring U.S. Political Podcast Framing Tactics and Effects”

How many applicants are admitted each year?

Five people are selected each year to join the program, and there are usually about 20 people in the program at any one time.

Can I attend part-time?

The program is designed to be full-time.

Can I take courses outside of the School of Communication?

The SOC PhD program was designed as an interdisciplinary program. We encourage students to take full advantage of the wealth of resources and opportunities across the university, including taking courses and finding expertise in other departments, as well as courses at our partner universities around Washington, DC. Dissertation committees are required to include at least one member outside of the school.

Can I complete my PhD program in 3 years?

The program is designed to be completed in three years, and more than half of our PhD students accomplish their goal in doing so.

Still have questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Please send me information about PhD in Communication

It looks like you already used that name and address to request information for one or more AU graduate program(s).

If you have not previously requested AU graduate program information, create a new request

PhD in Communication

We are an international, interdisciplinary, boundary-spanning graduate program with a vision of social justice.

The emergence of communication as a multifaceted social science discipline is connected to both the search for new perspectives on contemporary problems and the profusion of technologies of communication. Our graduate program approaches communication as the primary social process through which social realities are constituted, maintained, and changed. Those varied processes and contexts constitute the core of our work, with opportunities to pursue communication theory and research in the following areas:

• Film studies
• Media effects and popular culture
• Media, technology, and society
• Rhetoric and performance studies
• Social interaction and culture

Our doctoral program is known for its:

• R1-level research productivity
• Interdisciplinary, boundary-spanning scholarship
• Social justice perspective 
• Comparative and international focus

Application information & deadlines

January 2, 2024, communication.

Treat communication as a primary social process and gain knowledge of communication theory, philosophy, methodology, and research.

Global footer

• ©2024 University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Site policies
• Non-discrimination notice
• Accessibility
• Terms of use

• Request Info
• Faculty Finder

Master of Arts

Communication Specialization

Transform ideas into lasting impact.

Nothing is accomplished without clear, effective communication. Hone your existing skills as you explore how communication affects all aspects of human life, including relationships, conflict and leadership. This advanced communication degree offers opportunities for self-reflection, critical and creative thinking, community outreach and service learning. You will complete core studies covering graduate transformation and ethics, along with specialization courses that run the gamut from high-level theory to practical workplace skills.

Know what you're looking for? This is for you:

• Jump to Application Requirements
• Jump to Tuition and Financial Aid

Explore Other Master of Arts Specializations

Interested in something other than Communication? Choose from one of our other distinct specializations that best matches your personal and career ambitions.

• Applied Psychology
• Creative Writing
• Environmental Studies
• Religious Studies

Request More Information About This Degree

Program snapshot.

Program Format Online 7- or 8-week terms

Time Commitment 12-24 months

Key Dates Starts are offered in January, March, May, July, August and October

View Full Degree Curriculum and Requirements

Join Regis Alumni Working As:

Corporate communications manager.

Craft and convey your company's messages, ensuring consistent and positive communication to stakeholders and the public.

Public Relations Specialist

Build and maintain a positive image for organizations by managing communication with the media and the public.

Content Strategist

Plan and execute the creation, distribution and management of content, aligning it with business goals and audience needs.

By the Numbers

* Regis First Destination Survey, 2023 ** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , 2022

Imagine Yourself In ...

MALC 672: Conflict Management

Learn how to identify, avoid and manage common types of conflict within organizations, while developing communication styles and strategies for working through conflict.

MALC 623: Persuasive Communication

Explore the practice of persuasion and rhetoric in interpersonal relationships, professional settings, sales and marketing, and the mass media. In this class, you’ll discover both theoretical explanations and practical applications of persuasive communication.

MALC 668: Communication Through Social Media

Explore different forms of social media and its influence on interpersonal and professional relationships, while examining the impact of social media on personal and group identity.

How to Apply

To apply to the Master of Arts program, you will need:

• Online application
• Official degree-bearing transcript(s) from an accredited college or university
• Admissions essay
• Faculty interview may be required

This program is eligible for our FastForward dual degree. To learn more about eligible programs and GPA requirements, visit regis.edu/fastforward

Real people. Really invested in you. Contact your admissions counselor today and learn how we help you every step of the way.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year: $599 per credit hour Total program credits: 33 A 10% tuition discount is offered for licensed educators.

Tuition is one part of the overall cost of attendance, which includes all expenses students may have, including basic living costs. For more information about tuition, fees and your estimated cost of attendance, visit our Cost of Attendance for Adult Undergraduates and Graduate Students page . Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Earning your Master of Arts with Communication specialization from Regis sets you apart and expands your professional network — think of it as an investment in your future. Between scholarship opportunities and financial aid packages, advancing your education is within reach.

Learn More About Financial Aid Options

A Culture of Excellence

Want to learn more? Here's something for you: The Master of Arts with Communication specialization is offered by Regis College at Regis University.

• Learn More About the College
• Explore Our Key Jesuit Values

Your Future Starts Here

• Contact Admissions
• Request More Info
• Start Your Application

Admissions Essay

As you complete this essay, we encourage you to share with us some personal insights about those experiences and influences that have shaped you.

Write a personal statement indicating how you think your desired degree or certificate will enhance your career plans. What impact would you like to have on your colleagues, organizations, and the world? What experiences have you had that form the foundation for these goals? Try to be as specific as possible in answering these questions.

Your statement should be between 400-500 words, double-spaced, and typewritten in Microsoft Word format. Save your document once complete. The online application includes a section to upload your statement. If you have already submitted your application, email it to [email protected] ensuring your first name, last name and academic program are included on the document.

MA in Public Relations Help Shape the Future of Policies, Goals, and Objectives Within a Communication Setting

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Become a Competent Communicator for Your Organization with Our Master’s in Public Relations Online

Do you seek to help shape the future of your organization? Liberty’s Master of Arts (MA) in Public Relations can help equip you with the essential concepts, skills, and expertise to help organizations build mutually beneficial relationships with diverse audiences. Through comprehensive coursework and practical exercises, you can learn to navigate the dynamic field of public relations, mastering the art of strategic communication and relationship management. This public relations major emphasizes the importance of advocacy, honesty, loyalty, and objectivity. We aim to prepare graduates to be effective communicators who positively impact organizations and their stakeholders.

Public relations majors are trained to deliver ethical and impactful messages across various platforms and contexts. Whether you’re working with businesses, nonprofits, or government agencies, you can focus on developing the ability to craft and disseminate messages that resonate locally and globally. Our goal for this public relations degree program is to help you prepare for a variety of roles in academic, corporate, or church-affiliated settings.

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s Public Relations Degree Online?

Liberty University’s online public relations master’s is tailored to help you achieve your career goals by focusing on essential skills in the communications sector. The public relations curriculum is based on modern scholarship and can help prepare you to be crisis-ready in nearly every professional environment. The idea that communication is constant will shape the way you plan and work in the marketplace.

Businesses, nonprofits, and agencies across all industries need skilled professionals capable of resonating with and persuading audiences. Our master’s in public relations can enhance your current skills while offering the convenience of 100% online courses, providing the flexibility you need.

What Will You Study in Our Public Relations Program ?

The MA in Public Relations program at Liberty University is designed to help equip you with communication and leadership skills applicable to various settings. The curriculum includes online courses that focus on developing your ability to write, communicate, plan, and strategize. You will study basic communication strategies, such as effective storytelling that connects with consumer emotions and creates brand identity. In addition, you can explore advertising and public relations tactics for successful mass communication.

The core studies in our public relations master’s degree program encompass a variety of critical topics designed to develop your skills and expertise in the field. In Public Relations Writing, you can experience the intricacies of crafting messages for diverse audiences and media, from press releases to press conferences. This course can challenge even skilled communicators to consider the nuances of audience, message, and media in every project. Additionally, Public Relations Planning examines the process of setting goals and establishing measurable outcomes using various communication tools. You will be tasked with creating campaigns and initiatives that elevate your public relations expertise and push you to think strategically and creatively.

Crisis Communication and Strategy delves into the crisis lifecycle, focusing on the crisis and post-crisis stages. Through practical exercises, you can learn how to navigate organizational crises and develop real-world outcomes applicable in professional settings. Finally, Analytics in Crisis Communication uses a case study approach to evaluate and analyze historical crises within the marketplace. This course emphasizes the importance of measurable post-crisis analytics to inspire the prevention of future corporate crises, ensuring you understand the value of data-driven strategies in managing and mitigating crises.

Potential Career Opportunities

• Advertising/public relations executive
• Director of communications
• Public information officer
• Research manager
• University administrator
• University professor (adjunct)
• Vice president of communication

Featured Courses

• COPR 510 – Public Relations Writing
• COPR 515 – Public Relations Planning
• COPR 545 – Crisis Communication and Strategy
• COPR 640 – Analytics in Crisis Communication

Course guides coming soon

Degree Information

• This program falls under the School of Communication and the Arts .
• View the Graduate Communication and the Arts Course Guides (login required).

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for the Online MA in Public Relations Degree

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
• Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
• If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application .
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Dual Enrollment

Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

Transcript Policies

Unofficial college transcript policy.

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
• Cumulative GPA
• A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
• Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

[email protected]

Liberty University Online Admissions Verification

1971 University Blvd.

Lynchburg, VA 24515

Ready to Apply?

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

• Active Duty
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/Retirees
• Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
• Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course) *
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

Inner Navigation

• Why Choose Liberty?
• What Will You Study?
• Admission Information

Have questions?

Are you ready to change your future?

Apply FREE This Week*

Request Information

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

Request Information About a Program

Request info about liberty university online, what program are you interested in, choose a program level.

Choose a program level

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Certificate

Select a Field of Study

Select a field of study

Select a Program

Select a program

Next: Contact Info

Legal full name.

Enter legal full name

Legal Last Name

Enter legal last name

Enter an email address

Enter a phone number

Full Address

Enter an address

Apt., P.O. Box, or can’t find your address? Enter it manually instead .

Select a Country

Street Address

Enter Street Address

Enter State

ZIP/Postal Code

Enter Zip Code

Back to automated address search

Start my application now for FREE

‘There are no jobs’: PhD graduates struggle to build careers in academia

For the first time in decades, Ian Corbin has dental insurance.

Over the past 15 years, Corbin has been a doctoral student, an adjunct professor, and a postdoctoral fellow. And trying to scrape together a living has been tough. “I was always hustling,” he says.

When Corbin — who holds a PhD in philosophy from Boston College and works at the intersection of ethics and medicine — was a postdoc at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2019, he earned about $50,000 a year and had kids to support. “So I was always teaching classes in the evening and publishing articles as fast as I could. Just taking on really anything that anyone would give me,” he says.

Advertisement

Corbin’s story isn’t unusual. For many of those with doctorates, who typically spend between four and seven years in graduate school, the employment picture is increasingly bleak, especially for jobs in academia.

Maren Wood, who founded a firm that helps those with doctorates find jobs, says that the market for full-time professors has collapsed. Between 2007 and 2020, the number of openings in philosophy dropped by roughly half. The number of openings in English fell by about 60 percent .

Universities staffed up to accommodate millennials, she says, and now they’re trying to cope with declining enrollments, which are predicted to continue indefinitely . “There’s nothing wrong with a PhD,” says Wood, chief executive of Beyond the Professoriate, whose platform is currently used by Harvard and BC . “The problem is there are no jobs.”

Wood holds a PhD in history, and her breaking point was in 2011 when she came in second place for a job thousands of miles away. The gig was a one-year position. In Reno. And she was told the pay wouldn’t even be enough to live on.

The woman doing the hiring encouraged Wood. “You came in second place!” she exclaimed.

“For what?” Wood asked.

Wood had hoped to be a professor. She had been a top student and earned her PhD from the University of North Carolina. But it didn’t take long to realize: Despite the fact that she had a prestigious degree, there were virtually no decent jobs in universities.

Often, those with doctorates serve as adjunct professors — sometimes while they look for a more permanent gig. To students, adjuncts and tenure-track faculty may appear to be the same. They have PhDs. Students call them “professor.”

But when it comes to stability, they’re worlds apart. Adjuncts rarely get health care. They’re generally paid between $3,000 and $7,000 per class, and you might have to drive considerable distances to get from one job to another.

Over 30 percent of nontenure-track educators in higher education make under $25,000 a year, according to a 2019 survey by the American Federation of Teachers . Another 30 percent make between $25,000 and $50,000 a year. But over the past few decades, the number of adjuncts has grown much faster than the ranks of full-time faculty.

The dearth of jobs has been particularly tough on those in the social sciences, humanities, and some sciences, including biology. Richard Larson, a professor of data, systems, and society at MIT, has noted that many professors churn out lots of doctoral students over the course of their careers — and a good chunk of those students would like to be professors themselves.

But the math simply doesn’t work. Only a few of those grad students — fewer than 20 percent — can get the sort of job that their advisers have. (Though there are certainly disciplines — including chemical engineering and computer science — in which graduates can find jobs fairly easily, often in industry.)

Kristina Aikens, who earned her PhD in English from Tufts University, initially tried to piece together a living as an adjunct. For a year and a half, she says, she was teaching four or five classes in two or three locations, which is a common — though brutal — workload.

Aikens doesn’t believe that doctoral students — particularly in humanities — understand the real threat of finding themselves in an unstable position. “I think people think it won’t happen to them,” she says. “It’s not because they think that they’re better than anyone else. It’s just a denial that they’re in.”

But the threat of job instability is considerable. Massachusetts is not only the state with the highest percentage of people with undergraduate degrees; it also has the highest percentage of those with graduate degrees . And while many of those degree holders are thriving, too many live in precarious situations — situations made all the more precarious by the extraordinarily high cost of housing in the Boston area.

So if the supply of academic jobs has waned, why don’t doctoral programs simply slim down and admit fewer students?

Most of the people I spoke with noted that professors may be loath to give up their graduate students because they genuinely enjoy working with them. Grad students can talk about esoteric areas of scholarship, built on years of deep study.

“I think that faculty want to believe that they’re doing good,” says Wood. “I think that graduate deans generally believe that graduate education does good. And the fact that universities have paid so little attention to career outcomes means that they don’t actually have good data to work with.”

It’s also possible that schools’ reluctance to admit fewer graduate students is financially motivated. Universities often run on the work of grad students, as the Boston University strike has demonstrated . Grad students teach sections of large classes. They work in labs. They perform in-the-field research.

“The business model only works with a lot of cheap labor,” Corbin says. “I think it’s bad. I think it’s bad for students. I think it’s bad for the classroom. I think it’s bad for the grad students and the perennial adjuncts.” But, he believes, doctoral students represent an enormous pool of untapped talent.

Corbin is now a tenure-track researcher in neurology at Harvard Medical School, with a secondary appointment in bioethics. It’s a job he likes, and life feels much more stable. “It’s becoming less desperate,” he says.

Aikens — who now serves as the program director of writing support at Tufts — says she doesn’t regret getting a doctorate, and she doesn’t think we should preclude people from pursuing that sort of intense study.

Coming from a working-class background in West Virginia, she had wanted to see if she could do it. And the six years she spent getting a PhD were hard. But she knew that success wouldn’t necessarily lead to employment:

“At my graduation, literally at the ceremony, I turned to my friend and said: ‘Should I apply to law school? Because I don’t think this is going to work out.’”

Follow Kara Miller @karaemiller .

Official websites use .mass.gov

Secure websites use HTTPS certificate

A lock icon ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the official website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• search    across the entire site
• search  in Massachusetts Probation Service
• search  in Massachusetts Court System
• This page, Charlestown Recovery Court celebrates graduate Jouseph Martinez, is   offered by
• Massachusetts Probation Service
• Massachusetts Court System

News  Charlestown Recovery Court celebrates graduate Jouseph Martinez

Media contact   for charlestown recovery court celebrates graduate jouseph martinez, coria holland, communications director.

Mr. Martinez was presented with a certificate of completion and received words of encouragement and pledges of continued support by members of the Recovery Court team during an intimate heartfelt ceremony where Shannon Lundin, Director of Recovery and Community Engagement, Chapters Recovery Center, was the keynote speaker.

“While I was in Recovery Court I followed the Guidance of my Probation Officer, Mr. LaFortune, and participated in NA and AA where I was able to get to a point where I could run a house meeting at my first program. I got to announce my progress in Recovery Court each week which helped me keep moving forward,” Mr. Martinez said.

He added, "With the direction of Honorable Judge Grant and the Recovery Court team, I was able to finally reach my goals. Since the beginning I was serious about it, really wanted it and that’s the reason why I was able to finalize the whole entire 18 months. If you really want it from the inside, you can do it too.”

The Charlestown Recovery Court is one of three recovery courts in the Boston Municipal Courts. The other BMC recovery courts are based at Dorchester and East Boston courts. There are also approximately 30 adult drug court sessions in the District Courts.

National statistics show that 75 percent of Drug Court graduates remain arrest-free at least two years after leaving the program.

Massachusetts Probation Service 

Help us improve mass.gov   with your feedback.

The feedback will only be used for improving the website. If you need assistance, please contact the Massachusetts Probation Service . Please limit your input to 500 characters.

Thank you for your website feedback! We will use this information to improve this page.

If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site.

2 injured in shooting at Missouri HS graduation, a day after gunfire near separate ceremony

Two people were injured after gunfire erupted at a high school graduation in Missouri on Sunday, just one day after shots reportedly rang out near a separate graduation ceremony in Kansas City.

Gunfire was reported around 2:33 p.m. local time at the Show Me Center, located on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, just as school resource officers with the Cape Girardeau Public School District were at the center for high school graduation, the Cape Girardeau Police Department said in a news release .

The officers detained a person of interest and rendered aid to the two victims, the release continued.

The two victims were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The person of interest is in the Cape Girardeau Police Department's custody.

Alcohol suspected in crash: Driver hits group of 16 family members, killing 2 and injuring 14 in Michigan

'No students or staff members were injured'

Howard Benyon, Cape Girardeau Public Schools superintendent, said on Facebook , "During our graduation ceremony today at the Show Me Center, an altercation occurred forcing us to stop the ceremony and evacuate the building."

"Fortunately, no students or staff members were injured and thanks to the assistance of staff members at the Show-Me Center, we were able to get everyone out of the building safely," Benyon continued.

Due to the incident, the school district will be "forced to reschedule the graduation ceremony at a later time," Benyon said.

"We want to plan an event that celebrates our graduates the way they deserve, but our priority at this time is working with police to aid their investigation of this situation," according to the superintendent.

Shots fired near DeLaSalle Education Center's graduation ceremony

Graduating seniors at DeLaSalle High School also had their ceremony interrupted by gunfire over the weekend.

The shots were reported around 3:35 p.m. on Saturday near the DeLaSalle Education Center's graduation, a Kansas City Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Phillip DiMartino told The Kansas City Star . No injuries were reported to police, the public information officer said.

Police do not believe the shooting had anything to do with the graduation, according to the spokesperson.

It is unclear if police have made any arrests related to the shooting.

USA TODAY contacted the Kansas City Police Department but did not receive a response.

DeLaSalle High School's graduation 'marred by an unforeseen event'

DeLaSalle responded to the shooting with a statement on the school's website saying, "Today, a tragic incident occurred during the high school graduation ceremony at DeLaSalle High School."

"What began as a beautiful day with over 500 families and guests celebrating our largest graduating class in 20 years was marred by an unforeseen event," the school said in the statement.

The school also confirmed that "no physical harm came to any students, families or staff attending the graduation," according to the statement.

"DeLaSalle High School prays for the safety of all of Kansas City, and our thoughts are with the community during this difficult time," the school said.

« RETURN TO NEWS

N.C. A&T Journalism Graduate Selected for Dow Jones Media Program

By Markita C. Rowe / 05/20/2024 College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

• 4-H and Youth Development News
• Academic Affairs News
• Accounting and Finance News
• Administration and Instructional Services News
• Admissions News
• Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education News
• Agricultural and Natural Resources News
• Alumni News
• Animal Sciences News
• Applied Engineering Technology News
• Athletics News
• Biology News
• Built Environment News
• Business and Finance News
• Business Education News
• Chancellor's Speaker Series
• Chancellors Town Hall Series
• Chemical, Biological, and Bio Engineering News
• Chemistry News
• Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering News
• College News
• Community and Rural Development News
• Computational Science and Engineering News
• Computer Science News
• Computer Systems Technology News
• Cooperative Extension News
• Counseling News
• Criminal Justice News
• Deese College News
• Economics News
• Educator Preparation News
• Electrical and Computer Engineering News
• Employees News
• Energy and Environmental Systems News
• English Department News
• Family and Consumer Sciences News
• Graphic Design Technology News
• Hairston College News
• Headlines News
• History & Political Science News
• Honors College News
• Human Resources News
• Industrial and Systems Engineering News
• Information Technology Services News
• Innovation Station News
• Journalism & Mass Communication
• Kinesiology News
• Leadership Studies and Adult Education News
• Liberal Studies News
• Library News
• Magazine News
• Management News
• Marketing News
• Mathematics News
• Mechanical Engineering News
• Media Spotlight News
• Natural Resources and Environmental Design News
• News Categories
• Nursing News
• Psychology News
• Research and Economic Development News
• Social Work News
• Student Affairs News
• Students News
• The Graduate College News
• Transportation & Supply Chain
• University Advancement News
• Visual & Performing Arts News

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C (May 20, 2024) – Rosegalie Cineus ‘24, who graduated from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC) Department, has been chosen as one of eight fellows for the Dow Jones HBCU (historically Black college or university) Media Collective program.

Cineus, an Honors College student and multimedia major from Cranston, Rhode Island, is the first North Carolina A&T student to be selected for the program.

“Being chosen as the inaugural A&T JOMC fellow for the Dow Jones HBCU Media Collective Program is a testament to Rosegalie’s talent and dedication,” said Yahya Kamalipour, Ph.D., interim JOMC department chair. “The department is proud of her and thrilled to see her recognized on a national level.”

This year’s fellows were hand-selected by deans and faculty members from their respective institutions. Other HBCUs in this year’s program are Bowie State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University and Spelman College.

The Dow Jones HBCU Media Collective program, now in its second year, has incorporated an international component to broaden students’ understanding of global opportunities and enhance newsroom diversity. The program includes a five-day trip to London, providing beneficial exposure to News Corp properties such as The Sun, The Times, Times Radio, The Fifth, talkSPORT and Virgin Radio.

“This program will allow me to really sharpen my skills and storytelling,” said Cineus. “I am excited to soak up valuable knowledge during my time there.” From May 29 to June 12, students enrolled in the program will collaborate with seasoned journalists at Dow Jones, Barron’s and MarketWatch newsrooms. Additionally, they will engage in newsroom training conducted by The Wall Street Journal. The program’s initial phase will also include graduate-level courses at Columbia University.

"I worked closely with Rosegalie this academic year and she has been an outstanding student,” said David Squires, a JOMC lecturer at A&T. “I know that the program will provide her with lifelong connections that she’ll value throughout her media career.”

For more information about the Dow Jones HBCU Media Collective program, visit https://www.dowjones.com/careers/#interns-and-graduates .

Media Contact Information: [email protected]

Latest News

Aggie Academy Advisory Board to Hold Public Meeting on June 5

05/24/2024 in Academic Affairs

Blackwell, Solomon Make A&T History as Alumnae Fulbright Program Grant Recipients

05/24/2024 in Alumni , Honors College

Endowed Biology Professor Graves Named 2024 Genius Award Honoree

05/24/2024 in College of Science and Technology , Biology