Communication Science
| General Information |
Master's Requirements |
PhD Requirements |
Internal Minor |
Professional Organizations |
Recent PhDs |
PhD Requirements
The Ph.D. in Communication Science prepares students for a future scholarly career. It is designed to train students to conduct social scientific research independently and to disseminate scientific knowledge in the classroom and other professional settings. Reflecting this overall aim, the program integrates course work, research, and teaching experience in Ph.D. students' training.
As part of earning the doctorate, students who enter the program with a Bachelor’s degree are required to:
- Complete the course work required of M.A. students in Communication Science
- Complete and defend their M.A. thesis. Students entering the doctoral program with a master’s degree from another institution need to consult with their advisor to determine whether additional course work and/or an M.A. thesis in Communication Science are required.
Additional course work beyond the M.A. degree includes:
- At least two courses in statistics and two in research methodology;
- At least four other courses at 700 or above related to the student's area of specialization, to be approved by the student’s advisor;
- A minor consistent with the guidelines of the Department of Communication Arts.
A Ph.D. student must develop a program of study in consultation with his or her advisor. The mix of courses to be completed must reflect the following principles:
- Building a solid theoretical and methodological foundation in Communication Science
- Covering sufficiently broad areas in communication and related social science disciplines
- Having at least one area of specialization. This program should normally be developed before the start of the second semester in residence. The course work must be approved by the student’s advisor and must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.5.
Upon completing course work, students take preliminary examinations, followed by an oral defense. After a successful oral defense of the preliminary exam, the student enters the dissertator phase. Within a year after their preliminary examinations, students must pass the oral defense of their dissertation proposal to maintain satisfactory progress status.
Preliminary Examinations
After completing course work, students take preliminary examinations which, if completed successfully, constitute admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The examinations are prepared by the student's five-member doctoral committee, chaired by the student’s advisor. The committee must include at least one professor from outside the department. The student forms his or her committee in consultation with the advisor.
The preliminary examination typically emphasizes the ability to systematically synthesize, critically evaluate, and creatively apply what has been learned. The examination is not regarded as a repetition of exams and materials covered in courses, although the questions often relate to courses in the student's program. It should be a culmination of the student’s course work and a demonstration of the student’s readiness to develop independent research.
Preliminary examinations are administered three times per year:
- Late August
- End of the fall semester
- End of the spring semester
Students take 16 hours of examination in the following areas:
- Communication Processes and Contexts (8 hours)
- Four hours each in two major topic areas in communication science, focusing on theories and major empirical findings in the field.
- Specialization (4 hours)
- Four hours in the student's area of specialization. Normally, the dissertation research dictates the area of specialization.
- Quantitative Research Methodology and Theory Construction (4 hours)
- This portion of the exam may include questions addressing statistics, research design, measurement, and the construction and evaluation of theory
