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Last modified: August 16, 2021 185.80.149.115

Science Communication, Certificate

Learn various approaches towards effective science communication and towards representing diverse voices across all communities involved in science..

This unique 12-credit post-baccalaureate certificate program is entirely online and can help advance your career in science communication. In today’s increasingly more complex and global world, we are inundated with competing and often contradictory messages about science research, scientific progress, and the limitations of science. In such a world, effective and equitable science communication, or SciComm, plays a critical role for many professions intersecting with science. Effective science communication, we think, includes lots of practice. Therefore, we have designed a program that exposes students to different strategies in science communication, current research on the science of science communication, examples of science communication across various platforms and modalities (e.g., social media, journalism, academic publications).

Details, Dates & Deadlines

Program details, class format, program length, credits to complete, cost/credit hour.

In State: $769 Out of State: $994

• Online application
• $75 application fee
• Official transcripts
• 300–500 word essay
• Proof of English language proficiency
• CV or resume

Dates & Deadlines

Fall deadline: April 15 (Priority) Fall deadline: July 1 (Final)

Program Structure

The SciComm program is a 12-credit, four-course p ost-baccalaureate certificate  program offered in an asynchronous, 100% online environment. This means that we offer maximum flexibility to meet the needs of working professionals. There are no online meetings or set times when you'll need to log in; just submit your coursework before the posted deadlines and check back in for feedback from your instructors and classmates. As a student in this program, you will acquire expertise in science communication. Your classmates will most likely be practicing professionals with a health, scientific, or journalism background who are employed or seeking employment in areas related to science communication. 

At the end of the program, you will have a portfolio or revised work that can easily become part of your SciComm portfolio when applying for SciComm related positions in the future. Some students even get their work published while in the program (e.g., summaries of Cochrane Reviews, book reviews, and SciComm columns on UMB;s digital platform the Elm).

Is an Online Course Right for You?

Program Completion Timeline

• All four courses will be offered at least once each year to enable you to complete the program within one year.
• Participants begin the program in the fall and complete it in the spring (courses need to be taken in sequence).
• Although most students complete the program within one year, you will be allowed up to three years to complete the program.

What You Will Learn

Throughout the course of the program, students will read sections from the Faith Kearns’ groundbreaking book   Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Effective Engagement .   Dr. Kearns   is a scientist and science communication practitioner who focuses primarily on water, wildfire, and climate change in the western United States. Her work has been published broadly, including in the  New Republic ,  On Being ,  Newsweek , the BBC, and  Bay Nature.   Dr. Kearn's book has been described as a "terrific first step to handling [...] increasingly unpredictable conversations" with broad, potentially combative audiences (Candace J. Akins,  Native Plants Journal ) and "a must-read for amateurs and professionals" (Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Office of Science for the U.S. Department of Energy). 

Other course material will consist of published articles in academic and non-academic journals, blogs, podcasts, social media posts, multimodal resources (e.g., YouTube channels and TikTok videos), sample grants, selections from books, reports and brochures from organizations such as the   American Academy of Arts & Science s or the   American Association for the Advancement of science   (AAAS), and other relevant materials.

This program is interesting to both novices or early career professional in science communication as well as those with experience in communicating scientific research and innovations to various audiences. It provides an overview of many important aspects that are of concern to science communication practitioners across disciplinary and professional backgrounds, with a particular focus on equity and social justice in SciComm. Many of our alumni work or pursue careers in communication department of universities, especially those with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM); medical institutions; government agencies; and for-profit companies as well as non-profit research-based institutions. Some of our alumni are also researchers who have enrolled in this program to enrich their own SciComm practice across diverse audiences.

Student Testimonials

  “This program is one of the best career decisions I have ever made.”

“This course helped me grow as a science writer in ways outside of my comfort zone.”

“This program’s structure has been different from the typical course set up. By having one class at a time, I was able to focus on select skills at a steady pace. After the completion of the program, I felt prepared to write in any discipline within science whether for an academic audience or the general public.”

-Shaniece  

“I found Science Writing Principles one of the most productive courses that I’ve ever taken during my PhD program.”

-Raziyeh  

“I gained transferable skills that will assist me not only with my thesis, but my career as a scientist.”

-Paige  

“I learned writing techniques that I honestly wish I knew back in undergrad and even in high school.”

-Makeda  

Science Communication

Nina Jackson Admissions Counselor  [email protected]   410.706.6489

Isabell C. May, Ph.D Program Director [email protected]   410.706.4450

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Welcome to UD's Ph.D. Program in Communication

The Department of Communication at the University of Delaware offers a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree that allows students to continue to build their knowledge about the field of communication while preparing them for research-based careers in academia or a communication-related industry. The Ph.D. in communication is taught from a social science perspective, allowing students to increase their knowledge and ability to use theoretically founded, empirically based research methodologies, and a variety of techniques of statistical analysis. Visit the  Frequently Asked Questions page  for answers to common inquiries about our research-based programs.

Program Information >

Learn more about teaching assistantships >, learn more about our research programs >, program goals.

A graduate of the Ph.D. in communication program will be able to:

• Articulate the central theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts of the discipline.
• Apply communication science theory and methods to conduct research on complex questions and societal problems.
• Demonstrate a capacity to communicate research findings to academic and lay audiences.
• Conduct independent and cooperative research that is publishable in the communication .discipline’s core peer-reviewed journals.
• Establish competency in teaching at the undergraduate level.
• Incorporate ethical communication principles and practices into their research and teaching.
• Recognize the cultural basis of communication and acknowledge their own standpoint, with respect for the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Employ communication strategies to resolve challenges and empower people.
• Appreciate the landscape and norms of pursuing an academic career in the communication discipline.

University of Delaware's Department of Communication Graduate Open House: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_42nnif3g/

Academic Concentrations

Students in the Ph.D. program choose from one of the following concentrations:

• Health Communication
• Interpersonal Communication
• Media Communication
• Political Communication

Build real-world experience as a teaching assistant

Most (if not all) communication students in full-time graduate programs at the University of Delaware receive financial aid. The financial aid package may include a teaching assistantship. 

The teaching assistantships provide graduate students with real-world teaching experience, which is attractive both to doctoral programs and to professional organizations. They receive more in-classroom experience as the sole instructor than most other graduate programs — including doctoral programs. 

Teaching Assistants (TAs) receive a tuition scholarship for courses taken during fall and spring semesters as well as a stipend. The teaching assistantship is renewed for the second year of study provided that the TA remains in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0) and otherwise performs their TA duties in an appropriate manner.

Responsibilities

The TAs teach "Oral Communication in Business," a public speaking course for non-communication undergraduate majors. Each TA is responsible for stand-alone classroom instruction and grading for their assigned sections.

During the first semester of their first year of study, TAs teach one section of this course. In all subsequent semesters, TAs teach two sections of this course. Second-year TAs serve as peer mentors to first-year TAs.

Guided by a core curriculum, TAs develop their own lecture materials, activities, and multimedia presentations — preparing them future academic or professional teaching opportunities. 

The training focuses on best practices of teaching strategies; practical, hands on course development; as well as learning how to teach both theory and the practical aspects of communication (public speaking).

All TAs meet daily with the Oral Communication course director the week prior to the start of the semester for in-depth training. After their classes are underway, TAs meet weekly throughout the year to continue their development as instructors. 

The weekly meetings with the course director allow the TAs  to discuss pedagogy and teaching strategies as well as any other concerns they may have with their classroom experiences. Each semester, TAs are observed by the course director and a peer mentor, and receive a review of their classroom practices.

Additional Opportunities

Second-year TAs can teach specialized sections focused on scientific and technical communication or business and professional speaking. Additionally, one student each semester serves as the assistant course coordinator to review course materials, teaching strategies and training sessions with the Oral Communication course director. 

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Program Information

Degree requirements.

The Communication Department's  graduate program policy statement  specifies degree requirements, policies, and procedures for communication graduate students. The statements are reviewed and approved by the  Faculty Senate's Graduate Studies Committee .  Visit the UD ​Graduate Catalog​  to review the Ph.D. degree requirements.

Sixty credit hours are required to complete the Ph.D. degree:

Twenty-seven credit hours of core curricula, including nine credits each from theory courses, research methodology courses, and statistical methodology courses

Eighteen credit hours in a focused program of study chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser and/or the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies

Six credit hours of elective courses. No more than three of those credit hours may come from an independent study. [For students entering the Ph.D. program with a baccalaureate, these credit hours must be used to complete a 2nd year graduate research project.]

Students must enroll in the Communication Colloquium series every semester they are enrolled in coursework for a total of up to six semesters.

Nine credit hours of dissertation credits.

No class may be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Core curricula (27 credits)

Required theory courses (9 credits).

COMM601 Epistemology and Theory in Communication 3

COMM606 Foundations of Contemporary Communication Theory 3

Students must take three additional credits from a theory driven course from a topic within their focused program of study. Students must confer with their advisers to determine which course will best fulfill this requirement. May come from a course outside of the Department of Communication.

Required Research Methodology Courses (9 credits)

COMM603 Communication Research Methods – Procedures 3

Students must take six additional credits of research methods courses focused on different research methodologies that would best benefit their own program of study. Students must confer with their advisers to determine which courses will best fulfill their expectations.

Required Statistical Methodology Courses (9 credits)

COMM604 Communication Research Methods – Analysis 3

Students must take an additional six statistical methods credits: three credits must be an advanced generalist statistics courses and three credits must be from specialist statistics courses. Students should confer with their advisers to determine which courses will best fulfill the expectations of their program of study.

It is expected that students will complete no more than 6 of these 12 additional research and statistical methodology credits from outside of the Department of Communication.

Focused program of study (18 credits)

Students must take 18 credits of communication or related courses, chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser and/or the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies so the student can build the most appropriate program of study for the student.

Students may take no more than 6 credits of independent study (COMM866) total as part of their focused program of study

No more than 9 credits of a student’s focused program of study may be taken outside of the Department of Communication without consultation with the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies.

Elective Courses or Second-Year Graduate Research (6 credits)

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree will complete 6 credits of elective classes chosen in consultation with their advisor. No more than 3 credits may come from an independent study.

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a baccalaureate must enroll in COMM868: Research. They are to enroll in 3 credits during their fall semester and 3 credits during their spring semester of their second year.

The student is to develop, design, and implement a piece of original research, with guidance from a faculty committee of the student’s choosing.

Once the faculty committee is chosen, with one faculty committee member designated as its chair, the student and the chair will work together to develop the idea behind the research project and write a proposal to be presented to the entire faculty committee. The student will meet with the faculty committee to defend the proposal and the faculty committee will evaluate the proposal, make suggestions on how to improve the proposal research project. The proposal should be defended during the first semester of the student’s second year in the program.

Once the proposal is completed the student will then proceed to collect all necessary data and write a written report based on their findings. The written report should include an abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and literature cited section. This research will serve as the basis for an oral defense during the spring semester of their second year, after the written report is submitted to the faculty committee.

The research project, including the oral defense and presentation, should be completed by June 30. If revisions of the written report are required by the faculty committee, they are due by July 30.

Upon successful completion of their second-year research, students should receive an official letter confirming this passing of a major program milestone from their faculty committee’s chair. A copy of the letter should be provided to the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies.

A document based on original research that served as a basis for a student’s second-year graduate research can be submitted to the University Graduate College as a Thesis to obtain the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in communication.

The M.A. is optional for each student and does not advance a student in the program. The written report must be formatted according to the University Graduate College standards. The master’s thesis requires the signatures of the student’s advisor (research committee chair), the chair of the Department of Communication, the College of Arts and Sciences dean, and the dean of the Graduate College. The minimum number of credits required for the M.A. degree in communication with thesis is 24 semester credit hours plus 6 hours of COMM869: Master’s Thesis.

Communication Colloquium (0 credits)

Students must enroll in the COMM890 – Communication Colloquium each semester they are enrolled in coursework for a total of up to six semesters.

Dissertation (9 credits)

COMM964 Pre-Candidacy Study (3-12 credits, until candidacy achieved)

Candidacy is achieved upon successful completion of written and oral candidacy exams, and defense of your dissertation proposal

COMM969 Doctoral Dissertation (9 credits)

see UD Catalog for Requirements

Dissertation Guide

Dissertation chair and committee selection.

Students will select a dissertation chair with approval from their academic advisor (who is usually the same individual) and with approval of the Department of Communication's graduate committee. The student and their dissertation chair will create a dissertation committee at the time the student begins to develop the dissertation proposal. The dissertation committee will include at least two additional faculty members from within the Department of Communication's graduate faculty. Students must also name at least one dissertation committee member from outside of the Department of Communication with approval of their dissertation chair and the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies. The outside committee member can be from another department within University of Delaware, or a faculty member at a different institution. A dissertation committee will have no less than four members and no more than six total members. All Ph.D. dissertation committee members must hold a doctoral degree. Students must complete a  Dissertation Committee Form  and submit it to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Defense of the Dissertation Proposal

​​​A copy of the dissertation proposal must be available to the student’s dissertation committee members at least two weeks in advance of the proposal defense. The dissertation proposal defense will be scheduled only after the student’s advisor has determined that a defense is appropriate. Once the oral defense of the proposal is complete the  Doctoral Degree Candidacy Recommendation Form  must be completed, signed by all committee members, and submitted to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Defense of the Dissertation

​​​The format of the thesis must adhere to the guidelines specified by the University's  Thesis and Dissertation Manual .

Prior to scheduling a defense, the candidate must use iThenticate, the university-provided plagiarism detection software, to check their work. The advisor and the director of graduate studies should receive a copy of the iThenticate report prior to submitting the final dissertation draft.

The dissertation defense will be scheduled only after the candidate’s advisor has determined that a defense is appropriate. The dissertation defense will be open to the public, with invitations sent to all Department of Communication faculty and graduate students at least one week prior to the defense date. A copy of the dissertation must be made available to dissertation committee members at least two weeks prior to the dissertation defense. The dissertation is expected to reflect the results of original and significant research written in a scholarly and literate manner worthy of publication. After a successful defense with the candidate’s committee, the dissertation must be approved by the dissertation chair, the chairperson of the Department of Communication, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the dean of the Graduate College.

In addition, once the oral defense of the dissertation is achieved, the  Certification of Doctoral Dissertation Defense form  must be completed, signed by all committee members, and a PDF of the final dissertation must be submitted to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Candidacy Exams

Upon the recommendation of the doctoral student's dissertation committee and the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies, students may be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The stipulations for admission to doctoral candidacy are that the student has:

• Had a program of study approved and coursework​ completed
• Completed one academic year of full-time graduate study in residence at the University of Delaware
• Successfully completed candidacy examinations
• Had a dissertation proposal accepted by their dissertation committee
• Received approval from​​ the Institutional Review Board in the case that their dissertation requires data collection from human participants.​​

The deadline for admission to candidacy for the fall semester is August 31. The deadline for admission to candidacy for the spring semester is January 31. Responsibility for seeing that admission to candidacy is secured at the proper time rests with the student.

Candidacy Examinations

Two written exams and one oral exam will evaluate a student’s knowledge of theory, research, and statistical methodology as they relate to their program of study. One written exam is theory-based, and the other evaluates the student’s competency with research and statistical methodologies. The oral exam takes place after the successful completion of the written exams, and is an opportunity for students to clarify or expand on their written answers, and for faculty to encourage students to further elaborate on their responses.​

Students and their academic advisor must identify three faculty members to serve on the candidacy examination committee by the start of their fifth semester (during year 3). The academic advisor will serve as chair of the examination committee and may also be one of the three individuals who administer the questions of the exam. All other faculty members of the examination committee must be approved by the student’s academic advisor and be a member of the Department of Communication’s approved Ph.D. faculty. Students must complete a  Candidacy Examinations Committee Form ​ and submit it to the Communication Department’s director of graduate studies.​

Ideally, these exams will be administered over the course of the five-week winter session of the student’s third year of coursework. The timing of the exams are flexible and must be agreed upon by the student and their committee, with the approval of the director of graduate studies. On the first day of the written exam, the student will be presented with a question (or a series of questions) relating their research content area to theory, broadly defined. Students will have two weeks to complete their response. The response must be of high quality, with the eventual goal for it to serve as the basis for the literature review chapter of the student’s dissertation.​​

Within the following three weeks, on a day and time agreed upon between the student and their academic advisor, the student will sit for an in-person, four hour written exam based upon research and statistical methodologies. It is recommended, though not required, that the student’s exam committee have representation of faculty members who have taught at least one of the research or statistical methodology courses the student had previously taken for the preparation of this portion of the exam. It is important that members of the committee have the background necessary to pose methodological questions for this portion of the exam.

It is up to the committee to determine exam questions, with any number of committee members collaborating on each of the two exams. The advisor should coordinate the writing of exam questions. Questions should be submitted by the committee to the graduate academic program coordinator, who will distribute them to the student.

Successful completion of the written exams is required prior to scheduling the oral exam, which should take place no later than three weeks after students are notified of their written exam results.

Students are required to pass all three candidacy examinations. Written exams must be passed before the oral exam takes place. The oral exam must also be successfully completed in order to apply for candidacy status.

Committee members have the following options in evaluating the exams:

Pass: Students may proceed to the​​ next stage of their degree requirements.

Conditional Pass: If ​the examination committee determines that the student’s performance was generally acceptable but with a specific deficiency, condition(s) will be specified that the student must satisfy to achieve a pass and remain in the program. These conditions may include re-examination of one or more question areas to be completed within three months.

Re-examination: This result is appropriate for a student whose performance was unsatisfactory but who displayed evidence ​​of the potential to complete doctoral degree education. Re-examination must be completed within three months. The possible outcomes of this re-examination are pass or failure. The student may not take the exams a third time. The advisor and examination committee will determine on a case-by-case basis the composition of re-examinations.

​​​Failure: This result i​​​ndicates that the student is not capable of completing the requirements for the doctoral degree and the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program.​

Appeals process

A student who has failed their candidacy exams can submit an appeal to the department’s appeals board. Written appeals from the student will be evaluated by the Department of Communication’s graduate committee. If members of the graduate committee are also members of the student’s candidacy exam committee, other members of the Department of Communication’s Ph.D. faculty may serve on the appeals board. A minimum of three faculty members are required to serve on the appeals board.

The student’s appeal must be submitted within ten days of their written notification of failing the exam; the department chair and the director of graduate studies should be made aware that an appeal is forthcoming as soon as possible. The appeal should be in writing and must include the student’s answers to their exam questions as well as a clearly articulated explanation justifying why they believe they should have passed. If a reexamination was given, questions and answers for both sets of exams must be provided.

Upon notification of an appeal from the department chair and/or the director of graduate studies, the student’s exam committee must provide the comments they made in response to the student’s answers and/or a general statement of why the student’s answers were unsatisfactory. The exam committee has ten days from the time of notification from the department chair and/or the director of graduate studies to make this material available.

The appeals board will issue a written decision to the student, the exam committee, the department chair, and the director of graduate studies within 10 days of receiving the full set of appeals material from the student and the committee.

After the departmental appeals process, if the student still receives a failure on their candidacy exams, it will be recommended that the Graduate College dismiss the student. The student may then take advantage of the appeals process at the Graduate College.

Policies and Forms

Course forms.

Students wishing to enroll in an independent study (COMM866) must complete a graduate-level independent study contract (available through the department), including the steps outlined for creating a proposal. The form must be signed by the faculty member overseeing the independent study, and then forwarded to the director of graduate studies and the department’s associate chair, with the attached proposal, for approval. Once finalized, it will be forwarded to the department’s graduate program coordinator to enroll the student in COMM866.

Curricular Forms

Visit the Graduate College's Academic Support page  under "Forms" for the following academic and graduation forms:

• Application for advanced degree : This must be completed by all graduate students in the semester they plan to graduate. The deadlines are September 15 for December degree conferral, December 15 for winter degree conferral, February 15 for May degree conferral, and April 15 for August degree conferral. The completed form should be submitted to the department’s graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Course substitution request form : This form is for any graduate student who would like to use a course not offered by the Department of Communication or not currently on the list of accepted courses for one of the degree requirements to fulfill a degree requirement. Before this form can be completed, the course must be vetted by the student's academic adviser and the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies. Once this course is approved the form must be completed (with required signatures), and submitted to the department’s graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Request for transfer of graduate credit : Prior to the completion of the form linked above the student must get approval from the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies for transferring course credits. A copy of the course's syllabus must be provided in order to be considered. If the director of graduate studies agrees to the transfer the student must complete the above-attached form, acquire the necessary signatures, and submit it to the department’s graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Change of major/concentration : This form is used to request a change in a graduate student’s academic classification when the change occurs within the same program or department. Upon completion of this form, with all the required signatures, the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Graduate College Forms and Resources for Graduation

• Thesis/dissertation manual : This manual lays out the guidelines of the Graduate College for how an M.A. thesis or a doctoral dissertation must be formatted and written.
• Doctoral dissertation candidacy recommendation : Upon the defense of the dissertation proposal, a Ph.D. student must complete the form linked above. Upon completion of this form, with all the required signatures, the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Dissertation defense form : At least two weeks prior to the oral defense of the dissertation the Ph.D. student must complete this online form. This will place their dissertation defense onto the campus-wide dissertation defense schedule.
• Certification of doctoral dissertation defense : Upon successful completion of a candidate’s oral dissertation defense, this form must be completed. The candidate’s advisor and members of the dissertation committee must sign this, indicating if in their opinion the student passed or failed. Upon completion of the oral defense the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Request to change dissertation committee : If at any point a Ph.D. student would like to change the members of their dissertation committee they must complete the form linked above. Upon completion of this form, with all the required signatures, the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Departmental Forms (contact department staff)

• Ph.D. candidacy exams committee form : Ph.D. students must use the form linked above to establish which faculty members are serving on their candidacy exams committee. Once all required signatures from committee members, their academic advisor, and the director of graduate studies are acquired, students must submit this form to the department’s graduate program coordinator.
• Ph.D. candidacy exams oral defense form : This must be completed following a student’s oral candidacy exam. The committee chair and members must sign this form once the student's oral defense is assessed. Upon completion of the oral defense this form must be submitted to the department’s graduate program coordinator.

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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, 2025, communication.

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

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Theory and Research Ph.D.

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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

PhD in Communication

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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.

• Current Students

Leveling Up the Far Right

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]

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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

Danielle Clark

Neil Fasching

Tom W. Etienne

Adetobi Moses Awarded 2024 Penn Global Dissertation Grant

Penn Global has announced that Annenberg School doctoral candidate Adetobi Moses is an awardee of its newly established Penn Global Dissertation Grants program. The program provides support to Penn Ph...

From Philly to Delhi: the Inaugural Global Media Cultures International Doctoral Institute

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

Student Profile Video: Kate Okker-Edging

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

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

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