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

UCLA Communication

Communication College of Letters and Science Graduate Degrees

The Department of Communication offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Communication. We do not offer a terminal M.S. in Communication. Students can earn their M.S. while completing the requirements for a Ph.D. All graduate students entering the Department of Communication at UCLA are expected to complete the Ph.D.

Check out our recent video about the new program  here .

Doctoral Degree

Faculty Advisor:

  • Academic advising for graduate students in the department is primarily conducted on an individual basis by a student’s faculty advisor because, beyond basic requirements, each student’s program of study is unique. The role of the faculty advisor is to assist the student with a plan of study, to oversee the student’s progress during the pursuit of the PhD and to supervise the student’s research activity that culminates in the written dissertation. Moreover, the faculty advisor will help students identify funding opportunities, including relevant fellowships for their area of research.

Vice Chair:

  • The Vice Chair oversees the Communication graduate program as well as graduate student life more broadly. The Vice Chair is directly involved in the annual student progress reviews, as well as the department TA assignment processes. Moreover, if a student feels they need to talk to a faculty member other than their advisor and/or outside of their dissertation committee, the Vice Chair is ready and able. They also welcome more general questions, comments, and concerns related to the program.

Graduate Advisor:

  • The Graduate Advisor is here to assist students with all sorts of academic, administrative, and financial questions. Of course, this includes academic requirement advising, ASE inquiries, enrollment questions, as well as student funding and university policy clarifications. Students are also encouraged to conceive of the graduate advisor as a resource guide for the department and to the larger university community. If a student has a question or issue but doesn’t know where to start or whom to ask, the graduate advisor is here to help!

Department Manager:

  • The Department Manager is here to assist students with questions pertaining to Rolfe Hall facilities requests, space planning, and other building-related issues. They also oversee the Communication Department schedule of academic courses each quarter. Moreover, the Department Manager is the point of contact for student researcher (including GSR) hiring questions.

The Communication PhD program has three broad subareas of study- Communication and Cognition; Political Communication; Computational Communication . For more information on each area, as well as the Communication faculty member affiliation to those areas, please visit the Research Areas page on our department website.

The normative time to complete the requirements for the doctoral degree is five years (15 quarters). Advancement to candidacy (ATC), including written and oral qualifying examinations, must be completed by the end of the fourth year, with normative time to ATC at 3 years (9 quarters). Maximum time to degree will be seven year (21 quarters), with extension granted by petition for an eighth year if necessary.

DEGREE: Ph.D.

NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters): 9

NORMATIVE TTD: 15

MAXIMUM TTD: 21

The official Communication PhD Program Degree Requirements are listed in a single-page format on the UCLA Graduate Division website . Sections four through fourteen of this handbook will elaborate on each requirement in varying degrees of detail. If students have any questions or need clarification on specific requirements, they should contact the Communication graduate advisor.

phd communications california

Coursework and Registration Requirements:

The expected course load is 12 units per quarter, meaning students must register for at least 12 units every quarter, even if they’ve completed the program coursework requirement. However, if needed, the minimum course load may be adjusted downward by petition with the approval of the student’s committee chair and the department chair. Students must be registered and always enrolled unless on an official leave of absence.

Coursework requirement for PhD degree:

Students must complete 11 courses (44 units)—of which at least 9 must be 200-level graduate courses—all taken for a letter grade, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. All students are required to take seven core classes + three electives + one TA training class (ANTHRO 495):

  • one communication theory and research course (COMM 200)
  • one research design course (COMM 220)
  • two approved statistics courses, with at least one at the 200 level (e.g., Political Science 200A-D; Psychology 250A-C; Stats 200A-C)
  • three seminars that correspond to the three areas of study (COMM 230; 250; 270)
  • three elective courses from within our department or elsewhere
  • one TA training class (ANTHRO 495).

Any additional elective courses above the 11-course requirement may be taken for a letter grade or S/U grading. Depending on the student’s area of study and prior academic preparation and study, a student may be advised to take other preparatory courses as determined by the faculty adviser.

** It is important to keep in mind that the required stats-sequence courses are not hosted by the Department of Communication. This means there may be seat restrictions applied to the course quotas at the beginning of each quarter. To navigate around this obstacle, students should email the instructor of their respective stats course to request a PTE number. If a student is having difficulty obtaining enrollment, they should reach out to the graduate advisor for assistance.**

All students must complete original research during their first and second years, in the form of a first-year paper and a second-year paper. In general, these two papers will be related to one another, but students may elect to pursue two distinct projects.

At the end of the spring quarter of their first year, students present their research in a written paper and a brief oral presentation to the department’s faculty and graduate students. If original data has not been collected and analyzed by the end of the first year, the presentation must summarize work to date, including a proposal for data acquisition.

At the end of their second year, students present their cumulative research findings in a talk presented to the department’s faculty and students and in a paper. This second-year paper must be approved by the student’s adviser (who will submit a formal grade) and approved by a second reader from the department ladder faculty. The paper should be of publication quality in a top-tier journal in the discipline.

All doctoral students must have a minimum of three quarters as a teaching assistant for courses offered within the department. This training need not be in consecutive terms, but it must be satisfied prior to graduation from UCLA.

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other precandidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the new Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Written Qualifying Examination . Students will complete a written examination in the form of a comprehensive paper, the contents of which must be approved by their adviser and one additional department faculty member that will comprise the Qualifying Subcommittee. This paper need not be directly related to the first-year paper and second year paper, although a majority of students are likely to maintain continuity in the topic herein. In general, this paper should include a substantial review of research in the student’s area of specialization. The written examination is due by the end of the seventh quarter.

Written Dissertation Proposal and Oral Examination . 

The written dissertation proposal requires a presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. The proposal should include the background and significance of the area of research, the project’s goals, and the methods and tests used to address those goals. Prior to the approval of the written proposal, a doctoral committee must be established that will oversee the proposal and administer the dissertation proposal oral examination (satisfying the requirement of the University Oral Qualifying Examination). The committee is made up of the faculty advisor, at least one additional department faculty member, a third faculty member either from within or outside the department, and a fourth member that must be from outside the department. The written proposal must be approved by the end of the third year (ninth quarter) by the student’s primary advisor unless an extension is granted by the doctoral committee and approved by the department chair.  The examination committee judges the feasibility and worth of the research project and the student’s ability to undertake it in the form of pass/fail/retake (eligibility for one retake is at the committee’s discretion). The committee also may recommend changes in the research design.

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

A final oral defense of the dissertation is required. A student is not considered to have passed the final oral examination with more than one “not passed” vote, regardless of the size of the committee. In the event that this occurs, the student may schedule a second oral defense of the dissertation.

The academic year annual review process begins with each student writing a progress review and submitting it to the department around the first week of June. The finished self-review should be sent to the Faculty Mentor, Vice Chair, and Graduate Advisor. It will consist of a 1-page summary of the student’s academic and professional progress, along with a pdf of the student’s up-to-date CV. The 1-page summary should include:

  • List of all courses taken with grades included (for Spring quarter, put your expected grade).
  • Summary of the research projects you are currently engaged in, including your first-year project, and any other research activity.
  • Other accomplishments, awards, and any concerns or additional notes you would like us to know about.

Students’ progress will then be collectively evaluated by all ladder faculty with an analysis of progress toward the degree, as well as specific areas that require improvement, if applicable.

The student’s mentor(s), in conjunction with the Vice Chair, will then write an official performance evaluation letter which will be distributed by the Graduate Advisor to each student over the summer.

First-year Paper Committee

  • A student’s faculty committee for their first-year paper is a committee consisting of one member- the student’s faculty advisor . It is the sole responsibility of the faculty advisor to read, review, and approve their student’s first-year paper.

Second-year Paper Committee

  • A student’s faculty committee for their second-year paper consists of two members- 1.) their faculty advisor, and 2.) an additional Department of Communication ladder faculty member . Students cannot use department lecturers or adjunct faculty members as their second reader, it must be ladder faculty.

Written Examination Committee (3 rd year, 7 th quarter)

  • A student’s faculty committee for their Written Examination has the same structure as their second-year paper committee. It consists of 1.) their faculty advisor, and 2.) an additional Department of Communication ladder faculty member . Similarly, students cannot use department lecturers or adjunct faculty members as their second reader, it must be a ladder faculty member. But it can be a different ladder faculty than the second-year paper, if desired.

Written Dissertation Proposal and Oral Examination Committee (end of 3 rd year)

Dissertation Committee (4 th year, n-1)

  • The written dissertation proposal and oral examination committee will likely – primarily for the sake of continuity – remain intact and serve as your Dissertation Committee, with perhaps a minor adjustment in composition here or there. But the structure is the same for both.
  • A student’s committee must consist of a minimum of four faculty members . The chair must be a ladder faculty member of the Department of Communication with a >0% appointment. The second member can be a 0% joint appointment in the Department of Communication. The remaining two members can be ladder faculty from either within or outside of the department and can be from a department outside of UCLA. At least one member of the committee must be from outside of the department . Additional committee composition requirements not specified above must adhere to the UCLA Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution . The Communication PhD Program adheres to the UCLA guidelines and policies for constitution of doctoral committees developed by the Graduate Division as published in the Standards & Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA . Students should consult both their faculty advisor and the department graduate advisor prior to assembling their committee

1.) Comm PhD first-year paper_coversheet

– The first-year paper requirement can be marked as complete once the student submits a PDF of their finished paper in combination with the signed cover sheet. Both documents should be submitted to the graduate advisor. A single PDF format is preferred.

2.)  Communication_PhD_second-year paper_coversheet

– The second-year paper requirement can be marked as complete once the student submits a PDF of their finished paper in combination with the signed cover sheet (two faculty signatures are required). Both documents should be submitted to the graduate advisor. A single PDF format is preferred.

3.) Communication_PhD_written qualifying exam_coversheet

– The written qualifying exam requirement can be marked as complete once the student submits a PDF of their finished paper in combination with the signed cover sheet (two faculty signatures are required). Both documents should be submitted to the graduate advisor. A single PDF format is preferred.

4.) Communication_PhD_Degree Checklist- Full Degree Pathway

– The degree checklist does not need to be officially submitted to the department. However, students are encouraged to use it as a resource to aid in the tracking of their own progress throughout the PhD program.

5.) Communication_MS Capstone_coversheet

– This is the appropriate coversheet if a student would like to use their second-year paper as a capstone for the purpose of receiving the optional Comm MS degree. The Comm MS version of the second-year paper can be marked as complete once the student submits a PDF of their paper in combination with the signed cover sheet (three faculty signatures are required). Both documents should be submitted to the graduate advisor. A single PDF format is preferred.

Not required.

Admitted PhD students will receive a comprehensive funding package for up to 5 years. Our typical funding offer includes one or two years of fellowship funding (stipend, registration fees, and if needed, domestic student non-resident tuition for the first year), three or four years of teaching apprenticeships (TA) positions, which usually include fee remission , and potentially extramural fellowship and/or graduate student researcher (GSR) opportunities.

Academic year (October-June) fellowship stipends are comprehensive and are ordinarily scheduled for the first, and sometimes fifth, year. In some instances, first-year students with teaching experience may be offered a TA position. Students will also receive a minimum of $6K summer support (July-September) in the form of a fellowship during the summer of their first year. In summer years 2-4, the department will assist students in identifying a source of funding, most commonly in the form of a TAship, GSRship, or fellowship; sometimes a combination of two or more of these sources will comprise the summer funding package.

For each academic year of TA support (typically years 2-5), the department will offer a TA position at 50% (20 hours per week). If a faculty member offers a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) position for one or more of these years, the GSR position will satisfy/replace the departmental support commitment. Students are encouraged to review TA salaries  for a nine-month, half-time appointment and  GSR salary scales . Under certain circumstances, TAs and GSRs qualify to have a large portion of their mandatory registration fees (including medical insurance premium) paid by the university and in more limited circumstances, GSRs may qualify to have 100% of non-resident tuition paid. For more information on UCLA’s academic apprentice personnel positions, salary rates, remission rates, and policies go to the Academic Apprentice Personnel Manual .

It is important to note that the department funding guarantee does come with some strings attached .

To remain eligible for the standard funding package described above, via fellowship, TAship, or GSRship, students must meet and maintain the following conditions:

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Satisfactory time-to-degree progress
  • Enrollment in at least 12-units per academic quarter, unless an exception has been granted
  • Not exceeding 20 working hours or 50% FTE per week (across all UCLA jobs), unless an exception has been granted
  • Applying for UCLA fellowship opportunities as directed by the department
  • International students must maintain valid visa and work authorization status
  • U.S. citizens must apply for California residency prior to year 2 in the program

Primary types of graduate student funding:

  • Fellowship funding
  • Fellowships are a desirable form of PhD student funding. Being supported on a fellowship usually affords the student more time and a greater degree of freedom to focus on their research. Additionally, being awarded a competitive fellowship is an outstanding honor to list on a CV or resume.
  • There are three primary internal UCLA fellowships that students are required to apply for- the GSRM, the GRM, and the DYA. Applications are due usually in the beginning of February.
  • Graduate Summer Research Mentorship (GSRM) Fellowship
  • Graduate Research Mentorship (GRM) Fellowship
  • Dissertation Year Award (DYA)

Beyond the required internal fellowship opportunities, there are many external fellowships that students should strongly considering applying for as well. A few of the major ones are:

  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship ; http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04615/nsf04615.htm . Check their website for deadlines. Application deadline for social sciences is generally in early November.
  • National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program
  • Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship Program for Minorities . UCLA campus application deadline is in September. For exact date please contact  [email protected] . Last year the deadline was in November.
  • Google PhD Fellowship Program ; https://research.google/outreach/phd-fellowship/ . Internal UCLA application deadline is generally in mid-August.
  • Fulbright U.S. Student Program (IIE)
  • Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program at the Department of Education . Check their web site for deadlines.  Application deadline is generally in early October.
  • The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans . Application deadline is November 1st.
  • The Social Science Resource Council
  • Center for the Study of Women Fellowships and Grants

In addition to the above well-known fellowships, there are many other extramural agencies that provide full and partial fellowships for graduate students. We strongly urge our applicants and continuing students to seek out external funding opportunities and apply for every fellowship for which they are eligible.

The UCLA Division of Graduate Education has an online database of extramural funding opportunities called GRAPES available at: https://grad.ucla.edu/funding .  The GRAPES database catalogs over 600 private and publicly funded awards, fellowships, and internships and allows searches by field, academic level, award type, award amount, and other criteria. In addition, there are directories of extramural support that can be found at most university libraries.  You can find a list of these directories at: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/entsup/extramrl.htm .

  • Teaching Apprenticeships
  • First-time TA eligibility requirements:
  • All first-time TAs are required to enroll in Anthropology 495 or a similar 495 pedagogy section which includes the Professional Standards and Ethics Training (PSET) online modules and all Foundations of Teaching workshops required by the departmental 495 course. All TAs are required to enroll in their instructor’s Comm 375 Teaching Apprentice Practicum course during each term that they hold a TA appointment. Continuing TAs are responsible for taking the Professional Standards and Ethics Training online modules within their 375 course if they have not already completed it.
  • First-time international student TAs must pass the Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) or qualify for a waiver. The UCLA Academic Senate Graduate Council policy stipulates that graduate students whose first language is not English must pass a campus administered Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) to be eligible for a teaching assistantship at UCLA. A student is exempt from this testing requirement if they have earned a prior undergraduate degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction. If the student attended a university in the United States, no action is required whatsoever. If the student attended a university outside the United States where English was the sole language of instruction, please see the Requesting an Exemption guidance HERE . Registration for the TOP exam will be available HERE

Students being funded on a TAship for a given quarter will be assigned a course to TA within the department by the Vice Chair and Graduate Advisor. The department TA assignment protocol will unfold as follows:

  • Step 1: The department will compile information about TA positions and create Instructor + grad student course preference forms.
  • The Grad. Advisor and Vice Chair will prepare information for Department TAs about the course offerings, including course descriptions, instructor names, and lecture and section times and locations. They’ll also prepare a form which TAs will have the option to fill out, indicating their preferences and scheduling constraints.
  • Similarly, the Grad. Advisor and Vice Chair will provide Department Instructors with the names and CVs (based on what the department has on file from the end of the previous academic year) of department Ph.D. students who are eligible to TA. They will also provide instructors with a form that instructors can optionally complete, indicating their preferences.
  • Step 2 : Instructors and TAs will indicate their preferences to the department
  • Avoid important schedule conflicts.
  • Accommodate instructor and TA preferences when possible.
  • Match new TAs with experienced instructors and vice versa when possible.
  • Balance across quarters (or use random assignment) in cases where preferences cannot be accommodated.
  • Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) funding:
  • Research assistants are appointed to the title Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) and are selected based on scholastic achievement and promise as creative scholars. GSRs assist faculty with scholarly research under the direction and supervision of a faculty member.

The UCLA Division of Graduate Education

The Division of Graduate Education at UCLA is responsible for the overall quality and progress of graduate education at UCLA. The DGE serves as the administrative core for graduate recruitment and admissions. They are responsible for ensuring that departments (and their students) comply with university policy that has been established by the UCLA Academic Senate. On certain issues, a given department can request an exception to centrally established academic student policy.

Between the Graduate Welcome Reception and the awarding of a student’s degree, the DGE will participate in many milestones marking students individual academic progress, and they’ll continually work to ensure that the education students receive at UCLA is of the highest quality. Below is an abridged list of commonly helpful resources offered by the DGE. To see the comprehensive list of DGE services, resources, and policies please visit their website directly.

  • Doctoral Student Forms
  • Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities
  • Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study (Academic Policies)
  • Graduate Student Funding Opportunities
  • Graduate Student Funding Recommendations
  • Graduate Student Financial Support Manual
  • Academic Apprentice Manual (TA and Reader Policies)

Graduate Student Resource Center :

  • The UCLA Graduate Student Resource Center (GSRC) is a Graduate Students Association (GSA) initiative that is managed by Student Affairs. The GSRC is a resource, referral, and information center for graduate and professional school students. They offer advice and assistance in dealing with the challenges of graduate school, as well as numerous workshops and programs done in collaboration with campus partners. The GSRC works with GSA to organize the campus-wide Graduate Student Orientation and the Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Graduate Welcome Day. They are also the home of the Graduate Writing Center.
  • Graduate Student Resources
  • GSRC Services

Graduate Writing Center :

  • The Graduate Writing Center is an initiative of the Graduate Students Association, funded by a GSA fee referendum, managed by Student Affairs, and overseen by the Graduate Writing Center Oversight Committee. The Graduate Writing Center came about as the result of a fee referendum, initiated by the Graduate Students Association and approved by the graduate student body in Spring of 2006. The GWC offers the following services:

GWC Writing Consultants

GWC writing consultants are graduate students come from a variety of fields and are trained to work with graduate students from all disciplines. Graduate students may find it helpful to meet with the writing consultants closest to their fields, but this is not required. GWC consultants do not proofread/edit; they work interactively with graduate students to improve their writing skills. Visit the Consultants web page for their bios.

GWC Workshops

The Graduate Writing Center offers a variety of workshops on both general writing issues and specialized topics, such as dissertation and thesis writing. The GWC is available, time and resources permitting, to make workshop presentations for departments or in graduate courses by request. For more information about workshops, visit their Workshops web page .

GWC Thesis/Dissertation Support

GWC offers a number of programs for graduate students who are writing dissertations, dissertation proposals, and master’s theses. They offer a number of summer “boot camps” for doctoral students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. They also offer STEM writing retreats for graduate students working on dissertations, theses, and publications. Furthermore, the GWC offers a mentoring program for graduate students writing master’s theses and doctoral qualifying papers in the humanities and social sciences. See our Thesis Support web page for more information.

GWC Oversight Committee

The Graduate Writing Center has an oversight committee with graduate student representatives from the GSA Councils as well as ex officio members representing the UCLA faculty and administration. The GWC Oversight Committee advises the GWC Director and makes recommendations about GWC services. The GSA Vice President of Academic Affairs oversees the GWC Oversight committee, so please contact vpaa [at] gsa.asucla.ucla.edu with questions about the committee.

Dashew Center :

  • UCLA is home for more than 12,000 international students and scholars studying away from home. The Dashew Center is the place where domestic and international students and scholars meet. They aim to enhance the UCLA experience for international students and scholars with their multicultural programs and services. They also play an integral role in assisting UCLA academic departments with visa services. Moreover, Dashew serves as a resource and learning center for the entire UCLA community to promote global connection, international understanding and cultural sensitivity.

Center for Accessible Education (CAE)

  • The Center for Accessible Education serves as a central resource on disability-related information for students, procedures, and services for the University student community. They provide expertise in determining and implementing appropriate and reasonable accommodations for academics and housing.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is here to support your mental health needs as you pursue your academic goals. Our services are designed to foster the development of healthy well-being necessary for success in a complex global environment. We are pleased to offer a variety of services to meet your needs including:

  • Crisis counseling available by phone 24 hours a day/7 days a week
  • Emergency intervention
  • Individual counseling and psychotherapy
  • Group therapy
  • Psychiatric evaluation and treatment
  • Psychoeducational programs and workshops for students, staff and faculty
  • Campus mental health and wellness promotion

Take a closer look at the CAPS website to learn about their Services and Beginning Treatment .

For urgent matters or after-hours counseling by phone, please contact CAPS at 310-825-0768. For emergencies, please contact 911.

Case Management for Graduate Students

Students’ personal situations may negatively impact their well-being or academic life. In other instances, students’ actions may disturb campus community members. In these situations, Case Managers are available to receive reports of concern and help determine an appropriate response to assist the student and those who may also be impacted by the situation. Case Managers are available to consult with or provide training for campus community members who would like to better support students of concern. Case Managers must abide by FERPA laws, which means they are a private, not confidential resource.

The Case Managers can assist with the following:

  • Academic support including notifying professors regarding missed classes, dropping a class, withdrawal, etc.
  • Referrals to campus and community resources
  • Emergency housing and/or exploring housing options
  • Consultation for the university community regarding students in distress

Graduate Career Services

The Career Center provides many useful services and resources for graduate students as they begin to think about their professional future after UCLA:

  • One on One Advising via Zoom
  • Resume/Cover Letter/CV Critique
  • Career Exploration & Job Search
  • Mock Interviews & Negotiation

Workshops/Career Conversations/Boot Camps

  • Academic Job Search series, Online Interviewing, Job Search During a Pandemic
  • Employer Info Sessions & Case Competitions, Networking with Alumni and Recruiters,
  • Employer Panels, Career Fairs

Every Communication PhD student is eligible to receive a department travel grant to offset the cost of presenting research at conferences. Each student will be allotted $1,000 in department funding to use after – or as a supplement to – the DGE’s Doctoral Student Travel Grants for Conferences, Professional Development and Off-Campus Research (DTG).

To learn more about the DTG from the DGE, click here . To check your remaining DTG funds, call DGE Financial Services at (310) 825-1025 or email at [email protected] .

Communication Department Travel Grant Eligibility:

  • Expenses must be allowable under UCLA Travel Policies  to be eligible for reimbursement.

Expenses may include:

  • Transportation
  • Lodging (at a commercial venue; no stays at someone’s home)
  • Meals will be reimbursed on an actual basis, subject to the prevailing campus limit (currently $62) for each full day on travel status. The Department of Communication requires receipts.  Flat rate (per diem) reimbursement is not possible.
  • Conference/Workshop registration and fees (which may include meals for participants)
  • Poster printing

Expenses may not include:

  • Computer or other electronics or equipment (e.g., smart phone, tablet)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Transcription services
  • Dissertation editing
  • Tuition and/or fees for credit-bearing courses
  • Recreation/social events
  • Incidentals during trip
  • Supplies, materials & other costs associated with the research or professional development activity (e.g., software, flash drive, etc.)
  • Payment to participants or research study subjects
  • Students must be registered and enrolled both the quarter that they complete the travel and the quarter that they will be reimbursed. If a student seeks reimbursement for conference travel during the summer months, they must be registered and enrolled in the previous Spring and the following Fall quarter. In Absentia students are eligible for reimbursement.
  • Department travel grant funds may only be requested after, or in addition (if it’s a single trip) to the $1,000 allocation from Graduate Division is used.

Student Procedures for Reimbursement:

  • Provide documentation, showing that your Graduate Division Travel Grant has already been spent, or will be spent during this trip.
  • Indicate the total cost for conference travel, any other sources of funding for the travel (e.g., DTG, other research grants), and the specific refund amount requested from the department .
  • Provide either original receipts or photocopies of original receipts.
  • Receipts that are not in English must be translated in order to qualify for reimbursement.
  • Actual daily currency exchange rates must be provided if you are submitting receipts in non-US currency; use sites such as www.oanda.com  and select the relevant dates for each expense.
  • After a student’s eligibility is confirmed and their expense documentation has been verified, funds will be reimbursed in the form of a fellowship stipend.

The Communication PhD program is founded on a faculty mentorship model. This means that a student’s faculty advisor will also be their faculty mentor. The role of a mentor is centered on a commitment to advancing both a student’s scholarly and personal development. As you progress in the program, you are certainly encouraged to identify and assemble a team of mentors. Research on graduate mentoring has shown that very few individual mentors were able to meet all their mentees’ needs in all areas. Students should seek to build a network of mentors comprised of faculty, peers, staff, and professionals outside of the university working in career fields that interest them.

Still, upon admittance you will be assigned one faculty advisor who is also your initial faculty mentor. The first step to ensuring a healthy, productive relationship begins with a reflective self-appraisal of your own goals/motivations. Important questions to ask yourself are:

• What are my strengths? • What skills do I need to develop? • What kinds of research projects will engage me? • What type of careers might I want to pursue?

You should also ponder what type of mentorship style you are hoping for from your faculty mentor. This is not only a smart approach for your first mentor, but also as you build your network of mentors. Here is a useful list of qualities to evaluate in current and potential faculty mentors (that you may or may not want). Based on your intuition, experience, and of course conversations with other students, would your prospective mentor:

  • assign you research topics automatically? if you asked? would they be fruitful topics for you?
  • give you research and reading advice automatically? if you asked? sound advice?
  • give you writing feedback automatically? if you asked? helpful, comprehensive, and timely feedback?
  • chat with you about the state of the field ? if you asked? cogently?
  • put you on a big project ?
  • expect you to devote a certain amount of time to certain research areas? to specific research projects? to non-research activities? (funding constraints may force an advisor to do this)
  • share some of your broader interests (academic or otherwise)?
  • be someone you’d enjoy hanging out with ?
  • Stay with the department for the next five years?
  • treat your work as relevant to his or hers?
  • let you be first or sole author on your papers?
  • expend effort in looking out for your best interests ?
  • successfully help you get a good job ?

Once you’ve conducted a thorough assessment of your motivations, strengths/weaknesses, and desired mentorship style, you’ll be better equipped to communicate your needs to your faculty mentor with a greater degree of clarity. Conversely, you should ask about and take into consideration what your faculty mentor is looking for in their mentee. When this sort of open dialogue is established, expectations will be mutually understood and are less likely devolve into a confusing tangle of frustration and disappointment. Put succinctly, it lays the groundwork for a successful, lasting mentor-mentee relationship.

However, sometimes a student and faculty member just don’t work well together, and a change is needed. This is OK . Sometimes two individuals aren’t in sync through no one’s fault. If you find yourself in this situation and would like assistance either communicating your discouragement to your faculty mentor or you would like assistance in identifying a new faculty mentor, the Graduate Advisor and Vice Chair are more than happy to assist. All you need to do is reach out.

University policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special departmental or program policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the chair of the department after a vote of the faculty at the student-review each term. Before the recommendation is sent to the DGE, a student is notified in writing and given two weeks to appeal in writing to the chair. The student’s appeal is reviewed by a departmental committee, headed by the vice chair of graduate studies, which makes the final departmental recommendation to the DGE.

UCLA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by numerous special agencies. Information regarding the University’s accreditation may be obtained from the Office of Academic Planning and Budget, 2107 Murphy Hall.

Master’s Degree

The M.S. degree is not a stand-alone, terminal degree. Students enrolled in the Ph.D. degree program may be granted a terminal M.S. degree if they do not complete the Ph.D. requirements and exit the program. To be granted the M.S. degree, students must complete all required courses for the Ph.D., and complete the second year research paper, approved by the student’s adviser and two additional ladder faculty members from the Department of Communication. If the student is continuing in the Ph.D. program, this degree is optional. See below for more details.

Academic advising for graduate students in the department is primarily conducted on an individual basis by a student’s faculty advisor because, beyond basic requirements, each student’s program of study is unique. The department’s graduate advisor is primarily responsible for counseling students in regard to program requirements, policies, and university regulations.

Students will provide their advisor and the Vice Chair a summary of their professional progress each Spring. This progress report will be collectively evaluated annually by all ladder faculty, with an analysis of progress toward the degree, as well as specific areas that require improvement if applicable. A written summary of the faculty discussion will be provided to the student by the primary advisor.

Communication and Cognition; Political Communication; Computational Communication

The expected course load is 12 units per quarter for a minimum of two years. However, if needed, the minimum course load may be adjusted downward by petition with the approval of the student’s committee chair and the department chair. Students must be registered and enrolled at all times unless on an official leave of absence.

Students must complete 11 courses (44 units)—of which at least 9 must be 200-level graduate courses—all taken for a letter grade, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. All students are required to take seven core classes: one communication theory and research course (COMM 200); one research design course (COMM 220); two approved statistics courses, with at least one at the 200 level (e.g., POL200A-D; PSY 250A-C; STAT 101, 102); and three seminars that correspond to the three areas of study (COMM 230; 250; 270). In addition, students are required to take three elective courses from within our department or elsewhere, and a TA training class (COMM 495). Any additional elective courses above the 11 course requirement may be taken for a letter grade or S/U grading. Depending on the student’s area of study and prior academic preparation and study, a student may be advised to take other preparatory courses as determined by the faculty adviser.

Most students in the program will serve as a TA beginning in year 2 of the program. Those who receive external fellowships will be expected to complete a minimum of one quarter of teaching during their time in the program.

All students must complete original research during their first and second years, in the form of a first year paper and a second year paper.  In general, these two papers will be related to one another, but students may elect to pursue two distinct projects. At the end of the spring quarter of their first year, students present their research in a written paper and a brief oral presentation to the department’s faculty and graduate students. If original data has not been collected and analyzed by the end of the first year, the presentation must summarize work to date, including a proposal for data acquisition.

At the end of their second year, students present their cumulative research findings in a talk presented to the department’s faculty and students and in a paper. This second year paper must be approved by the student’s adviser (who will submit a formal grade) and one additional ladder faculty member from the Department of Communication. The paper should be of publication quality in a top-tier journal in the discipline.

Students typically receive the master’s degree by the end of their sixth quarter in residence.

DEGREE: M.S.

NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters): 6

NORMATIVE TTD: 6

MAXIMUM TTD: 9

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UCLA Graduate Programs

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Graduate Program: Communication

UCLA's Graduate Program in Communication offers the following degree(s):

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Masters available on Doctoral track

With questions not answered here or on the program’s site (above), please contact the program directly.

Communication Graduate Program at UCLA 2225 Rolfe Hall Box 951538 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1538

Visit the Communication’s faculty roster

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Visit the registrar's site for the Communication’s course descriptions

  • Admission Requirements
  • Program Statistics

(310) 825-3303

[email protected]

MAJOR CODE: COMMUNICATION

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Doctoral Program

If you are interested in doctoral-level studies, you may apply to the ph.d. program even if your highest educational credential is a bachelor's degree., about the doctoral program.

A master's degree is not required for admission into our doctoral program.

Doctoral Program Preparation

The Ph.D. program is designed for students with backgrounds in communication or a related field, notably, psychology, sociology, political science or the social aspects of computer science.

Requirements

The Ph.D. program is designed for students with backgrounds in communication or a related field such as psychology, sociology, political science or the social aspects of computer science.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is available to doctoral students through several resources: from their major professor and committee, as well as from the program's graduate adviser. Guidance on administrative procedures also can be obtained from the program's graduate coordinator.

Career Placements

All members of our 2015 class of graduating doctoral students have found employment.

How to Apply

Submit your application online to apply to the doctoral program.

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Program Information

  • Learning Objectives
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Students in the doctoral program learn theories that guide research into communication processes and effects and into institutions and technologies that lend pattern to communication. Applicants for the PhD are expected to acquire and demonstrate humanistic and behavioral knowledge of communication while acquiring skills requisite to scholarly research in the discipline.

Screening Procedures

Student progress is carefully monitored by the School of Communication faculty. Students are normally screened at the end of their first year of graduate study. At that time they must have completed no fewer than 16 and no more than 24 units, including COMM 525, COMM 526, COMM 550 and COMM 552. Students are evaluated on subject matter competence, teaching potential and their ability to conduct independent research. Upon successful passage of the screening procedure, the student has 30 days in which to form a qualifying exam committee.

Course Requirements

The student is required to take a minimum of 72 units and write an approved dissertation.

Four core courses

  • COMM 525x Humanistic and Social Scientific Approaches to Human Communication I (4 units)
  • COMM 526x Humanistic and Social Scientific Approaches to Human Communication II (4 units)
  • COMM 550 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 552 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication (4 units)

And Doctoral Dissertation

  • COMM 794a Doctoral Dissertation (2 units are required for all students)
  • COMM 794b Doctoral Dissertation (2 units are required for all students)

Students specialize in one of seven tracks by completing a minimum of three courses (12 units) in one of the following:

(1) Rhetoric, Politics and Publics:

  • COMM 509x Classical Rhetorical Theory (4 units)
  • COMM 511x Contemporary Rhetorical Theory (4 units)
  • COMM 512x Rhetorical Criticism (4 units)
  • COMM 513x Neoclassical Rhetorical Theory (4 units)
  • COMM 514x Social Movements as Rhetorical Form (4 units)
  • COMM 515x Postmodern Rhetorical Theory (4 units)
  • COMM 517x Rhetorical Theory and Culture (4 units)
  • COMM 518x American Public Address (4 units)
  • COMM 520 The Rhetoric of the Presidential Campaign Trail (4 units)
  • COMM 521x Argumentation (4 units)
  • COMM 522x Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Theory (4 units)
  • COMM 573 Networked Publics: Theories and Encounters (4 units)
  • COMM 576 Civic Media and Participatory Politics (4 units)
  • COMM 580 Media and Politics (4 units)

(2) Media, Culture and Community:

  • CMGT 587 Audience Analysis (4 units)
  • COMM 516x Feminist Theory and Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 519x Cultural Studies in Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 564 Communication, Culture and Capitalism (4 units)
  • COMM 575 Advocacy and Social Change in Entertainment and the Media (4 units)
  • COMM 605 Advanced Macro Theories of Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 618 Mass Media Effects (4 units)
  • COMM 629 Global Culture (4 units)
  • COMM 653 Research, Practice and Social Change (4 units)
  • COMM 654 Art, Artists and Society (4 units)
  • COMM 655 Studies in Sound, Music and Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 656 Theorizing Race, Culture, Cross-Cultural Exchange (4 units)
  • COMM 662 Video Games Research (4 units)
  • COMM 672 Experiments in Critical Writing (4 units)

(3) Health Communication and Social Dynamics:

  • CMGT 581 Media in Social Services: Design and Evaluation of Campaigns (4 units)
  • CMGT 583 Social Marketing and Entertainment Education (4 units)
  • CMGT 588 Global Storytelling: The Power of Narrative (4 units)
  • COMM 554 Regression and Multivariate Communication Research (4 units)
  • COMM 602 Seminar in Persuasion (4 units)
  • COMM 611 Communication Technology and Healthcare (4 units)
  • COMM 612 Designing Health Communication Interventions (4 units)
  • COMM 613 Grant Writing in Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 614 Computational Approaches in Health Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 615 Health Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 616 Meta-Analysis in Health Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 650 Survey Construction and Validation (4 units)
  • COMM 651 Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs (4 units)

(4) Groups, Organizations and Networks:

  • COMM 508x Power, Politics and Conflict in Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 524x Small Group Process (4 units)
  • COMM 585x Organizational Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 635 Economics of Information (4 units)
  • COMM 636 Interpretive and Cultural Approaches in Organizational Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 637 Current Readings in Organizational Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 638 Global, International and Intercultural Communication in Organizations (4 units)
  • COMM 640 Communication and Organizational Change (4 units)
  • COMM 641 Organizations and Communication Technologies (4 units)
  • COMM 645 Communication Networks (4 units)
  • COMM 648 Online Communities and Networks (4 units)
  • COMM 652 Ethnographic Field Research in Communication (4 units)

(5) Political Economy of Global Communication:

  • COMM 546 The Political Economy of Innovation (4 units)
  • COMM 553 Global Internet Governance (4 units)
  • COMM 559 Globalization, Communication and Society (4 units)
  • COMM 560 Global Media and Communication in China and Asia (4 units)
  • COMM 561 Leading and Communicating Change in Global Organizations (4 units)
  • COMM 567 The Political Economy of Privacy and Cybersecurity (4 units)
  • COMM 570 Economics of the Communication Industries (4 units)
  • COMM 582 Information and Communication Technology for Development (4 units)
  • COMM 630 Communication Technology and Social Change (4 units)
  • COMM 647x Network Society (4 units)
  • PUBD 504 Global Issues and Public Diplomacy (4 units)
  • PUBD 510 Technologies and Public Diplomacy (4 units)
  • PUBD 515 Transnational Diplomacy and Global Security (4 units)
  • PUBD 516 International Broadcasting (4 units)
  • PUBD 522 Hard Power, Soft Power and Smart Power (4 units)

(6) Information, Political Economy and Entertainment:

  • CMGT 582 International Communication: National Development (4 units)
  • COMM 563 Black Popular Culture: Theory and Central Debates (4 units)
  • COMM 566 Using Theory to Craft Policies to Affect Change (4 units)
  • COMM 660 Entertainment and Games (4 units)
  • COMM 670 Economic Cultures (4 units)

(7) New Media and Technology:

  • CMGT 530 Social Dynamics of Communication Technologies (4 units)
  • CMGT 531 Communication and the International Economy (4 units)
  • CMGT 537 The Industry, Science and Culture of Video Games (4 units)
  • COMM 572 Theories of Computer-Mediated Communication (4 units)
  • COMM 577 Fandom, Participatory Culture and Web 2.0 (4 units)
  • COMM 578 New Media Literacies (4 units)

Additional Requirements

In addition, students must take at least two courses in one other track outside their specialization (8 units total). Students also pursue an approved cognate elective program of study in which at least two courses (normally 8 units) are taken in a related field outside USC Annenberg School. Students entering the School of Communication with a master’s degree may, with permission, apply part of their previous graduate course work to the cognate requirement. Students in the organizational communication track are required to take at least two methods classes in addition to the core courses, COMM 550 and COMM 552. If taken in a department or unit other than the School of Communication, these courses cannot also be counted toward the student’s cognate requirement.

Research Tool Requirement

Doctoral students are expected to demonstrate methodological competence in an area of specialization prior to taking the qualifying examination. Such competence is usually demonstrated through course work (the successful completion, with grade B or better, of selected course work in addition to their content courses that is approved by the PhD qualifying exam committee taken in the school and/or related departments), and by completion of a preliminary research project. Under special circumstances, students with an exceptional prior background in research methods may demonstrate their competence by successfully passing a research tool examination designed and administered by the PhD qualifying exam committee.

Qualifying Exam Committee

This committee is composed of five USC faculty members, at least three of whom are from the School of Communication. Students are expected to work closely with the members of their qualifying exam committee, especially their committee chair, in selecting advanced course work and shaping areas of interest and research. In addition to helping the student plan a program, the committee administers the oral portion of the qualifying examination and approves the dissertation committee.

Qualifying Examination

Qualifying examinations for the PhD usually are taken in the third year of study following completion of all required courses and a preliminary research paper. The examination includes both written and oral portions. The written portion is composed by committees of faculty in the relevant areas of study; the oral portion is administered by the student’s qualifying exam committee. Students must pass both portions to be advanced to candidacy. Students must confer with their qualifying exam committee chair, not later than the second week of the semester during which the examinations are to be taken, regarding distribution of written examination hours among subject matter areas.

Doctoral Dissertation

The dissertation is an original research project contributing to knowledge about human communication and should demonstrate a high level of competence in methodologies of scholarly inquiry.

Defense of Dissertation

Dissertations are defended in a formal meeting with the three-member dissertation committee. The school prefers that the defense oral be taken prior to final typing so that recommended changes can be made in the final manuscript.

This page is based on the current 2022-2023  USC Catalogue . The 2023-2024 USC Catalogue will be published in Summer 2023.

Communication - PhD

Requirements download.

  • Communication - MA - 2023-24.pdf
  • Communication - PhD - 2023-24.pdf

Learning Outcomes

  • Communication - PhD - PLO.pdf

Program Type

Program description.

The Ph.D. program in Communication provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the process of human communication. The department embraces a social science orientation that includes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. Students work alongside faculty employing empirical methods to study important societal issues concerning human communication. Our program is small by design and it provides students with essential preparation in theory construction, analysis, and research methodologies for conducting original scholarship in communication. Our primary areas include interpersonal-intergroup, media-digital, and organizational-group communication, and also many subareas.

Students entering the program without an M.A. in Communication will earn one on their way to the Ph.D. Review M.A./Ph.D. program requirements here for more information.

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Universities such as Rutgers, Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Amsterdam

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Program Highlights

Students who earn Ph.D.s in our program have opportunities for employment in research universities, liberal arts programs, industry, healthcare, nonprofit, and governmental jobs. Many students refine their interests during their course of study.

Related Disciplines

Other areas of social science including psychology, sociology, management, political science, media studies

Associated Interests

Global communication

Media literacy

Technology and society

Policy and politics

Social justice

Learn More!

www.comm.ucsb.edu

www.comm.ucsb.edu/graduate

www.comm.ucsb.edu/graduate/prospective

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Communication

Graduate study in the Department of Communication provides students with the theoretical thinking and methodological skills they need to become world-class communication researchers. Broadly based in the social sciences, the department has emphases in three primary research areas: interpersonal & intergroup communication, media & digital communication, and organizational & group communication. Doctoral students may add an interdisciplinary focus in Black Studies; Cognitive Science; Feminist Studies; Global Studies; Language, Interaction & Social Organization; Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences; or Technology & Society.

The Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara offers advanced study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. A terminal MA program is not offered.

Adress

Department of Communication University of California, Santa Barbara Social Sciences and Media Studies Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4020 (USA)

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Website  http://www.comm.ucsb.edu/graduate

Email

Email  [email protected]

Phone

Department Phone Number N/A

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  • December 15, 2023 (by 11:59 PM PST)

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Requirements

  • Online application : https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp
  • Statement of Purpose, Personal History and Diversity Statement, and Resume or CV (Submitted in the online application)
  • Three Letters of Recommendation (Requested/managed in the online application)
  • Writing sample (Submitted in the online application)
  • Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (Submitted online)
  • English Language Exam Scores (if applicable): TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) total score of 80, or TOEFL Paper-Based Test (PBT) total score of 550, or IELTS Overall Band score of 7, or Duolingo English Test total score of 120, or higher
  • Final/Official transcripts will be required for all applicants who are admitted and have indicated their intent to enroll at UC Santa Barbara by submitting a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). UC Santa Barbara reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admissions process, and rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between uploaded and official transcript(s) are found.

Black Studies; Cognitive Science; Global Studies; Feminist Studies; Language, Interaction, & Social Organization; Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences; Technology & Society (All Ph.D. only)

Prospective Graduate Students

  • Prospective Students

Prospective Graduate Students Page

Welcome prospective students.

Why choose UCSB?

Our world-class graduate training will prepare you to conduct socially relevant, theoretically motivated, and methodologically rigorous communication research. Students choose our program in order to work with our distinguished faculty and to be trained in cutting-edge theory and methods. Our strong commitment to mentorship and individualized advising, means we aim to have every student feel supported and productive.

What can I study?

Researchers in the department use a range of cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative approaches to advance the study of communication across contexts. Graduate students are trained in one or more core areas: Interpersonal & Intergroup Communication, Media & Digital Communication, and Organizational & Group Communication. Read more about our research…

What does the MA/PhD program entail?

Students can enter our program with or without an MA degree. Students entering without any previous graduate work complete the program in five years, earning a Master of Arts (MA) degree in the first two. Students with an MA from another university complete the Ph.D. degree in four years. Read more about our graduate program of study…

What can I do with my degree?

Students who earn a Ph.D. in our program pursue teaching and research careers in academic settings, and a range of careers in the private and public sectors. Our graduates have obtained faculty positions at such distinguished institutions as Cornell University; University of Wisconsin, Madison; The Ohio State University; University of Arizona; Indiana University; University of Texas, Austin; San Diego State University; Samford University; University of San Diego; and University of Southern California. Read more about our amazing alumni…

Have Questions?

Contact us to find out more about our graduate program!

Student Affairs Manager Jacova Morris (also available for Zoom appointments)

Graduate Director Dr. Jennifer Gibbs (also available for Zoom appointments)

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Welcome to the Department of Communication

Lilly Irani, Ph.D.

Lilly Irani, Ph.D., and her team work to support United Taxi Workers San Diego

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Award-Winning Speech and Debate Team Also Becomes a Course

Pandemic Bread

East Coast Premiere of Pandemic Bread: Unveiling a Cinematic Delight

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Angela Booker inaugural Eighth College Provost

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Announcing our New Undergrad Communication Newsletter

Statement on the events of may 6, 2024.

A statement on the events of May 6, 2024 is available on the Department Statements page.

Read the Statement

A Message From the Chair

"Communication occupies an especially exciting position in contemporary scholarship and education. Our faculty come from fields across the Social Sciences and Humanities and bring multiple disciplinary traditions and methodologies to bear in the study of communication as an institutional, technological, cultural, architectural, and cognitive phenomenon, inextricably anchored in and shaped by questions of democracy, diversity, social justice, and social change...."

Read the full message here

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Events Calendar

Interested in what the Communication Department has planned?  Come Check out our calendar!

Events and more!

The Communication Department at UC San Diego is distinctive in a number of ways. Our department brings together faculty and graduate students from many different disciplinary backgrounds, and encourages research that cuts across standard boundaries between disciplines and subfields.

Undergraduate

Communication at UCSD is a field of study that emphasizes the role of technologies of communication in shaping human experience and relationships. It draws from a range of disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, sociology, political science, and visual arts.

Our graduate program blends critical communication research and empirical interdisciplinary scholarship pulling from perspectives, theories, and methods from sociology, psychology, education, political science, anthropology, philosophy of science, history, media studies and production, computer science, cultural studies, and critical legal theory.

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Commitments to Actions in Response to the Murder of George Floyd

We extend our deepest solidarity with Black students, staff, and faculty at our university, with Black communities across the country, and with people throughout the world who are grieving. We declare that ALL Black Lives Matter here and across the world.

Read Our Statement

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Statement on Rise in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes & the Atlanta Shooting

Read Statement

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    University of Southern California
   
  Jun 20, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2020-2021    
USC Catalogue 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Return to: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism    

Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (ASC) 305 (213) 740-0900 (academic inquiries) (213) 740-3951 (administrative) (213) 821-0770 (admission inquiries) FAX: (213) 740-3913 annenberg.usc.edu

Director: Hector Amaya, PhD

Walter H. Annenberg Chair in Communication: Willow Bay, MBA

University Professor and Annenberg Family Chair in Communication Leadership: Geoffrey Cowan, LLB

University Professor and Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication Technology and Society: Manuel Castells, PhD

Chair in Cross-Cultural Communication: Josh Kun, PhD

Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism and Cinematic Arts: Henry Jenkins, PhD

Professors:  Hector Amaya, PhD; Jonathan D. Aronson, PhD; Francois Bar, PhD; Manuel Castells, PhD; Peter Clarke, PhD; Michael J. Cody, PhD; Geoffrey Cowan, LLB*; Nicholas Cull, PhD; G. Thomas Goodnight, PhD; Larry Gross, PhD; Thomas A. Hollihan, PhD (Director, Doctoral Program) ; Andrea Hollingshead, PhD; Henry Jenkins, PhD ( Journalism) ; Josh Kun, PhD (Journalism) ; Margaret McLaughlin, PhD; Lynn C. Miller, PhD; Sheila T. Murphy, PhD; Philip Seib, JD (Journalism) ; Ernest J. Wilson III, PhD

Associate Professors: Michael Ananny, PhD (Journalism) ; Ben Carrington, PhD (Journalism) ; Christina Dunbar-Hester, PhD;  Robeson Taj Frazier, PhD; Hernan Galperin, PhD; Randall Lake, PhD; Jennifer Petersen, PhD; Patricia Riley, PhD (Director, Global Communication Master’s Program) ; Stacy Smith, PhD; Douglas Thomas, PhD; Dmitri Williams, PhD

Visiting Associate Professors:  Emilio Ferrara, PhD; Robin Stevens, PhD

Assistant Professors:  Allissa Richardson, PhD (Journalism) ; Marlon Twyman II, PhD; Cristina Mejia Visperas, PhD; Lindsay Young, PhD

Clinical Professors: Daniela Baroffio, PhD (Director, Digital Social Media Master’s Program) ; Mathew Curtis, PhD; Daniel Durbin, PhD; Colleen M. Keough, PhD; Ben Lee, PhD ( Associate Director, Communication Management Master’s Program) ; Mark Lloyd, JD; Karen North, PhD; Robert Scheer; Paolo Sigismondi, PhD; Christopher H. Smith, PhD; Gordon Stables, PhD; Alison Trope, PhD (Director, Undergraduate Studies) ; Rebecca Weintraub, PhD (Director, Communication Management Master’s Program)

Clinical Associate Professors: Robert Banks, PhD ( Co-Director, Public Diplomacy Master’s Program) ; David Craig, PhD; Carmen Lee, PhD; Jillian Pierson, PhD; Brad Shipley, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professors:  Carlos Godoy, JD, PhD; Hye Jin Lee, PhD; Nithya Muthuswamy, PhD; Jessica Neff, PhD (Co-Director, Communication Data Science Master’s Program) ; Courtney Pade, PhD ( Assistant Director, Communication Management Master’s Program)

Lecturers: Rook Campbell, PhD; Kiranjeet Dhillon, MA

Research Professors: Jeffrey Cole, PhD (Director, Center for the Digital Future) ; Colin Maclay, PhD (Director, Annenberg Innovation Lab)

Adjunct Faculty:  Styles Akira, PhD; Kasia Anderson, PhD; Moreton Bay, PhD; William Blum, JD; Yomna Elsayed, PhD; Laurel Felt, PhD; Mayanna Framroze, PhD; Jeffrey Hirsch, MS; James Hubbard, MA, MDiv; Tom Kemper, PhD; Sarah Kessler, PhD; Julianna Kirschner, MA; Jane Macoubrie, PhD; Cynthia Martinez, EdD; Julia Matthews, PhD; Frederick Nager, MBA; Ariela Nerubay Turndorf, MBA; Michael Overing, JD; Paula Patnoe Woodley, MA; Susan Resnick West, PhD; Kelton Rhoads, PhD; Aaron Settipane, MA; Allison Soeller, PhD; Simon Uwins, MA; Gary Wexler, BA; Michael Wissot, MBA, MIM

Emeritus Professors: Sandra Ball-Rokeach, PhD; Walter R. Fisher, PhD; Janet Fulk, PhD; Peter Monge, PhD*; A. Michael Noll, PhD

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degree Programs

The School of Communication offers programs of study leading to a BA in Communication; minors in Sports Media Studies; Culture, Media and Entertainment; Communication Technology Practices and Platforms; Justice, Voice, and Advocacy; Media Economics and Entrepreneurship; Professional and Managerial Communication; Communication Policy and Law; and Cultural Diplomacy. It also offers interdisciplinary minors in  Global Communication   ; Health Communication   ;  Cultural Studies   ; Photography and Social Change    and Law and Society   . The school also offers progressive degrees in Master of Communication Management and Master of Public Diplomacy; a Master of Science in Digital Social Media; an MA and PhD in Communication; MA in Global Communication (in conjunction with the London School of Economics); a Master of Communication Management; a Master of Science in Communication Data Science (a joint program with the Viterbi School of Engineering) and two Master of Public Diplomacy programs. The Communication Management Program has established dual degree programs with the USC Gould School of Law and Hebrew Union College.

Undergraduate Degrees

The School of Communication offers programs of study leading to a BA degree and minors in Culture, Media and Entertainment; Communication Technology Practices and Platforms; Global Communication; Health Communication; Justice, Voice, and Advocacy; Media Economics and Entrepreneurship; Professional and Managerial Communication; Sports Media Studies; Cultural Diplomacy; and Communication Policy and Law. Many communication majors pursue, with the school’s encouragement, a double major with another discipline or a minor to complement the major. Through careful planning, students can complete these options within four years.

Students must consult with an undergraduate academic adviser at least once each semester to explore course selections within the major, the minor, general education offerings and electives.

Admission is competitive. Fall 2019 first year students had an average GPA of 3.72 unweighted with an SAT score of 1350-1480 (middle 50%). Transfer students had an average college GPA of 3.82. For admission information and deadlines, refer to the USC Admission Website . All transfer applicants must review the transfer admission application guidelines on the Annenberg Admissions Website; contact the Annenberg Admissions Office for more information. USC exclusively uses the Common Application for freshman and transfer admission. Applicants must submit the Common Application and the USC Writing Supplement, both of which can be accessed at  commonapp.org . For transfer applicants, in addition to the university writing samples, a 250-word statement of intent is required; instructions are included with the USC Writing Supplement.

Students currently enrolled at USC who wish to change their major to communication must file a formal application with all supporting documents through the Annenberg Student Services Office. Students who entered USC as freshmen or transfers must have 16 units completed at USC with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The 3.0 GPA is a minimum standard and does not guarantee admission.

For current USC students, the application period is the first week of classes each fall, spring and summer terms. No applications will be accepted after the first week of classes.

Students who have not been admitted to the communication major or one of the minors may complete a maximum of 20 communication (COMM) units at USC. No further communication course work may be taken until the student is admitted. Students who complete the maximum number of units without gaining admission to the school will be advised to select another major. Students are encouraged to contact the Annenberg Student Services Office, ASC 140, (213) 740-0900, for advisement on change of major criteria and major requirements. In certain cases, students may be referred to Academic Counseling Services, STU 300, (213) 740-1741, to consult with an adviser to select another major.

Academic Integrity Policy

The School of Communication maintains a commitment to the highest standards of ethical conduct and academic excellence. Any student found responsible for plagiarism, fabrication, cheating on examinations, or purchasing papers or other assignments will be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards and may be dismissed from the School of Communication. There are no exceptions to the school’s policy.

Curriculum Areas of Study

By design, the courses in the curriculum tend to cluster into different areas of study. These areas represent important foci in the communication discipline and are areas in which the school’s faculty possess special expertise. Four such areas of study are described below. They are not mutually exclusive, nor do they exhaust the curriculum; rather, they represent partially overlapping areas of unusual depth. Students may specialize in one of these areas or may design individual programs of study by choosing other combinations of electives that best meet their needs and career objectives.

Communication and Culture Option: This option will be attractive to a broad range of students whose careers have an international or multicultural dimension, from those interested in foreign service, travel and consulting to those seeking careers in the arts. In addition, students taking this option will be well prepared for advanced graduate study. Courses emphasize: communication as an essential component of culture and cultural production; cultural forces that shape communication practices; cultural barriers to communication; gender and diversity issues in human and mass communication and cultural production; media representations of race, ethnicity and gender; the production of meaning in diverse modes such as art, religion, popular culture and technology; and cultural criticism.

Entertainment, Communication and Society Option: This option is for students who wish to pursue careers in the entertainment industry, as well as students interested in the relationship of communication and entertainment to popular culture, globalization, cultural studies, marketing, advertising and ethics. Students taking this option will be well prepared for graduate study; they will also be able to enter the entertainment industry with a grounding in the theory, roles, issues and effects of entertainment. Courses emphasize: the theoretical underpinnings of entertainment studies; the historical context of entertainment; the roles and effects of entertainment concepts in “high art” and popular culture; the impact of entertainment on politics; advertising in an entertainment society; the blurring of marketing and entertainment and the effects of this on culture; the effects of entertainment in general and specifically on constructions of race and childhood; issues in the blurring of fact and fiction; ethical dilemmas; and the globalization of entertainment industries.

Media, Law and Politics Option: This option is designed for students who are interested in careers in government and public service, the law, and political and legal consulting, as well as advanced graduate study. Students examine communication processes in the public sphere and learn how to participate competently in these practices. Courses emphasize: the role of persuasion in the political and legal processes; the techniques used by individuals, institutions and social movements to influence public affairs; the history, design, implementation and evaluation of political campaigns; the role of public opinion; ethical issues in public communication, including the influence of media in the political and justice systems, the role of the First Amendment and the changing nature of freedom of expression in a mass-mediated environment, and problems of public participation.

Organizational and Interpersonal Communication Option: This option is most relevant to students interested in careers in business, management, human resources and development, corporate communication, and consulting, as well as advanced graduate study. Courses emphasize: interpersonal communication processes that affect and reflect personality, motives, beliefs, attitudes and values; communication’s role in the development, maintenance and disintegration of social, family and intimate relationships; managing interpersonal conflict; communication between superiors and subordinates and in teams; communication’s role in determining organizational culture; managing information in organizations; and the role of information technology in processes of globalization.

Progressive Degree Program

This progressive degree program allows USC students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Communication Management or a Master of Public Diplomacy in as little as five years. Students with a 3.0 overall GPA or higher in all classes taken at the university level are eligible to apply for admission to the degree program during their junior year, if a minimum of 24 semester hours will be completed in the final year of undergraduate enrollment. However, a 3.0 GPA does not guarantee acceptance.

Current students must attend a mandatory information session conducted by Annenberg Admissions and a member of the faculty before initiating the application process. Students admitted into the progressive degree program begin taking master’s level courses in their senior year and may complete the master’s degree in year five. For information on the application process, refer to the Annenberg Website . For further details on progressive degree programs, see the Requirements for Graduation    page.

Other Programs

Debate squad.

The Trojan Debate Squad provides an opportunity for outstanding students (3.0 GPA or better), both communication majors and non-majors, to compete in an intensive intercollegiate laboratory setting. Whatever the student’s intended career, the skills he or she develops in research, critical thinking and oral advocacy will be invaluable. The team has an excellent record in team policy debate and is now also offering British parliamentary (worlds format) debating. The team competes at both regional and national competitions.

Honors Program

The School of Communication offers an 8-unit honors program for exceptional students. To qualify, students must have a 3.5 GPA both overall and in the COMM major after completing the core courses ( COMM 200    or COMM 313   , COMM 206    or COMM 311   ,  COMM 209    or COMM 309   , COMM 204    or COMM 322   , COMM 301    or COMM 305   , ASCJ 200    or ASCJ 210   ). To graduate with School of Communication honors, a student must maintain a 3.5 overall and COMM major GPA and receive at least a B+ or higher in the two honors courses. Students either take COMM 495 Honors Seminar    or work with a professor to customize a 400-level COMM course for honors status (4 units). All honor students complete  COMM 497x Honors Thesis    (4 units). Contact an undergraduate adviser for further information and application forms.

Honor Society

Lambda Pi Eta is a national communication/journalism honor society that is open to students in graduate and undergraduate Annenberg programs.  To be eligible, students must have a USC cumulative GPA and an Annenberg major GPA of 3.5 or higher. In addition, undergraduate students must have a declared communication, journalism or public relations major, and have completed (or currently be registered for) at least 60 units, at least 12 of which are in the major. Graduate students must have completed at least 12 units in the fields of communication, journalism or public relations.

Annenberg Career Development

The USC Annenberg Career Development Office has listings for paid and unpaid internships from around the country. Career advisers conduct mandatory advisement appointments for all sophomores and offer career workshops, guest speakers and mentoring opportunities. Students are advised to participate in at least two internships before graduation.

Annenberg International Programs

Annenberg International Programs follows health and safety directives provided by the University and programs may be subject to suspension due to COVID-19 complications.

Spring Semester in Australia

This semester program offers students the chance to study at one of Australia’s premier universities, in one of the country’s most exciting cities. Students take communication courses that count for major credit at USC at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and can choose from a wide variety of elective courses. UNSW is located in Kensington, just south of the center of Sydney and its commercial hub. The program gives students the chance to explore mass media and communication in a challenging environment with a distinct worldview, very different from that of the United States. Students may earn a maximum of 12 USC units of upper-division COMM elective credit. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program.

Fall and Spring Semester in Hong Kong

Due to the health and safety implications of COVID-19 this program is suspended for the fall 2020 semester.

The semester program offers students the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, a bilingual institution. The program also gives students the experience of living in Hong Kong where they can witness the “one country, two systems” experiment. Courses in English are offered in fine arts, literature, history, Japanese studies, intercultural studies, music, philosophy, computer science, anthropology, economics, international relations, as well as journalism and communication. For students interested in Chinese language, courses are offered in Putonghua (Mandarin) or Cantonese. Extracurricular activities include the opportunity to teach English in rural China, monthly dinner talks with Asian studies specialists and excursions to local areas of interest. Students may earn a maximum of 12 USC units of upper-division COMM elective credit. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program.

Fall and Spring Semester in London

The semester program offers students the opportunity to study communication in London, the most important center of media in Europe. Many of the communication courses offered include British media guest lecturers and site visits. The program includes one-day visits to such places as Oxford, Cambridge and Liverpool. Planned activities within London include theatre and museum visits. Students may earn 16 units of upper-division COMM elective credit. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program. Please visit the Annenberg International Programs Website for more information on additional program requirements.

Spring Semester in New Zealand

Annenberg’s New Zealand program offers students the opportunity to travel to the Southern Hemisphere. Each spring, students can study at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), a world-class institution that offers students the chance to take communication courses that count toward major credit at USC, all the while exploring the beautiful city of Auckland and the surrounding countryside. The AUT program offers communication students an exciting way to broaden their understanding of media and mass communication in a challenging environment with an outlook distinctly different from that of the United States and Southern California. Students may earn 12 units of upper-division COMM elective credit. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program.

Spring Semester in Rome, Italy

Undergraduate students may spend a spring semester exploring how media, culture, history and politics are embedded within this iconic city and drive innovation there. Taking courses at a dedicated study center located in the heart of the historic city center in Rome, students meet communication executives and government policy-makers and gain exposure to Italian media, culture and civilization. The program also includes guided visits to museums and historical districts, as well as an overnight group excursion to Bologna. Students may earn 16 units of upper-division COMM elective credit. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program. Please visit the  Annenberg International Programs Website  for more information on additional program requirements.

International Communication Studies — London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Budapest

The International Communication Studies program (ICS) allows undergraduate students to study a range of approaches to public communication media across Europe.

Students divide the five-week course into stays in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin and Budapest. In addition to regular class meetings, students discuss the interplay of current world issues and international media practices with communication practitioners from international news and public relations media, government institutions, private industry and global organizations.

Students enroll in JOUR 482    Comparative Media in Europe (4 units), which will count as 4 units of upper-division COMM elective credit. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program.

For further information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-1276, email [email protected] or visit annenberg.usc.edu/international .

Alternative Spring Break Program – Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand

Students spend spring break in two of the country’s most iconic cities, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where they visit with companies, NGOs and foundations focusing on corporate social responsibility and communication advocacy. Explore the fields of communication and public relations through a lens of social change and advocacy, while developing a global perspective and first-hand insight into the challenges and effectiveness of organizations operating in Southeast Asia. This program offers students the unique opportunity to evaluate the areas of community development, sustainability and social responsibility in an emerging area of the world. A minimum USC cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for this program. Please visit the  Annenberg International Programs Website  for more information on additional program requirements.

Graduate Degrees

The School of Communication offers programs of study leading to a professional Master of Communication Management, an MA/MSc in Global Communication in collaboration with the London School of Economics, a Master of Science in Digital Social Media, two Master of Public Diplomacy programs, and research-oriented Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Communication. The School of Communication also collaborates with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering to offer a Communication Data Science (MS)   , which gives students the opportunity to innovate at the intersection of communication and engineering. In addition, special programs enable students to earn dual degrees in communication management and law (USC Gould School of Law) and in communication management and Jewish nonprofit management (Hebrew Union College).

The degree programs are designed to ensure that students are educated in substantive studies that constitute the discipline of communication and provide a basis for competing effectively in the job market.

All students seeking the degrees in communication management and global communication will take a range of courses that prepare them for successful professional management careers in communication-related businesses, organizations and fields.

All students pursuing the research-oriented degree (PhD in Communication) are required to take two theory courses that introduce them to inquiry in human communication and two research methods courses that acquaint them with the historical/critical and social scientific techniques available to conduct scholarly research. These requirements strengthen the student’s appreciation of the intellectual bases of human communication study and further the concept of a community of scholars and practitioners in the profession. Students specialize in one of seven available tracks: Global and Transnational Communication; Groups, Organizations and Networks; Health Communication and Social Dynamics; Information, Political Economy and Entertainment; Media, Culture and Community; New Media and Technology; or Rhetoric, Politics and Publics. In addition, students are encouraged to sample courses in the remaining tracks, thus obtaining an education of unparalleled breadth and depth.

Lambda Pi Eta is a national communication/journalism honor society that is open to students in graduate and undergraduate Annenberg programs. To be eligible, students must have a USC cumulative GPA and an Annenberg major GPA of 3.5 or higher. In addition, undergraduate students must have a declared communication, journalism or public relations major, and have completed (or currently be registered for) at least 60 units, at least 12 of which are in the major. Graduate students must have completed at least 12 units in the fields of communication, journalism or public relations.

Admission Requirements

Master of Communication Management, Master of Arts in Global Communication, Master of Science in Digital Social Media, Master of Public Diplomacy and Master of Public Diplomacy (Practitioner and Mid-Career Professional)

The school accepts students from a broad range of academic backgrounds in social sciences, humanities, physical sciences or professional schools. Some are employed or have work experience in communication-related fields. Others apply immediately after completing baccalaureate degrees.

Criteria:  All applicants must submit the online USC Graduate Admission Application. The faculty admission committees consider many criteria in the admission selection process: the academic record and professional and work-related accomplishments are taken into account. The minimum criteria are the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree and a 3.0 GPA for all undergraduate and graduate work completed. The Master of Arts in Global Communication requires a minimum 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) cumulative GPA or international equivalent for admission. For admission to communication management, digital social media and public diplomacy, scores on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test are required. Applicants to the communication management and digital social media degree programs may submit Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores in lieu of the GRE. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are required for applicants whose undergraduate degree was not completed in a country where English is the only official language. Letters of recommendation from those persons familiar with the applicant’s work — preferably academically — are also required. In addition, applicants must submit a statement of purpose, transcripts of all previous college and university work attempted, résumé and writing samples.

Applicants to the global communication degree program must apply to USC and the London School of Economics (LSE). Participation in this degree program requires that students simultaneously gain admission to LSE and USC. GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission. Scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) are required for applicants whose undergraduate degree was not completed in a country where English is the only official language. All students will begin their studies in London at the LSE.

Procedure:  Refer to the Annenberg Admissions Website for degree program admission application guidelines and deadlines.

Doctor of Philosophy

Students may enter from a variety of academic fields and majors. Applicants whose undergraduate work was in fields other than communication may be admitted on the condition that adequate preparation in directly relevant areas is evident. Completion of a master’s degree in communication is not required for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy.

Criteria:  All applicants must submit the online USC Graduate Admission Application. The faculty admission committee reviews each application comprehensively. Three letters of recommendation from faculty qualified to comment on an applicant’s capacities for a rigorous program of study are required. Completion of a basic descriptive statistics course is recommended. In addition, a personal statement, transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, a résumé and a sample of scholarly writing are required. The MA in Communication is earned as part of the PhD program.

Procedure:  Admission is granted for the fall semester only. Applicants are strongly encouraged to take the Graduate Record Examinations prior to November 1.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Global Communication, Master of Arts in Communication and Doctor of Philosophy in Communication are awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to The Graduate School    section of this catalogue and the Requirements for Graduation    section for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

  • Communication (BA)*
  • Communication Policy and Law Minor
  • Communication Technology Practices and Platforms Minor
  • Cultural Diplomacy Minor
  • Culture, Media and Entertainment Minor
  • Justice, Voice, and Advocacy Minor
  • Media Economics and Entrepreneurship Minor
  • Professional and Managerial Communication Minor
  • Sports Media Studies Minor
  • Communication (MA)
  • Communication Management (MCG)
  • Digital Social Media (MS)
  • Global Communication (MA)
  • Public Diplomacy (MPD)
  • Public Diplomacy (Practitioner and Mid-Career Professional) (MPD)
  • Health Communication Management Graduate Certificate
  • International and Intercultural Communication Management Graduate Certificate
  • Marketing Communication Management Graduate Certificate
  • Media and Entertainment Management Graduate Certificate
  • New Communication Technologies Graduate Certificate
  • Strategic Corporate and Organizational Communication Management Graduate Certificate
  • Master of Communication Management/Juris Doctor (MCG/JD)
  • Master of Communication Management/Master of Arts, Jewish Nonprofit Management (MCG/MA)
  • Communication (PhD)
  • ASCJ 020x Annenberg Skills
  • ASCJ 100 The Changing World of Communication and Journalism
  • ASCJ 200 Navigating Media and News in the Digital Age
  • ASCJ 210 Contours of Change in Media and Communication
  • ASCJ 220x Annenberg Experimental
  • ASCJ 420 Annenberg Collaboratory
  • CMGT 500 Managing Communication
  • CMGT 501 Communication Management Pro-Seminar
  • CMGT 502 Strategic Corporate Communication
  • CMGT 503 Strategic Communication Consulting
  • CMGT 504 Writing for Strategic Communication
  • CMGT 505 Communication in Work Settings
  • CMGT 506 Images and Image Management
  • CMGT 507 Information Management
  • CMGT 508 Communicating Strategy and Change
  • CMGT 509 Influential Communication in the Marketplace
  • CMGT 510 Communication, Values, Attitudes and Behavior
  • CMGT 511 Health Communication
  • CMGT 512 Unintended Consequences of Communication
  • CMGT 514 Analytical Tools for Communication Decisions
  • CMGT 515 Innovation and the Information Economy
  • CMGT 520 Social Roles of Communication Media
  • CMGT 528 Web Strategies for Organizations
  • CMGT 529 Social Media Entertainment: Creator Industry, Management and Practices
  • CMGT 530 Social Dynamics of Communication Technologies
  • CMGT 531 Communication and the International Economy
  • CMGT 532 Development of American Electronic Media Industry
  • CMGT 533 Emerging Communication Technologies
  • CMGT 535 Online Communities for Organizations
  • CMGT 536 Team Communication and Leadership
  • CMGT 537 The Industry, Science and Culture of Video Games
  • CMGT 540 Uses of Communication Research
  • CMGT 541 Integrated Communication Strategies
  • CMGT 542 Business Strategies of Communication Firms
  • CMGT 543 Managing Communication in the Entertainment Industry
  • CMGT 544 Creating Organizational Identity: Meaning Through Messages
  • CMGT 545 Communication and Global Competition
  • CMGT 546 Sports Media and Society
  • CMGT 547 Distribution of Recordings: Media, Retail and Online Channels
  • CMGT 548 Issues in Children’s Media
  • CMGT 549 Case Studies in Digital Entertainment
  • CMGT 550 Hollywood 3.0 — Entertainment Industry in the Convergence Age
  • CMGT 551 Communicating Entertainment Media Identities
  • CMGT 552 Visual Storytelling: Production, Management and Culture
  • CMGT 553 Marketing Communication Theory and Application
  • CMGT 554 Copywriting and Creativity
  • CMGT 555 Online Marketing Communication Development and Analysis
  • CMGT 556 Global Marketing Communication
  • CMGT 557 Communication Policy in the Global Marketplace
  • CMGT 558 The International Entertainment Marketplace
  • CMGT 559 Global Hollywood
  • CMGT 560 Communications Policy
  • CMGT 562 Foundations of Effective PR Writing
  • CMGT 564 Methodological Fundamentals of Big Data in Communication
  • CMGT 565 Communication Law and Broadcasting
  • CMGT 566 Communication Law and New Technologies
  • CMGT 567 Internet Policy, Practice and Regulation
  • CMGT 568 Influencer Strategies
  • CMGT 571 Communications Technologies
  • CMGT 573 Evaluating Communication Needs
  • CMGT 574 Tele-Media: Strategic and Critical Analysis
  • CMGT 576 Communication Strategies for Conflict Management
  • CMGT 577 Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility
  • CMGT 578 Non-profit Advocacy
  • CMGT 580 Chinese Media and Society
  • CMGT 581 Media in Social Services: Design and Evaluation of Campaigns
  • CMGT 582 International Communication: National Development
  • CMGT 583 Social Marketing and Entertainment Education
  • CMGT 584 Communication and the Multicultural Marketplace
  • CMGT 585 Communication Leadership in the Entertainment Industry
  • CMGT 586 Entertainment Media: Content, Theory, and Industry Practices
  • CMGT 587 Audience Analysis
  • CMGT 588 Global Storytelling: The Power of Narrative
  • CMGT 589 Storytelling, Culture and Experiential Communication
  • CMGT 590 Directed Research
  • CMGT 591 Communication Internship
  • CMGT 592 Theory and Practice of Professional Presentations
  • CMGT 597a Communication Research Practicum
  • CMGT 597b Communication Research Practicum
  • CMGT 599 Special Topics
  • COMM 200 Communication and Social Science
  • COMM 204 Public Speaking
  • COMM 205x Communication Practicum
  • COMM 206 Communication and Culture
  • COMM 209 Communication and Media Economics
  • COMM 211x Professional Effectiveness Through Third Space Thinking
  • COMM 300 Entertainment, Communication and Society
  • COMM 301Lg Empirical Research in Communication
  • COMM 302 Persuasion
  • COMM 303 Learning from Case Studies in Communication
  • COMM 304 Interpersonal Communication
  • COMM 305 Understanding Social Science Research
  • COMM 306 Innovation, Entertainment, and the Arts
  • COMM 307 Sound Clash: Popular Music and American Culture
  • COMM 308 Communication and Conflict
  • COMM 309 Communication and Technology
  • COMM 310 Media and Society
  • COMM 311 Rhetoric and the Public Sphere
  • COMM 312 The Business and Culture of Celebrity
  • COMM 313 Communication and Mass Media
  • COMM 315 Health Communication

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COMMENTS

  1. Theory and Research Ph.D.

    Stanford, CA 94305-2050 United States. [email protected] tel: 650.723.1941 fax: 650.725.2472 Directions and Maps » Are you interested in our graduate programs or the Communication major? Our Student Services Manager can help. Submissions for or issues with the website? Contact the web administrator. Stanford

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    In 2021, QS World University Rankings named USC Annenberg among the foremost schools for studying communication and media in the world. 15. doctoral candidates in our 2021 cohort Our small cohorts create an intimate group of contemporary researchers with whom to study. 40%. of students are international About half of our 2021 PhD cohort is ...

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    The Department of Communication offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Communication. We do not offer a terminal M.S. in Communication. Students can earn their M.S. while completing the requirements for a Ph.D. All graduate students entering the Department of Communication at UCLA are expected to complete the Ph.D.

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    Communication Graduate Program at UCLA. 2225 Rolfe Hall. Box 951538. Los Angeles, CA 90095-1538.

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    469 Kerr Hall UC Davis One Shields Ave Davis, CA 95616 530-752-0966 530-752-8666 (fax) [email protected]

  6. Communication (PhD) Fall 2024

    When is the application deadline? The application deadline for the PhD in Communication is December 1, 2020, and new students are admitted to fall term only. Late applications will not be accepted. Should I submit a résumé or curriculum vitae? Submit a current résumé. However, if you have presented at conferences and published papers and/or articles, a CV is expected.

  7. Program: Communication (PhD)

    Communication (PhD) Students in the doctoral program learn theories that guide research into communication processes and effects and into institutions and technologies that lend pattern to communication. Applicants for the PhD are expected to acquire and demonstrate humanistic and behavioral knowledge of communication while acquiring skills ...

  8. Communication (PhD)

    Communication (PhD) Students in the doctoral program learn theories that guide research into communication processes and effects and into institutions and technologies that lend pattern to communication. Applicants for the PhD are expected to acquire and demonstrate humanistic and behavioral knowledge of communication while acquiring skills ...

  9. Curriculum

    COMM 654 Art, Artists and Society (4 units) COMM 655 Studies in Sound, Music and Communication (4 units) COMM 656 Theorizing Race, Culture, Cross-Cultural Exchange (4 units) COMM 662 Video Games Research (4 units) COMM 672 Experiments in Critical Writing (4 units) (3) Health Communication and Social Dynamics:

  10. PHDCOMM Program

    The Ph.D. program in Communication provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the process of human communication. The department embraces a social science orientation that includes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research. Students work alongside faculty employing empirical methods to study important ...

  11. Graduate Page

    Our MA/PhD program provides students with the theoretical thinking and methodological skills they need to become world-class communication researchers. This entails close collaboration with distinguished faculty and fellow talented graduate students. Through a combination of coursework, teaching, and research, graduates of our program emerge to ...

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    Graduate Studies in Communication. In the Communication Department at UCSD we vigorously engage in the social investigation and transformation of communication practices, weaving together perspectives, theories, and methods from sociology, psychology, education, political science, anthropology, philosophy of science, history, media studies and ...

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    The Department of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara offers advanced study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. ... (PhD) degree. A terminal MA program is not offered. Mailing Address. Department of Communication University of California, Santa Barbara Social Sciences and Media Studies Santa Barbara, CA ...

  14. Prospective Graduate Students Page

    Join us for a virtual Open House on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 1pm (Pacific Time)! Faculty and current graduate students will give a brief presentation and answer questions. Contact Jacova at [email protected] for the Zoom link. About the UC Santa Barbara Communication Graduate Environment. Watch on.

  15. Graduate Program Requirements

    Before the end of the third year, the student must take and pass an oral qualifying examination. The exam will be based on two substantial papers encompassing two of the subfields covered in the program, plus the dissertation proposal. Prior to taking qualifying examinations students must complete all requirements (courses, language, and teaching).

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    Davis, CA ·. University of California - Davis ·. Graduate School. ·. 2 reviews. Master's Student: Very informative and hard-working staff, graduate students and faculty. Anthropology department is robust, first-rate and diverse. Faculty are continuously researching and dedicating time to advancing the field....

  17. School of Communication

    School of Communication. Return to: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (ASC) 305. (213) 740-0900 (academic inquiries) (213) 740-3951 (administrative) (213) 821-0770 (admission inquiries) FAX: (213) 740-3913. annenberg.usc.edu. Director: Hector Amaya, PhD.

  18. Department of Communication

    The Communication Department at UC San Diego is distinctive in a number of ways. Our department brings together faculty and graduate students from many different disciplinary backgrounds, and encourages research that cuts across standard boundaries between disciplines and subfields. Learn more.

  19. Graduate School for Communications in California 2024+

    Communications Graduate Programs in California. Communications degrees are reported by the National Center for Education Statistics under the category of Communication and communications technologies. In fact, in the most recent update of the data (2018), across the U.S, there were 96,521 Communications degrees awarded to graduate students.

  20. Graduate School Communication Studies in California

    The Master of Communications from Wake Forest builds your communications expertise and prepares you to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, driving equity, justice, and innovation through authentic internal and external messaging. Looking for the Best Graduate School Communication Studies in California 2024 Explore masters & PhD ...

  21. School of Communication

    School of Communication. Return to: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (ASC) 305. (213) 740-0900 (academic inquiries) (213) 740-3951 (administrative) (213) 821-0770 (admission inquiries) FAX: (213) 740-3913. annenberg.usc.edu. Director: Hector Amaya, PhD.

  22. Communication (MA)

    Program: Communication (MA) - University of Southern California - Modern Campus Catalog™. Catalogue. Graduate. Loading Comments…. logged in. University of Southern California. Jun 13, 2024. USC Catalogue 2022-2023.

  23. School of Communication

    School of Communication. Return to: USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism (ASC) 305. (213) 740-0900 (academic inquiries) (213) 740-3951 (administrative) (213) 821-0770 (admission inquiries) FAX: (213) 740-3913. annenberg.usc.edu. Director: Hector Amaya, PhD.