Ph.D. Programs for Communication Studies

University of Pennsylvania

• The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania is home to a Ph.D. program in communication that takes five years to complete. Doctoral students at Annenberg are expected to become experts in a selected research area; they take courses with at least five faculty members in order to gain exposure to different topics in communication studies and select a specialization area. During the first two years, degree candidates complete an independent research project. The next two years are spent finishing all required courses and taking the comprehensive examination. The focus of year five is writing and defending the dissertation. Annenberg students can select from specialty areas such as visual communication, politics and media, health communication and race, media and politics. All doctoral students at Annenberg receive a tuition waiver, stipend and health insurance for five years of study.

  Annenberg School for Communication
  University of Pennsylvania
  3620 Walnut Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19104
  215-898-7041
  asc.upenn.edu

University of Texas at Austin

• Communication Studies doctoral students at the University of Texas (UT) select from concentrations such as interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and rhetoric. The eight-semester Ph.D. program consists of 45 credits, plus defense of the doctoral dissertation. Research coursework is required to prepare students to successfully complete the dissertation. An advisory committee is selected by the student during the first year of study to help guide them through the program. Applicants to UT's communication studies program need to be enrolled in or have completed a master's degree program with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Doctoral students have access to a multimedia laboratory where they can conduct meetings and research. Highly qualified applicants may be eligible for funding by way of a fellowship or teaching assistant position.

  University of Texas at Austin
  Department of Communication Studies
  2504A Whitis Avenue, CMA 7.114
  Austin, TX 78712-0115
  512-471-5251
  commstudies.utexas.edu

University of Southern California

• The Ph.D. program in communication at the University of Southern California (USC) prepares graduates for careers in government, the private sector and academia. Students in the program select from concentrations including health communication, organizational communication, and information and society. Doctoral degree candidates are engaged in extensive research that culminates in defense of a dissertation before a panel of three faculty members. Communication students take required courses in research methods before completing at least 12 credits in their specialization area. For example, a student focusing on political communication might study topics including rhetorical theory, criticism and public address.

  Annenberg School for Communication
  University of Southern California
  3502 Watt Way
  Los Angeles, CA 90089-0281
  (213) 740-3951
  annenberg.usc.edu