
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The Ph.D. in mass communication prepares students for research and
management positions with mass media organizations and such related
organizations as advertising and public relations agencies, research
and marketing companies, and, especially, for teaching and research
careers in higher education.
Deadline to apply to the
doctoral program is January 15.
The doctoral program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications
is small and selective, permitting each student a considerable degree
of flexibility in tailoring courses and areas of study to fit his
or her special needs and career goals.
Admissions are voted on individually by the School's Graduate Council
after careful consideration of a number of factors, including the
applicant's academic record, especially work done at the master's
level; performance on the Graduate Record Examination; professional
experience; recommendations; and, in particular, the applicant's
personal statement outlining reasons for applying for doctoral study
and career hopes and expectations. Most applicants have at least
a year, and often much more, of experience as journalism/mass communication
professionals. International applicants are normally expected to
present a TOEFL score of at least 600 (250 - computer-based score
or 100 - internet-based score), depending on the exam taken.
A GRE combined score (verbal and quantitative) of 1200 and a 5.0
or better on the analytical writing score is expected, though exceptions
have been made for applicants with unusually strong professional
backgrounds or other evidence of outstanding professional and intellectual
promise.
Doctoral students must have completed, or be in the final stages
of, a master's degree. The master's need not be in journalism/mass
communication, though a student whose master's is in another field
may need additional coursework, as determined by the faculty after
evaluating the student's Qualifying Examination (see below).
All doctoral students must earn a minimum of 48 semester hours of
coursework (36 semester hours if matriculated prior to Fall 2009)
beyond the master's degree and complete a minimum of 12 dissertation
hours.
All must show equivalency credit for, or complete, JOUR 701, 702,
706, 720, and a statistics class before being admitted to doctoral
candidacy. The doctoral core requirements
are designed to equip the student with a strong background in research
methods and design, communication theory, historical or legal research,
and teaching experience.
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