The Program
The Ph.D. program in Communication Studies is intended to qualify the student to teach and conduct research in instructional communication, interpersonal communication, or organizational communication at the university level. Students who are accepted into the Ph.D. program in Communication Studies will be awarded an assistantship for the first year, which is renewable for the second and third years of the program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Ph.D. degree program in Communication Studies, it is expected students will be able to:
1). demonstrate a broad knowledge of the field of Communication Studies through the identification and explanation of the research domains which comprise the field of Communication Studies.
2). demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of two domains of the field of Communication Studies through the identification, explanation, and evaluation of the primary theories, constructs, and researchers associated with each domain.
3). independently design, conduct, and present original research using quantitative research methods.
4). demonstrate effective instructional communicative behaviors across a variety of teaching and training situations.
5). develop logical, well-reasoned arguments to guide future research endeavors and projects in the field of Communication Studies.
6). demonstrate a commitment to the profession through activity in professional associations and service to the university, community, and state.
Program Timeline
The Ph.D. degree program is designed to take three years of study, including summer terms. Students will complete 36 hours of coursework during the first two years of the program (i.e., Year 1 Fall semester, Year 1 Spring semester, Year 1 Summer term, Year 2 Fall semester, Year 2 Spring semester, Year 2 Summer term). Upon completion of coursework, students will write and submit a preliminary paper and take and defend comprehensive examinations (i.e., Year 2 Summer term) before writing and defending a dissertation prospectus (Year 3 Fall semester) and writing and defending a dissertation (no later than Year 3 Summer term).
The 2009-2010 Ph.D. program will begin around or on August 5, 2009.
Selection of an Advisor and Committee
Upon admission to the program, students are advised by the Ph.D. Coordinator. Working with the Coordinator, students devise their schedule for their first year. During the Year 1 Summer term, in conjunction with the Coordinator, students select an advisor, who must hold Regular Graduate Faculty status. This advisor serves as the Chair of each student’s comprehensive examination and dissertation committees. During the Year 2 Fall semester, the student and the advisor complete a Plan of Study, which must be approved by the student’s committee no later than the end of Year 2 Fall semester.
Working with their advisor, students select four Committee members, at least one of which, but no more than two, must be graduate faculty members external to the Department of Communication Studies, with the remaining Committee members comprised of graduate faculty members from the Department of Communication Studies. The Department members serve as members of both the student’s comprehensive examination and dissertation committees whereas the graduate faculty member(s) external to the Department serve(s) only as a member of the student’s dissertation committee.
Program Requirements
The Ph.D. degree program in Communication Studies is a 54 hour program (including dissertation hours). The 54 graduate credit hours include:
1). 12 hours from four required courses: COMM 600, 602, 606, and 700.
2). 9 hours of Core COMM courses, including but not limited to: COMM 702, 706, and 719.
3). 6 hours of research methods beyond COMM 701.
4). 9 hours of additional COMM courses.
5). 18 hours of COMM 797 (dissertation credit).
Of these 54 hours, a minimum of 36 hours must be coursework at the 600 level, 700 level, or above and a minimum of 18 hours must be dissertation research at the 797 level. It should be noted that:
1). No course for which a student earns a grade below B- can be counted toward the 54 hours.
2). A GPA of 3.25 is required for graduation.
3). Students who receive more than 6 hours of “C” may not be permitted to remain in the program.
Students who complete the required Ph.D. courses at the M.A. level are not required to retake the courses at the doctoral level, but must fulfill the minimum credit hours requirements through additional coursework.
No more than six hours of transfer credit from another university may be applied toward meeting the 54 credit hours as required by the Department. (Any request to submit transfer credit must be approved by the Ph.D. coordinator.) These credit hours must be from coursework at the 600 level, 700 level, or above with a grade of B- or higher. The grade received for these credit hours will not be calculated in students’ cumulative grade point average. Grades received for any credit hours generated from a course(s) taken in another department will be calculated in students’ cumulative grade point average.
The Assistantship
The assistantship provides a monthly stipend (approximately $12,000.00 for the Fall and Spring semesters; summer teaching is available); a tuition waiver, although students are responsible for paying university-wide fees (approximately $600.00 a semester); and health care coverage/insurance for the academic year. Assistantship responsibilities typically include teaching 2 courses and serving as an administrator for 1 course per semester.
