phd in communication skills

How to Communicate in Grad School

Communication is one of the most often listed skills in job postings across all fields. In grad school, communication is as important to everyday life as it is to career development. For a PhD student, the benefits of effective communication skills can be seen everywhere from interpersonal relationships to research progress. While these skills are not often evaluated on their own, many measures of grad school success depend upon good communication – from congenial advisor relationships to paper acceptance.

To explore what good communication in grad school looks like, the EECS Communication Lab recently hosted our third annual panel discussion titled “How to Communicate in Grad School: What They Don’t Teach You.” At this event, four senior EECS grad students shared about their experiences with formal and informal communication. In this post, we summarize some of the recurring themes that came up in discussion to offer advice for making your communication more effective.

Know your audience  

For any communication task, the first step is to analyze your audience. This holds true for both formal communication (like writing a paper or preparing a talk) and informal communication (like drafting an email to your advisor or collaborators). To communicate effectively, you need to know who you are communicating to or with . Think about what they already know, what they may need to be reminded of, and what the main takeaways are that you want to convey. 

Thinking about your audience should come into all stages of communication. While writing a draft or having a conversation, revisit your thoughts about who you are communicating with and why . Identifying your audience plays an important role both in the details of communication such as designing a slide to convey your most important point and in high-level preparation such as planning for what your audience already knows. Communicating effectively about anything from interpersonal conflict to research requires careful consideration of the other party.

Treat communication like a skill that can be developed

Being an effective communicator is not something you are born with; it is something you develop over time. Even the best communicators can always find ways to improve. In the same way you would practice a sport or a musical instrument, you should apply the same discipline to practicing communication. Seek out as many opportunities for practice as possible, and get feedback from a variety of people. The more you communicate, the more comfortable you become, and the more your skills improve.

When preparing for a talk, record yourself. Then, watch the video, paying attention to areas where you can improve. As a starting place, you can look for the following things:

• Do you use filler words such as “uhm” or “like”?
• How is your vocal tone? 
• How is your body language and eye contact?
• Are you effectively delivering the message you want to convey? 

If you find it helpful, you can add metrics to quantify your performance and track your progress over time. It is also important to practice in front of others. Seek feedback from your friends, colleagues, and mentors. 

Communication is an essential skill for effectively conveying your research and instilling interest in your work. It’s worth investing time to improve it. 

Planning is an essential skill in many kinds of communication and for overall research progress. Drafting a paper plan early in a project helps keep you focused. While it’s fine to pursue new research directions as you gain new information, make sure to revisit the big picture to make sure your new direction will lead to publication. When it’s time to put together a paper or a talk, spend some time thinking about your audience and goals for communicating your research. Draft an outline before you start writing or making slides. Thinking about the big picture before getting lost in the details can save you time by keeping you from working on pieces that will ultimately get cut from the final draft.

Planning is also essential for more everyday tasks. Before a meeting, it can be helpful to reflect on what you are looking to get out of that time and what direction will be the most helpful to you. For example, in a meeting about your research progress with your advisor, you may be looking to solve a specific technical problem you are stuck on. To plan effectively, you can prepare a slide deck with several figures and your hypotheses about why what you’re trying is not working. Going to a meeting with a plan, specific goals, and visual aids can help direct the conversation where you want it to go. 

Every student’s relationship with their advisor is different

One of the biggest communication challenges that grad students face is navigating a relationship with one or more advisors. These relationships can be tricky to navigate because advisors play many roles to a grad student; they are part teacher, part mentor, and part boss. At the heart of these relationships are the people in them. Every student is different, and so is every advisor. Focus on building a good relationship (or improving your existing one) through open communication. If you’re having trouble getting your advisor’s time, schedule a meeting. If your advisor has an administrative assistant, they are often the go-to person to get you on your advisor’s calendar.

Remember that like any other relationship, the one between a student and an advisor will not grow overnight. Be patient, and experiment to see what works. Work to learn your advisor’s communication style over time. Seek to learn their expectations – for example, do they want to have a paper draft two months before a deadline or the week before? Ask them what they prefer. Ask others in the lab for effective ways of communicating with your advisor. 

Because an advisor wears so many hats, the line between professional and personal can be a gray area. If personal issues arise that impact your work, you will need to communicate that to your advisor, but your relationship with your advisor will determine what level of detail is appropriate. Ideally before this happens, test the waters to see what is comfortable for both of you to discuss. 

Importantly, your advisor should not be your only source of support in grad school. Seek out additional mentors who you can talk about certain problems with. People in a slightly more advanced career stage (senior grad students, postdocs, junior professors) often make good mentors because they have had similar experiences to what you are going through.

Practice self advocacy

For any kind of communication to be effective, you need to reflect on your goals. Knowing the purpose of writing a paper or scheduling a meeting with your advisor will allow you to seek out the resources and support you need. Communication involves taking initiative, whether that’s applying to a conference or talking to your advisor about vacation time. Consider what you need to be successful throughout your graduate career, and be prepared to advocate for those things. Remember the old adage: The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

If you’re not sure what you need or how to get it, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’ll be surprised by how much people want to help. If you don’t get a useful answer the first time, ask a different question or ask a different person. Asking for help with technical or non-technical problems can also be a great way to establish new network connections. While solving problems on your own is part of the path to becoming an independent researcher, even the most senior researchers ask for help when they need it. If you’re stuck, you can save a lot of time and energy by asking questions and seeking help. 

Resources for MIT EECS Grad Students

• Make a 1-on-1 appointment to talk with a Communication Fellow, a trained EECS grad student or postdoc, about any communication task.
• Explore the CommKit for guides on successful technical communication and the Blog for other useful tips and information.
• For help dealing with stress or conflict management, reach out to EECS REFS .
• For peer-to-peer support, connect with THRIVE , GW6 , or GSA .

Blog post by Mazdak Abulnaga , MIT EECS Communication Fellow, and Deanna Montgomery , MIT EECS Communication Lab Manager

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

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7 resources to help phd students succeed on their doctoral journey.

It takes a village and a variety of skills to succeed in the doctoral world. Here are a few of the many resources Wharton Doctoral Programs offers to help.

Like most of our doctoral students, perhaps you’re preparing to go into academia after completing your PhD. Being a professor and researcher today often involves opportunities to share your research with a larger audience than a classroom of students. The doctoral journey is meant to prepare you with the wide array of skills you’ll need to be effective whether you’re in front of the classroom or a conference stage.

That includes the polish to present and speak publicly with ease, the writing and communication skills to craft your dissertation and journal articles, the analytical know-how to research thoroughly and gather meaningful data, and the ability to teach — colleagues, pupils, or the general public, whatever the case may be. And, if you have family, you’ll need support in getting them through this journey with you.

Wharton Doctoral Programs offers a wide range of resources to help you thrive in the PhD program and prepare you for life beyond it. Here are a few of the top Wharton resources our students have highlighted as most beneficial:

1. 5 Slides 5 Minutes

Researchers often have the opportunity to share their work with a larger audience through social media and mass media outlets — but it requires nuanced communication skills. How do you take complex findings and communicate them to a general audience concisely without oversimplifying the message?

That’s the focus of 5 Slides 5 Minutes. Launched in 2014, this low-stakes, high-potential event enables PhD students to present an abstract to students, faculty, and staff to practice engaging non-experts in their research topic. Students receive an invitation to participate via email from the Doctoral Programs Office.

After students present, they can work with Wharton Communications Program to review their presentation and get tips on how to improve their communication skills. Wharton’s renowned faculty also share valuable insights with students about these presentations.

“We focus on individuals. We help them convey their research content most effectively given their style and personality,” said Lisa Warshaw, Director of the Wharton Communications Program.

2. Dissertation Boot Camp

The name might sound intimidating, but some students think of Dissertation Boot Camp as a two-week writers’ retreat. Hosted twice a year by the Graduate Student Center, it’s designed for students who have dissertation status but haven’t presented their proposal yet.

The camp offers an environment and support for intense, focused writing time as well as a review on the steps, deadlines, and University policies. Limited to 20 students, the small group gives writers a chance to make connections with others who are going through the dissertation process and provides participants with the structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks along the way.

3. Wharton Communications Program

The Wharton Communication Program helps Wharton PhD students become more effective communicators and thus better presenters, public speakers, and writers — all critical skills in academia. All doctoral students are provided with access to on-site, one-on-one writing coaching during the academic year.

Wharton PhD students are required to attend two workshops: First-Year Communications Workshop in the fall and First-Year Writing Workshop in the spring. The skills-based approach adopted in the workshops helps students develop their personal style and strengthen their confidence as communicators.

Through multiple practice opportunities, video recording of speeches, and rigorous feedback, the program provides students with a thorough foundation in communication theory and for doctoral students, focuses on research presentations and job talks.

4. Teacher Development Program Workshop

Offered in conjunction with the Center for Teaching and Learning , the Teacher Development Program is a four-session course. It gives doctoral students a foundation in core teaching practices to support their teaching at Penn.

By helping with presentation skills and academic job placement, the workshop prepares students to become faculty in the future. Ian Petrie , Senior Associate Director, Center for Teaching and Learning described the workshop as “a collective, collaborative program.” Each week features “microteaching” demonstrations, where participants conduct a brief lesson and get feedback from their peers and the directors.

The intent is that faculty and graduate students will engage and learn from each other to master fundamental teaching methods. “Every PhD student can leave the program having gained some new tools for teaching,” Petrie said. This exchange happens when doctoral students observe “talented colleagues from other departments to get a glimpse of how they teach.”

Students also have the opportunity to enroll in the CTL Teaching Certificate program to hone teaching skills and grasp a commitment to developing as teachers.

“I’d like everyone to come out of the experience feeling more confident about their skills as an instructor or presenter,” Petrie said. “Anything I can do to support doctoral students in achieving their goals is extremely gratifying.”

5. Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS)

With more than 50,000 corporate, academic, and government users, Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) is the global gold standard in data management, research analytics, and thought leadership. Researchers at more than 450 institutions in 36 countries across the globe depend upon this award-winning research platform and business intelligence tool — and researchers are doing the work to grow it right here on Wharton’s campus.

“The fact that the people who create the data, research analytics, and tools are here is super important,” said Prof. Cathy Schrand, Vice Dean of Wharton Doctoral Programs. “I’ve had early access to WRDS before it even became available to other subscribers. Top universities all over the world that have subscriptions to WRDS may only have access to certain elements of it, but we have access to all of it and it’s here on site which does provide an advantage.” The platform allows researchers to access more than 350 terabytes of data in one location that spans across multiple disciplines, including accounting, banking, economics, ESG (environmental, social, and governance), finance, health care, insurance, marketing, and statistics. “WRDS is by far the most important source of datasets for academic researchers. As a Wharton PhD student, you automatically get unrestricted access to every one of these databases,” said Itamar Drechsler, associate professor of finance at Wharton and NYU’s Stern School of Business, who has experience on both sides of the classroom – he earned his PhD from Wharton in 2009.

6. Wharton Behavioral Lab

A shared resource for all Wharton faculty, the Wharton Behavioral Laboratory (WBL) provides a variety of services that support data collection for behavioral research on business-related topics. The primary goal is to enhance the research productivity of Wharton faculty by minimizing the operational costs, both time and money, of conducting research. With two locations — one in Steinberg Hall Dietrich Hall and another in Jon Huntsman Hall, doctoral students can gather original data through lab experiments and panels, instead of using secondary data created by others. Each year, the lab collects about 23,000 subject hours of data. Research from WBL can consistently be found in national and international publications such as the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Economics, and the Journal of Business Ethics .

7. Support for Families

For some PhD students, attending Wharton means relocating their families to a new city. To help students and their families ease the transition to PhD life, the Wharton Doctoral Program Office hosts the Maternity/Paternity Workshop , an annual event that talks about the resources available to PhD students with families.

Here are a couple of the key resources they highlight in the workshop:

• The Doctoral Programs Office allows eligible students to apply for up to one year of additional school-level funding beyond their allotted funded year. Furthermore, students are eligible for up to eight weeks of time-off for childbirth and adoption and have the option of taking unpaid Family Leave of Absence.
• At Penn, the Family Resource Center provides additional resources and facilities, such as a children’s playroom and two private lactation rooms, which cater to the needs of students with families. The Center also has two grant programs for PhD students to help offset the cost of childcare and family expenses, and health insurance for dependents.
• Wharton Doctoral Partners & Families is a student-run online resource created to communicate the resources at Penn and Philadelphia to partners and families. Its mission is to empower members to transition and settle into their new lives.

Posted: November 6, 2018

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Doctoral Programs

Start your doctoral journey.

Whether you’re just starting your research on PhD programs or you’re ready to apply, we’ll walk you through the steps to take to become a successful PhD candidate.

Deciding to get a PhD

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Is an Academic Career for You ? What Makes a Successful PhD Student

Preparing for the Doctoral Path

The skills, relationships, and knowledge you need to prepare yourself for a career in academics.

How the PhD Program Works How to Become a Successful PhD Applicant

Choosing the right program

What’s the difference between PhD programs? Find out how to choose one that fits your goals.

What to Consider When Choosing a Doctoral Program

Starting an application

Tips for a successful application process.

Application Requirements Preparing Your PhD Application

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PhD in Communication Studies

Our communication studies PhD program prepares you for a successful career in both post-secondary teaching and research. No matter which concentration you choose, this program emphasizes the connections between sub-fields of communication.

Students may apply to the PhD program with a bachelor's degree or a masters. All accepted to the program receive five years of full funding support . We make every attempt to provide all of the support necessary for our students to enroll in a timely fashion, complete their degrees, and gain meaningful academic employment. Transfer credits for equivalent graduate-level work will be accepted.

An Overview of the Five-Year Program 

The integrative five-year plan allows for coordinated and staged development. However, students entering with an MA in communication studies might be able to truncate the program and finish in a total of four years, if they so choose. 

In your first year, you will join your cohort in taking an introductory seminar and all students attend the departmental Research Colloquium (COMM 8000). The First-Year Seminar (COMM 8101) introduces students to the discipline—including central concepts, theory, and debates that cross-tracks—and provides an introduction to essential aspects of graduate-level scholarship. In the first year, you develop the skills for specific milestone-oriented work to come, such as how to write a quality literature review, articulate a research question, and methodological design. 

In your second year, you will continue to take courses in the department and in affiliated departments related to your specific research interests. By the end of the year, you will write a publishable literature review that demonstrates a high level of competence in your field of interest. 

During the third year, you will complete remaining coursework and prepare three “field statements.” These take-home papers serve as written preliminary examinations and demonstrate advanced knowledge in:

• your major field of study (e.g., critical media studies, rhetoric, interpersonal communication)
• your chosen subfield (e.g., materialist rhetoric, family communication, environmental communication, etc.)
• and the final statement is a detailed syllabus that includes your pedagogical philosophy and orientation to teaching in your field or subfield. These are followed by an oral exam after which you are advanced to candidacy to write your dissertation.

After a funded summer producing your dissertation prospectus, your final two years are dedicated to dissertation research and writing. One of several benefits of having two years to complete the dissertation is the ability to apply for grants, fellowships, and jobs without having to do all of that in a single year.  

Critical Media Studies

Critical media studies approaches mediated communication as a cultural phenomenon, emphasizing media that are socially influential, economically powerful, and politically significant. Drawing from multiple fields of inquiry, faculty offer courses where students can explore the dynamics of race and gender in representation, political economy of media, feminist criticism, environmental communication, poitical communication and popular culture. Students are encouraged to pursue studies of a wide range of media phenomena, from historical studies of media controversies to contemporary explorations of social media and other new technologies.

Rhetorical Studies

Rhetorical studies includes rhetorical criticism, rhetorical theory and public address, mass media criticism, and the history of public address. Faculty teach courses with a focus on social movements, crisis rhetoric, public policy and civic organizations, and feminist and critical theories. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines and methods as they pursue their intellectual interests. 

Interpersonal and Organizational Communication

Interpersonal communication focuses on social scientific research in communication studies. In addition to taking courses in communication theory, research methods, and statistics, students focus on relational communication, marriage and family communication, social support, mindfulness, small group communication, as well as power and communication within organizations. Students are expected to have a proclivity toward quantitative reasoning and statistical training upon entering the program and will advance their quantitative skills and statistical knowledge through coursework and directed research.

College Resources for Graduate Students

Visit CLA’s website for graduate students to learn about collegiate funding opportunities, student support, career services, and more.

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Communication, PhD

Annenberg is interdisciplinary by design. Members of the faculty and students come from a wide range of backgrounds, including Communication, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, History, and Law. Students are also encouraged to supplement their Communication courses with those offered through one of Penn’s 11 other distinguished schools. The result is a vibrant intellectual experience that trains students to apply and adapt diverse theories and methods to the cutting-edge communication issues of the twenty-first century.

All doctoral students are fully funded for up to five years, including tuition and fees, health care, teaching and research fellowships, and dissertation research fellowships. All students also receive yearly research and travel funds, allowing them to develop their research and present it at major national and international conferences. In addition to formal classes, students are able to work with faculty on grant-and center-supported projects, attend and participate in frequent colloquia and workshops, and engage in research and learning opportunities around the globe — all designed to enhance their intellectual growth and professional training.

Annenberg alumni go on to productive and fulfilling careers in academia as well as in research-oriented private and public-sector institutions.

The Annenberg Ph.D. program represents a five-year commitment. In addition to satisfactory completion of the core courses, all students are required to take a noncredit proseminar as well as introductory classes in research methods and statistics. In order to progress to dissertation stage, candidates must  complete the following milestones: Qualifications Evaluation, Comprehensive Exams, and Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defense.

For more information: https://www.asc.upenn.edu/academics/graduate-program

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

Required Courses 

All Ph.D. students must take at least one separate class with each of at least five different members of the ASC standing faculty. The intent of this is to foster students’ knowledge of a diverse range of approaches to communication.

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2023 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Sample Plan of Study

​​​​A typical course plan for a student entering the program without a Master’s degree includes these components:

• Seven semesters of courses, typically three courses per semester
• A Qualifications Evaluation (see below) at the end of semester 4
• A dissertation proposal defense in semester 8
• Dissertation research in semesters 8 through 10
• Dissertation defense and graduation at the end of semester 10

Program Milestones

• Qualifications Evaluation  (QE) is a review conducted to ensure doctoral students have the requisite skills, creativity, initiative, and plans to successfully complete their degree, including their dissertation. The QE must be completed at the end of the semester during which the student accumulates 12 classes (at least eight of which must be acquired at Penn) toward the degree, but no earlier than the end of the first year.
• Comprehensive Exams:  In order to advance to candidacy, become eligible to defend the dissertation proposal and to receive a dissertation research fellowship (DRF), students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination. These exam cover theory, methods and research in the student’s field of expertise. 
• Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defense:  Before becoming eligible for a dissertation research fellowship and beginning work on the dissertation, the student must submit and defend a proposal for dissertation research to his or her Dissertation Committee. The proposal is a full statement of the research problem, including its theoretical rationale and methodology. 

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PhD in Communication

Doctor of philosophy in school of communication.

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At the Intersection of Media, Technology, and Democracy

The AU School of Communication's Doctor of Philosophy in Communication allows you to research at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy. We study how media and technology interact with democratic culture and politics. Communication creates culture; communication is a vector of power; communication is central to democratic action. Our normative orientation toward a healthier democratic process is a theme consistent with the core public service mission of American University. Internet governance, podcasts as news sources, disinformation on Twitter, digital surveillance, facial recognition and power, racism on social media, and state social-media propaganda are all topics of recent dissertations.

Our focus is at the cutting edge of the field of communication studies today, and our students routinely present at our leading conferences. Our approach is also interdisciplinary, and we benefit from the diverse intellectual resources across American University, such as those showcased at the Internet Governance Lab , the AU Game Center ,  the Center for Media & Social Impact , the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies , and the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) . We also tap into our relationships with NGOs, media companies, foundations, and government institutions throughout the Washington metro area. 

In our doctoral program, you'll produce scholarship, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, that has real-world connection and impact . Your work will position you well to pick from career options that range from the professoriate to public policy research to media production to government. 

This is a three-year PhD, and from the moment you arrive, you will be working in a highly-structured program toward your dissertation research, building your networks, and developing publishable projects. You will join us in using knowledge to address our most pressing political and social challenge s . We welcome your application to become a part of the next generation of communication scholars, professors, leaders, and practitioners.

Demonstrate Your Commitment and Interest

Applicants for the Communication (PhD) degree program must hold an accredited bachelor's degree and a master's degree in communication, or a related field, with a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, unless the applicant demonstrates comparable experience. The degree does not have to be in the field of communication or be research-based, as many of our PhD students have master's degrees in film or journalism. 

Applicants must submit a statement of purpose that outlines the intended research area, what research methods and theories the applicant will use, and which faculty members the applicant hopes to work with.

The candidate must also submit either a master's thesis or another example of substantial research. The GRE is optional. Students should submit their official GRE scores to CEEB code 5007 if desired.

The School of Communication's PhD program operates on a hard deadline. Applications must be received by December 15th.  Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

A complete PhD application consists of the following:

• Statement of purpose
• University transcripts from all universities attended (transcripts from outside of the U.S. must be evaluated by a NACES approevd organization)
• Two letters of recommendation
• GRE scores (optional)
• Master's thesis (or another example of substantial research)
• Proof of English proficiency (100 on the TOEFL, 7.0 on the IELTS, 120 on Duolingo, or a bachelor or master's degree from a university in an English speaking country)

The admissions committee may ask applicants to interview with the program director and affiliated faculty. Interviews are conducted either on campus or virtually.

Financing Your Education

Each year, we welcome several doctoral students with full tuition remission as well as a graduate assistantship . We may also offer admission to top candidates without merit funding. If funding becomes available, students admitted without funding may be eligible to receive a merit package from the school.

The PhD in Communication is 54 credit hours. To estimate the cost of tuition , please see the current cost per credit hour for graduate students.

Students whose funding package includes a graduate assistantship will work as research or teaching assistants for 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. 

The School of Communication offers graduate students both merit-based and need-based financial aid . Merit awards, named scholarships, and fellowships are administered by the SOC Graduate Admissions Office, while need-based awards are administered by the American University Office of Financial Aid . Several prestigious graduate fellowships are also available for students in the Political Communication program. Additional financial support is available for veterans .

Each year, we welcome several doctoral students with full tuition remission as well as a graduate assistantship. We may also offer admission to top candidates without merit funding. If funding becomes available, students admitted without funding may be eligible to receive a merit package from the school. 

All merit awards are based on your academic merit and professional experience , specifically your undergraduate grades and leadership activities as well as career-related accomplishments. Merit awards are valid for one year-they vary in amount, are typically divided evenly between the fall and spring semesters, and are not typically renewable.

Some merit awards come in the form of graduate assistantships , which consist of graduate tuition remission, a stipend, or both. Tuition remission will vary in the number of credits offered. If you are offered a stipend, you must employed as a graduate assistant for a School of Communication faculty member for 10 hours per week.

Graduate Fellowships for Political Communication

The School of Communication offers prestigious merit-based fellowships in partnership with leading Washington, DC-based media organizations. These fellowships provide varying amounts of tuition remission and stipend and allow you to pursue professional projects with some of the finest media organizations while completing your graduate program. Separate applications are required . 

Research fellowships at academic centers within the School of Communication and throughout the university may also be available.

Unless indicated, students may not accept both a graduate assistantship and a graduate fellowship.

 Advanced Study at Your Convenience 

The School of Communication makes continuing on for your advanced degree a simple, straightforward process. You may apply for admission to our combined bachelor of arts/master of arts program during the second semester of your junior year (after completing 75 credits, but before you have completed 90 credits). Students in any undergraduate major at AU are eligible for consideration. An undergraduate degree in communication is not required.

You may apply for combined degrees in Political Communication, Strategic Communication, Film and Video, Journalism and Public Affairs, Game Design, or International Media.

More information about admissions requirements can be found here.

Meet Our Students

Our students produce scholarship, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, that has real-world connection and impact.

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Course Progression

Complete your degree in three years.

In contrast to the traditional 9-month-per-year schedule, your annual course of study takes place over 11 months, including faculty supervision and mentoring via formal course work, organized research group meetings, and online collaboration. The  accelerated structure  of your program allows you to complete your degree in three years.

You'll take six required courses, three each in the fall and spring semester. Depending on your past master's coursework and professional experience, you may be able to petition for credit for methods and/or statistics course work, substituting an advanced methods course or other elective. The required teaching seminar prepares you to work as a teaching assistant in an undergraduate course during your second year of coursework. Students who have prior college teaching experience or who have already taken a similar teaching seminar as part of their master's program can place out of this course, substituting an additional elective. In the summer immediately following your first year, you'll enroll in one course for credit and participate in research group meetings.

COMM-704: Media, Technology & Democracy (3) This is a foundation overview course focused on scholarship and analysis concerning the intersections of media, technology, and democracy. It also introduces other core courses and study concentrations for advanced study in these topics.

COMM-750: Advanced Media Theory (3) This course examines a range of theories for explaining the complex interrelationships among media, technology, human behavior, social interaction, and democratic processes. It provides an in-depth comparative analysis of theoretical approaches from a variety of academic fields including mass communication, cultural studies, film criticism, and digital media.

COMM-751: Advanced Media Research Methods (3) This course covers major social scientific, historical, ethnographic, qualitative, and critical approaches to media research, including discussions of epistemology, conceptualization, measurement, and ethics.

COMM-754: Media, Law & Policy (3) This course equips students with a strong grounding in U.S laws, policies, and regulatory infrastructure. It analyzes how public debates and political struggles over policy issues have shaped the culture, structure, and operations of contemporary U.S. media industries and institutions.

COMM-711: Teaching Seminar (3) This course provides students with career preparation knowledge, including understanding the culture and history of higher education, teaching skills, and career skills including submission to journals, book proposals, finding appropriate job opportunities, writing cover letters and doing job interviews. Some individual coaching is also involved.

NOTE: This course begins the Friday BEFORE school starts in spring semester, with attendance at an all-day event, the Ann Ferren Conference. This affects your travel schedule over winter holidays!

Approved graduate statistics or research methods course (3) (by preference) OR

Elective selected in consultation with faculty mentor (3)

Note: Students will work with their faculty mentor, who must have an appropriate terminal degree, to select two electives for the first fall semester.

COMM-755: Research Design in Communication (3). This course strengthens student skills in defining an answerable research questions and finding appropriate methodologies.

In the fall, you'll take two electives and a course to prepare you for the comprehensive examinations. By the end of your fall semester, you'll be expected to have gained approval and to have finalized the four faculty members of your doctoral committee, with at least one member being from outside of the School of Communication. At the beginning of your spring semester, you'll begin your qualifying exams. This process takes approximately one month from the assignment of questions to a successful written and oral defense. You will also take a seminar to guide you in developing your dissertation proposal. By the end of the spring semester or beginning of the summer, students are expected to have successfully defended their dissertation proposals and to spend the summer focused on dissertation research.

COMM-860 Seminar in Doctoral Teaching and Research (3) Creation of dissertation literature review and preparation for the comprehensive exam. Introduction to teaching philosophies and strategies, preparation for scholarly career in Communication Studies.

Approved elective courses (6)

Approved graduate statistics or research methods course (3)

COMM-861: Advanced Research & Project Development (3) Prepares students for advancing to candidacy by taking the comprehensive exam and preparing a dissertation proposal.

COMM-898: Doctoral Continuing Enrollment (6) May be taken by doctoral students completing coursework, exams or proposals in preparation for advancement to candidacy.

In the fall and spring semesters, you'll register for dissertation research credits. During the fall and spring semesters, you will also probably be applying and interviewing for jobs, drawing upon information from your first-year course, COMM 711 and on your mentors’ advice. By late spring, your dissertation committee expects to have about six weeks to read and respond to a dissertation draft and to read and respond to a revised version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should apply to the phd in communication program.

Applicants could be interested in tenure track, faculty positions in academia, or seeking careers at prestigious institutions in government, industry, and/or the nonprofit community.

How can the PhD program help strengthen my pedagogical skills?

In addition to the teaching seminars and teaching assistantships that are part of the regular doctoral curriculum, The Art of Teaching is a one-credit course offered each spring semester for PhD students who want to learn more about educational pedagogy. The course was originally designed by American University's former provost, Milton Greenberg.

Previously known as the Greenberg Seminars for Effective Teaching, this course complements the PhD academic experience, providing hands-on, practical introduction to professional development and classroom techniques. PhD students can participate at any time during their PhD program. There is no tuition fee for the course.

What are areas of faculty expertise?

Our program is focused on impactful research at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy. Our faculty and students study how media messages and communication technologies shape, and are shaped by, social and governmental processes. Specific sites of research range from Internet governance to music and film culture to social and political organizing to journalism to new media and games. We study communication patterns and their meanings across and between societies on a global scale, including, every continent in addition to indigenous and stateless groups. We draw upon cultural production, critical communication, science and technology studies, law and society perspectives, and other theories, and we use both quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as policy analysis.

What kinds of positions do alumni have now?

Our alumni have found full time and tenure-track jobs at universities throughout the U.S. and around the world, as well as prestigious post-doctoral positions and non-profit and government posts.

What kinds of collaborations can I expect with faculty?

You are assigned a mentor when you first arrive, a selection that results from both your stated interests and faculty interest. This assignment can change by request. You can expect to work with your mentor and, potentially, other faculty on research resulting in joint publications and conference presentations. In your second year, you may assist a faculty member with teaching. Several recent alumni have continued to collaborate with SOC faculty and student colleagues after graduation, resulting in dozens of published research articles, book chapters, and policy papers.

What other opportunities do the school and university offer?

The PhD program offers several PhD Symposia throughout the year, offering informal presentations of completed work and work in progress by both students and faculty. The  Internet Governance Lab , a joint program in the School of Communication and School of International Service, offers a range of activities throughout the year, putting a spotlight on Internet policy. The Center for Media & Social Impact offers workshops, events, a biannual conference, and research projects for which you can apply as research assistant. The AU Game Center  provides a community of scholars and graduate students in numerous programs across the university engaged in the design, production, and study of games, including the cultural and social impact of the medium, with substantial opportunities for collaboration with faculty, staff, and students across multiple related fields and contexts. The Institute for Immersive Designs, Experiences, Applications, and Stories (Institute for IDEAS) offers paid fellowships and research projects for which you can apply as a research assistant, often collaborating with faculty at other institutions. The PhD programs in the School of Communication, School of International Service, and School of Public Affairs jointly host a day-long research conference featuring work in progress by their PhD students, in February. The university-wide Center for Teaching, Research and Learning (CTRL) provides tools and programs throughout the year to help faculty and PhD students with best practices in teaching, and hosts an annual conference on teaching in January. PhD students are welcome, at no cost. CTRL also offers training and access to research tools . Finally, each PhD student receives enough annual funding to attend at least one major scholarly conference or event, anywhere in the world.

What are examples of dissertations students have written?

Our students have explored a wide diversity of interests with rigorous research, including dissertations such as:

• Lucy Odigie, “Digital Margins: Digital Technology Use, Social Change and the Empowering Strategies of Domestic Workers of Color in Brooklyn, NY”
• Isabelle Zaugg, “Ethiopic: Coding for Linguistic Survival in the Face of Digital Extinction”
• Aras Cosuntuncel, “Networking Authoritarian Neoliberalism: Realigned Strategies of Information Control and Resistance in the Case of Turkey” Dorian Davis, “The Twitter Election? New Perspectives on Agenda-Building during the 2016 Campaign”
• Louisa Imperiale, “Democracy for Sale: A Critical Examination of the Political-Media Complex at work in Campaign Finance and Political Broadcast Regulation in U.S. Presidential Elections from 1976 to 2016”
• Fernanda Rosa, “Global Internet Interconnection Infrastructure: Materiality, Concealment and Surveillance in Contemporary Communication”
• Donte Newman, “Straddling the Fence: How White Facebook Users Express Ambivalence to Navigate the Context Collapse”
• Emily O’Connell, “Hybrid Systems and Hybrid Genres: Exploring U.S. Political Podcast Framing Tactics and Effects”

How many applicants are admitted each year?

Five people are selected each year to join the program, and there are usually about 20 people in the program at any one time.

Can I attend part-time?

The program is designed to be full-time.

Can I take courses outside of the School of Communication?

The SOC PhD program was designed as an interdisciplinary program. We encourage students to take full advantage of the wealth of resources and opportunities across the university, including taking courses and finding expertise in other departments, as well as courses at our partner universities around Washington, DC. Dissertation committees are required to include at least one member outside of the school.

Can I complete my PhD program in 3 years?

The program is designed to be completed in three years, and more than half of our PhD students accomplish their goal in doing so.

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Engaged Communication for PhD Students

Teaching is an act of scholarly communication, and developing communication skills is an important component of professional development. We offer programs in teaching and scholarly communication for PhD students at every stage, from newly matriculated students who want to develop strategies to more easily explain their work, to dissertation-stage students preparing to share short versions of their research on the Sanders Theatre stage. This year we focused on communicating in person (both with masks and without) after more than a year of being confined to a small square on Zoom, and getting used to a hybrid academic world where it is important to be a compelling teacher and communicator both in person and on Zoom. Our programs prompt students to consider how to set goals, structure their content, and use their voice to keep their audiences engaged. We are excited to share that we have compiled our key communication resources into a new module, Engaged Communication , on our Hit the Ground Running site.

Much of our expertise in communication is built on our familiarity with foreign language pedagogy, and specifically the components of oral English language proficiency that we teach through the Professional Communication Program for International Teachers and Scholars . In Sarah Emory’s fall seminar, Enhancing Fluency: Speaking and Listening for International TFs , it was especially apparent how things like eye contact and getting comfortable interacting in person again are as crucial to successful communication as are clear speaking skills. After a year of living remotely, students have been more grateful than ever for the opportunity to learn, practice, and get feedback on their speaking skills in person. As one student noted, “Learning the strategies for general organizing structures and having chances to meet and talk with other students across the campus in English helped me improve!”

Last fall we invited our colleague Erika Bailey, Head of Voice and Speech at the American Repertory Theater and Lecturer on Theater, Dance and Media, to speak at the Fall Teaching Conference on Teaching with Presence, as we all wondered what it would be like to use our voices and bodies in person again, especially as we got used to teaching while masked. We continued this exploration in Pamela Pollock’s Bok Seminar, Engaging Audiences in our Professional Stories , where we practiced communicating our research and giving talks in person, but also on Zoom, to compare how our strategies change and what adjustments we need to make based on our communication medium. As one student noted, “It was great that we were able to reflect as a group on our communication and other scholarly practices!”

Finally, we have been working hard this spring to prepare the 2022 Harvard Horizons Scholars to present their research on the Sanders Theatre stage on April 12 . The Bok Center has supported the Harvard Horizons program since it launched in 2013. Building on all the skills we teach in our seminars and workshops across the Center, we work with the scholars intensively as they grapple with important questions in their research, decide what story to tell, develop compelling visuals, and engage their voice and body in the crafting and delivery of short talks about their dissertation research.

We hope to see you in Sanders on April 12! If you would like to learn more about any of our programs for PhD students, please contact Pamela Pollock , Director of Professional Development.

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication

Learn More About The Program

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Expand Your Career Opportunities with Liberty’s Ph.D. in Communication

Communication Studies encompasses various subfields, including mass communication, interpersonal communication, organizational communication, and intercultural communication. Each subfield focuses on different aspects of human communication and its impact on individuals, groups, and society as a whole. If you have a passion for understanding how people communicate, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Communication can open doors to exciting opportunities. In the field of Communication, a Ph.D. program equips students with the necessary skills to contribute to the ever-changing landscape of communication theory and practice.

Instead of focusing on norms and routines in the communication field, you will dive deeper into the “how” and “why” behind everyday practices. Your studies in communication at this level will allow you to practice all the elements of crisis communication and learn how to conduct effective research, properly assess data, and tell your company’s story better than ever before. This degree  provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a field you’re passionate about, contribute to the body of knowledge, and become an expert in your chosen area of research.

A Ph.D. in Communication opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities. It prepares you for academic positions such as professorships and research positions at universities and colleges worldwide. Additionally, it equips you with the skills to work in research institutions, think tanks, consulting firms, government organizations, and non-profit sectors. Additionally, pursuing a Ph.D. is not just about acquiring knowledge; it’s also a transformative personal journey. It challenges you to think critically, develop strong analytical skills, and refine your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. It’s an opportunity for personal and intellectual growth that extends beyond the confines of the classroom. At Liberty, we are excited about partnering with you as you complete advanced research and study in the field of communication.

What Will You Learn in Your Ph.D. in Communication Program?

• Insight into communication theory in digital and strategic communication.
• Communication applications for nonprofit and for-profit organizations, as well as higher education settings.
• How to use insight tools, data gathering, and various other industry techniques to translate your research into effective field practice.
• Critical problem-solving skills to examine current and solution-oriented literature.

Career Opportunities for Ph.D. in Communication Graduates

• Advertising/public relations executive
• Chief customer experience officer
• Communications executive
• Director of online sales and services
• Research manager
• Social media executive
• University administrator
• University professor
• Vice president of customer satisfaction

Benefits of Pursuing Liberty’s Ph.D. in Communication

As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.

Here’s what sets us apart:

• We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility . Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America . Earning your online Ph.D. in Communication degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
• Our faculty members have real-world experience in the field of communication and invest in students by providing them with practical skills they can use to further their careers.

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want — at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only  $300/credit hour . Here’s how:

• If you’re earning or have earned a master’s degree through Liberty, you automatically qualify for the low price (when you begin within 2 years of your master’s completion).
• If you haven’t earned a graduate degree through Liberty, our Executive Certificate program allows you to pay only $300/credit hour for a postgraduate certificate that can stand alone or potentially count as the first 21 hours of a related doctoral degree. Then pay just $300/credit hour for your doctorate. Learn more!

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Interested in studying on campus?

Transfer Credits

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Date

Jun 24, 2024

Accreditation

Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC

“In the times in which we’re living today, Liberty University’s mission , the mission of training up a generation of Champions for Christ in literally every occupation, has never been more important .”

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE

Experience That Matters to You

As an accredited Christian college with a 7,000-acre campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University offers you an education that is both academically challenging and rooted in a biblical worldview.

At Liberty, you’ll benefit from 35+ years of learning, growing, adapting, and innovating for the distance learner — and more than a decade of researching the needs of the online student. You can be confident that we’ve taken the time to learn what’s important to you.

And what’s that?

• Affordability
• Accessibility
• Academic Quality

These important factors challenged us to find new financial solutions, get ahead of industry trends, and blaze trails into cutting-edge career fields — and it’s paid off. That’s the difference experience makes.

Ranked in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America   and recognized by multiple institutions for   academic quality, affordability, and accessibility.

Why Choose Liberty University?

Enjoy flexible courses.

Choose from a wide variety of programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level, most of which are 100% online*. With an 8-week format and 8 start dates per year, it’s easy to fit your courses around your schedule!

* Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Maximize Your Time

Start and finish your degree faster! Liberty requires no standardized testing for admission, and you can transfer previous course credit — transfer in up to 75% of a bachelor’s degree and up to 50% of a master’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree — or discover how your life, career, or military experience may count toward your college degree.

Grow in Your Faith

All of our courses are taught from a Christian perspective, and our faculty see themselves as mentors. Our mission is to Train Champions for Christ — we’re committed to championing you as you study to go further in your field, become a leader in your industry, or start a new career.

Access Academic Support

Throughout your educational journey, you will have access to academic resources that will aid in the completion of your degree. Services include our Jerry Falwell Library, writing center, tutoring, study aids, IT assistance, 30+ tutorial videos, live webinars, and personalized help from our academic advising team.

An Online Education with On-Campus Benefits

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Be inspired by world-renowned speakers at Convocation

Why we’re nonprofit.

As a nonprofit (not-for-profit) university, Liberty is in the business of training skilled professionals to make a difference in the world – not gaining profit, revenue, or producing dividends for shareholders. In keeping with our commitment to your education, we invest our resources back into degree programs and into your student experience.

While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university and has not increased tuition for 9 straight years. Lower tuition means less student loan debt for students.

For Liberty University, nonprofit is more than a status; it is a valuable opportunity to invest in the lives of students who will go out and impact the world.

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Financing Options

Financial aid.

Nearly 80% of all Liberty students in an online program are awarded financial aid. Virginia residents may qualify for additional aid — learn more !

Corporate Tuition Assistance

Deferred – If your company reimburses you for the cost of your education, you pay only a portion of your balance up front. You submit your grades to your employer who pays you, and then you pay the remaining balance for your classes.

Tuition Discounts

Qualified military service members, veterans, and their spouses can receive up to 55% off their tuition rate for eligible programs!

Contact one of our Admissions Counselors for more information by calling (800) 424-9595 .

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, Non-Degree Seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and Certificates.

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Communication Ph.D.

Study the different ways people communicate, so you can prepare for leadership roles across the globe.

Communication plays a fundamental role in our global society and it is imperative for us to recognize and appreciate the international and intercultural contexts in which it occurs. With a Ph.D. in Communication from UND, you'll learn about human communication across diverse cultures and through multiple systems.

Why earn a Ph.D. in communication?

*Priority deadline

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Understanding the different ways people communicate around the world will help you address socially and globally pressing communication challenges. The Communication Ph.D. at UND is a competitive program that provides you with knowledge and skills that will set you apart as a leader in international and intercultural communication.

Intensive Communication Research Ph.D. Program

Through both the on-campus and 100% online program tracks, you'll work hand-in-hand with research faculty recognized for their work in:

• Interpersonal and persuasive communication
• Risk and crisis communication
• New media and cyberculture
• Strategic communication in digital and social media environments

Online students must be enrolled full-time; on-campus students have the option of enrolling full-time or part time. This is to ensure adequate support for research initiatives.

Due to the research intensive nature of the program we encourage you to review our program's faculty profiles to learn more about individual faculty research interests and expertise. All students will be assigned a faculty advisor directly when conducting research.

Undergraduate to Ph.D. in Communication

Unique to our program, undergraduate students are allowed to apply directly to this Ph.D. program. If you have a bachelor's in Communication , our curriculum allows you to earn your master's in Communication at the same time you are working on a Ph.D.

UND's Communication Ph.D.

Learn from recognized leaders in the field of international and intercultural communication.

Develop your research interest in strategic communication, health communication, interpersonal and organizational communication, and much more.

Take part in graduate teaching assistantships. Positions available for students in both on-campus and 100% online tracks.

Earn a non-thesis master's degree on your way to completing your doctorate in our program.

S tudy closely with faculty across the broad range of communication areas to prepare for both careers and citizenship.

Understand how information processes and communication technologies affect and benefit diverse local and global communities.

Communication Ph.D. Careers

Projected growth for employment of post-secondary teachers from 2022 to 2032

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median annual salary for post-secondary teachers

Upon completion of your Communication doctoral program, you'll emerge as a proficient communication specialist, equipped to excel in academia or thrive in media-related field.

Graduates of the University of North Dakota's Communications Ph.D. program have embarked on leadership roles in global and cross-cultural communication. The have job titles such as:

• Director of Communications: Spearheading communication strategies, our alumni often assume pivotal roles directing and shaping organizational messaging.
• Researcher: Equipped with advanced research skills, our graduates contribute valuable insights to the dynamic field of communication studies.
• Consultant: Our alumni serve as consultants, offering strategic guidance to organizations seeking to enhance their communication effectiveness.
• Policymaker: Some of our graduates leverage their communication acumen to influence policies. They participate in shaping regulations and standards on a local and global scale.

A substantial number of our graduates choose to contribute to higher education through teaching and advanced research. These paths have led them to roles such as:

• Department Head: Our alumni guide the direction of communication studies by taking on leadership positions within academic departments.
• Professorship: Achieving the pinnacle of academic success, our graduates secure professorships, where they shape the next generation of communication professionals.
• Associate Professorship: In roles as associate professors, our alumni engage in both teaching and research endeavors.
• Lecturer: Our graduates bring their practical experience and academic insights to the classroom.

Communication Ph.D. Courses

COMM 530. Communication, Society, & Diversity. 3 Credits.

An examination of how people from similar and different cultural, ethnic, national, racial, religious, and/or sexual backgrounds interact with each other, institutions, and society. The course covers issues of representation, identity, and difference. On demand.

COMM 525. Interpersonal Relations and Communication. 3 Credits.

Face-to-face and mediated transactions between two people or people in small groups in diverse settings. Deals with inquiry, conflict management, interpersonal sensitivity, individuality, and conformity.

COMM 535. Intercultural Communication. 3 Credits.

This course incorporates critical conceptualizations of identity, "the Other", and multiculturalism. It explores theoretical reflections of the symbolic systems of unfamiliar cultures, and the emergence of mutual understanding.

COMM 540. Communication and Organizations. 3 Credits.

Examines the general communication processes and dynamics within and among organizations and explores the dynamics in network organizations, with a particular focus on communication in interpersonal groups and inter-organizational working teams. Theories of power and politics in and among organizations, as well as of decision-making, conflict management, and strategic communication are explored.

COMM 550. International and Global Communication. 3 Credits.

An analysis of international media, comparative telecommunications systems and globalization. Covers issues such as transnational communication, global journalism, satellite broadcasting and communication in diplomacy and international affairs.

COMM 523. Social Network Analysis & Visualization. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to introduce you to the theory, methods, and procedures of network analysis with emphasis on applications to communication and social behavior. The goal of the course is to provide a working knowledge of the concepts and methods used to describe and analyze social networks so that you can apply it to important questions in your profession. S.

Best Ph.D. in Communications

UND's Communications Ph.D. ranks among the best for educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes.

#15 MOST AFFORDABLE ONLINE DEGREE

Online Communication Ph.D.

best online university in the nation

best online graduate programs

The entire degree program is fully online. You are never required to come to campus.

Online Communication Ph.D. students are highly encouraged to attend live, synchronous online courses in order to get the most out of class participation. However, online courses are recorded and can be viewed at another time, to fit your schedule.

Top-Tier Online Communication Ph.D. Program

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs. No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

• Same degree:  All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) . Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
• Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
• Real interaction:  You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
• Your own academic advisor:  As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
• Free online tutoring:  We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
• Unlimited academic coaching:  Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
• Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
• 24/7 technical support:  UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
• Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

• Affordability
• Student satisfaction (retention rate)
• Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
• Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Leaders that Do

Students at UND take chances, seek challenges and become leaders in the community.

Check out the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional education opportunities.

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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 Units: 4
• COMM 526x Humanistic and Social Scientific Approaches to Human Communication II Units: 4
• COMM 550 Quantitative Research Methods in Communication Units: 4
• COMM 552 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication Units: 4

And Doctoral Dissertation

• COMM 794a Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2 are required for all students
• COMM 794b Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2 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 Units: 4
• COMM 511x Contemporary Rhetorical Theory Units: 4
• COMM 512x Rhetorical Criticism Units: 4
• COMM 513x Neoclassical Rhetorical Theory Units: 4
• COMM 514x Social Movements as Rhetorical Form Units: 4
• COMM 515x Postmodern Rhetorical Theory Units: 4
• COMM 517x Rhetorical Theory and Culture Units: 4
• COMM 518x American Public Address Units: 4
• COMM 520 The Rhetoric of the Presidential Campaign Trail Units: 4
• COMM 521x Argumentation Units: 4
• COMM 522x Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Theory Units: 4
• COMM 573 Networked Publics: Theories and Encounters Units: 4
• COMM 576 Civic Media and Participatory Politics Units: 4
• COMM 580 Media and Politics Units: 4

(2) Media, Culture and Community:

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

(3) Health Communication and Social Dynamics:

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

(4) Groups, Organizations and Networks:

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

(5) Political Economy of Global Communication:

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

(6) Information, Political Economy and Entertainment:

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

(7) New Media and Technology:

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

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 program of study in which at least 8 units (normally two courses) are taken in a related field outside Communication.

Students entering the School of Communication with a master’s degree may, with approval, apply part of their previous graduate course work toward the PhD degree.

Students will develop methodological abilities through coursework, collaboration with faculty advisers and mentors, work with Annenberg research groups and centers, and individual and group research projects.

Qualifying Exam Committee

This committee is composed of five faculty members, at least three of whom have appointments in the School of Communication. Students are expected to work closely with the members of their qualifying exam committee 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 qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

Qualifying examinations for the PhD usually are taken near the end of the third year of study following completion of all required courses. The examination includes both written and oral portions. The student’s qualifying exam committee composes the questions for the written portion of the exam and administers the oral defense. Students must pass both portions to advance to candidacy.

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.

Doctoral Dissertation Committee

This committee is composed of at least three and no more than five faculty members. A majority of the committee must have an appointment in the School of Communication.

Defense of Dissertation

Dissertations are defended in a formal meeting with the dissertation committee prior to submission of the final manuscript to the Graduate School.

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CollegeRank.net

Best College Rankings

Best PhD Communications Degrees

Quick Highlights:

• Our #1 ranked school for a PhD in communications is  Temple University , followed by  Purdue University .
• These programs prepare students for advanced careers in academia , research, and various industries.
• Many programs offer interdisciplinary study options , allowing students to combine communications with other fields.
• Graduates are equipped for diverse roles in marketing, government, education, and more.

Communication is one of the broadest areas of study that can lead to numerous well-paid and secure careers, and earning your PhD in this discipline could help you to reach the most coveted roles.

With a PhD in Communications, you’ll be ready to pursue rewarding careers in academia, research, and numerous other fields. Your strong understanding of how meaning is conveyed across different contexts, social groups, and technologies means you could also find great success in marketing careers, government organizations, and many other industries. Let us help you make a decision abut doctoral programs.

• Top PhD in English Programs
• Best Creative Writing MFA Programs

What Are the Best PhD in Communications Degrees?

At CollegeRank , we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. Please feel free to visit our dedicated methodology page for a step-by-step breakdown. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Whether you are studying communication theories, strategic communications or an interdisciplinary field, there are doctoral programs for you.

Best Communication Doctoral Programs

Temple university.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Average Net Price

Founded in 1884 as a night school for working professionals, Temple University has advanced to become one of the leading institutions in the nation, with around 40,000 students attending annually. Both undergraduate and graduate programs are available at the Philadelphia campus, with a total of around 500 programs offered. 

Temple University’s top PhD in media and communication degree program integrates studies in a range of areas, including social sciences and the humanities. This doctoral program will prepare PhD students for careers in education, consulting, finance, and others. In addition to working closely with your peers, PhD students will contribute to faculty research and publications.

Courses and areas of study will cover research areas like:

• Political communication
• Laws and policies relating to the media industry
• Emerging media and technology
• Global media
• Information and communication technologies
• Strategic communication

You’ll also have access to and benefit from guest speakers and events such as Best Practices for Publishing Journal Articles. Temple University was ranked among the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in 2017.

Purdue University

West Lafayette, Indiana

Ranking highly among the nation’s most innovative universities, Purdue University was founded in 1862 and continues to celebrate its rich history and traditions to this day. Examples include the institution’s on-campus, annual Grand Prix event, in addition to the official song sung by students: “Hail Purdue”. 

PhD students may earn a non-thesis or thesis-based master’s degree in addition to their dissertation-based doctorate. This can be in one of five specializations and research areas, including:

• Health communication
• Interpersonal communication
• Organizational communication
• Media technology & society
• Public relations

What’s more, there are opportunities available for cross-discipline study. Purdue’s School of Management allows you to combine your communications program with studies in human resource management. Other options include:

• gerontology
• information security

This highly flexible doctoral program structure allows you to tailor your program to your career aspirations. 

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers was established in 1766, making it the eighth oldest institution of higher education in the nation, with a study body nearly 70,000-strong. Based at the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University, the School of Communication and Information (SC&I) was established in 1982. It has one of the top communication doctoral programs.

The top PhD in communication, information, and media at Rutgers University offers three areas of concentration:

• Communication
• Library and information science
• Media studies

The curriculum focuses on information and media organizations and their processes, policies, and technology, in addition to how these organizations and processes relate to society and individuals. 

The communication concentration focuses on research connected to five research areas: 

• Communication and technology
• Language and social interaction

Faculty members include nationally and internationally recognized experts, many having received article, book, and career awards for their research areas.

Louisiana State University

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Louisiana State University first opened its doors to students in 1860 under the name Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana. Programs are offered at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and over $300 million in financial aid is given to students each year. In fact, around two-thirds of the student body graduates without student debt. 

LSU’s PhD program in communication is offered via the LSU department of communication studies. In addition to the PhD and several master’s degree options, prospective students can enroll in the M.A. to PhD fast track program, which results in both qualifications. Upon acceptance into the doctoral program, PhD students will work with the graduate committee to develop your individualized curriculum. 

The standard PhD track comprises 72 credit hours, including examinations and a dissertation; it’ll take around 4 years to complete or 7 years maximum (part-time). Through required core courses, PhD students gain a foundation in subjects such as:

• research writing
• communication theory
• strategic communication

Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio

Prospective PhD students wishing to attend Ohio State’s doctoral program must already have a four-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution. You’ll also need to evidence a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, in addition to providing transcriptions and evidencing successful completion of the GRE or GMAT. 

The coursework you’ll complete in this top communication PhD program focuses on providing a solid foundation in communication theory, in addition to how this existing knowledge can be used to generate new learning through research activity. You will have the opportunity to attend professional conferences, and you will design, plan, execute, and publish your own research findings. 

You’ll be mentored by distinguished scholars and guided in creating your own personalized program of study, emphasizing areas where your own interests meet those of the faculty. During your doctoral studies, you will also be encouraged to collaborate with world class faculty members and contribute to both journal articles and papers.

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The University of Minnesota has one of the top doctoral programs for communication. It has an annual enrollment of around 50,000 students, supported by 20,000 dedicated staff and faculty. Founded in 1851, the main campus – Twin Cities – is located on the banks of the Mississippi and is one of the only five universities in the country to boast dedicated schools for engineering, medicine, law, and veterinary studies on a single campus. 

While this communications PhD program is designed to be completed in five years, you may be able to complete the doctoral program in four years if you hold a master’s degree in communication studies. The PhD curriculum focuses on the connections between each subfield in the discipline of communication. 

Your first year of study will focus on foundation knowledge and central concepts and theory in communication. In year two, you’ll take courses related to your specific research interests and write a literature review to a publishable standard. Year three requires completion of the remaining coursework, with your final two years dedicated to dissertation work.

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

Students at the University at Buffalo benefit from a huge range of opportunities outside of the classroom. Student clubs and organizations are vast, with more than 600 available to choose from. There’s also a Division I athletics program, regularly scheduled music concerts and other events, and frequent guest speakers present on a range of topics. UB has one of the best communication doctoral programs.

Coursework in this doctoral program focuses on research methodologies and the theory of communication, with students prepared to take on research-based positions in a range of industries. Unlike other doctoral programs that specialize in areas such as mass communication or speech theory, this curriculum is aligned with the faculty’s research interests. 

Graduate students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework beyond the master’s program curriculum, maintaining a QPA (quality point average) of at least 3.0. You will also be expected to complete research electives, department electives, and free electives, in addition to producing two publication-quality research papers.

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

Champaign, Illinois

Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign today welcomes around 47,000 students annually from around the globe. It has risen to become one of the top 15 ranked public universities and was the birthplace of the first graphical web browser. UIUC also counts 29 Pulitzer Prize winners among its alumni. 

The faculty at the University of Illinois’ Institute of Communications Research (ICR) come from three academic departments:

• Advertising
• Media and cinema studies

They’re also engaged with numerous interdisciplinary activities across campus, meaning you’ll receive a broad and well-rounded program of study in this program. 

Admission to the PhD in communications and media requires that prospective students  have either a bachelor’s or master’s degree that relates to an area within the humanities, physical sciences, or social sciences. The program itself requires the completion of 64 credits of dissertation research and coursework for those who already hold a master’s degree. 

University of Oklahoma

Norman, Oklahoma

Students at the University of Oklahoma have a choice of more than 400 clubs and organizations, organized events on-campus, and broad athletic programs. With a campus located close to the welcoming community of Norman, OK, and just a half-hour outside of Oklahoma City, you’ll never be short of activities outside the lecture hall. 

This PhD communication program allows specialization in one or more areas of interest. These research areas include:

• Intercultural/international communication
• Interpersonal communication and social influence
• Political/mass communication
• Communication technology

The PhD program requires a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree level. 

PhD students enrolling in this program are required to take a number of core courses, in addition to earning 32 hours of coursework within a concentration of their choosing. Core courses include:

• Quantitative Research Methodology
• Advanced Statistics
• Qualitative research methods
• The History and Theory of Communication
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Strategic Communication

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University (FSU) has been ranked a top 10 university for best value by Kiplinger’s Best College Values. It’s also known for having the highest four-year graduation rate among the state’s public universities. The institution excels in particular in the arts and sciences. 

Including 48 credit hours of graduate coursework and at least 24 hours of dissertation project work, this PhD communication program provides you with a core set of common courses that will provide a broad understanding of the field of communication, and the methodological, philosophical, and theoretical aspects of communication scholarship. 

Florida State’s doctoral program offers supervised teaching opportunities, often including teaching at an undergraduate level in communication. You’ll also gain training in essential skills such as classroom management and research skills, which would be invaluable for any future university instructors. Regular workshops are also offered, which focus on innovation in e-learning methods.

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) is part of the University of North Carolina System and was founded in 1887. The student body comprises more than 35,000 learners and the institution specializes in programs in the humanities, social sciences, and teaching and research, making it an excellent choice for communications majors. 

NC State’s communication and English department is located within the Research Triangle, a growing community and highly regarded location of innovation and research in Raleigh, North Carolina. In this program, you’ll gain both teaching and research experience, and you’ll benefit from a flexible curriculum of core elective courses and seminars. 

The communication, rhetoric, and digital media (CRDM) faculty engages with other research departments and organizations within the Research Triangle, providing a wealth of expertise and experience for you to benefit from. You’ll cover subfields including:

• new communication media
• the cultural, political, and social aspects of information technology

Indiana University – Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University Bloomington has over 700,000 graduate alumni who have benefited from nearly 400 study abroad programs and more than 750 student organizations. The university participates in 24 sports, with students known as Hoosiers. They also have a choice of more than 200 undergraduate programs and nationally recognized graduate programs. 

This PhD in media arts and sciences comprises 90 credits and provides a broad and customizable curriculum that can lead into many varied careers. It’s one of the top research doctoral programs in media and communication, featuring small class sizes and a leading faculty. 

As part of the admission requirements, you’ll need to have a four-year bachelor’s and two-year master’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5 at the master’s level. You will also need:

• recent GRE scores
• three letters of recommendation
• a statement of purpose
• a writing sample
• a copy of your curriculum vitae

The closest estimate you can get for tuition and fees at Indiana University Bloomington is by looking at the previous year’s expenses. Alternatively, you can get a reasonably accurate idea of your tuition and fees by using the university’s costs calculator on their website .

North Dakota State University

Fargo, North Dakota

Ranked within the top 100 public research universities, North Dakota State University (NDSU) features within the National Science Foundation’s top 100 for numerous areas of study, including the sciences, business, and communications. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the institution has a total enrollment of around 13,000 students. 

The NDSU doctoral degree in communication is highly competitive. You’ll enroll in:

• as many as 12 credit hours prior to completing an application
• 60 credit hours beyond master’s level
• 30 credit hours in research theory or other content within your concentration
• 15 hours relating to research methodology

You will also be expected to complete a dissertation (15 credits). 

By graduation, doctoral students have typically published two to three papers or journal articles, in addition to having presented at more than one convention. This doctoral program will also give you a solid understanding of learning and teaching, making it ideal for those looking to secure a role as a university instructor. 

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama was the state’s flagship university, having been founded nearly 200 years ago in 1831. Situated on a stunning 1,200-acre campus, the university boasts more than 600 student clubs and organizations, plus a broad range of opportunities for volunteering or completing an internship. 

PhD students enrolling in the PhD in Communication and Information Sciences can select from one of three signature research areas of the faculty:

• Emergent media
• Sports communication

Alternatively, you can opt to partner directly with members of the faculty, focusing on research activities pursued by these instructors. 

What’s more, you can tailor your coursework to specific areas of concentration that include:

• applied communication
• book and publishing studies
• health communication
• interpersonal communication
• media studies

There’s more information about each of these concentrations and their focus on the university’s program page. 

The University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

As a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago, you’ll receive an introduction to campus life at orientation, and you’ll need it; located minutes from the Windy City, there’s always plenty to get involved in. More than 33,000 students attend this best value and most diverse university annually. 

For admission into the PhD in communication, you must already have a master’s degree in communication or a similar field, in addition to holding an average GPA of 3.0, or 4.0 for your final 60 semester hours. Other requirements include the need to submit GRE general scores and provide three letters of recommendation. 

You’ll choose one or more specializations in common subfields of communication, and it’s also recommended that you enroll in two courses in research techniques that are specific to your chosen specialization. After graduation, you can also choose to enroll in further concentrations to complement your degree, including:

• Black studies
• Gender and women’s studies
• Latin American and Latino studies

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts

Situated in Amherst, Massachusetts, UMass Amherst is regularly ranked within the top research institutions in the country. It was also recently ranked at number 26 in a list of the best national public universities by U.S. News & World Report . More than 13,000 students attend UMass Amherst annually. 

For successful completion of this doctoral program, you’ll be required to complete a minimum of 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s level, in addition to a further 6 or more credits in research tools or methodologies. You will also be expected to plan, research, and complete a dissertation project of your own choosing. 

This communication studies doctoral program offers a particularly large number of specializations to choose from—14 in total—which include unique specializations such as feminist studies and performance studies. For more information on the potential specialization options, check out this page on the university’s website. 

The per-credit rate for tuition and fees at the University of Massachusetts Amherst depends on the number of credits being taken. For example, a single credit is only marginally cheaper than two credits, as the rates work on a sliding scale. Non-residents typically pay around twice what state residents will pay.

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University has been welcoming students through its doors for more than 160 years. Ranked as a top public U.S. university, top 100 global university and receiving a gold sustainability rating, MSU produces highly competent graduates who have a 93% placement rate, almost 12% higher than the national average. 

According to the program page, this doctoral degree in communication is considered one of the most prestigious programs of its kind in the world. Designed to last for four years, the PhD program requires the completion of a dissertation and regularly sees graduates offered roles in research centers, government organizations, and higher education institutions across the globe. 

After completion of the core courses, doctoral students typically specialize in:

• social media
• social influence and persuasion
• communication analytics
• organizational communication

Alternatively, you can also choose to specialize in hospitality research and hospitality program teaching.

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

Founded in 1972, George Mason University is a private research institution that has fast become a respected university within the state of Virginia. The student body hails from 130 different countries and totals around 37,000 students. Around $150 million in research takes place each year and 80% of graduates find employment within 6 months of graduation. 

While a master’s degree in a related field is a prerequisite for this program, it means that you can graduate with the doctorate after successful completion of just 60 credits. Otherwise, the PhD program comprises 90 credits and involves the completion of a dissertation research project. 

You’ll work alongside faculty members to develop essential research relating to health and strategic communication. You’ll study:

• the consumer-provider relationship
• crisis communication

The program-specific requirements for this PhD include:

• submission of college transcripts
• an updated resume
• three recommendation letters

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Founded in 1889, The University of New Mexico offers more than 90 undergraduate degree programs and is within the top 20 for two of its programs. Over $70 million in scholarships were awarded to students in the recent incoming freshman year, for which you may qualify after completing the FAFSA . 

This PhD program applies the study of communication and culture, and how the two interrelate. Specifically, you’ll look at media studies, health communication, and critical intercultural studies. You’ll complete coursework such as Strategic Communication and Research Methodologies totaling 36 hours, in addition to committing a further 18 hours for your dissertation project. 

Upon acceptance into the program, the world-class faculty will help you to design a program of study that closely relates to your aspirations and interests. Faculty members include award-winning instructors whose work has been recognized on both the national and international stage, so you’ll be guided well throughout your program. 

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado

Part of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the University of Colorado Boulder was established in 1876 and has since grown to include its own natural history and art museums. Among its alumni are three U.S. Supreme Court justices, five Nobel Prize winners, and five National Medal of Science winners. 

This PhD program has been designed to follow a master’s degree, preferably within the same discipline. Assuming that you have completed a master’s within a related area, you could complete this doctoral degree in as few as 3 to 4 years. 

Through this doctoral program, you’ll gain a broad understanding of four subject areas. You’ll gain:

• a broad foundation in communication
• develop advanced knowledge of a specific specialization area and one primary research methodology
• expertise in a secondary specialization

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

The University of North Dakota was founded in 1883, which was six years prior to the state of North Dakota being established itself. Sitting on a 521-acre campus, the institution has more than 250 student clubs and organizations, welcomes around 13,600 students annually, and is the largest university in North Dakota. 

Comprising 90 credit hours and taking an average of 3 to 5 years to complete, this communication doctoral degree is led by a faculty with expertise in:

• interpersonal and persuasive communication
• risk and crisis communication
• communication across digital channels including social media

As part of your application, you will be expected to submit your GRE general scores. You will also need to provide a statement of goals that outlines your motivations and career aspirations, in addition to submitting an original academic paper of around 10 to 15 pages in length.

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University heavily emphasizes diversity and inclusion among its students, or Wayne State Warriors. Multiculturalism is encouraged, with students representing more than 75 countries around the world. In fact, this university has the most diverse student body of any other institution in Michigan. 

This PhD program offers specialization in five areas:

• Democratic participation & culture
• Identity & representation
• Media, society, & culture
• Risk, crisis, & conflict
• Wellness, worklife, & relationships

You will choose either one or two areas of specialization in which to focus more of your studies and research activity. 

Throughout this doctoral program, PhD students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits of PhD coursework; at least two-thirds of these must be gained from the department of communication. And you’ll need to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to successfully graduate from your program. 

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

Situated a short distance from the Cascade Mountains and situated in the Willamette Valley, the University of Oregon comprises 9 schools and colleges and welcomes around 22,500 students annually. A third of freshmen are first-generation college students, holding an average GPA of around 3.65. 

When you enroll in this PhD communication program, you’ll work directly with the faculty as a co-author and teacher, contributing your own research alongside recognized names in the communications and media industry. Under the guidance of this R1 research institution, you’ll have expert instruction in areas like:

• global media
• journalism studies
• technology and society

This is also a fully funded research degree, meaning the institution will take care of your tuition. You’ll be funded for four consecutive years of study. Funded students receive a monthly stipend varying between $1,400 and $1,575. As part of this benefit, you’ll contribute 16 hours per week towards teaching and research activities.

New York University

New York City, New York

Founded in 1831, New York University (NYU) welcomes students from almost every state in the nation and more than 130 countries worldwide. The institution has campuses in both Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, in addition to 11 other study-abroad sites across the globe. In total, NYU has more students studying abroad than any other university in the United States. 

This heavily technology-driven doctoral program will prepare you for leadership or academic careers in the areas of research, education, and technology. You’ll employ the use of multimedia learning scenarios and conduct research into the learning processes that relate to groups and individuals that work with these environments. 

Available as a part-time or full-time program, and comprising 57 credits, this program features coursework in the areas of learning sciences and cognitive sciences. PhD students have the opportunity to work closely with preeminent scholars in this discipline, while conducting their own, original research on how technology is employed for learning purposes. 

University of Pennsylvania

Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania employs a faculty nearly 5,000-strong, which helps keep class sizes low; there’s a 6:1 student-faculty ratio. Students participate in everything from clubs and organizations, to Greek society, and a student government. Penn State is also a member of the Ivy League, with many athletic pursuits available. 

According to the university’s website, the Annenberg School for Communication has been ranked for the nation’s best doctoral program due to a world-class faculty and well-designed curriculum that allows for highly individualized study. Many PhD graduates are already known nationally or internationally upon graduation. 

This communication research degree program lasts for five years and will require you to take introductory courses in both statistics and research methods, in addition to completing the core courses. You’ll need to complete a dissertation proposal and comprehensive examinations in order to progress to the dissertation phase. 

Drexel University

Drexel University is among the nation’s largest private institutions with a student body of around 25,000 learners. Comprising a 74-acre main campus, the university is located in a bustling urban city and has numerous other campuses and partnerships elsewhere. Drexel was founded in the 1890s, but began conferring degrees in 1914. 

This PhD in communication, culture, and media covers key subject areas that include:

• social justice problems
• the media’s treatment of immigrants
• political communication with a focus on war and conflict

Every admitted student takes the same five core courses, in addition to at least five courses within culture and communications. 

The remainder of your doctoral studies will comprise 10 courses geared towards your research needs and unique interests, in addition to having an option to take graduate courses offered outside of the department. You’ll also complete a dissertation and independent research and study to make up the remainder of your 90 required credits. 

Howard University

Washington, D.C.

Howard University comprises 13 schools and colleges and was founded in 1867. Students choose from programs in over 120 disciplines, with over 120,000 degrees in the arts, sciences, and humanities having been conferred to-date. As a student based on-campus, you’ll be studying on a campus that’s set in scenic natural beauty atop a hill in Northwest Washington. 

Howard University’s PhD in communication, culture, and media studies (CCMS) has a curriculum that’s centered around the emergence of communication issues in a developing multicultural and digital world. Key areas of study include competency in research methodologies and the advancement of under-served communities through social justice and multiculturalism. 

As a Howard PhD student, your studies will be focused in one of three specialization tracks:

• Media and cultural studies
• Technology, policy, and society

There are also teaching assistantship opportunities available, which you can make an application for once you have been admitted to this communication, culture, and media studies program.

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

The University of Southern California (USC), a leading private research university, is known for producing a high caliber of graduates. There were more than 310 National Merit Scholars in the 2020 freshman class, and the average GPA for incoming students is around 3.70-4.00. 

Graduates from this program are thoroughly prepared for and commonly pursue careers as university instructors. Your program will see you conduct your own, original research that advances the field of communications and contributes to the ongoing success of media and governmental organizations in the public and private sector. 

PhD candidates choose from seven tracks of specialization:

• Rhetoric, politics, and publics
• Media, culture, and community
• Health communication and social dynamics
• Groups, organizations, and network
• Information, political economy, and entertainment
• Political economy of global communication
• New media and technology

Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University was founded in 1754, making it the oldest higher education institution in the state of New York. The student body comprises around 40,000 learners of varying levels, with students participating in a broad variety of athletics and arts programs. And unlike many other universities, each club has its own webpage so you can find what interests you ahead of time. 

This PhD program in communications examines the relationships between society and the media from a cultural, political, historical, technological, and social point of view. Doctoral graduates will be expected to evidence their understanding of the broad field of communications overall, while gaining a more in-depth understanding of a specific concentration area. 

You’ll produce a dissertation that comprises your own original research, and you will defend your research in front of the graduate committee. Each academic year, you will also be expected to submit progress toward your dissertation to your faculty advisers, after which they will discuss and approve the work for continuation.

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Opened in 1891, Stanford University has a total enrollment of around 16,000 students annually. Its central campus is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and the university today comprises seven schools. 

The core focus of Stanford’s communication program is on communication processes, including how they were conceived and their impact on psychology, politics, and culture. PhD candidates typically share research interests in one of three key faculty specializations:

• Media psychology
• Journalism, media, and culture

Most PhD students choose one area of emphasis from the above, while studying the other research areas at a high level. Core courses focus on areas such as:

• qualitative and quantitative research methods
• mass communication theory

Throughout your communication studies, you will develop a research specialization, including the development of research projects and time spent teaching, culminating in an examination. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a PhD in communications can open many doors for your career. You can work in research or academic settings, in advertising or business, and in sociological settings, to name a few. And with a terminal degree, you can likely earn the highest salary in your field. A degree like this offers other benefits, too: you’ll have a high-level set of skills, a detailed understanding of the principles of communication, and you’ll have the resources you need to be an effective communicator whether you’re writing or speaking. It’s a field with good growth potential, too – 8 percent or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, depending on the specific field in which you work.

The average cost of a PhD is $106,860, according to the Education Data Initiative. The cost of your communications PhD program depends on many factors, including the length of the program, the school you attend, and your residency status. The amount of financial assistance you get also affects the cost of your PhD. With grants, teaching assistantships, or both, you can significantly reduce the overall cost of your degree.

It’s common for universities to require a high GPA (e.g., 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale) for your previous college coursework, official transcripts from the universities you’ve attended in the past, and multiple letters of recommendation from professional colleagues or previous professors. It’s also standard for PhD programs in communication to require a personal statement, essay, curriculum vitae, resume, or some combination thereof. In  top communication PhD programs , you are typically asked to participate in an admissions interview in person or online.

Communications is not considered a difficult field of study, at least not compared to other areas that require a lot of math and science. However, any PhD program comes with some difficulty, considering the level of study. You will explore complex topics like global media, speech theory, and strategic communications. You will also be required to conduct original research and write a dissertation, which you must defend before your degree is conferred. Be prepared for a lot of work over the course of several years.

A PhD in communications typically takes about five years to complete, including a master’s degree along the way. If you already have a master’s degree, you can likely complete a PhD program in three or four years. The exact amount of time you need to complete your PhD in communications depends in large part on how many courses you take each semester and whether or not you already have a master’s degree.

Yes. Many communications PhD programs accept students with just a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, you will earn a master’s degree as you progress toward your PhD. In other cases, there is no master’s component; you graduate with just a PhD.

A popular career with a PhD in communications is to work as a college professor. Doing so allows you to teach and conduct research on communication topics of interest to you. Other popular choices with a PhD in communications include the following: • Art director • Editor • Graphic designer • Interpreter or translator • Photographer • Reporter • Technical writer • Author

You can earn around $80,840 per year as a PhD-level communications professor, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Starting wages are lower at about $47,000 per year. But as you gain experience and tenure, your salary can eclipse $170,000 per year. Other options and their median annual wages are as follows: • Technical writer ($79,960) • Editor ($73,080) • Interpreter or translator ($53,640) • Graphic designer ($57,990) • Writers and authors ($73,150) Your salary depends on many factors beyond your specific occupation. You stand to make more money as you gain experience. The same is true if you complete additional training, specializations, or certifications after you complete your PhD.

The top 3 skills needed to do a PhD are skills employers want too

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More and more people are applying to do a PhD. What many don’t know is it takes serious skills to do one – and, more importantly, complete it.

We analysed the selection criteria for PhD candidates on a platform that advertises PhD programs. Our analysis of thousands of these ads revealed exactly what types of skills different countries and disciplines require.

Why do a PhD in the first place?

People pursue a PhD for many reasons. They might want to stand out from the crowd in the job market, learn how to do research, gain a deeper expertise in an area of interest, or pursue an academic career.

Sadly, too many PhD students never finish. The PhD turns out to be too hard, not well supported, mentally taxing, financially draining, etc. Dropping the PhD often means significant financial loss for institutions and individuals, not to mention the psychological costs of other consequences such as low self-esteem, anxiety and loneliness .

Read more: 1 in 5 PhD students could drop out. Here are some tips for how to keep going

Our society and economy can only benefit from a better-educated workforce, so it is in the national interest to manage PhD intakes and be clear about expectations. The expansion of doctoral education led to a more competitive selection process, but the criteria are opaque.

To clarify PhD expectations, we turned to a European research job platform supported by EURAXESS (a pan-European initiative by the European Commission) where PhD programs are advertised as jobs. Required skills are listed in the selection criteria. We analysed 13,562 PhD ads for the types of skills different countries and disciplines require.

We made three specific findings.

1. Top 3 skills needed for a PhD

It turns out that it takes many so-called transferable skills to do a PhD. These are skills that can be translated and applied to any professional context. The top three required skills are:

communication – academic writing, presentation skills, speaking to policy and non-expert audiences

research – disciplinary expertise, data analysis, project management

interpersonal – leadership, networking, teamwork, conflict resolution.

Trending skill categories are digital (information processing and visualisation) and cognitive (abstract, critical and creative thinking and problem-solving).

Previous research shows transferable skills are requested for post-PhD careers, including both academic and non-academic jobs. Our research shows such skills are already required to do a PhD. Those keen to do a PhD are well advised to provide strong evidence of such skills when applying.

2. Skill demands vary by country and discipline

Skill demands significantly differ by country and discipline. For example, 62% of medical science ads mention interpersonal skills. This is twice as often as in biological science ads. Digital and cognitive skills score much higher in the Netherlands than in other countries.

Our research article reports on 2016-2019 data and the top five represented countries (Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain and the UK) and the top five represented disciplines (biological sciences, physics, chemistry, engineering and medical sciences). However, you can use this tool for granular detail on 52 countries – including non-European countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US, etc. – and 37 disciplines included in the data sample. For continuously updated data, please visit https://www.resgap.com/ .

3. PhD expectations are rising

We see a rise in PhD expectations over time (2016-2019) as more skills are listed year on year. The publish or perish culture prevails and rising demands on academics have led to calls for more engaged research, collaborations with industry, and research commercialisation .

PhD students get accustomed early to competitiveness and high expectations.

Read more: Is it a good time to be getting a PhD? We asked those who've done it

Research-based learning needs to start early

These insights have implications for pre-PhD education and pathways. Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees can further promote PhD readiness by embedding authentic hands-on research with academic or corporate partners, either as part of the curriculum or as extracurricular activities.

Many postgraduate degrees offer authentic research project work opportunities but are shorter. Those entering the PhD without a postgraduate degree miss out on developing essential research skills.

Authentic research experiences need to happen early on in higher education. Organisations like the Council on Undergraduate Research ( CUR ), the Australasian Council for Undergraduate Research ( ACUR ) and the British Conference of Undergraduate Research ( BCUR ) are designed to support institutions and individuals to do this effectively. They showcase great models of undergraduate research.

To get a good idea of what undergraduate research looks like, start with this comprehensive paper and catch up on undergraduate research news from Australasia .

We know research-based learning develops employability skills such as critical thinking, resilience and independence.

Embed career development in PhD programs

Doctoral training needs to take note, too, if it is to further build on the skill set that PhD applicants bring with them.

The good news is doctoral education has transformed in recent decades. It’s catching up to the call for better-skilled graduates for a range of careers. The training focus has shifted towards generating practice-based and problem-solving knowledge, and engaged research with other sectors.

Read more: It's time to reduce the number of PhD students, or rethink how doctoral programs work

Some institutions now offer skill and career training. Generally, though, this sort of training is left to the graduates themselves. Many current PhD candidates will attest that the highly regulated and tight PhD schedule leaves little room for voluntary activities to make them more employable.

Most PhD candidates also know more than half of them will not score a long-term academic job. Institutions would serve them better by formally embedding tailored career development opportunities in PhD programs that prepare for academic and non-academic jobs .

It’s not only PhD graduates’ professional and personal well-being that will benefit but also the national economy.

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Communication Resources for PhD Students

Effective communication is crucial for completing your doctoral program. This section offers various resources to support your communication needs as you advance through your PhD program and into your career. From the initial stages of developing your research proposal to the final presentation of your dissertation, we aim to provide resources to assist you at every step of your journey.

Within this section, you will find a wealth of tools and services curated for PhD students. We understand your unique challenges in producing scholarly research and communicating complex ideas effectively to broad audiences. We want to empower you to excel in all aspects of writing and communication. With everything from support for English language learners to presentation coaching for advanced doctoral candidates, we are confident that UB has a resource to meet your needs.

Writing Resources

Center for Excellence in Writing

The Center for Excellence in Writing (CEW) is the place on campus where graduate students can find support for their writing. Writing consultants can help you with various writing projects, including papers, dissertations, theses, proposals, fellowships, job application materials and conference presentations.

International students can take advantage of individual consultations and resources offered by the CEW. Individual consultations can support graduate students working in a language outside their native language.

The CEW holds dissertation retreats, dissertation cafés, writing groups and more throughout the year. Be sure to subscribe to the Graduate Writing Support listserv to receive emails about graduate writing and dissertation support programs .

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Editorial Services The Graduate Student Association offers free copyediting services to graduate students. GSA editorial services can help you with quick copy edits, grammar questions, and submissions of up to 50 pages. Be sure to build in plenty of time to get your edits returned.

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) The University at Buffalo is a  National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD)  member. Through the NCFDD, graduate students can find support for writing through writing challenges and a dissertation success curriculum. This is a free resource for faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students.

The Center for Excellence in Writing has proven to be a powerful resource for graduate students and can help with a wide variety of writing projects including: course papers, dissertations, theses, proposals, job application materials, conference presentation, group projects, journal articles and more.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition was developed by the University of Queensland , and the competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by PhD students by cultivating students' academic, presentation and research communication skills. Participants are judged on effectively conveying the essence and importance of their research engagingly to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes with one PowerPoint slide.

Communicating Your Research

3MT Micro-Credential The 3MT Micro-Credential: Communicating Research to Broad Audiences  is an optional resource intended to help graduate students learn how to communicate their research. Participants will learn to articulate strategies and techniques to communicate graduate-level research to a non-specialist audience. Upon completing the micro-credential, participants will have prepared a three-minute pitch about their research and developed an effective, supporting PowerPoint slide, all while giving and receiving peer feedback.

Venture Coaching UB' Startup and Innovation Collaboratory (CoLab) offers free, confidential, one-on-one mentoring and support from their network of venture coaches . Get help moving your idea forward with assistance that is perfect for individuals or startups at any stage in any industry. Whether you're creating a business model canvas, starting the customer discovery process, prepping a pitch deck for a competition, or just need some feedback, their venture coaches have got you covered.

Art of Research Competition

The Art of Research celebrates the extraordinary research of University at Buffalo graduate students and postdoctoral scholars by showcasing original images highlighting the inherent beauty in research, scholarship and creative activity.

In this communication competition, entrants submit an original image that represents their research and a brief description of how it relates to their overall research. 

Publishing Resources

• The Center for Excellence in Writing can assist in preparing papers and manuscripts for publication. 
• University Libraries offer support and consultation to assist with digital scholarship and scholarly publishing. In addition, University Libraries host  micro-credentials to support digital literacy . Three related courses are designed to develop digital literacy skills.

External Resources

• Publish Not Perish is a newsletter for academics who want to write more while being balanced.
• Purdue OWL  is a free writing resource that provides writing guides and online resources.

Stay Informed

The graduate brief.

Every Wednesday during the semester, the Graduate School emails the "Graduate Brief" to all graduate and professional students, which is a weekly selection of news and happenings within the Graduate School and its partnering offices. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact [email protected] .

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Our PhD Program

Students pursuing a PhD in Communication devise their own concentrations. The PhD program is designed to familiarize the student with a particular body of knowledge and a variety of approaches to inquiry shaped by a general understanding of communication. The program prepares graduates for careers in teaching and research with special concentrations possible in business, government, media industries, and community organizations.

The structure of the program and its requirements are here described in brief. For more detail, please consult the Graduate Handbook .

A Minimum of 66 Credits of Coursework

The PhD degree requires a minimum of 66 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Many students complete credits in excess of this minimum. Computation of the required 66 credits begins with the completion of the bachelor’s degree (not the MA) and is exclusive of dissertation credits. No more than 6 credits of 500-level courses, and no more than 6 PhD tutorial or independent study credits, may be counted toward the degree. Courses taken at other institutions (e.g., during an MA program) will be credited toward the minimum requirements of the PhD on a course-by-course basis at the discretion of the GPD and the student's Guidance Committee (up to 30 credits)

PhD students will follow one of the following three sets of requirements, based on their MA or equivalent preparation:

Group 1 requirements are for students who earned an MA in Communication at another university.

Group 2 requirements are for students who earned an MA in a field other than Communication.

Group 3 requirements are for exceptional students with a BA in Communication who have academic experience and/or additional training in the field.

For details on the exact requirements for these three groups, please consult the Graduate Handbook .

Doctoral candidates must spend the equivalent of at least one continuous academic year of full-time graduate work (9 credits per semester) in residence at the university, in either a fall/spring or spring/fall sequence. During this year, you must spend some part of each week physically on campus. Because funding in the department typically takes the form of a teaching assistantship, which is done in person, additional residency beyond Graduate School requirements is common. We do not provide non-residential funding.

Comprehensive Examination

After all coursework in the Plan of Study has been completed, the student takes a Preliminary Comprehensive Examination under the guidance of the Comprehensive Exam Committee consisting of the student’s advisor and two other members of the Communication faculty. Any outside member must be in addition to three faculty members from the department. These may or may not be the same three members from the student’s Plan of Study Committee. Students typically constitute this committee in the second half of their second year.

Successful completion of the comprehensive exam shows that the student is experienced in secondary research and has the skills to perform original research, can articulate their position in the discipline, and shows skills for teaching in it.

The comprehensive exams, or “comps,” consist of six components, only three of which are traditional exams. Students must successfully complete these six components and pass an oral defense before they can progress to their Dissertation Prospectus.

The three comps components that are not traditional exams are:

• A research paper in a “ready for journal submission” state
• A reflection paper in which the student provides a statement about the communication discipline and how they position themselves in this field
• A comprehensive syllabus for a 400-level seminar in the student’s area of expertise accompanied by a brief reflection paper

The three exams are in theories, methods , and the student’s area of specialty .

Dissertation Prospectus

After passing the Comprehensive Examination, you must prepare a prospectus describing the research to be conducted, analyzed, and presented in the dissertation. Each member of the Dissertation Committee must sign the cover sheet to indicate approval of the topic and its plan of execution. The Graduate Program Director or department head then signs the prospectus and forwards it to the Graduate Records Office. This copy must be received at least seven months before the date of the Final Oral Examination.

Dissertation

As soon as you pass the Comprehensive Examination, the Doctoral Dissertation Committee is appointed by the Graduate Dean upon nomination and recommendation by the Graduate Program Director (GPD) or department head.

The committee comprises at least three graduate faculty members: the chairperson, at least one other member from the department, and one member from outside the department. Selection of the committee typically begins with an invitation to serve from the student to the faculty members, but it is ultimately a matter of academic judgment on the part of the student’s advisor and GPD, with approval by the Graduate Dean.

The dissertation is a substantial piece of original research in Communication. Its completion, successful oral defense, and approval by all members of the dissertation committee is the final requirement of the degree.

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The 7 Essential Transferable Skills All PhDs Have

During your PhD, you’re not just learning about your research topic. You’re also learning core skills that apply to jobs both in and out of academia. Most institutions don’t teach you to articulate these transferable skills in a way that aligns with how they’re described in the business world. Knowing your skills increases your value as a candidate.

Written Communication

It takes practice to become a good writer. Fortunately, as PhD student you have years of practice writing papers, conference abstracts, journal manuscripts, and of course your dissertation. The feedback you receive from your supervisor and peer reviewers will help improve your communication skills.

Research skills are valuable even in many fields outside of academia. As a trained researcher, you are able to determine the best approach to a question, find relevant data, design a way to analyze it, understand a large amount of data, and then synthesize your findings. You even know how to use research to persuade others and defend your conclusions.

Public Speaking                   

Strong oral communications skills are always valued, and PhD students get more public speaking opportunities than most. Through conference talks, poster presentations, and teaching, you will learn to feel comfortable in front of a larger audience, engage them, and present complex ideas in a straightforward way. Winning a teaching award or being recognized as the best speaker at a conference is a concrete way to prove your public speaking skills.

Project Management

Even if you’re not working as a project manager, every job requires some degree of project management. Fortunately, a PhD is an exercise in project management. Finishing your dissertation requires you to design a project, make a realistic timeline, overcome setbacks, and manage stakeholders. During this time, you will also have to manage long-term projects at the same time as short-term goals which requires strong organizational skills.

Mentoring and teaching are the two main way PhD student can learn leadership and management skills. As a teacher or mentor, you have to figure out how to motivate someone and help them accomplish a goal. You also get experience evaluating someone’s performance (grading) and giving constructive feedback.

Critical Thinking

Every PhD student learns critical thinking skills whether they realize it or not. You are trained to approach problems systematically, see the links between ideas, evaluate arguments, and analyze information to come up with your own conclusions. Any industry can benefit from someone who knows “how to think”.

Collaboration

Very few jobs require you to work completely independently, and academia isn’t one of them. Your dissertation is a solo project, but on a day to day basis you work with other people on your experiments or preparing a journal manuscript. Doing these tasks successfully requires knowing how to divide up a task, get along with others, communicate effectively, and resolve conflict.

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 10 December 2021

Managing up: how to communicate effectively with your PhD adviser

• Lluís Saló-Salgado 0 ,
• Angi Acocella 1 ,
• Ignacio Arzuaga García 2 ,
• Souha El Mousadik 3 &
• Augustine Zvinavashe 4

Lluís Saló-Salgado is a PhD candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Twitter: @lluis_salo.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Angi Acocella is a PhD candidate in the Center for Transportation & Logistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. LinkedIn: @angi-acocella.

Ignacio Arzuaga García is a PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. LinkedIn: @ignacioarzuaga.

Souha El Mousadik is a PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

Augustine Zvinavashe is a PhD candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

When you start a PhD, you also begin a professional relationship with your PhD adviser. This is an exciting moment: interacting with someone for whom you might well have great respect and admiration, but who might also slightly intimidate you.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-03703-z

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged .

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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PhD Transferable Skills

Translating your skills and experiences.

Transferable skills are skills you acquire or learn in one setting that can be applied or translated to new and different settings, environments, and activities. Doctoral students often fall into the trap of seeing their skills as applicable in only one setting, thus do not recognize that they are qualified for a wide variety of career paths. Don’t let this happen to you! In the table below you will find a list of skills most sought after by employers. In the final column of the table are examples of activities that demonstrate these essential skills. For several of the skills you can also take online assessments to identify which areas you still need to develop.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS: Adaptability , Analytic skills , Balance & resilience , Communication skills ( oral and written ), Conflict resolution/negotiation , Cultural/Intercultural , Discipline-specific skills , Ethics & Integrity , Follow-through/Ability to get things done , Fundraising , Independent (self-starter), Intelligence , Inter-/Multi- disciplinary , Interpersonal skills , Leadership (program) , Leadership (personnel/management) , Networking & collaboration , Organization , Outreach , Project management , Research , Self-direction/Entrepreneurial skills , Supervision , Technical skills (information technology), Work ethic

Essential Skills and Competencies for Graduate Students 1 :

1 Contents of table are adapted from Blickley, et al. (2012). “Graduate Student’s Guide to Necessary Skills for Nonacademic Conservation Careers.” Conservation Biology, 27:1. 2 Winterton, Delamare - Le Deist, and Stringfellow (2006). “Typology of knowledge, skills and competences: clarification of the concept and prototype.”

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10 PhD Transferable Skills You Can Use in Most Jobs

“No one wants to hire PhDs because they are overqualified and too independent!”

This is one thing PhDs are tired of hearing. How can your PhD be a liability to your career? Rather, recruiters prefer PhD candidates over others not just for their qualification but for their PhD transferable skills.

Table of Contents

What are PhD Transferable Skills?

PhD Transferable skills are exactly what the name suggests! These are skills other than technical skills that you develop in your academic program. Furthermore, these skills are so versatile that they can be used everywhere, irrespective of the designation or field. Transferable skills are desirable because if you already have them, your employer will not have to train you on them. Consequently, you can make positive contributions in any career with these skills.

Which are the PhD Transferable Skills that You Must Develop?

Considering that a doctorate degree is the highest degree in most fields, the skills that are required to excel in the same are impeccable. Undoubtedly, researchers pursuing their Ph.Ds. or postdocs develop technical skills related to their research. However, what they also need to develop is a host of research transferable skills they can use as they progress in their careers.

Which are 10 PhD Transferable Skills You Can Use in Most Jobs?

With the surge of jobs for PhD in STEM, recruiters struggle to fill those positions with talented candidates. They are always in need of trained professionals who know how to create information from scratch, and not just recreate it in a tinkering manner.

While your work experience and education during PhD is an asset, you’d be surprised to find out that employers in most sectors pay close attention to your skill set. According to a recently published survey report by LinkedIn, 57% of respondents identified soft transferable skills as more important than hard skills (technical knowledge).

Here, we list 10 significant PhD transferable skills students can use in most jobs.

1. Project Management

The most apparent thought that comes to anyone’s mind while thinking about PhD is “project management” skills. A successful research experience goes hand-in-hand with a well-planned project. As simple as it may sound, the management skills of a PhD graduate are not confined to his/her project. It starts right from ideation of the research project to final submission, which results in an ultimate success of the project. Different stages of a PhD’s journey demands customized planning and organizing to ensure that deadlines are met and projects are completed efficiently and effectively. Furthermore, a PhD makes sure that all plans are duly incorporated. Employers seek candidates with PhD transferable skills as they want someone who can not only see a task through, but can visualize what needs to happen on a project from start to finish.

2. Accelerated Learning

As a doctor of philosophy, the ability to ascertain knowledge runs thick in the veins of a PhD researcher. An inquisitive mind and quick comprehension of technical things is interlinked to your accelerated learning ability. Moreover, being a PhD, you attend conferences and read papers to stay on top of the latest trends in your field. Consequently, PhD transferable skills ensure employers of your ability to understand technical procedures, protocols, and methodologies.

3. Time Management

Time waits for none! The key to a tension-free and smooth workflow is effective time management . While planning is important, defining your deadlines, setting realistic and achievable goals, and adhering to them takes you a long way! At a job, every moment spent on an unfocused or frivolous task, is a waste of money. Contradictorily, time management may not be viewed similarly in academia. However, as a PhD your motive has been to complete your program in time. This acts as a serious motivation to develop excellent time management skills.

4. Attention to Detail

One of the essential core skills of a PhD is paying attention to the details. To the best of your experience as a researcher, you are aware that mistakes can be missed in the bat of an eye. Therefore, it is a known fact that PhDs are one of the finest people to make sure that each project runs through a fine-tooth comb. As a result, employers can count on you for detail-oriented assignments that require critical assessment and corrections.

5. Ability to Collaborate

As stated earlier, PhDs are not new to working in groups to achieve common goals. Your significant contribution in research groups, as a researcher and author during your PhD program demonstrates your ability to collaborate . Employers seek candidates who are team players making positive contributions to the success of a group.

6. Writing Proficiency

Given the nature of modern technology, writing may not be a primary task of most job profiles. However, it sure is an essential element for academic and allied knowledge dissemination careers. In due course of pursuing a PhD, you come across countless reading material from authors all around the world. This subsequently stocks up your bank of vocabulary and enhances your writing skills for an unambiguous conveyance of messages and information.

7. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills aren’t only your ability to supervise and manage a team, but to take the lead on a project and get a team to follow through and achieve goals. As a PhD you’re the “lead” for your project. While it doesn’t necessarily involve leading other people, it still means being responsible for major decisions to accomplish targets. Additionally, it is common for PhD students to work in research groups and collaborate on shared projects. Nonetheless, they also demonstrate leadership while organizing conferences and seminars for their department or university. PhDs are also seen showing leadership skills while advising students and mentoring peers.

8. Critical Thinking and Analysis

As a PhD, it’s a given that you are able to analyze data and provide logical reasoning to it. Throughout your program, you collect data, analyze it, and draw conclusions. The ability of a PhD to critically examine everything and deliver logical reasoning behind it is not new to anyone. A PhD is well versed with 360-degree logical thinking without being biased. Employers seek these research transferable skill of a PhD to consider alternative solutions to a problem and suggest next steps for efficient functioning.

9. Communication Skills

This is the master of PhD transferable skills. Even if you decide to step into a career that is a 180-degree sweep from your PhD, you’d still need to communicate! Your ability to communicate efficiently is developed right from preparing for your PhD interview, presenting papers and posters at academic conferences, defending your thesis, etc. As verbal communication affects your ability to work with your peers, it is one of the most sought after research transferable skills by employers.

10. Adaptability

A PhD isn’t only about specialization. Rather, it’s about the ability to specialize. During your PhD you learn to tackle a new topic, solve it, and move on to the next problem. Almost all careers require employees to focus on specific topics and projects in detail to achieve a specific goal. Your ability of in-depth specialization in academic research project demonstrates adaptability and flexibility —quite literally!

So the next time you are asked, “What skills do you bring to this position?”, you certainly know how to answer that! Brush up your PhD transferable skills to help you make the right career switch. Remember that your PhD isn’t a liability after all. In fact, it’s an asset! Let us know how you acquired these valuable skills that are highly sought after by employers today.

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Texas Tech Now

Media and communication graduate earns degree after decade-long journey.

May 10, 2024

Gini Wilbanks proves you can have it all, just not all at once.

Gini woke up, her heart mimicking the pulsing beat of her alarm. 

It was another morning of a racing heart and a sick feeling in her stomach. She wondered if her family had made the right decision moving to Round Rock, Texas. She made her way to Elijah's crib, picking up her 6-month-old who was crying. She wanted to join him, but she was too exhausted to cry. 

Gini and her husband Josh had moved from Lubbock so Josh could take a job near Austin. He had recently graduated from Texas Tech University, but Gini still had roughly 40 credit hours to finish. The move away from campus meant a change in major for Gini. The former Creative Media Industries student switched to Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management. 

She was getting close to finishing her degree, but on this morning, the finish line felt far.  Gini started making breakfast for herself and her two older children, Adeline and Charlotte. 

“I was postpartum, and I got hit hard with depression and high anxiety,” Gini recalled. “My grades started to suffer.”

Gini had moved away from her family, friends and her entire support system. The couple had believed the move would set them up for a successful future but at this moment, Gini couldn't think past the next few hours. 

A Future Red Raider

“Texas Tech has always been a huge part of my life,” Gini said. 

Born and raised in Lubbock, Gini's parents both worked at the university. The family was active in their support of Red Raider athletics and the university's arts scene. They attended each Carol of Lights™ and befriended faculty and staff around campus.

Growing up in the college town inspired Gini to attend Texas Tech one day. 

Coming up through Tubbs Elementary, O.L. Slaton Middle School and Lubbock High School, Gini was active in theater, dance and choir. She involved herself in as many artistic events as she could, finding these endeavors energized her.  

As high school graduation approached, though, she took stock of what would offer a consistent career. 

“When I graduated in 2013, there were not as many jobs in communications,” Gini said. “There was a stigma around creative careers. I wanted to be seen as serious so I looked for something that would make good money.” 

Multiple family members worked in the medical field, so Gini decided to study nursing. 

Around this same time, she and her high school sweetheart were getting more serious. Gini met her now-husband Josh in biology during the ninth grade. The two became friends and started dating the following year. By the time they graduated, they both knew they'd found the one.

Josh enlisted in the Army and was sent to basic training the summer after graduation. The young couple couldn't talk much on the phone, so they wrote letters throughout the long, sweltering summer months. Gini would make her way to the mailbox in the dry West Texas heat, opening the latch to find something stamped from Fort Benning.

The couple kept every letter from that summer. 

Meanwhile, Gini started pre-nursing courses at South Plains College (SPC). While the dream was still to attend Texas Tech, she knew she could get basic requirements out of the way at a lower cost at SPC. 

“For a few semesters, I was very focused on my schoolwork,” Gini recalled. “Josh was getting his stuff done and I was taking care of my classes.”

In the following years, everything rapidly changed. In April 2016, the couple got married and Gini started work as a nurse's aide at Covenant Children's in the postpartum unit. 

In 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, Adeline. By 2018, Josh enrolled full time at Texas Tech.

In the span of a few short years, Gini's life looked drastically different. 

“When we had Adeline, I ended up having an emergency cesarian,” Gini said. “Because of the longer recovery, I ended up taking that whole semester off from school.” 

Gini's classwork began to take a backseat during this time. Supporting Josh in his studies, working as a postpartum nurse's aide and taking care of a newborn was a full load. 

“I decided to take a prolonged break from school,” she said. “I had a job I enjoyed and wanted to soak up being a new mom.” 

While a break was the right choice for Gini at that time, it made going back to school that much tougher. 

A Change in Direction

Josh and Gini had their second daughter, Charlotte, at the beginning of 2020. She was only a few weeks old when the pandemic started. Josh, Gini and their young children were home for months. While Gini did go back to work after her maternity leave was over, the restrictions gave her room to reflect. 

“We were stuck at home for a while, and my need to express myself creatively came back out,” she said. 

It was something she hadn't taken the time to do in years. 

Gini came up with crafts to do with their eldest, and she started dabbling in photography. A light came on, and Gini started questioning the academic road she'd taken up until that point. 

“The stress of working through the pandemic certainly added to it, but I think the pandemic showed me something I already knew deep down,” she said. 

Gini had chosen to forego a creative career seven years prior, worried about appearances and stability. Now, a wife and mother, her priorities had changed. 

“I'd grown up a lot in that short time, and I had different aspirations,” she said. 

Not only had Gini changed, but the communications industry had changed as well. When she graduated from high school, some organizations were just beginning to use social media, and many weren't utilizing it at all. But with the progression of technology and the sudden boom of online activity during the pandemic, Gini decided to revisit a career in communications. 

She met with Associate Director of Advising Don Ellis in the College of Media & Communication (CoMC), who became a mentor to Gini every step of the way. 

“Gini came to us as a transfer student, and she had a level of maturity and diverse life experiences that seemed to enhance the quality of her academic career,” Ellis said. “Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, she consistently displayed a strong sense of determination and resilience, maintained her focus, and always actively participated in her own education.”

Gini had always wanted to help people; she thought nursing was the best way to do that. But as life changed, she realized she could make a difference while using her talents. 

“I discovered Texas Tech had a program called creative media industries (CMI),” she said. 

The program's focus on innovative storytelling was appealing to Gini, who was looking to grow her existing passion for visual communications. So, in the fall of 2020, Gini started her first semester as a Red Raider. 

The moment was a long time coming. 

While her first semester was completely online, Gini was able to be on campus in the spring of 2021. 

“I have a photo of my first day on campus,” she said. “I have a mask on, so it'll always be easy to remember when that was.” 

Life had thrown her some curve balls, but Gini was zeroing in on what she wanted and remembering the dreams she had had as a young girl. She knew she would attend Texas Tech, the reality of that was just a whole lot different than she envisioned. 

For the following year, both Josh and Gini were enrolled in the same college. Josh was a student in the Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management program, while Gini thrived in CMI. It was around this same time that the couple found out they were expecting another child, a son. 

“I remember thinking, ‘Oh boy, here we go again,'” Gini laughed. 

Thrilled to be welcoming a son, Gini struggled, wanting to focus on her growing family and her schoolwork at the same time. When she had her daughters, she was in a love-hate relationship with academia. That had changed this time around. She wondered how she would balance being a mom to three kids while finishing a program she genuinely loved. 

It was a good problem to have, but it remained a problem. To make matters harder, Josh received a job offer in Round Rock after graduating from Texas Tech in the spring of 2022, only a few months after they had Elijah.

Josh was commissioned as an Army officer upon graduation and signed with the National Guard. His new reporting station was in central Texas and a marketing job became available nearby. However, that meant Gini and the kids would have to leave behind their support system in Lubbock. Both Gini's parents still lived in Lubbock, and she had friends in her hometown. 

Unfortunately for the couple, they didn't have a lot of time to weigh their options. They wanted Josh to start work in six weeks. So, with three young children and virtually no community in Round Rock, Josh and Gini ventured into the unknown. 

The Hardest Stretch 

In the early morning hours, a few months later, Gini was at rock bottom. When classes started in fall of 2023, she had to go back to being an online student. Unfortunately, CMI was not a fully online program. But with the encouragement of her adviser, Gini realized the Public Relations & Strategic Communication Management program overlapped heavily with the courses she'd taken, and it was offered both in-person and online. 

If she was going to complete her degree any time soon, she'd need to switch programs. 

So, she did, and the coursework was comparable to what she'd been studying. However, it wasn't the change in major that was so difficult, it was the fact she was an online college student with three children, at home alone, and suddenly without her support system. 

She also struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of her son. 

“Honestly, I felt like finishing school just wasn't going to happen for me,” Gini said. “Like, maybe it wasn't in the cards.

“I was taking care of a five-month-old, a toddler, and a 5-year-old. I had no family or friends nearby and I was waking up every morning with a high heart rate, sick to my stomach. I stressed over finances, wondering if we'd made a mistake.”

During that semester, Gini's grades began to suffer. She knew that wasn't the way she wanted to finish her college career, so she sought help from her doctor and her adviser. Everyone worked with her, finding solutions to help her succeed. 

Her doctor placed her on an anti-anxiety medication that helped her feel like herself again. Gini begin to create a new routine and even befriended other mothers in the area. 

“I also made sure to reach out to my adviser and kept the line of communication open with each of my professors, letting them know my situation from the beginning,” she said. 

By the end of the semester, she made the President's Honors List. 

There were times, particularly that semester, that Gini was tempted to give up. 

“Every time I was about ready to give up, I would think, ‘C'mon Gini, you have to do this for yourself. You've always wanted to be a Texas Tech graduate; you can do this.'”  

In place of having family in town, Gini would get on the phone and get added support when she needed it most. 

Gini's mother was her biggest cheerleader. 

“She has watched me work toward this goal for a decade,” Gini said. “She's always been so encouraging. Whenever I've had a setback, she reminds me to get back up and get at it. She's always believed I can do this.” 

And on the days when Gini didn't believe in herself, her family, her friends, and Josh have been there to help her cross the finish line. 

“Both Gini and I were unique students,” Josh said. “Texas Tech does an amazing job catering to individuals who are in nontraditional situations.

“Gini has displayed such tenacity while finishing her degree, especially this past year. She doesn't let anything define or limit her. At no point has she looked at her circumstances and let them be a reason not to do something.” 

The Horizon

After graduation, Gini hopes to work in public relations as a social media manager; particularly for brands geared toward mothers and children. 

As proud as Gini is of finishing her degree, she is even prouder of being a mom. She wants to share that passion in an industry that has plenty of need for good public relations practitioners. 

“In my experience, juggling the demands of being a fulltime public relations major and a mother of three, I've come to realize the critical importance of authenticity and connection,” she said. “Especially when it comes to brands marketing to mothers.” 

The demographic Gini hopes to appeal to is focused on quality and safety, just as she is. Gini has found that parents do not just want to buy products, they want guidance and support. That's why it's important for a public relations campaign to educate and engage that demographic, she says. 

Gini does not hide the fact she is a non-traditional student. Rather, she plays to her strengths. 

“As a mom entering the PR world, I bring a unique perspective to the table,” she said. “I know firsthand the challenges and joys of parenting, and I believe our experience as mothers enriches the work we do. 

“By sharing our stories and collaborating with influencers who share our values, we can create genuine connection with audiences.” 

Gini has been in a campaign course this semester, which serves as a capstone for her degree program. To her delight, most of her team members also turned out to be parents. While she may have started out on campus as the older student in class, her online experience has partnered her up with colleagues who are on similar paths. 

Gini hopes even more parents will consider going back to school and finishing their degrees. 

“As fulltime parents and students, it's OK to take your time. School will still be there. The job market will still be there. But time with your kids, that's valuable,” she said. 

Even though Gini knows it's not a race, it doesn't make commencement any less sweet. If anything, walking the stage this spring will be that much more special, as it marks her incredible perseverance over the last 11 years. 

“There have been a lot of ups and downs,” Gini said. “But I can finally see the horizon, and it's a great view.” 

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