Degree Requirements
- Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum number of 59 graduate credit hours in Communication Studies at the 500 level or above. Courses taken outside of the department must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator.
- Grade Point Average: Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.75, and 3.25 in coursework applied to their graduate program, with a minimum grade of B- in all courses applied toward degree. Students who receive more than three grades of less than a B- will not be permitted to continue in the program.
- Comprehensive Examination: Upon completion of a minimum of thirty-nine hours of coursework approved in a plan of study (excluding COMM 797 and COMM 790), students take a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination consists of three sections on which students will be tested on the primary and secondary areas of communication emphasis and research methods. The written examination will be followed by an oral examination approximately two weeks later.
- Dissertation: Once the written and oral comprehensive examinations have been successfully defended (as determined by the committee), students write a dissertation prospectus and submit it to their committee. Once the prospectus has been approved, students write and defend their dissertation. The dissertation defense is open to the public.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CORE COURSES: | 8 | |
| Survey of Human Communication Theory | ||
| Graduate Research Methods | ||
| Graduate Seminar | ||
| FOUNDATIONAL COURSES: * | 6 | |
Select 2 foundational COMM courses. | ||
| Instructional Communication | ||
| Interpersonal Communication: Theory and Research | ||
| Theory and Research in Persuasion | ||
| Theory and Research in Mass Communication | ||
| Theory and Research in Organizational Communication | ||
| AREA COURSES: * | 27 | |
Select nine COMM courses at the 600 or 700 level. | ||
| RESEARCH: | 18 | |
| Research | ||
| Total Hours | 59 | |
- *
Of the Foundational and Area Courses: 12 hours are Primary Area courses, nine hours are Secondary Area courses, and nine hours are Research Methods courses.
Major Learning Outcomes
Communication Studies
Students earning a Ph.D. in Communication Studies will be able to:
- explain, synthesize, and critique the primary Communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts associated with the Communication Studies discipline
- convey expert knowledge of the Communication theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts that comprise their primary and secondary areas of study
- independently design, conduct, and interpret original Communication-based research using quantitative research methods suitable for conference presentations and professional publication
- create a programmatic line of research to guide future Communication-based research endeavors and projects
- select and use effective instructional communicative behaviors across a variety of teaching and training situations
- develop their writing, analytical, and research skills needed for success as a professional in the field of Communication Studies
- commit to the profession through activity in professional associations and service to the department, university, and community