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.

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.

Our PhD students receive five academic years of full support. This assumes satisfactory performance and degree progress. Full support involves a 50% appointment as a graduate instructor or teaching assistant for a normal academic year. The current base salary is about $20,007. Tuition benefits are included as a part of the appointment, as is subsidized health care. However, students are required to pay the relevant fees required of all graduate and professional students and to pay for their own incidentals (room and board, transportation, health care premiums, etc.).

Qualifications 

As a general rule, an undergraduate average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is considered necessary for applicants, though the actual average of those who are recommended for admission is much higher. Undergraduate grades are looked at carefully. The pattern of preparation and grades across time and fields are considered. Grades in the major field and in the junior/senior years are given special attention. An average of 3.5 in the master’s is typically necessary for admission to the doctoral program.

GRE scores are not taken into consideration for admission. There is no need to submit any scores. This is the most current and accurate requirement—any other sites indicating a need to submit a GRE score are inaccurate and should be disregarded