The Ph.D. program in Communication offers students a unique curriculum that stresses the integration of theory and research in communication. Our program places strong emphasis on communication theory and a wide range of research skills and is designed to provide students with a rigorous course of study that will prepare them for careers in the academic, commercial, or non-profit spheres. Because our program emphasizes a balance between theory and application, alumni leave UConn with a dynamic skill and knowledge set, qualifying them for employment opportunities both inside and outside academia.

Location

• Storrs Campus

Modality

• In Person

Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy in Communication

All students must complete a program of study of at least 60 credit hours of graduate course work, which includes dissertation credits. Required coursework varies depending on the chosen track, but all students must complete several core courses. Core courses are COMM 5000 Fundamentals of Theory, Research, and Design, COMM 5001 Introduction to Graduate Communication Research, COMM 5002 Research Methods, COMM 5003 Advanced Communication Research Methods or COMM 5004 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication. Core courses may only be waived in special circumstances. The Ph.D. program has six speciality areas: Interpersonal Communication/Nonverbal Communication, Marketing Communication, Mass Communication, New Communication Technology, Health Communication, and Persuasion. As part of each track, students will take 6-9 credits in an area chosen to provide breadth or specialized skills. Students must pass COMM 6800 Seminar and Directed Research in Communication, which entails participating in two research projects mentored by faculty. Students must take and pass the doctoral comprehensive examinations in communication theory and research methods. After passing both examinations, students must successfully defend their dissertation proposal. Students culminate their Ph.D. program by submitting and successfully defending their doctoral dissertation.

Learning Objectives

1. Knowledge: Demonstrate appropriate breadth and depth of disciplinary knowledge and comprehension of the major topics, theories, and issues of the discipline, including demonstration of specialized knowledge of a sub-field sufficient to carry out substantive independent research or professional pursuits.
2. Research/applied skills: Use disciplinary methods and techniques ethically and professionally to apply knowledge, critically analyze, and, as appropriate to the degree, create new knowledge or achieve advanced professional goals.
3. Communication: Communicate proficiently and effectively to a specialist or non-specialist audience, verbally and in writing, a structured, coherent academic presentation, representation, or argument that cogently summarizes their research, relevant literature, and its significance at the level appropriate to discipline.