Communication, PhD
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
To be accepted as a candidate for the Ph.D. degree, a student must either present a well-rounded undergraduate education with an emphasis in communication and a master's in a cognate discipline, or hold a master's degree in communication from an accredited institution.
The Department of Communication offers a broad curriculum in communication research. In consultation with an advisor, students assemble individualized programs, concentrating in organizational and group communication, interpersonal and family communication, health communication, communication technology, political communication, rhetoric and public discourse, communication in cultural contexts, or mediated communication. Interdisciplinary programs are also encouraged.
Admission
An application must include official transcripts from every post-secondary institution the applicant has attended; at least three letters of recommendation, preferably from academic recommenders; a major paper or essay as a sample of academic writing; an academic statement of purpose that details their scholarly accomplishments and goals, and a personal statement of purpose that describes how the student's personal background and experiences influenced their decision to pursue a graduate degree. Students whose native language is not English must present their official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination as part of their applications. The department follows the Graduate College’s recommendations for English proficiency. Detailed information about admissions and financial aid can be found on the department's website. Ordinarily, students are admitted to begin graduate study in the fall semester.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is usually offered in the form of part-time teaching assistantships; some fellowships and research assistantships are available.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
In addition to meeting general requirements of the Graduate College, the student must satisfactorily complete written and oral preliminary examinations, an oral defense of the thesis prospectus, and an oral defense of the thesis. Students must demonstrate competency in research procedures and tools that may include proficiency in one or more foreign languages, various research methods, or cognate academic work. Students must enroll in CMN 595 in the semester of the preliminary examination and in CMN 599 (thesis hours) in semesters spent working on the dissertation.
For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum in appropriate research method; these are in addition to the 40 hours of additional coursework. (8 min) | 8 | |
| Courses from outside the department | 12 | |
| Elective hours (not in method or thesis hours) | 40 | |
| Independent Study Hours (8 max applied toward degree) | 8 | |
| Language Requirement: based on major | ||
| CMN 599 | Thesis Research (0 min applied toward degree) | 0 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Minimum Non-Method/Thesis Hours Required Within the Unit: | 20 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required: | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required: | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required: | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required: | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 2.75 |
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
- Intellectual Reasoning and Knowledge: Students will acquire broad and deep knowledge of communication research, theory, and practice.
- Creative Inquiry and Discovery: Students will assimilate and conduct original research to generate new ideas about communication.
- Proficiency with diversity: Students will engage in constructive discourse and deliberation about ideas from across the breadth of the field of communication and cognate fields.
- Career Preparedness: Students will gain professional development experiences that afford them rewarding career opportunities in education, policy, business, and/or industry.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
Graduate Degree Programs in Communication
Majors
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Communication
Department of Communication
Department Chair: John Caughlin
Director of Graduate Studies: Travis Dixon
Department of Communication website
3001 Lincoln Hall, 702 S. Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2683
communication@illinois.edu
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website
Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements
Departmental Admissions Requirements