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The primary objective of the Communication Ph.D. program is to offer students a comprehensive and demanding curriculum that equips them for professional opportunities in both academic and corporate settings. Rather than focusing exclusively on one domain, the program delivers extensive scholarly preparation to enable graduates to succeed in either career trajectory.
Academic Focus. Communication features a robust research-oriented academic component. Professionals specializing in communication currently hold positions in Communication departments as well as Journalism and Mass Communication schools. The field has gained recognition as an established academic discipline, evidenced by faculty research published in Communication department journals.
Corporate Focus. Numerous businesses recognize the importance of research in mass media impact, advertising, audience studies, and related communication fields. This has led to substantial job creation in communication roles. Mid-level and executive positions frequently require Ph.D. qualifications. Many current training programs for these roles don't adequately balance communication theory with practical methodology. Our Ph.D. program bridges this gap by combining in-depth theoretical knowledge with advanced research capabilities. Graduates can immediately contribute in corporate research roles without undergoing extensive trial-and-error training periods.
Program duration varies based on each student's prior academic background, including completed graduate or undergraduate coursework. Typically, students entering with a master's degree can expect to spend about four years fulfilling course requirements, passing comprehensive exams, and completing their dissertation research and defense.