phd in mass media and communication

Ph.D. in Mass Communications

Our doctoral program in mass communication, jointly administered with the Department of Life Sciences Communication, is internationally recognized for our faculty and areas of research. Applicants to the Joint Ph.D. in Mass Communications may apply to one or both departments, depending on your areas of research interest. Options are:

• Mass Communications: Journalism & Mass Comm (code G630L)
• Mass Communications: Life Sciences Comm (code G630A)

The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors. Our Ph.D. graduates become some of the most successful researchers and leaders in the field of mass communication.   We require our students to engage in a systematic search for answers to well-formulated and substantive questions. The research process culminates in the discovery and reporting of new knowledge to others.

A doctoral dissertation in Mass Communications demonstrates a student’s ability to examine in detail an important issue in the field, using original research. Faculty members expect the dissertation to be clearly presented while conveying the student’s close familiarity with his or her research area.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

• civic and political communication
• health and environmental communications
• history of media institutions
• information technologies
• social networking and digital media
• processes and effects of mediated communication
• law and ethics of media
• international and inter-cultural communication
• public opinion
• science and risk communication
• social marketing
• journalism studies
• media ecologies
• race and media

Working closely with their advisor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their area of specialization.

Visit the Ph.D. in Mass Communications website for more information.

Visit  Ph.D. in Mass Communications  for more information.

Ph.D. Handbook (PDF)

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Ph.D. in Media and Communication

Our doctoral program in Chapel Hill prepares students to lead in the academy and industry.

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We offer a close-knit community where students learn, develop as scholars and collaborate with faculty advisers and mentors.

You’ll learn cutting-edge research methods and acquire a deep understanding of communication theory to help you develop a research program that fits your interests. Our graduates are training the next generation of scholars, improving public health, strengthening democracy and helping leading organizations across the world innovate in a changing media environment.

Numbers of Distinction

AEJMC Nafziger-White-Salwen Dissertation Awards since 1984: No other program comes close.

New graduates in the last five years who have become assistant professors or postdoctoral fellows, with 61% of those assistant professors at Carnegie R1 institutions

Value, over three years, of a Park Fellowship

One-year expenditures for externally sponsored research

Online info session: Ph.D. in Media and Communication

November 6, 2023.

Sign up to attend an online info session about our doctoral program. Hear from program director Shannon McGregor and ask questions about the admissions process.

A network of support, at Carolina and beyond

As she completed her master's at the Hussman School, Kyla Garrett Wagner wasn't sure whether she'd stay in Chapel Hill for her doctorate. She applied to eight other programs but decided to stay where she felt her ideas were most supported. "While it is a competitive school and one of the best schools, we're not competitive with one another on the inside," she says. "We all can work together, and that's an incredible feeling."

Why Carolina?

• Get access to world-class resources on campus and a worldwide network of more than 16,000 UNC Hussman alumni.
• Chapel Hill and the Research Triangle region are home to college-town charm, abundant culture and high-tech industry.

Learn about the Hussman School

Our vibrant and collaborative interdisciplinary research culture creates new knowledge, advances scholarship and helps reinvent media.

Explore our research

The Roy H. Park Fellowships are among the most generous among media and journalism programs nationwide, providing top UNC Hussman doctoral applicants the financial support necessary for the students to focus on their academic and professional development.

Complete this form, and we’ll send you more information and program updates.

Or contact the Graduate Studies team at [email protected] or (919) 843-8307.

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Ph.D in Mass Communication

Mass Communication Ph.D. – a joint program with the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the School of Media Arts and Studies

We are pioneers in journalism education and research and media studies scholarship. Scripps’ Mass Communication doctoral graduates hold key positions at colleges and universities around the world. We lead scholarly organizations and are professors, chairs and deans at Carnegie R1 institutions. We focus on innovation in our changing media environment.

Our faculty have significant experience in industry and the academy, preparing our doctoral students for research in journalism, mass communication, strategic communication (advertising and public relations), social media, data analytics, critical cultural studies, First Amendment theory and policy, media ethics and history, political communication, and international communication.

Scripps offers a caring community where students collaborate with faculty, each other and scholars across our university community. We provide students with mentorship in their academic areas, in scholarly publishing, in the timely completion of their degrees as well as assistance with job placement.

Our financial aid (tuition waivers and stipends) are highly competitive, and we offer travel grants for students to present their research across the country and the world. Recently, doctoral students have presented their research and completed field work in such countries as Romania, England, China, Germany, Cambodia and India, just to name a few.

We offer the prestigious Scripps Howard Teaching Fellowship to our best candidates who have significant professional experience in the news industry. Doctoral students have the opportunity to teach some of the best undergraduate media, journalism and strategic communication majors in the country.

Our students are driven to conduct research that strengthens democracy, improves health communication in an effort to improve health outcomes, and focuses on media for and about under-represented groups. Join us in the beautiful foothills of Appalachia, in Athens, Ohio, a small town with a world view.

About the Program

Meet current students

Program outcomes

Past graduate students have on gone on to work as faculty at universities and colleges, professionals in the media production industry, researchers and activists at NGOs, and journalists around the world. Learn more about our program alumni.

How to Apply

Please apply through OHIO's  Graduate College portal . The Ph.D. in Mass Communication program has two tracks: choose program code PH5307 for Media Arts and Studies (MDIA), and program code PH5308 for Journalism (JOUR). 

Applications are accepted for fall admission only (the start of the academic year). For each academic year's admissions, the application portal will open on September 30 the year prior.  

We ask for the following materials as part of your application:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Optional. We encourage the submission of GRE scores, but we will evaluate each applicant in a holistic manner. If you are including your GRE scores, they must be sent by the testing agency to the Graduate College. Please note in your application if you are not submitting scores. 
• International applicants must provide TOEFL or IELTS scores to the Graduate College, except for those who fulfill one of the exemptions listed here. No other test of English proficiency (such as Duolingo) can be accepted as a substitute.
• Official transcripts from all universities previously attended
• Statement of purpose: 500-1,000 words explaining your reasons for pursuing a Ph.D. in Mass Communication, and why you would be a strong applicant for an Ohio University doctoral program
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing sample
• The GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS  reporting code  for Ohio University is  1593 .

You also are welcome to submit samples of your professional work, but they are not required.

Applicants should have a Master's degree. You need not have an undergraduate major or master’s degree in mass communication, media studies, or journalism to apply for a Ph.D. in mass communication. However, the admissions committee will look favorably on relevant academic and professional experience.

Application deadlines:

The deadline for all applicants (U.S. citizens/permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents) is January 2, 2024.

Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are competitively awarded based on academic record, professional experience, recommendations and current needs of the School of Media Arts and Studies and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. All doctoral students with a graduate assistantship are required to work a minimum of 15 hours per week (and no more than 20 hours) in exchange for a stipend and full tuition waiver and may be assigned as teaching assistants, research assistants, or instructors. 

For questions or more information about our doctoral program, contact:

Mass Communications Ph.D.

Our fully-funded, interdisciplinary doctoral program will prepare you for a rewarding career in communications research and teaching.

Our program offers a stimulating intellectual environment where you may explore and specialize in a variety of topics, including media ethics and diversity; media sociology; new media; political communication; popular television; public relations; or social effects.

The doctoral program is designed to be completed in four years, with two years of coursework followed by qualifying exams and the dissertation.

Regina Luttrell

Associate dean, research and creative activity, associate professor, public relations, co-director, real chemistry emerging insights lab.

Anne Osborne

Doctoral program, media studies, communications.

Kristen Northrop

Assistant director.

Jenn Yoshioka

Administrative specialist.

Journalism and Media

Doctoral program.

Our doctoral program is among the best programs in journalism and media in the U.S.  Led by faculty with distinguished research and publication records – many with professional journalism or media experience – our program is designed to equip students with a strong theoretical grounding and versatile research methods.  Graduates of our four-year program can go on to positions in the academy, and they also may join think tanks, advocacy and non-governmental organizations and professional associations working with information and media systems.   

We offer a far-reaching array of electives and research opportunities. The faculties’ fields of interest broadly include news and media engagement; online incivility; digital media; mis and disinformation; the digital divide and information equity; media law and policy, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence and algorithms on media; journalism and democracy; global media systems; media and representation; visual communication studies; critical data studies; social media and platform studies; media economics, among other topics.  Please look at  faculty bios  and description of research opportunities  to learn more about current projects.   

Our program incorporates many opportunities to undertake research independently or to work with groups associated with research centers, institutes or research groups. We have an excellent record of participation with the major professional associations including the Association for Education in Journalism and Media Communication ( AEJ MC ), the International Communication Association ( ICA ),  the International Association of Media and Communication Research ( IAMCR ), the Association of Internet Research ( AoIR ), as well as smaller highly focused forums such as The Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy. 

Interdisciplinary Work

Our students also participate with the many interdisciplinary  Portfolio Programs  on campus.  Moody College is home to three such programs, including the  Communication, Information and Cultural Policy  program focused on media systems, directed by some of our faculty.  Additionally, summer internships with professional or research programs are sometimes sponsored by associated research institutes.  Students have taken advantage of UT’s  Archer Program , and the multi-University COMPASS program associated with the Technology and Information Policy Institute.   

Program of Work 2023-2024

Doctoral Handbook 2023-2024

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PHD, Mass Communication

The graduate studies program of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers two graduate degrees for students preparing for professional and academic careers: the M.A. degree and the Ph.D. degree.

Degree Type: Doctoral

Degree Program Code: PHD_MCOM

Degree Program Summary:

The M.A. program emphasizes the integration of mass communication theory, research methods, decision making, and critical thinking and provides preparation for further study and/or for careers in advertising, journalism, mass media studies, public relations, and telecommunications. The Ph.D. program is designed to produce critical scholars capable of independent and original research. The program offers advanced study and specialization in preparing for careers in teaching and research or for positions of responsibility in mass media, industries, or government. Applicants accepted for the M.A. and Ph.D. program begin their program in the fall semester. Admission is based on undergraduate grade point average, the results of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation, as well as previous professional experience and scholarly work. Anyone holding a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is eligible to apply for admission to the master’s programs. A master’s degree is required for acceptance into the Ph.D. program. The program is open both to students with undergraduate majors in journalism and mass communication and to those who have majored in other areas. Master’s students without backgrounds in journalism and mass communication may be required to take 9 or more credit hours of undergraduate-level foundation courses before registering for more than 6 hours of graduate courses. If not previously completed, a course in statistics is also required. Applications and additional information may be obtained from the Graduate Studies Office, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Grady College’s Ph.D. program in mass communication is designed to prepare scholars for academic careers in teaching and research or for professional careers in industry or government. The program draws mainly on the resources and facilities of the College’s three departments: advertising / public relations, journalism, and telecommunications.

The primary objective of the Ph.D. program is to develop mass communication scholars who are capable of critical thinking and independent scholarship. The degree is granted in recognition of research proficiency, breadth and soundness of scholarship, and thorough knowledge of selected aspects of mass communication and related fields. Degree requirements are fulfilled in three stages:

• successful completion of an approved program of study;
• the passing of written and oral comprehensive examinations; and
• the execution and presentation of an acceptable dissertation based on independent research.

Students are encouraged to develop their own theoretical and methodological approaches to mass communication research. Some Ph.D. students work within and from traditional social science models of inquiry; others adopt historical, critical theory, naturalistic, or cultural studies perspectives on mass communication phenomena.

Locations Offered:

Athens (Main Campus)

College / School:

Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

120 Hooper Street Athens, GA 30602

706-542-1704

Graduate Coordinator(s):

Phone Number:

706-583-8268

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PhD Degree Program | Mass Communications and Media Arts | SIU

Communication and media programs:, mass communications and media arts.

618-453-4308 |

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Ph.D. - Mass Communications and Media Arts

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The graduate programs in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts develop teaching, research, and creative work that interrogates the construction, reception, and social impact of mass media forms and texts. Our work uniquely blends methods from the arts, humanities, history, theory, and social sciences. The faculty seek to nurture an intellectual and creative community attuned to global social changes, as we respond to new ways of creating and analyzing media.

Our doctoral program engages students in the interdisciplinary study of global media. Students learn to compare and contrast concepts and methods drawn from various research traditions in the field. Students are not only encouraged to think broadly about the discipline, but also develop mastery in a particular specialization in order to produce original research in that specific area. 

View our full Ph.D. Handbook

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Program Description

Graduate symposium.

Students are required to present at the graduate student symposium in Spring Year 1.

First Year Review

After formal presentation at the Graduate Research Symposium, students will undergo a faculty review at the end of Year 1. This process allows faculty to deliver formal feedback regarding the student’s progress toward their degree that includes performance in courses and scholarly production outside of the classroom.

Committee Selection

By the end of the third semester in residence, each Ph.D. student will be required to select, in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, a committee chair. The faculty committee chair and the student develop a specific plan of study, considering the requirements of the Graduate School, the degree program, and the goals of the student.

Examinations

In the beginning of the third year, after the Ph.D. student has completed coursework, the student must pass rigorous comprehensive written and oral examinations. These exams are chaired by a graduate faculty member in MCMA, and administered by three other faculty members. Generally, these exams are taken in Fall Year 3.

After successfully completing the comprehensive written and oral exams, the student advances to candidacy to complete and defend a dissertation based on scholarly research and independent thought that adds to the body of knowledge in the field.

Dissertation

Under the guidance of a dissertation committee chair, the doctoral student forms a dissertation committee of five members (one of whom must be from outside of the college) and prepares a dissertation proposal.

A public oral defense of the proposal must be made before the dissertation committee and approved within one year of reaching candidacy. Students then write a dissertation which they also must defend at a final meeting of the doctoral committee. The program allows a maximum of seven years from the date of original enrollment for completion of the doctoral degree.

Past dissertations by our students.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Master a specific research tradition in mass studies
• Think critically about the interdisciplinary nature of mass communication studies.
• Write a dissertation which breaks new ground in the disciplines of Mass Communication and Media Arts.
• Speak articulately about Mass Communication and Media Arts.
• Understand the important global and international nature of mass communication.

Currently, all of our accepted Ph.D. students receive a 50% graduate assistantship for four years, which comes with a tuition waiver and a small monthly stipend which is generally enough to cover housing and modest living expenses.

The Graduate School offers a few scholarship and fellowship opportunities.

Program Admission

Students applying for doctoral study must have a master’s degree and a graduate GPA of at least 3.00. All applicants must submit currently valid Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.

Other factors considered include professional and academic accomplishments, examples of professional work, awards and honors, evidence of scholarship such as research papers and published articles, and prior full-time teaching in the mass communication and media arts area.

A visit to SIU and interview with faculty is recommended. Students whose preparation is lacking in certain areas may be required to take undergraduate courses that will not be counted towards the Ph.D. degree.

International Students

International students must have a TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper score) or 80 (internet score) or have an IELTS score of 6.5 to be admitted.

Application deadline : March 1, 2022

Accelerated Program

An accelerated entry option to the Ph.D. program is offered in exceptional cases to students who have been admitted to the M.A. program.

To be eligible, the student must: 1) possess a master’s degree; 2) have qualified for admission to the MCMA Ph.D. program initially; 3) complete at least nine hours but no more than 18 hours in the M.A. degree; 4) have a minimum 3.25 GPA in the M.A. program with no incomplete or deferred grades.

The student may petition the Director of Graduate Studies for the accelerated entry option during the semester in which the student will begin taking the ninth hour of graduate courses, but must petition before earning the 18th hour of course work in the M.A. program. If approved, the student will be enrolled in the Ph.D. program the next semester. Up to 18 graduate credits earned in the M.A. program will count toward the Ph.D. degree if the accelerated entry option is approved by the MCMA Graduate Committee. Once the student is admitted to the Ph.D. program, all requirements of the Ph.D. program apply. Exceptions to any of these rules must be appealed to the MCMA Graduate Committee, which has final authority to approve or reject the petition.

Contact Information

Walter Metz , Director of Graduate Studies

Communications Building 1050i 1100 Lincoln Dr. Carbondale, IL 62901 [email protected]

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Doctor of philosophy in mass communication.

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Mass Communication requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. The program provides training in research methods, communication theory, and teaching skills. Students in this program prepare for careers as professors, teachers and industry researchers.

The program emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, with coursework and research tailored to each student’s interests under the guidance of faculty members. The school offers several areas of strength to support graduate student research:

• critical and cultural studies 
• sports media
• global media
• health communication
• journalism studies
• digital media

Students who enter the Ph.D. program with a completed relevant master’s degree at the time of enrollment can transfer up to 30 hours of graduate credit from academic courses, including up to 3 credit hours for the thesis. Students who will have not completed a relevant master’s degree by the time of enrollment should apply for our M.A. program. M.A. students who complete their degree requirements and successfully pass the qualifying exam will be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program.

For more information, refer to the Graduate Student Handbook or Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about SJMC graduate programs. In addition, listed below are the general categories of coursework required to earn the degree; for more specific information on courses, curriculum, and requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy in mass communication, visit the UI General Catalog . Don’t find an answer to your question? Email it to us at [email protected].

Important Deadlines

Application Deadline : January 1st (for Fall admission)

Admission decisions are based on prior academic performance, letters of reference, and the applicant's statement about background and purpose. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the  Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College  on the Graduate College website. For more information, see the  Graduate Admissions Process  page.

Comprehensive Examination

In the third year, each doctoral student completes and defends a dissertation proposal, which serves as their comprehensive exam. The dissertation proposal must indicate clearly the logical steps necessary for the completion of the project and suggest a plan of action. Generally, a dissertation proposal will include these areas: Introduction, Context for the Study, Conceptual/Theoretical Foundation, Research Questions, Research Methods, Bibliography, Chapter Outline, and Tentative Timeline. Once written, the student is required to present the dissertation proposal to the Communication and Media Colloquium. Following the Communication and Media Colloquium presentation, an oral examination will be conducted by the student’s committee, usually within two weeks of the completion of the written proposal.

Dissertation

Students who are enrolled in the Ph.D. program are required to complete a scholarly dissertation. The dissertation committee is composed of at least four faculty members. At least three must be members of the University of Iowa tenure-track faculty, at least two must be members of SJMC (which may include faculty with 0% appointments), and at least one must come from outside the department. By special request, the program may request permission from the Graduate College to replace one committee member with a recognized scholar of professorial rank from another academic institution. Changes to committee membership are often necessary, and can be made at various stages in a student’s program, but should always be done in close consultation with their advisor and/or the Director of Graduate Studies.

NOTE :  Any research which involves "human subjects" must be reviewed by the University of Iowa  Institutional Review Board (IRB)  prior to the initiation of the project.  Proof of the determination/review process must also be submitted to the International Studies Program before the international experience proposal can be approved. For all questions contact the IRB at (319) 335-6465; or complete the  IRB Determination Form  to find out if your research meets the definition of human subjects research.

PhD in Mass Communication (General Catalog)

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

Theory and Research Ph.D.

Main navigation.

The Ph.D. program prepares students to conduct original research on communication processes, their origins, and their psychological, political and cultural effects. Most of our doctoral graduates enter academic teaching and research careers, or communication-related professions that require research skills.

Students usually enter the program with strong interests in one of our three areas of special strength:  Media Psychology ,  Political Communication , or  Journalism, Media and Culture . Within the program, students tend to anchor in one area while exploring key empirical and theoretical concerns in the others. After a core curriculum of courses in quantitative and qualitative methods, statistics, and mass communication theory, each student builds a research specialization through advanced courses and seminars in Communication and related departments, research projects, teaching, and an examination in the area of concentration. These requirements are normally completed within four years, and the dissertation within six.

Ph.D. Requirements and Procedures

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Doctor of Philosophy Media, Culture, and Communication

Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to the study of media and culture, our doctorate draws from a rich array of disciplines and theoretical frameworks. Department expertise spans the globe: the Middle East, East Asia, the Global South, Africa, and Europe. Our faculty generate some of the most original scholarship in their respective fields, creating a stimulating environment in which to pursue graduate work.

Degree Details

Official degree title.

PhD in Media, Culture, and Communication

Research Focus

Alumni placements, funding for full-time phd students.

Five research areas operate as guiding frameworks for intellectual inquiry across the department: Global Communication and Media, Technology and Society, Visual Culture and Sound Studies, Media Industries and Politics, Interaction and Experience.

Your work as a doctoral student will be shaped by our commitment to:

• Engaging with theoretical concepts from a range of disciplines—media and cultural studies, visual culture, history, science and technology studies, anthropology, sociology, disability studies, sound studies, political science.
• A multi-methodological approach to research—from semiotics, global ethnography, gender and queer theory, critical race theory, qualitative and quantitative discourse analysis, to political/cultural economy, among other critical frameworks.
• A global perspective—conceiving of the global mediascape as transnational and transcultural.
• Recognizing media and technology’s long history and antecedents.

Read some sample dissertation abstracts .

After graduating, alumni join academic departments of media and communication, with placement in the social sciences and interdisciplinary humanities becoming increasingly common. MCC PhDs who graduated in the past ten years are now tenure-track or tenured professors at the University of California, Berkeley; University of Washington, Seattle; Cornell University; Stanford University; UCLA; Rutgers; Fordham; University of Michigan; George Mason University; University of North Carolina; University of Arizona; College of Charleston; Memorial University of Newfoundland; University of San Francisco; Scripps; Pratt; University of Maryland; American University of Beirut; American University of Paris, Ryerson University; Trent University; St. Joseph’s College.

Over the past decade, our PhD graduates have received numerous prestigious postdocs, including a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities in the Department of Comparative Media Studies/Writing at MIT; Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT's Center for Art, Science, and Technology; Postdoctoral Fellow, Berkman Klein Center, Harvard University; Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science; Postdoctoral, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University; Postdoctoral Fellowship at Rice University in Technology, Culture, and Society; Research Associate, Center for Digital Humanities, Princeton University; Postdoctoral Fellow, Media, Inequality & Change Center, University of Pennsylvania.

If you are accepted as a full-time NYU Steinhardt PhD student without an alternate funding source, you are eligible for our competitive funding package, which includes a scholarship and tuition remission.  Learn more about our funding opportunities .

Graduate Leadership

Associate Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication; PhD Director

Susan Murray

Department chair and professor of media, culture, and communication.

If you have additional questions about our degree, please contact us at [email protected] .

Alumni Profiles

Jacob Gaboury (PhD 2014)

Jacob is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Film & Media at the University of California, Berkeley. His dissertation "Image Objects: An Archaeology of Computer Graphics, 1965-1979" investigated the early history of computer graphics and the role they play in the move toward new forms of simulation and object oriented design.

Xiaochang Li (PhD 2017)

Xiaochang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University. Her teaching and research interests include the history of computing and information systems, AI and algorithmic culture, speech and language technology, and software/platform studies. Before joining Stanford, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin.

Hatim El-Hibri (PhD 2012)

Hatim is Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at George Mason University. His research examines media technologies and urban space in the Middle East. His dissertation traced the history of the visualization of Beirut, from the politics of aerial photography and mapping during the French Mandate, to the visual economy of postwar construction, to the materiality of Hizballah's live satellite television.

Liz Koslov (PhD 2017)

Liz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. Previously, she was a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT. Her research examines the cultural, political, and sociological dimensions of climate change adaptation. Her first book project, Retreat: Moving to Higher Ground in a Climate-Changed City , is under advance contract with the University of Chicago Press.

Devon Powers (PhD 2008)

Devon is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Advertising, Media & Communication at Temple University. Powers' research interests include popular music, 20th century history, and cultural intermediation – the people and processes that operate "in between" the production and consumption of culture. Powers completed a fellowship at the University of Leeds in 2014, and was recently elected Vice Chair of the Popular Communication Division of the International Communication Association.

Matthew Powers (PhD 2013)

Matthew is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington-Seattle. His dissertation "Humanity's Publics: NGOs, Journalism and the International Public Sphere" examined reporting roles assumed by international NGOs as legacy media outlets cut their foreign news budgets, and received the Gene Burd Outstanding Dissertation in Journalism Studies award from the International Communication Association. 

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Graduate Programs

Ph.D. Mass Communications

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications offers advanced study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in mass communications. The purpose of the program is to prepare graduates for entry into college and university teaching and research and for a variety of communications-related professions.

Program Preparation

The program integrates preparation in teaching and research as complementary endeavors. Doctoral students begin the program in the fall semester and, during the first year, complete two semesters of the doctoral proseminar, colloquium, and typically at least one course in communications research methodology. By the end of the first year, doctoral students must form a committee of faculty members to guide their subsequent course of study. The remainder of the Ph.D. program is determined, in close consultation with the student, by his/her doctoral committee who is responsible for the formal approval of the proposed program.

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Communication and media are among the most powerful forces shaping the world today. In our Communication and Media Studies PhD program, you’ll work with some of the world’s top media and communication experts to research and contribute to this crucial field. Our school is one of the nation’s oldest accredited schools of journalism and communication, housed within an Association of American Universities R1 research institution.

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Doctoral Degree in    Communication and Media Studies

Launch a trailblazing career in media research.

In our doctoral program, you’re more than just a student. You’ll work as a co-author, scholar, and teacher and become part of a welcoming and inclusive community influenced by perspectives from across many disciplines and cultures around the world. You’ll also conduct impactful research that contributes to the field and your research portfolio under the guidance of SOJC faculty advisors.

Our faculty are internationally recognized experts in many mass communication and media research topics, including science, health, and environmental communication; technology and society; game studies; global media; critical/cultural approaches to communication; persuasion and media psychology; media and public life; and more.

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Take flight with a Communication and Media Studies Doctoral Degree

Students in our media studies graduate program develop the knowledge, skill, and research portfolios to claim teaching and research posts at top universities and think tanks around the world. But their analytic and research skills set them apart in any field. 

Meet More PhD Alums

Bryce Macher ’13   is a data scientist for Hilton Innovation Lab. →

Sonia De La Cruz ’14   is a professor and documentary filmmaker. →

Erica Ciszek ’14   studies how communication affects understandings of gender. →

Take flight   with a Communication and Media Studies Doctoral Degree

Students in our media studies graduate program develop the knowledge, skill, and research portfolios to claim teaching and research posts at top universities and think tanks around the world. But their analytic and research skills set them apart in any field. A communication and media studies degree offers a solid foundation that can springboard you into academia or a career in media, government, law, or nonprofit work.

Communication and Media Studies PhD Program News

More News   »

Named for renowned journalist Eric W. Allen , who founded the SOJC over 100 years ago, Allen Hall sits at the heart of the verdant University of Oregon campus. During your studies in Eugene, you’ll enjoy expert guidance, hands-on experience with the latest technology, and opportunities for collaboration.

You'll also have access to our state-of-the-art  Experience Hub —part production studio, part research center, part hands-on learning lab—a place where students and faculty collaborate to develop innovative content and examine the media from every angle.

See a Sample PhD Schedule

Study in the Beautiful Pacific Northwest

Fully funded phd.

You bring the intellectual curiosity, we’ll take care of the tuition: Our doctoral candidates are fully funded for four consecutive years*, including health benefits and a stipend. We also offer resources for conducting research that contributes to the field while preparing you for a career in higher education or meaningful work in the public and private sectors.

*Eligibility for continued funding requires maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

Learn More about Funding

Student research

Our doctoral candidates work with internationally renowned SOJC faculty experts to do groundbreaking research on today’s most pressing communication and media realities.

See More Student Work

Meet Our Faculty View All Communication and Media Studies PhD Faculty →

Whitney Phillips     Assistant Professor of Digital Platforms and Ethics

Whitney Phillips uses her research and teaching to help students and consumers of media navigate the potentially treacherous terrain of what she’s coined the “information hellscape.” The modern media landscape is fraught with political biases, implicit messages, and harmful communication, but it is also a powerful tool. So Phillips challenges and inspires her students to incorporate self-care and mindfulness into their media-consumption regimens.

Learn about Whitney’s Research

Seth Lewis     is an expert on the digital transformation of journalism. →

Gabriela Martínez     is a gender studies researcher and award-winning documentary filmmaker. →

Maxwell Foxman     researches how play manifests in nongame contexts. →

Janet Wasko     is an expert in the political economy of media and all things Disney. →

Meet Our Faculty

Whitney Phillips    Assistant Professor of Digital Platforms and Ethics

Seth Lewis    is an expert on the digital transformation of journalism. →

Gabriela Martínez    is a gender studies researcher and award-winning documentary filmmaker. →

Maxwell Foxman    researches how play manifests in nongame contexts. →

Janet Wasko    is an expert in the political economy of media and all things Disney. →

View All Communication and Media Studies PhD Faculty →

Next Steps:

Request more information   Fill out a quick form and our graduate recruiter will be in touch soon!  →

Check out campus   Schedule an in-person tour of Allen Hall or watch our virtual tour video.  →

Start your application   Ready to join us and become a Duck? Get started now.  →

Graduate School

Communication, culture, & media studies (ph.d.), communication, culture, & media studies (ph.d.) | graduate.

Our scholars investigate contemporary issues and practices in mass media, communication, and cultural studies, and apply critical interdisciplinary frameworks in communication theory, discourse and network analysis, semiotics, and other methodological approaches to better understand mediated cultural and social phenomena locally, nationally, and globally.

The Ph.D. in Communication, Culture and Media Studies at Howard's Graduate School welcomes applicants who hold a master’s degree (M.A., M.F.A. or M.S.) with backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, fine arts, and other communication-related fields. Our program highly encourages an interdisciplinary, multicultural approach to investigating communication issues locally, nationally, and globally. Students engage theoretical concepts across diverse fields, including critical media and cultural studies, visual culture, sociology, history, science and technology studies, anthropology, history, and political economy. As a graduate of the program, you'll be prepared to compete successfully for postdoctoral positions, tenure-track teaching appointments at colleges and universities, and senior-level communications consulting or research positions in the public or private sector. Our program emphasizes critical frameworks and mixed methodological approaches to communications studies, including quantitative and qualitative methods, discourse analysis, network analysis, semiotics, critical communication theory, and ethnography. You may choose from three distinct areas of specialization: health communication; media, and cultural studies; and technology, policy, and society. You'll enjoy a highly collegial atmosphere and the close mentorship of faculty notable for their wide-ranging research, including examinations of the role of communication in health promotion, mass communications and public policymaking, strategic communication, culture and media history, the political economy of media, multicultural and mediated communication, and interrelations between global social movements, art, and media. 

Program Snapshot

      ❱  72 credit hours        ❱  Full-time       ❱  On-campus format       ❱  Degree: Ph.D.

Application Deadlines

Spring 2024 entry:         ❱  No spring entry

Fall 2024 entry:         ❱  Dec. 1, 2023  (early deadline)       ❱  Feb. 15, 2024  (priority deadline)       ❱  Apr. 15, 2024  (final deadline)

Applicants should submit their applications as early as possible for earlier consideration of departmental funding opportunities. Applicants have until the final deadline to apply. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. 

Transfer credits accepted  (reviewed by committee; students may transfer up to 24 credits in communication-related courses from their master’s program)

Dr. Loren Saxton Coleman

Dr. frances gateward, program details.

• Degree Classification: Graduate
• Related Degrees: Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission.

• Online GradCAS application
• Statement of academic interest & research goals ( 500-1,000 words )
• GRE scores required (GRE scores taken up to 3 years prior to application)
• Official transcripts sent to GradCAS
• 3 letters of recommendation (faculty and.or academic advisors)
• Master’s degree from an accredited university  or the international equivalent 
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical statement/Personal statement ( 500-750 words )

GRE Required?

• Yes (GRE scores taken up to 3 years prior to application)

GRE Preferred Minimums

• GRE Verbal Reasoning: 140
• GRE Quantitative Reasoning: 135
• GRE Analytical Writing: 4

GPA Required Minimums

• Overall GPA minimum: 3.0
• Undergrad GPA minimum: 3.0

Reference Requirements

Evaluator type accepted:

• Faculty/Academic Advisors  (Required)

Evaluator type not accepted:

• Family Member
• Supervisor/Manager

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Manship School of Mass Communication

Ph.D. in Media & Public Affairs | LSU Manship School of Mass Communication

• Master of Mass Communication
• Dual MMC/Law Degree
• Ph.D. in Media & Public Affairs
• Certificate in Strategic Communication

Contact 

For more information about the Ph.D. program, contact: 

Dr. Meghan Sanders

Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies

Start Your Online Application Today!

The Manship School is home to the nation’s only doctoral program in media & public affairs. We have a broad view of media and public affairs, with research on political polarization, digital technology, crisis communication, wartime propaganda, gender and sexuality, media effects, health communication, native advertising and the representation of minority groups, among others.

We fund all of our doctoral students for four years ($25,000 per year) and admit only a small class to ensure personal attention and mentorship from faculty. Our acceptance rate is about 15%. Our doctoral program graduates work at a variety of institutions: research-intensive, teaching-centered, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and international institutions.

Cutting-Edge Research Facilities

The Manship School prepares scholars to study the ever-changing world of mass media with three research laboratories and infrastructure for a wide range of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research media messages and their effects.

Collaborative Research Groups

The Manship School uses endowed professorships to support collaborative research groups of faculty members and students. The funds allow the teams to collect original data, hire research assistants, travel to archives and host mini-conferences.

Excellent Funding

The Manship School admits a small cohort of doctoral students each year on a highly competitive basis. Our doctoral funding includes a $25,000 9-month stipend, for each of four years, provided the student remains in good standing, and a tuition exemption (students must pay some mandatory student fees). We support doctoral students to present research at two conferences per academic year, with additional funds available from the LSU Graduate Student Association. We also fund doctoral research through our distinguished Hamilton Fellowship awarded annually, funded research groups and dissertation awards.

Degree Requirements

The total number of hours required for Ph.D. in Media & Public Affairs degree is 88 hours.* A comprehensive guide to our Ph.D. program can be found in our Ph.D. in Media & Public Affairs Policies and Procedures Handbook . 

*This does not replace the Graduate School catalog .

I. Core Courses (31 hours)

• MC 7000: Proseminar in Mass Communication and Public Affairs (1)
• MC 7001: Research Methods in Mass Communication (3)
• MC 7002: Mass Communication Philosophy and Principles (3)
• MC 7005: Public Opinion and Public Affairs (3)
• MC 7018: Legal Problems of the Mass Media (3)
• MC 7019: Emerging Media: Theory, Application & Effect (3)
• MC 7021: Mass Communication Theory (3)
• MC 7036: Seminar in Media and Public Affairs Theory (3)
• MC 7201: Advanced Research Methods in Mass Communication and Public Affairs (3)
• MC 7209: Public Communication Practices (3) MC 7210: Public Communication Administration (3)

II. Required Externship & Dissertation (27 hours)

• MC 8009: Public Affairs Externship (9)
• MC 9000: Dissertation Research (18)

III. Mass Communication Electives (12 hours)

IV. Two additional advanced Statistics or Methodology courses (6 hours)

V. Four courses concentrated in a single outside program or concentration of four courses drawn from at least two supported fields (12 hours)

• If you wish to declare a University recognized minor, you must complete the outside minor program’s full requirements in addition to the required 88 hours to complete the doctoral program.

The Manship School doctoral program accepts applications for fall admission. Applicants submit a statement of purpose, resume, writing sample, transcripts from all prior universities or colleges attended and standardized test scores (e.g., GRE and TOEFL for international applicants) online. We also require recommendation letters from three people familiar with your academic work. For full consideration, you should submit your application by January 25 to be reviewed for admission and funding decisions for the following fall.

Minimum Requirements

You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA, undergraduate and master’s. You must have earned a completed master’s degree or a terminal graduate degree (for example, an M.F.A. or a J.D.) We prefer to see GRE scores above 156 verbal & quantitative and above 4.5 analytical writing. For TOEFL, we prefer scores above 100 on the internet-based test.

We accept applications by January 25 for fall admission (no spring admission for Ph.D.).

After initial screening, finalists for admission to the doctoral program are invited to LSU and the Manship School for a campus visit and interview at our expense. Applicants living outside the U.S. are invited to participate in the interview process via Skype. Final offers for admission are made after the campus visit, typically the first or second week in March

Want to learn more about our doctoral program?

For further information, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

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MPhil/PhD Media and Communications

• Graduate research
• Department of Media and Communications
• Application code P4ZM
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Closed
• Overseas full-time: Closed
• Location: Houghton Street, London

Media and communications research is developing rapidly, both theoretically and methodologically, in keeping with the vast expansion in the penetration, technological diversity and social significance of the media globally. Media and communications research is essentially interdisciplinary, drawing on the theories and methods of a range of social science disciplines as they apply to the media, both old and new. Our Department is committed to promoting greater diversity and transparency in its doctoral cohort and particularly encourages applications from underrepresented groups in its PhD programme.

With 91 per cent of its research output judged to be "world leading" or "internationally excellent" (REF 2014), the Department of Media and Communications provides an excellent research-based education to its doctoral researchers. Its mission is to guarantee the highest quality graduate research training in media and communications and to undertake original social science research in the field, emphasising in particular the relationship between media, technology and social change.

This programme offers the chance to undertake a substantial piece of work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution in the field of media and communications in contemporary society.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the fees and funding and assessing your application sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mphil/phd media and communications.

The minimum entry requirement for this programme is a high merit (68 per cent) in a taught master's degree (or equivalent) in social science or humanities and normally a distinction in the dissertation.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission. 

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School, and we recommend that you investigate  staff research interests  before applying.

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including your:

- academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications) - statement of academic purpose - references - CV - research proposal - sample of written work.

See further information on supporting documents

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do.  See our English language requirements .

When to apply

The application and funding deadline for this programme is 15 January 2024 . See the fees and funding section for more details.

Research proposal guidelines

Applicants for doctoral study with the Department of Media and Communications are required to submit a research proposal of  no more than 2,500 words  summarising and justifying their proposed research.

The research proposal will provide selectors with an idea of topics of interest, and help in matching candidates to potential supervisors. If your application is accepted, you may be permitted to re-negotiate your topic, subject to the Department’s ability to supervise the new topic.

The final project proposal should feature the following sections:

• Title : A clearly stated title / research question at the beginning of your proposal.
• Preferred potential supervisor:  Please indicate clearly on the first page of the proposal who you wish to supervise your project. Available supervisors can be found on our list of  Academic staff  (please note LSE Fellows cannot supervise PhD projects).
• Keywords:  Please include on the first page of the proposal up to 10 keywords or phrases which accurately reflect the content of your project (eg, 'internet governance', 'data privacy', 'children's media use', 'feminism', 'representation', 'platform studies').
• Introduction to research question(s):  What question(s) will you attempt to answer? Why is the topic interesting and important? Is there a theoretical and empirical 'gap' that your research will seek to fill? What core theories and concepts will you draw on?
• Literature Review:  Summarise the relevant literature and the field(s) to be contributed to. What are the main theories in the area? What are the critical empirical phenomena in the area? Specify the key references relevant to the proposed research. How do you position yourself vis-à-vis the theories and concepts you propose to use?
• Methodology:  How will you address the empirical aspects of the research? Which methodology is appropriate and why? If the research question requires a combination of different methodologies, how will they be related? Do you foresee any practical difficulties in pursuing the research (e.g. finding suitable participants or data sources)? If so, how might they be overcome?
• Conclusion:  What is the added value of the project? How will your research take our understanding forward in your chosen (sub-)field? 
• Bibliography:  A list of texts used in preparing your proposal. (Not to be included in the word count).

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover  living costs  or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MPhil/PhD Media and Communications

Home students: £4,829 for the first year (provisional) Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges home research students in line with the level of fee that the Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

Fee status​

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay, and any financial support you are eligible for, will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student, otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for  LSE PhD Studentships , and  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the PhD Studentships and ESRC funding is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.   Funding deadline for the LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.  Find out more about financial support.

External funding 

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well.

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

All First year students are MPhil students until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD students.

Theories and concepts training

Research Seminar for Media, Communications and Culture Focuses on the key conceptual issues and analytical strategies required in media and communication research, with special reference to the study of the changing environment of media production, dissemination and consumption, under conditions of globalisation and digitisation of information. Each participant must make at least one presentation annually.

One full unit or two half units of theory courses, chosen from the School’s graduate course provision. Courses are to be chosen in liaison with the primary supervisor/co-supervisors and will be approved by the Doctoral Programme Director. For MPhil students who have no background in the field, it is strongly advised that they select at least one half unit on Media and Communications.

Research methodology training

MPhil students will take Advanced Methods of Research in Media and Communications . This is a course which involves 3 discrete sections:

i. Principles of Research in Media and Communications: a series of lectures offered by Department of Media and Communications faculty in Autumn Term. The lectures will normally cover the following topics central to research design across the social sciences, with a specific emphasis on their application to media and communications contexts: the general nature of research as social inquiry, interviewing, discourse analysis, social network analysis, content analysis, visual analysis, survey design/questionnaires, case studies, ethnography and participant observation, as well as research ethics.

ii. Specialist workshops: Workshops (three hours) x 5 Winter Term (each comprised of one 3-hour session), offered by Department of Media and Communications faculty in Winter Term. Students are required to participate in all five workshops.

iii. Principles of Social Research Analysis: Students have to take at least one quantitative analysis course offered by the Department of Methodology ( Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Media and Communications is the basic option). In addition, students need to take either another quantitative or a qualitative analysis course offered by the Department of Methodology. The combination of courses must be approved by the supervisor and discussed with the Advanced Methods of Research in Media and Communications (including Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis) convenor. Students will not be permitted to select Fundamentals of Social Science Research or  Qualitative Research methods .

Upgrade process

In addition to satisfactory completion of the above training, all MPhil students will be required to submit a thesis proposal of 10,000 words to their thesis committee. This paper needs to include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for completion.

Together with any examination/s for quantitative methodological courses, the thesis proposal will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with an upgrade viva, will determine whether students are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year

Second year 

All upgraded PhD students must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

Third year 

Full time PhD students must submit their thesis by the end of their fourth year, part-time PhD students must submit their thesis by the end of their eighth year.

All upgraded PhD students not submitting their thesis must submit an end-of-year reflection document.

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page.

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.  

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information page.

Supervision, progression and assessment

Supervision .

Doctoral supervision in the Department takes one of two forms, with faculty offering either primary and secondary supervision; or co-supervision, ie, joint supervisors with broadly similar responsibilities. In all cases, the primary supervisor or one co-supervisor will be at professorial or associate professorial level.

New doctoral researchers are assigned to supervisors with requisite knowledge in the chosen field. The supervisory team will normally be made up of Departmental faculty, but if you are working on a topic with a particularly interdisciplinary focus, it may be appropriate for a secondary supervisor or co-supervisor to be enlisted from another LSE Department. In such cases, either the primary supervisor or one co-supervisor will be Department of Media and Communications faculty.

Each doctoral researcher will be assigned a thesis committee consisting of their two supervisors and a senior member of the Department's faculty as chair. This committee will act as the review panel at the end of the first year of registration and in the decision to upgrade a student from MPhil to PhD. The thesis committee also provides feedback on draft chapters submitted at the end of the second year and remains responsible for over-viewing the student's progress in subsequent years

Please see our list of  Academic Staff  to view potential supervisors (please note that LSE Fellows cannot act as doctoral supervisors).

Progression and upgrade requirements

You will initially register for the MPhil and follow a taught programme involving coursework which is formally assessed. Towards the end of your first year, you will submit a 10,000-word research proposal. This paper will include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for its completion. Evaluation of this paper, together with an oral examination based on the thesis proposal and the submission of satisfactory coursework, will contribute to assessing whether you are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into your second year.

You will be assigned a Thesis Committee consisting of your two supervisors and a senior member of the Department's faculty as Chair. This committee will act as the review panel at the end of the first year of registration and in the decision to upgrade you from MPhil to PhD. The Thesis Committee also provides feedback on draft chapters submitted at the end of the second year and remains responsible for overviewing your progress in subsequent years.

All upgraded PhD students must submit an end-of-year reflection document at the end of their second year and each subsequent year in which they are not submitting their thesis.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Student stories

Ludmila lupinacci amaral phd researcher porto alegre, brazil.

When I first decided to apply to the Department of Media and Communications, the possibility of meeting, and engaging in intellectually stimulating discussions with renowned international scholars of the field was one of my crucial incentives. As someone who comes from a developing country, the idea of having contact with those who constitute the cornerstone of my academic background – and most of my bibliography! – had been, until then, nothing more than a distant daydream.

I evidently had a personal interest in enjoying the structure of a world-class institution such as LSE, and in the benefits that this experience could potentially bring to my curriculum and prospective career. Nevertheless, the central motivation for my application was my understanding that the Department of Media and Communications maintains a strong focus on the development of a broad set of research skills, both theoretical and methodological. After one year in the doctoral programme, I can confirm my impressions were spot-on. What is distinctive about the Department, I would add, is the interdisciplinary, but always critical, approach it provides and fosters.

Being a PhD student is, at the same time, a challenging, rewarding, stressful, inspiring, and emotionally demanding experience. However, in the Department of Media and Communications, the faculty, the staff, and the colleagues provide a welcoming and encouraging environment for early-stage researchers. I have always heard how doing a PhD can be a lonely and socially isolating process. My experience in this first year of registration, however, shows me that this is, thankfully, not always the case.

View Ludmila's profile .

Richard Stupart PhD Researcher Johannesburg, South Africa

I chose the Department of Media and Communications for my PhD primarily because it contained so many of the world’s leading researchers working on projects connected to the mediation of distant suffering, public action, and humanitarianism. It was an area that had interested me for a while, and LSE turned out to be the perfect home for my project.

The first day at school, as it were, was terrifying – a chance to meet academic heroes and accomplished first-year PhD colleagues from a range of backgrounds. It surprised me how approachable my supervisors, colleagues, and the Department in general was, and the intense reading and discussions of the first year made it one of the most intellectually fulfilling of my life. PhD study has meant developing a new relationship with reading, writing, and argumentation which can be equal parts intense and rewarding, but in moments where I’ve paused from worrying about how much I still don’t know and haven’t read, it’s incredible to see just how far I’ve developed already.

My own research has developed into a project looking at the work of journalists covering conflict and its effects in South Sudan – something perhaps unconventional to most media and communications departments. LSE has been probably the most supportive environment in which to be doing this work, though. The presence of so many colleagues interested in questions of the representation of suffering, journalism in difficult contexts, and postcolonial critiques of many ‘foreign correspondent’ studies has been a constantly valuable resource. Being granted the freedom – and support – to do practical fieldwork in Juba and Malakal in South Sudan really drove home that this was a space in which I really did have the freedom to do the practical work involved in pursuing my project where I needed to.

At the time of writing I am heading into my third year, and there is a great deal of writing and thinking still on the horizon, but I’ve no doubt at all that I’ve found the right academic home in which to be doing it.

  View Richard's profile .

SSu-Han Yu PhD Resaercher Taoyuan, Taiwan

The reason I chose the Department of Media and Communications for my PhD may seem obvious, considering it has been ranked within the top 3 in the QS World University Rankings for Communication and Media Studies for the past three years. Nevertheless, the rankings indicators do not tell the whole story, as faculty in the Department not only excel in conducting research, but are always ready to listen, giving advice and feedback. In particular, I am very impressed by how much care and respect my supervisors have shown not only to my studies, but also to my professional development.

During my studies, I have had access to a large pool of research and teaching opportunities within and beyond the Department, which have allowed me to coordinate with external research institutions, organise international conferences, exhibit research findings, and write for publications. Additionally, I have gained knowledge and experience of engaging graduate students in seminar discussions through my role as classroom assistant.

Most importantly, however, my PhD journey would not have been the same without my peers. Although I expected LSE to attract talented individuals from around the world, I did not foresee that my cohort’s support and their enthusiasm for research and social change would help sustain me during the moments of self-doubt inevitable within the PhD process. The commitment to advancing knowledge and improving the state of the world demonstrated by my peers, faculty, and visiting fellows is as stimulating as the diverse events one can enjoy whilst studying in London.

View Ssu-Han's profile.

Preliminary reading

• Baym N. K. (2010) Personal Connections in the Digital Age, Polity
• Boltanski l. and Chiapello E. (2001) The New Spirit of Capitalism London: Verso
• Carey J. W. (1989) Communication as Culture New York, NY: Routledge
• Chadwick A. (2017) The Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power – 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Chesher C. Crawford K. and Dunne A. (2014) Understanding the Internet. Language, technology, Media, Power London: MacMillan. Palgrave
• Chouliaraki L. (2013) The Ironic Spectator. Solidarity in the Age of Post-humanitarianism Cambridge: Polity
• Couldry N. (2012) Media, Society, World Cambridge: Polity
• Lievrow A. L. and Livingstone S. (eds.) (2006) The Handbook of New Media (updated edition) London: Sage
• Mansell R. (2012) Imagining the Internet Oxford: OUP
• Papacharissi Z. (2014) Affective Publics. Oxford: OUP
• Rogers R. (2013) Digital Methods Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press
• Wacquant L. and Bourdieu P. (1992) Introduction to Reflexive Sociology Chicago: University of Chicago Press
• Silverstone R. (20060 Media and Morality. On the Rise of Mediapolis Cambridge: Polity

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Media & Communications

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £30,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism           
• Government, Public Sector and Policy   
• Education, Teaching and Research            
• Consultancy      
• International Organisations

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Students who successfully complete the programme often embark on an academic career. 

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Support for your career

Many leading organisations give careers presentations at the School during the year, and LSE Careers has a wide range of resources available to assist students in their job search. Find out more about the  support available to students through LSE Careers .

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Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

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Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

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• Our PhD Program

Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication devise their own concentrations. The Ph.D. program is designed to familiarize the student with a particular body of knowledge and a variety of approaches to inquiry shaped by a general understanding of communication. The program prepares graduates for careers in teaching and research with special concentrations possible in business, government, media industries, and community organizations.

The structure of the program and its requirements are here described in brief. For more detail, please consult the Graduate Handbook .

Doctoral degree requirements

A minimum of 66 credits of coursework.

• Residency requirement

Comprehensive Examination

Dissertation prospectus.

• Dissertation requirements

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 66 credits beyond the Bachelor’s degree. Many students complete credits in excess of this minimum. Computation of the required 66 credits begins with the completion of the Bachelor’s degree (not the M.A.) and is exclusive of dissertation credits. No more than 6 credits of 500-level courses, and no more than 6 Ph.D. tutorial or independent study credits, may be counted toward the degree. Courses taken at other institutions (e.g., during an M.A. program) will be credited toward the minimum requirements of the Ph.D. on a course-by-course basis at the discretion of the GPD and the student's Guidance Committee (up to 30 credits)

Ph.D. students will follow one of the following three sets of requirements, based on their M.A. or equivalent preparation.

Group 1 Requirements are for students who earned an M.A. in Communication at another university.

Group 2 Requirements are for students who earned an M.A. in a field other than Communication.

Group 3 Requirements are for exceptional students with a B.A. in Communication who have academic experience and/or additional training in the field.

For details on the exact requirements for these 3 groups, please consult the Graduate Handbook .

Doctoral candidates must spend the equivalent of at least one continuous academic year of full-time graduate work (9 credits per semester) in residence at the university, in either a fall/spring or spring/fall sequence. During this year, you must spend some part of each week physically on campus. Because funding in the department typically takes the form of a teaching assistantship which is done in-person, additional residency beyond Graduate School requirements is common. We do not provide non-residential funding.

After all coursework in the Plan of Study has been completed, the student takes a Preliminary Comprehensive Examination under the guidance of the Comprehensive Exam Committee consisting of the student’s advisor and two other members of the Communication faculty. Any outside member must be in addition to three faculty members from the Department. These may or may not be the same three members from the student’s Plan of Study Committee. Students typically constitute this committee in the second half of their second year.

Successful completion of the comprehensive exam shows that the student is experienced in secondary research and has the skills to perform original research, can articulate their position in the discipline, and shows skills for teaching in it.

The comprehensive exams, or “comps,” consist of six components, only three of which are traditional exams. Students must successfully complete these six components and pass an oral defense before they can progress to their Dissertation Prospectus.  The three comps components that are not traditional exams are:

• A research paper in a “ready for journal submission” state.
• A reflection paper in which the student provides a statement about the communication discipline and how they position themselves in this field.
• A comprehensive syllabus for a 400-level seminar in the student’s area of expertise accompanied by a brief reflection paper.

The three exams are in theories, methods , and the student’s area of specialty .

After passing the Comprehensive Examination, you must prepare a prospectus describing the research to be conducted, analyzed, and presented in the dissertation. Each member of the Dissertation Committee must sign the cover sheet to indicate approval of the topic and its plan of execution. The Graduate Program Director or department head then signs the prospectus and forwards it to the Graduate Records Office. This copy must be received at least seven months before the date of the Final Oral Examination.

Dissertation

As soon as you pass the Comprehensive Examination, the Doctoral Dissertation Committee is appointed by the Graduate Dean upon nomination and recommendation by the Graduate Program Director (GPD) or department head. The committee comprises at least three graduate faculty members: the chairperson, at least one other member from the department, and one member from outside the department. Selection of the committee typically begins with an invitation to serve from the student to the faculty members, but it is ultimately a matter of academic judgment on the part of the student’s advisor and GPD, with approval by the Graduate Dean. The Dissertation is a substantial piece of original research in Communication. Its completion, successful oral defense, and approval by all members of the dissertation committee is the final requirement of the degree.

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PhD in Mass Communication

• Updated on  
• Apr 24, 2023

Mass Communication is one of the programs which has been very popular among students around the world. After completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree , a lot of people opt for a PhD in Journalism or Mass Communication. PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication is a research degree program that can last anywhere from 3-6 years, depending on the research area. The primary goal of the course is to conduct research on the chosen topic and to prepare candidates to teach. This blog provides you with all the information regarding a PhD in Mass Communication. 

This Blog Includes:

About phd in mass communication, syllabus for phd in mass communication, universities abroad, universities in india, top universities abroad for phd in mass communication, top universities in india for phd in mass communication, top entrance exams in india, scope of phd in mass communication, job profiles and salary.

A PhD in Mass Communication is a research-level degree in communication. After the completion of the course, the individuals can seek employment in various areas like reporters, journalists, professors, radio jockeys, public relations executives, editors, writers etc. 

Practice-based techniques that use practice “as a process of inquiry” to generate new knowledge on a global scale are becoming increasingly relevant in arts and media research. PhDs based on practice are offered by a large number of universities in the United Kingdom , Australia , and Europe . Practice-based PhD programmes are available in China and Singapore , both of which are near to home. 

A large percentage of academia and art schools increasingly recognises the importance of practice-based research in producing new knowledge and pushing the boundaries of existing art and media practices inside academia.

The following are the core subjects:

The elective subjects are given below:

Eligibility 

The following are the essential requirements for admission to a PhD programme in Journalism and Mass Communication: 

• A letter of recommendation is also required.
• English proficiency tests like TOEFL might be required as well.
• Master’s degree with minimum 50%.
• Work experience might be required by some colleges.
• Candidates must hold a master’s degree in journalism or Mass Communication from a recognised university.
• In order to pursue a PhD, they must have a minimum percentage of 55 per cent.
• Candidates must also have a minimum of 55 per cent on post-graduation entrance tests like NET JRF. The entrance test requirement can vary from college to college.
• NET/NET JRF: The NET/NET JRF is a national-level entrance exam for PhD programmes. To pursue a PhD with a stipend, candidates must pass NET JRF, and after passing NET, candidates can apply to universities as professors. NET JRF applicants, on the other hand, are preferred by universities.
• SET: The goal of SET is to provide possibilities for state-level research. Candidates who pass the exam are eligible to apply for research jobs or to become professors at any university in the state where the exam was taken.
• The LPUNEST is the admissions test for Lovely Professional University. Scholarships may be available if a candidate’s admission exam score is high.
• SUAT: For PhD admissions, Sharda University has its own entrance exam. Candidates who fared well in the NET/ JRF/ SET, on the other hand, are exempt from the screening process and are immediately invited to an interview.

Students holding a PhD in Mass Communication have a wide range of job opportunities in India and abroad. Students can work as an editor, researchers, lecturers, associate professors , media consultants , and so on in sectors including print journalism , communication, and media. Some top recruiters in India include Hindustan Times, NDTV networks, ZEE TV networks, Times of India, BBC, The Print, The Hindu, The Wire, The Quint etc.

As far as job opportunities in the USA are concerned, as per the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the demand for Mass Communications occupations is expected to grow at 14% CAGR from 2020 to 2030. This growth rate is faster than the average of all occupations.

Some job opportunities after a PhD in Mass Communication include editor, researcher, lecturer, content writer, associate professor, media consultant, etc. The average fee in India is Rs 8,000- 1,20,000 per year. The fees in the USA varies from $28,000 to $42,000 (INR 21.1 to 31.64 Lakhs)

Average salary by country:

If you want to apply to top Universities for PhD in Mass Communication, you can consult the Experts at Leverage Edu to help you achieve your goals.

Medha Mehta

Medha is someone who is very passionate about reading. 250 is the highest number of books she has gone through in a year. If not reading, she can be found writing about all the random things in the world. Has a massive sweet tooth but can't cook/bake to save her life.

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When giving goes global: ASU family invests in students studying media abroad

The severson cronkite media global experience fund is the largest gift granted to the cronkite school for this purpose.

Above; ASU alum and donor Adelaida Severson (left) and Cronkite School graduate student Adriana Gonzalez-Chavez, who expects to graduate in May 2024 with a master’s degree in mass communication. Gonzalez-Chavez is among the many Cronkite School students who have benefitted from the Severson family’s gift, and she was part of the first-ever study abroad trip to Cuba in 2023. Courtesy photo

The dream of studying abroad and making connections globally while in college is often hindered by the substantial cost of traveling and living in a different country.

But thanks to the generosity of longtime Arizona State University supporters Adelaida V. and Barry S. Severson, many students at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication can study abroad without having to worry about the cost.

The Severson Cronkite Media Global Experience Fund is the largest gift granted to the Cronkite School to support students and encourage them to pursue their aspirations globally. 

Adelaida Severson, a two-time ASU graduate, and member of the Cronkite School’s Alumni Hall of Fame, created the fund with her husband, Barry Severson. The couple owns Bushtex Inc., a satellite communications company.

Adelaida Severson graduated from the Cronkite School with a master's degree in mass communication in 1995 and completed her PhD in public administration at the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions in 2006. She completed her dissertation project for her PhD while studying abroad in Cuba.

Severson’s personal connection to journalism and experience studying abroad motivated her family to donate so other Cronkite students can pursue impactful stories and create positive global change through connection and storytelling. 

“There’s a whole world outside of your world that remains untapped,” Severson said. “If you have the opportunity, or if we can make that opportunity happen for somebody, that is our goal. You could have those tools in your back pocket. You’d be a better person, a better journalist, better writer, you’d have a better view of things that you can look at.”

The Severson family’s approach to their philanthropy is driven by what they refer to as the four "Rs" for student growth: resourcefulness, relationships, resilience and relevance. Those principles and the Cronkite School’s mission to support students motivated the Seversons to establish the Severson Cronkite Media Global Experience Fund, which helps mold students into professional journalists and communications professionals who lead with a global mindset.

“I’m such a proponent of curiosity, and in having people continue to be curious, no matter what,” she said. “Don’t have any fear of applying for something that could — if you listened to the folks that went — be life changing. Because it could be something that truly does change your life.”

Severson returned to Cuba last summer, this time with more than 20 Cronkite students and faculty. The trip, which was hosted by Cronkite Global Initiatives in partnership with Arizona State University’s Global Education Office and the Institute for Study Abroad, was the first international learning experience of its kind at the Cronkite School. The trip was made possible thanks to the Seversons’ gift.  

The trip allowed her to gain fresh insights and build newly formed connections with the students.

She encourages students to apply to study abroad, broaden their own horizons and challenge themselves to travel and connect with new cultures and languages. 

“I’ve been super impressed with the Cronkite students and not just academically, but how they carry themselves and how they think,” Severson said. “It just gives me and Barry more impetus to want to feed into that and keep that going.” 

In 2024, the Severson family’s generosity will continue to pave the way for Cronkite students to study abroad.

This summer, through the Severson Cronkite Media Global Experience Fund, more than 25 students will study and gain hands-on experience outside the U.S., including in Cuba, Argentina, Cannes and at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. 

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College of humanities and sciences, summer 2024: the legacy newspaper - social media intern.

The Legacy Newspaper - Social Media Intern 

Description of Organization: 

The Legacy is a community newspaper that has been published weekly since 2015 and is a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade association of the more than 200 Black American-owned community newspapers across the U.S. 

Like many Black-owned newspapers, The Legacy is just getting into the social media market as a means to expand our reach and maintain the relevance of the Black Press, whose credo we embody: “The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back”. 

Intern Duties: 

• Create engaging content for The Legacy’s social media platforms.
• Manage the scheduling of posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Assisting with the day to day management of the social media pages.
• Work with the editor to promote the organization’s weekly print edition online. 

Applicants should should have: 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
• Excellent knowledge of social media platforms. 
• Strong computer and mobile device competency. 
• Ability to prioritize, multitask and meet strict deadlines. 
• The ability to work independently or as part of a team. 

This is an unpaid internship but with an opportunity to gain professional experience. Hours are flexible with a minimum of 10 hours a week required. 

Internship dates: May 1, 2024 - Aug. 30, 2024 

Location: Virtual or (optionally) at 3605 Mayland Ct. Richmond, VA 23223 

Applicants should e-mail resume and two writing samples to: 

Elizabeth Gordon, Marketing Manager: [email protected]

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Press Release  DCR Announces Free Solar Eclipse Viewing Events and Programming at Parks Across the State

Media contact   for dcr announces free solar eclipse viewing events and programming at parks across the state, ilyse wolberg, dcr deputy communications director.

Boston — The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is inviting   families to witness the near-total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, at eight state parks across Massachusetts. Each park will host educational programs and provide guided viewing sessions. DCR is also offering visitors free, safe viewing glasses that filter out harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in this celestial spectacle. DCR encourages attendees to follow recommended safety guidelines when viewing the solar eclipse. 

“This partial solar eclipse is a unique opportunity for people of all ages to connect with the world around them and witness the wonders of the universe,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “We're excited to offer educational opportunities for the public to learn about the science behind eclipses and witness this awe-inspiring event firsthand.” 

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the face of the sun. Massachusetts is not in the path of the totality for the April 8 eclipse – it will instead have a partial total eclipse with more than 85 percent of the view that will be visible from various locations across the state. Eclipses like this are rare and DCR parks are a great place to experience them. 

DCR’s eclipse programming includes a solar system tour where visitors can walk through 12 stations across a half mile, an eclipse folding craft, and a make your own sun clock activity. DCR is also providing information on alternative ways to view the eclipse including interlacing your fingers to create small apertures, closing your fist to make a pinhole viewer, projecting an image of the sun through a perforated spoon or colander, and creating a pinhole viewer with a sheet of paper. 

To celebrate this phenomenon, DCR will host programs from 2:20 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. at the following locations: 

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park , 287 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA 01569 

Blue Hills Reservation , 840 Hillside St, Milton, MA 02186 

Borderland State Park , 259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton, MA 02356 

Nickerson State Park , 3488 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631 

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve , 131 Waquoit Hwy., East Falmouth, MA 02536 

Halibut Point State Park , 4 Gott Ave., Rockport, MA 01966 

Great Falls Discovery Center , 2 Ave. A, Turners Falls, MA 01376 

Mt. Greylock State Reservation , 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA 01237. Please note the Summit Road at Mount Greylock State Reservation is currently closed for the season. 

For a full list of the eclipse programs that will be held at DCR parks visit the agency’s eclipse webpage . DCR is previewing these programs to the public with a social media video . All programs are free and open to the public and children must be accompanied by an adult.   

DCR’s partner, Boston Harbor Now (BHN), is also hosting an eclipse viewing event, [Not Quite] Total Eclipse of the Park, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on DCR’s Spectacle Island. To purchase tickets for the event visit BHN’s website . Additionally, participants should be at Long Wharf at 12:30 p.m. to board the ferry which will leave promptly at 1 p.m. and return at 5 p.m. 

DCR’s eclipse programming is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to provide Massachusetts children, families, and residents with fun, safe and educational recreational opportunities. 

Department of Conservation & Recreation 

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Communication Sciences and Disorders

Future audiologist to come full circle on Cochlear Implant journey

When she was five years old, Priyanka Gupte received her first cochlear implant at Lurie Children’s Hospital. Fast forward a couple of decades, and she’s returning to Chicago to become a provider in the same audiology clinic, caring for pediatric patients with hearing loss.

Gupte, in her third year of the #2 ranked University of Iowa Doctor of Audiology program, begins her externship in the summer, working alongside clinical audiologists treating patients and counseling their families. 

“It will be exciting to return to my roots and the personal connection I have with the Cochlear Implant Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital,” she said. 

Gupte was diagnosed with bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss just before her second birthday. After initially wearing hearing aids, she was fitted with a CI in her left ear and received a second CI in her right ear several years later.

“Initially, my right ear was not a candidate for the CI, as I was still getting benefit from my hearing aid. However, my hearing loss was progressive, and ultimately my residual hearing was gone,” she said. “The surgeon who first operated on me agreed it was time for the second surgery to happen.”

Living with hearing aids -- and later CIs -- pointed her to a communication sciences and disorders undergraduate major at New York University. While she initially leaned toward a career as a speech-language pathologist, an influential NYU professor encouraged her to consider audiology. 

The paradigm shift from audiology patient to audiology provider was impactful, Gupte said, as was the care she received from the CI audiologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital, a clinician she calls not only an advocate, but a role model. 

“(As a patient) she always kept me up to date on CI technology, but what I really appreciated was how she listened to me. She knew my parents had their own opinions, but she put my opinions first as I got older. She helped teach me how to maintain my CIs and urged me to be honest about my hearing.” she said. “I must credit this audiologist for being so supportive and incredible in her care.”

As a future audiologist, Gupte knows her own journey with hearing loss helps her relate to clients she treats at Iowa’s Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic, the training clinic within Iowa's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). ”Patients appreciate hearing stories similar to what they face, which an audiologist with a hearing loss can tell them,” she said.

Her mentors agree.

“Our pediatric patients with cochlear implants are delighted to encounter Priyanka, a clinician who wears devices just like them,” said Julie Jeon, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor in CSD. “Their faces light up as they point to Priyanka’s sound processors, excited to share this connection with their parents.”

Within the audiology profession, Gupte is among the minority of clinicians with a hearing loss, and that brings inevitable challenges. Most testing equipment and protocols were developed with an assumption that the audiologist can use normal hearing. For example, listening checks on patients’ hearing aids usually require a special stethoscope, which didn’t work well with Gupte’s CIs.

However, she did not face these difficulties alone and is quick to credit the clinical faculty in CSD for troubleshooting and cheering her on.

“My supervisors at Wendell Johnson were so helpful. They reached out to Iowa’s former audiology students with hearing loss to find out what has worked for them. Using their experiences, I figured out what would work for me. Having a supportive team of clinical instructors really helped me grow my confidence as a clinician,” she said. 

As her teacher, Jeon believes any effort spent in clinical trouble-shooting is far outweighed by Gupte’s role in  creating an environment where others can be authentically themselves.  

“ Priyanka's unique perspective as an audiologist with a cochlear implant has truly enriched our cultural competence within the healthcare sector, fostering a more inclusive environment for all individuals seeking care,” she said. 

“Leveraging the expertise of audiologists with personal experience of cochlear implants can lead to a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to patient care, ultimately fostering a more equitable healthcare landscape for all.”

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.