The PhD in Strategic Communication offers advanced instruction in risk communication, and crisis communication; it prepares students with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a successful, advanced career in communication and related fields in both academic and applied settings.
Strategic communication, one of the fastest-growing areas situated within the broader field of communication, is an innovative and unique subfield. It is distinct from other communication subfields in that it is intentionally goal-driven communication wherein communication scholars work in partnership with professionals in the public and private sectors to solve real-world problems.
The Strategic Communication PhD requires a minimum of 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree. The zero-hour Doctoral Colloquium will be required in the fall semesters of the first year. This course will introduce students to professional standards and practices associated with doctoral-level training in the field of Strategic Communication.
Total Credit Hours Required: 60 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree
Program Prerequisites
An earned master's degree or its equivalent in Communication or a related field. The Director of Graduate Studies will evaluate the suitability and applicability of M.A. or M.S. degrees in other related disciplines for admission purposes.
Degree Requirements
Colloquium
0 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- COM7920 - Doctoral Colloquium (99)
Core Requirements
15 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- COM7236 - Seminar in Risk and Crisis Communication (3)
- COM7464 - Theory Building for Strategic Communication (3)
- COM7529 - Strategic Communication (3)
- COM7815 - Risk Communication (3)
- PUR6005 - Theories of Public Relations (3)
- Students who have not taken COM6401 Communication Theory at the graduate level must take it as an elective the first time it is offered after they begin the program.
Research Requirements
12 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- COM6303 - Qualitative Research Methods in Communication (3)
- COM6304 - Quantitative Research Methods in Communication (3)
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
- COM7325 - Seminar in Research Methods (3)
- Students are required to take COM 7325 twice.
- Students may substitute a research methods course that supports their specific research program, including SPC 7685, for one offering of COM7325 with advisor approval.
- Students without recent research coursework may be required to take COM5312 Introduction to Communication Research in addition to the research courses listed above.
Community Engagement Requirement
3 Total Credits
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
- COM6918 - Directed Research (1 - 99)
- COM6946 - Internship (1 - 99)
- COM7528 - Communication and Community Engagement (1 - 99)
Unrestricted Electives
15 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following:
- COM5932 - Topics in Communication Theory and Research (3)
- COM6046 - Interpersonal Communication (3)
- COM6121 - Communication Management (3)
- COM6145 - Organizational Communication (3)
- COM6401 - Communication Theory (3)
- COM6463 - Studies in Intercultural Communication (3)
- COM6467 - Studies in Persuasion (3)
- COM6468 - Communication and Conflict (3)
- COM6918 - Directed Research (1 - 99)
- COM6946 - Internship (1 - 99)
- COM7227 - Seminar in Health Communication (3)
- COM7745 - Current Issues in Communication (3)
- MMC6307 - International Communication (3)
- MMC6567 - New Media (3)
- MMC6600 - Media Effects and Audience Analysis (3)
- MMC6635 - Media and the Attention Economy (3)
- MMC6735 - Social Media as Mass Communication (3)
- PUR6215 - Communicating Corporate Social Responsibility (3)
- PUR6403 - Crisis Public Relations (3)
- SPC6340 - Teaching Communication (3)
- SPC7685 - Rhetorical Criticism of Strategic Communication (3)
- In addition to the courses listed above, special topics courses, study abroad courses, independent study, directed research, internship, and other graduate-level courses may be counted as restricted electives, pending approval by the program director, for up to 6 credit hours total. Note: Non-NSCM courses might not be offered on the Downtown campus and will require students to attend the course at the 性视界传媒 Main campus.
Dissertation
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following:
- COM7980 - Dissertation (1 - 99)
Grand Total Credits: 60
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines
