Required Coursework

  • Core Courses: COMM 200, 202, 204A, 204B, 204C
  • 2 Survey Courses (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • 4 Elective Content Courses (at least 1 outside the department)
  • 2 Elective Methods/Tools Courses (8 units)
  • 4 units of COMM 596A (Directed Research)
  • 12 units of COMM 597 (Preparation for the Qualifying Examination); optional for students taking a reading quarter
  • 12 units of COMM 599 (Dissertation Preparation)
  • COMM 505 (Department Colloquium) every quarter
  • Successful Completion of Qualifying Exams
  • Completion and Defense of Doctoral Dissertation

Note: One COMM 593 (Directed Reading) may count toward the content elective requirement. One additional COMM 593 may count as an in-department elective with the approval of the student’s advisor and the Graduate Director, granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Sample Program of Study (Years 1–4)

Time-to-degree for the PhD-only track is 3 years to advance to candidacy and 4 years to complete the PhD. Students enroll in COMM 505 every quarter they are in the program.

 
Year Quarter Recommended courses Milestones & deadlines
Year 1 Fall
  • COMM 202 Introduction to Communication Graduate Studies
  • COMM 204A Research Methods in Communication
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Winter
  • COMM 204B Introduction to Applied Statistics
  • Survey course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Spring
  • COMM 200 Communication Theory Construction
  • COMM 204C Advanced Topics in Research Methods and Statistical Analysis
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

Recommended: choose a PhD advisor by end of Spring.
Year 2 Fall
  • Second survey course (COMM 207, 213, or 222)
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Winter
  • Content elective (out-dept)
  • Methods/tools
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Spring
  • Content elective (in-dept)
  • Methods/tools
  • COMM 596A Directed Research
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

Recommended: finalize the PhD committee by end of Spring. Advisor and committee must be selected no later than the quarter before qualifying exam begins.
Year 3 Fall
  • Quals writing quarter
  • COMM 597 Preparation for the Qualifying Examination
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

Recommended: defend qualifying exams during finals week of the writing quarter (no later than week 2 of Winter).
Winter
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium
 —
Spring
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation

Recommended: dissertation proposal defended and approved by end of Spring.
Year 4 Fall
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

Required: dissertation proposal approved by November 1.
Winter
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

Recommended: complete data collection by end of Winter.
Spring
  • COMM 599 Dissertation Preparation
  • COMM 505 Colloquium

Recommended: defend the dissertation by end of Spring.

Progress Benchmarks

Three deadlines determine academic good standing during the PhD:

  • Students are expected to write and defend their qualifying exams in Fall of year 3. A student who has not advanced to candidacy by the end of year 3 falls out of academic good standing.
  • Students are expected to have their dissertation proposal approved by their committee by the end of Spring in year 3. A student whose proposal has not been approved by November 1 of year 4 falls out of academic good standing.
  • Students are expected to defend and file the dissertation by the end of year 4.

See V.3.1 Good Standing Policy in the Graduate Handbook for what falling out of good standing entails.

Related Handbook Sections