Program Overview

Program Overview

The school’s Ph.D. program offers innovative and rigorous education in research skills leading to original research and the creation of knowledge. The program of study leads to the student’s dissertation proposal and dissertation. Ph.D. students work closely with the school’s publishing faculty members, creating original research examining real-world issues. Students take up to 46 hours, including a core of theory and research methods courses; 12 hours in a concentration in an academic unit outside of the J-School; a comprehensive exam, and then complete an acceptable dissertation.

Ph.D. Requirements

The Ph.D. program requires a total of 46 course credit hours (7 three-hour core journalism courses and a one four-hour statistics class with a lab), a one-hour pro-seminar (JMC 901) each fall semester, a 12-hour concentration outside the journalism school plus dissertation hours, which are variable. 40 course hours are prescribed; the others (six credits) are journalism electives. Students who hold a master’s in journalism may have the 46-hour requirement adjusted due to prior course work (up to six credits in electives). The student completes study of appropriate research skills, designed in consultation with the faculty advisor. The student also must meet KU’s requirements for dissertation hours.

Funding Support

The school provides up to three years of funding support for Ph.D. students. The generous support package includes:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantship.
• Minimum salary of $24,084 paid bi-weekly over nine months, paid through normal university payroll with customary deductions.
• Newly admitted students will receive a $1,000 new student award.
• Assistance paying for insurance. You will receive the university’s 75% contribution toward health insurance coverage if you need it.
• 100 percent tuition waiver for fall and spring semesters.
• In their third year, doctoral students will receive a $1,000 research award.

Possible Ph.D. Concentration Areas

Psychology

• EPSY 810 Regression and ANOVA: General Linear Models
• PSYC 723 Advanced Cognitive Psychology
• PSYC 775 Advanced Social Psychology II

Health Communication

• PRVM 849 Qualitative Methods in Public Health
• IPHI 851 Transforming Health Care through Use of Information Systems and Technology

Women's Studies

• WGSS 800 History of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
• WGSS 801 Feminist Theory
• WGSS 802 Feminist Methodologies

Education

• ELPS 882 Higher Education in the United States
• ELPS 884 College Student Access, Persistence, and Success
• ELPS 983 Curriculum Innovation in Higher Education
• ELPS 986 Organization and Governance of Higher Education

Communication Studies

• COMS 620 Advanced Communication and New Media
• COMS 907 Seminar in Political Communication
• COMS 930 Seminar in Speech
• COMS 946 Seminar in Communication and Intergroup Relations

Business (2 credit hours)

• MGMT 725 Strategic Management of Technological Innovation

Film and Media Studies

• FMS 800 Introduction to Graduate Study in Film/Media

Political Science

• POLS 705 Research Design for Political Science
• POLS 716 Political Behavior

Explore the Ph.D. Program

• Admission
• Academic Deadlines
• Final Steps to Graduate
• Graduate Handbook