See “Graduate Students” at
www.scrippscollege.ohio.edu
The Ph.D. program in Mass Communication is offered jointly by the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the School of Media Arts and Studies. It draws on the traditional strengths and emerging specialties of each school and an experienced research faculty with national and international reputations. Faculty from both schools edit academic journals, write books and scholarly articles, and present their research at the major national and international conferences in the field.
For students preparing for careers in teaching and mass communication research, the program provides a rigorous theoretical and methodological education and the opportunity to gain teaching experience and work with faculty mentors on research projects. Admission and funding are highly competitive, with only 4–8 students admitted to each school a year.
Doctoral students in Journalism take a series of courses in theory, research and methodology, and select two concentration areas designed to fit their individual professional and research interests. Examples of areas are: international communication, history and philosophy of communication, communication law, communication theory and research, media and public policy, new media, economics and media management, and visual communication.
Journalism faculty and doctoral students conduct quantitative and qualitative research in varied areas, with significant strengths in the history of mass communication, new and alternative media, international journalism, research methodology, media ethics, and performance by news media of their roles in society.
Doctoral students in Media Arts and Studies take a series of courses in theory, research and methodology and select a concentration in international media, new technology and culture, media management and policy, or media studies. These areas are designed to encourage students to develop programs of study that fit their individual professional and research interests.
Media Arts and Studies faculty and doctoral students conduct research using a range of approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and critical/cultural. Significant scholarship focuses on such areas as political and social impacts of media technologies, children and media, digital games, international and cross-cultural studies, and development communication.
Before applying, please consult the Web sites for both schools to decide which program best suits your interests. On your Ohio University application, select one of the two programs—Journalism (major code PH 5308) or Media Arts and Studies (major code PH 5307).
The minimum requirements for the Ph.D. are a total of 135 credit hours. Students may transfer up to 50 hours (Journalism) or 60 hours (Media Arts and Studies) of previous graduate-level work. The 135 hour total includes: at least 54 hours (not including the dissertation) in mass communication; at least 18 hours in an area outside the Scripps College of Communication; and 15 hours for the dissertation. Research tools courses (four in Journalism, 12 to 15 credit hours in Media Arts and Studies) are also required, but do not count towards the 135-hour total. Courses selected in consultation with the student’s doctoral program committee make up the remaining hours.
New doctoral students in Media Arts and Studies are admitted only in fall quarter because of the sequencing of core courses; in Journalism, students admitted for fall may start the program in summer. The application deadline is February 1, although earlier submission of materials is encouraged, particularly for international applicants. Please consult each school’s Web site for the current application deadlines. Graduate assistantships, which consist of a stipend and a full tuition scholarship, are available on a competitive basis; students may be assigned to teaching, research or administrative work.
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