Academic Requirements & Milestones

The Department of Communication and Media is a top department at an internationally renowned university. The redesigned Ph.D. in Communication and Media at the University of Michigan is an interdisciplinary program with two major strengths: the Social Scientific Analysis of Mass Media Effects and the humanities-based study of Media, Culture and Society.

What is distinctive about our program is that we introduce students to both humanities and social science methods and traditions, encourage students to choose the approaches that best suit their areas of interest, and especially promote the use of multi-methodological techniques.

The program offers a solid foundation in communication studies while also permitting you to design a highly individualized program of study tailored to fit your needs and interests. The program will provide you with advanced knowledge of the latest research and theory in the field, a solid understanding of the major analytical approaches to communication studies, and opportunities to do original and collaborative research beginning in your very first year of the program. 

The Ph.D. curriculum is designed as a five-year program, although some students take slightly longer. The program requires you to complete coursework in communication theory, communication research methods and statistics, and courses from related disciplines that will support your research goals.  You will also complete a first year project under the direction of your advisor, which allows you to do original and/or collaborative research on a topic of interest to you very early in your graduate career.

In addition to coursework, you are required to devote substantial time to professional development activities and research projects. As a complement to these research efforts, all graduate students participate in a weekly colloquium in which you, faculty in the program, and outside guests present current research for discussion. You are also expected to teach for at least two terms at the college level as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI). One preliminary exam is offered in methods and theory, and it is a required milestone for your advancement to candidacy.

Course Requirements

Required courses in Comm include: 

Core Theory Seminars (2 courses)

• COMM 775: Theory Seminar in the Humanities Traditions of Communication Studies

• COMM 776: Theory Seminar in the Social Science Traditions of Communication Studies

Research Methods (4 courses)

• COMM 781: Research Methods, Humanities Methodologies

• COMM 783: Research Methods, Social Science Methodologies

• 1 elective course in Advanced Methods

• 1 additional Advanced Methods course, typically offered in the summer by the Institute for Social Research

Individual Major Area (7 courses)

• Three from within the department

• Two from outside the department

• Additional two from within OR outside department

Professional and Research Experience (4 courses, 1-2 credits each)

• COMM 698: Planning for First Year Research Project

  • • This instructor-led course is taken in the winter term of the first year, alongside COMM 699, to support completion of the required First Year Research Project.

• COMM 699: First Year Research Project

  • • This independent study course is taken under the supervision of the student's faculty advisor in the winter term of the first year, alongside COMM 698, to support completion of the required First Year Research Project.

• COMM 700: Proseminar

  • • This course is taken in the fall term of the first year and provides new PhD students tools to be successful in graduate school, including how to navigate the mentor/advisor relationship, effective productivity strategies, library resources, the research publication process, and managing imposter syndrome. 

• COMM 993: GSI Training

  • • This course is taken during the student's first term as a GSI and is designed for Graduate Student Instructors who are teaching in the College of LS&A, and specifically in the Department of Communication and Media, for the first time. The seminar is a practical workshop designed to help GSIs develop the expertise and confidence needed to teach well. Readings will consist of short articles on social science pedagogy and of actual course materials — syllabi, assignments, student papers, and instructor comments. The latter materials will be drawn from the courses that seminar members are teaching currently, as well as from courses taught by other instructors. 

Additional Program Requirements

First Year Research Project Presentation and Submission

This project is completed in the first year. Completion of the project is supported by the required courses COMM 698 and COMM 699, both taken in the winter term of the first year. 

Two Terms of Teaching Experience

Research Presentations

Preliminary Examinations

Advancement to Candidacy

Formation of Dissertation Committee

Prospectus Defense

Dissertation Defense

Milestones to the PhD in Communication and Media

The Preliminary Examinations (fall of year 3) broaden students’ expertise beyond what they have learned in courses and allow students to focus on some of the literatures that will be relevant for their work. Put differently, ‘prelims’ should both deepen and broaden a student's knowledge of the discipline..

Advancing to Candidacy (winter of year 3) happens when students are successful in completing coursework requirements, pass preliminary exams, and demonstrate readiness to do original and independent research.

A Prospectus (winter of year 3) detailing the dissertation project is the final step before writing the dissertation itself. The Prospectus defines the subject, central questions, and methodological approach proposed for the dissertation project, within the context of a survey of previous work on that question. 

The Dissertation Defense (year 5) is scheduled through Rackham when the student has completed the dissertation.