Stanford
Communication Department

Curriculum

Ph.D. Minor in Communication

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree in other departments who elect a minor in Communication are required to complete a minimum of 20 units of graduate courses in the Department of Communication, including a total of three theory or research methods courses, and are examined by a representative of the department. The particular communication theory and methods courses are determined by a department advisor in consultation with the individual student.

Ph.D. in Communication

The PhD program’s curriculum is designed to promote broad familiarity with the field of Communication and deep expertise in one or more analytical areas. The program aims to help students leverage individual faculty research interests to develop original, independent research specialities of their own.

The Ph.D. program encompasses five years of graduate study (subsequent to completion of the B.A. degree) during which, in addition to fulfilling University residency requirements, Ph.D. candidates are required to:

  1. Complete all departmental course requirements listed below by the end of year 2 with grades of B or above or S where stated:

    - COMM 300 Pro-Seminar (S)
    - COMM 302A Media Psychology Core Field Seminar
    - COMM 302B Political Communication Core Field Seminar
    - COMM 302C Journalism, Media, and Culture Core Field Seminar
    - COMM 301 (S)
    - Two advanced methods courses
    - Three substantive 300-level COMM courses designed for PhD students from three different Communication PhD faculty
    - Three different graduate level COMM courses (200- or 300-level) from COMM PhD faculty
     
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in tools required in the area of research specialization. Identified with the advice of the faculty, such tools may include detailed theoretical knowledge, advanced statistical methods, computer programming, a foreign language, or other technical skills.
  3. Complete at least two pre-dissertation research projects.
  4. Teach or assist in teaching at least three courses offered by the Department of Communication, preferably two different courses, at least one of which is ideally a core undergraduate course (COMM 1, 1B, 106, and 108).
  5. Pass a specialized area examination by the end of the fourth academic year of study.
  6. Complete a dissertation proposal and proposal meeting approved by the dissertation reading committee.
  7. Pass the University oral examination, which is a defense of the dissertation.

Because the multifaceted nature of the department makes it possible for the Ph.D. student to emphasize several areas of communication study, there tend to be several “typical” programs of coursework followed by students, depending on their specialties. 

In addition, students complete other advanced Communication theory and research courses preparatory to their particular specializations. Specification of these courses depends on (1) individual student needs to prepare for preliminary and area examination, and (2) the requirements of the particular area of emphasis chosen by the student.

Ph.D. candidacy is valid for five years.