health communication phd programs

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Indiana University Indianapolis

Department of communication studies.

Ph.D. in Health Communication

Preparing you for teaching and research in health and interpersonal relationships.

Choosing to pursue a doctorate in the Health Communications program will prepare you for teaching and research in the areas of health and interpersonal relationships, intercultural health, and mediated communication in healthcare contexts. You will be prepared to tackle the development of healthcare campaigns as well as the ethical questions surrounding the communication of healthcare messaging. Your coursework will prepare you to engage with clinical problems affected by communication and develop your ability to translate research into practice, putting you in a prime position for advanced work in academic and healthcare professions.

Course Requirements

IU requires a minimum of 90 credit hours of approved graduate coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree.

A maximum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate work completed with a grade of B or better may be transferred with the approval of the advisory committee and the Dean of the University Graduate School.

All coursework taken for the Ph.D. must be completed within seven years prior to the passing of qualifying exams, including any transfer courses. Coursework that does not meet this criterion may be revalidated.

Overall, the requirements include core courses (15 credit hours), seminars in content areas focused on (but not limited to) interpersonal relationship communication, intercultural communication, mediated/campaign communication (at least 15 credit hours), minor (9-12 credit hours), field work/research (6-9 credit hours), and dissertation credits (12 credit hours).

Students may select from the courses offered within Communication Studies.  In addition, other cross-listed seminars from affiliated faculty in departments or programs such as the International Center for Intercultural Communication (ICIC).  Medical Humanities, Medical Sociology, and other health-related areas may count toward the student’s degree with approval from the student’s advisor.

Minor Area of Emphasis (9-12 credit hours):

All students must complete a minor in an area related to their primary health communication focus. The minor area of emphasis must be approved by the student’s advisor and advisory committee and contain a minimum of three graduate level courses (9 credit hours) in accordance with the department or unit in which the minor is housed. Some departments require a 12-credit hour minor.

Comprehensive Examinations:

All students must take written examinations that cover both broad knowledge of the health communication field as well as specialized knowledge of a chosen area of health communication. Comprehensive exams are taken after the student has completed a minimum of 39 credit hours (beyond the Master’s) including the required core, seminars, and minor coursework.

Fieldwork /Research (up to 9 credit hours):

All students are required to initiate or participate in original research with the approval of advisor. This field/research work is geared to focus the student’s research interest to serve as a springboard for the dissertation work.

Ph.D. Dissertation (up to 12 credit hours):

Dissertation credits are structured so that the student is unencumbered with completing coursework and can focus completely on conducting research and writing the dissertation for completion of the degree.

Core Courses

COMM-C 500 Advanced Communication Theory (3) COMM-C 504 Pro-Seminar in Communication Graduate Studies (3) COMM-C 592 Advanced Health Communication (3) COMM-C 680 Doctoral Qualitative Research Methods (3) COMM-C 690 Doctoral Quantitative Methods (3) COMM-C 695 Seminar in Communication and Healthcare (3) Seminars in Content Areas (at least 15 credit hours)

Admission Requirements:

Required coursework:.

Students entering the program must have at least a Master’s degree (minimum of 30 credit hours) in Communication or a related social science or health discipline.

Preference will be given to those students with degrees from communication studies programs.

Students should have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their Master’s coursework.

Students are expected to have taken some foundational coursework in Communication. For students entering the program with no background in Communication, additional preparatory coursework in the discipline may be required as a condition of admission.

Required Testing

Beginning in 2021, interested applicants are no longer required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Revised General Test (Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing).  Applicants may still want to submit their GRE scores to be considered in their application, and they may do so.

Successful candidates typically have scores between 150-170 in Verbal Reasoning and in Quantitative Reasoning and a score between 4.0-6.0 in Analytical Writing.

In addition, non-native English speakers who did not complete a degree at a college or university in the U.S. must take an English competency test. The student may complete either of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The expectation for admission is a minimum score of 88 on the TOEFL iBT (internet based test). Please note that this score represents the minimum that will be considered. In practice, we look for scores above 100.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.5; in practice, we look for an IELTS of 7 or more. It is required that applicants take the academic reading and writing modules, not the general training reading and writing modules. Please note that this score represents the minimum that will be considered. In practice, we look for scores above 7.

Additional Required Materials

• A written statement of purpose for entering this Ph.D. program
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals in professional positions able to judge success
• Curriculum vitae
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts
• A writing sample demonstrating academic writing ability

Undergraduate Record

Graduate School requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a scale of 4, and a minimum 3.0 average in the major field.

Applications will be viewed in their entirety. A candidate’s outstanding qualifications in one area can be balanced against more marginal qualifications in another dimension. Keep in mind that admission is competitive and financial support even more competitive. Most of the students admitted and supported will exceed the minimal requirements

Contact Kim White-Mills , Director of PhD Program and PhD Minors.

Related Links

• Master of Arts in Applied Communication
• Graduate Minor in Communicating Science
• PhD Minor in Health Communication
• Meet Our Doctoral Students
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Doctorate in Communication

With one of the nation's premier doctoral programs in Communication, the Annenberg School is a tight-knit, supportive community of scholars committed to advancing knowledge of our media environment.

Founded through the generosity and vision of publisher, diplomat, and philanthropist Walter Annenberg, the Annenberg School for Communication is devoted to furthering our understanding of the role of communication in public life through research, education, and service. Our five-year doctoral program has a strong reputation as one of the best in Communication, based on Annenberg’s unparalleled combination of world-class faculty , students , and alumni , as well as access to the larger intellectual and cultural resources of the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia .

In an inherently interdisciplinary field, Annenberg researchers are engaged with a spectrum of topics related to health, politics, media systems, networks and digital culture, journalism, race and gender, and more, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Our Ph.D. program allows students to tailor a curriculum to suit their specific interests, and provides them the financial resources to launch their academic career. 

In addition to a full tuition waiver, our students currently receive an annual stipend as well as a budget for research and travel and health insurance for all five years.

Annenberg is the smallest of the 12 schools at Penn, and it functions as close-knit community of scholars whose doors are always open to one another. Our students also appreciate our staff , who routinely go above and beyond to support them.

Please note that we do not have a standalone master’s degree program at this time. All students are admitted directly into the doctoral program.

Request for More Information

The application will open in October.

Our Students By the Numbers

Here are some fast facts about our students and the admissions process . Get to know Annenberg!

Students currently in the program

Different nationalities represented by our students, applicants each year, students accepted each year, average undergraduate gpa of applicants, average toefl of admitted candidates, of students came from a previous graduate degree program, of students worked in a career before joining annenberg, of students came straight to annenberg from an undergraduate degree.

Our Faculty

Our graduate faculty is at the heart of the school. Their innovative work, often in collaboration with students, pushes the field of Communication forward.

Students on Video

Hear from some of the Annenberg School's doctoral students as they talk about their work and what brought them to Annenberg.

What is it like to be a doctoral student at the International Communication Association annual conference? We followed four students to find out.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctoral candidate Kelly Diaz used her phone to document the many signs displayed in yards and windows around her West Philadelphia home. She has now collected that body of work into a  photo essay .

Doctoral Candidate and artist Roopa Vasudevan studies the ways that the everyday technologies shape our daily lives.

What is it like to be a Ph.D. student? We followed five of our students through their daily activities.

Prateekshit Pandey works with the Communication Neuroscience Lab to study how the brain reacts to humor. 

Buenos Aires-native María Celeste Wagner looks at how gender influences credibility in news. 

Jennifer Henrichsen studies the way that journalists adopt information security technologies to protect themselves and their sources.

Our Students

Annenberg's doctoral students represent a broad spectrum of interests, methodologies, and backgrounds. Here are just a few of our incredible students.

Arlene C. Fernández

Azsaneé Truss

Danielle Clark

Neil Fasching

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Learn more about life in the Annenberg Ph.D. program.

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Applications for 2025-2026 will open by October

More in doctorate in communication.

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Missouri School of Journalism

University of missouri, health communication.

At the Missouri School of Journalism, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and understanding in the field of journalism, with a specific focus on health communication. Our researchers are actively engaged in a range of critical areas that have a direct impact on public health and well-being. We invite aspiring scholars to join us in our endeavors to analyze and address the pressing challenges in health communication. 

Our research efforts are centered around several key themes, all of which contribute to the improvement of health communication and its vital role in society: 

• Effects of health messages:  We investigate how health messages influence audience members and strive to enhance the effectiveness of public health messaging. By understanding the impact of different communication strategies, we aim to improve health outcomes and empower individuals to make informed decisions. 
• Public interest in medical research:  Our researchers explore innovative approaches to increase public interest and engagement in the field of medical research. By bridging the gap between scientific advancements and public understanding, we contribute to the dissemination of accurate and relevant health information. 
• Journalism’s response to misinformation and health inequity:  In an era of rampant misinformation, we investigate the roles and practices of journalists in combating false narratives and addressing health inequities. Through rigorous analysis and conceptual advancement, we aim to promote transparency, accuracy, and fairness in health journalism. 
• New communication technologies:  We explore the affordances of emerging communication technologies in enhancing health communication. From digital platforms to social media, we investigate how these tools can be effectively utilized to disseminate health information, engage communities, and promote positive health behaviors. 
• Narrative power in health news : Our researchers recognize the importance of narrative storytelling in health news. We study the use of narratives to improve comprehension, foster empathy, and effectively communicate health information to diverse audiences. 
• Cultural influences on health help-seeking:  Understanding the impact of cultural factors on health help-seeking behavior is crucial. Our research explores how cultural influences shape attitudes and behaviors related to seeking healthcare, aiming to develop strategies that promote inclusive and equitable health communication. 

By joining our team of dedicated scholars, PhD students will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research projects that address these critical aspects of health communication. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, rigorous analysis, and real-world impact, our program aims to shape the future of journalism and strategic communication in promoting public health and well-being. 

We welcome PhD students who are passionate about making a difference in health communication to join us in our scholarly endeavors. Together, we can drive positive change and create a healthier, more informed society. 

Call 573-882-4852 or email us at  [email protected] .

You are welcome to  explore your research interests  with  doctoral faculty  who  specialize  in this area.

• Associate Professor Amanda Hinnant
• Associate Professor Sungkyoung Lee
• Assistant Professor Monique Luisi
• Professor Shelly Rodgers

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Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health Communication equips public health leaders to credibly communicate health information to an increasingly skeptical and fragmented world.  

Our mission: to define, teach, and share best practice in health and science communication. 

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Health Communication

School of liberal arts, department of communication studies.

Departmental E-mail :  [email protected]

Departmental URL:   liberalarts.indianapolis.iu.edu/departments/communication-studies

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin).

Curriculum Courses Faculty

Degrees Offered

Doctor of philosophy in health communication.

The Ph.D. program in health communication includes the following main program objectives.  Students will:

• Obtain competency for teaching and research in areas that include:  health and interpersonal relationships, intercultural health, and mediated communication in healthcare contexts including health campaign development.  Ethical questions regarding each of these health communication contexts will be explored as well.
• Initiate, participate, and develop competency in research on health and medical communication issues.
• Gain skills in understanding clinical problems affected by communication.
• Develop the capabilities necessary to translate research on clinical problems impacted by communication into practice.
• Receive training for academic jobs and healthcare professional positions.

Special Departmental Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Admission Requirements

Required Coursework

• Students entering the program must have at least a Master’s degree (minimum of 30 credit hours) in Communication or a related social science or health discipline. Preference will be given to those students with degrees from communication studies programs.
• Students should have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in their Master’s coursework.
• Students are expected to have taken some foundational coursework in Communication. For students entering the program with no background in Communication, additional preparatory coursework in the discipline may be required as a condition of admission.

Required Testing

• Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Revised General Test (Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing). While the Department of Communication Studies has not instituted a fixed minimum GRE-score requirement, successful candidates typically have scores between 150-170 in Verbal Reasoning and in Quantitative Reasoning and a score between 4.0-6.0 in Analytical Writing.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The expectation for admission is a minimum score of 88 on the TOEFL iBT (internet based test). Please note that this score represents the minimum that will be considered. In practice, we look for scores above 100.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.5; in practice, we look for an IELTS of 7 or more. It is required that applicants take the academic reading and writing modules, not the general training reading and writing modules. Please note that this score represents the minimum that will be considered. In practice, we look for scores above 7.

Additional Required Materials

• A written statement of purpose for entering into this Ph.D. program,
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals in professional positions able to judge success
• Curriculum vitae
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts
• A writing sample demonstrating academic writing ability

Undergraduate Record

Graduate School requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a scale of 4, and a minimum 3.0 average in the major field.

Applications will be viewed in their entirety. A candidate’s outstanding qualifications in one area can be balanced against more marginal qualifications in another dimension. Keep in mind that admission is competitive and financial support even more competitive. Most of the students admitted and supported will exceed the minimal requirements

Program Requirements

IU requires a minimum of 90 credit hours of approved graduate coursework beyond the Bachelor’s degree. A maximum of 30 credit hours of approved graduate work completed with a grade of B or better may be transferred with the approval of the advisory committee and the Dean of the University Graduate School. All coursework taken for the Ph.D. must be completed within seven years prior to the passing of qualifying exams, including any transfer courses. Coursework that does not meet this criterion may be revalidated.

Students entering the program must have at least a Master’s (minimum of 30 credit hours) in a related social science or health discipline, with preference given to those students with degrees from communication studies programs. Overall, the requirements include core courses (15 credit hours), seminars in content areas focused on (but not limited to) interpersonal relationship communication, intercultural communication, mediated/campaign communication (at least 15 credit hours), minor (9-12 credit hours), field work/research (6-9 credit hours), and dissertation credits (12 credit hours).

Core Courses (15 credit hours) required of all students

• C500 Advanced Communication Theory (3)
• C592 Advanced Health Communication (3)
• C680 Doctoral Qualitative/Rhetorical Methods (3)
• C690 Doctoral Quantitative Methods (3)
• C695 Seminar in Communication and Healthcare (3)

Seminars in Content Areas (at least 15 credit hours)

• Students may select from the courses offered within Communication Studies.  In addition, other cross-listed seminars from affiliated faculty in departments or programs such as the Indiana Center for Intercultural Communication (I.C.I.C.).  Medical Humanities, Medical Sociology, and other health-related areas may count toward the student's degree with approval from the student's advisor.

Minor Area of Emphasis (9-12 credit hours) : All students must complete a minor in an area related to their primary health communication focus. For example, a student hoping to work in a non-profit health organization might pursue a minor area of emphasis in public health, health informatics, or philanthropic studies. Students hoping to work in the government sector might pursue law and health, industrial organizational psychology, or public health. Minor areas of Ph.D. study might also include bioethics, nursing, bioinformatics, clinical psychology, medical sociology, marketing, social work, health economics, science, or any area in the health and life sciences disciplines or the Liberal Arts disciplines connected to the student’s area of primary focus. An interdisciplinary minor can be developed in consultation with the student’s advisor and advisory committee as well as a minor in research methods/tools. The minor area of emphasis must be approved by the student’s advisor and advisory committee and contain a minimum of three graduate level courses (9 credit hours) in accordance with the department or unit in which the minor is housed. Some departments require a 12 credit hour minor.

Comprehensive Examinations : All students must take written examinations that cover both broad knowledge of the health communication field as well as specialized knowledge of a chosen area of health communication. Comprehensive exams are taken after the student has completed a minimum of 39 credit hours (beyond the Master’s) including the required core, seminars, and minor coursework.

Fieldwork /Research (6-9 credit hours) : All students are required to initiate or participate in original research with the approval of advisor. This field/research work is geared to focus the student’s research interest to serve as a spring-board for the dissertation work.

Ph.D. Dissertation (12 credit hours) : Dissertation credits are structured so that the student is unencumbered with completing coursework and can focus completely on conducting research and writing the dissertation for completion of the degree.

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We have 108 health communication PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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health communication PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

The nexus between climate change, extreme air pollution events and public health – towards a holistic approach, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Understanding the attribute framing effect in risk communication

Competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

A decentralized, data driven health monitoring and diagnostics platform based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and wearable/portable Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) sensors

Simulation-based education for allied health professions (project id shsc0056), applied dementia studies (phd, faculty of health studies).

The PhD opportunities on this programme do not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

PhD Research Programme

PhD Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Transforming Lives PhD Scholarship, Sheffield Hallam University - Developing an exercise-based lifestyle intervention for people with the rare genetic condition, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

An intervention to improve deaf children’s social communication skills, understanding how electrical communication can regulate metabolic cycles in bacteria biofilms, the use digital tools and online information for the self-management of health, revolutionising connectivity of medical wearable devices: harnessing deep learning to enhance network performance and sustainability, pre-registration health care students’ experiences of the safe learning environment charter (slec), measuring the reach and effectiveness of the league of ireland's 'more than a club' initiative( ref: wd_2024_03_wsch_spons), funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Behaviour and welfare of Hong Kong’s free-ranging feral bovids (cattle and water buffalo)

Actuator phm exploiting multi- physics digital twin and machine learning phd, phd candidate to study immune and oncogenic signaling in cellular and animal models (f/m/x).

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The Fall 2025 Application will open October 1

Health communication.

This Area of Concentration considers how to develop and evaluate effective public information campaigns, how to manage the demands placed on communication specialists during a crisis, and how to incorporate behavior-change messages into a variety of channels and genres, such as entertainment.

Explore what has been done, what works, and why. Courses include social marketing, health psychology, emergency and risk communication, and developing and evaluating communication campaigns. Health communication professionals must develop, deliver, and evaluate modern health communication programs.

Area of Concentration Courses

A minimum of three courses are required to earn this Area of Concentration within the MA in Communication degree.

Organizational Communication - 480.605

Applied qualitative research - 480.609, communication ethics in action - 480.613, utilizing images: media literacy in practice - 480.638, health communication - 480.640, health literacy, language and culture - 480.645, managerial communication - 480.646, censorship, freedoms, and communication regulation - 480.655, risk and crisis communication - 480.659, media relations - 480.660, opinion writing - 480.662, understanding markets and audiences - 480.668, public policy management & advocacy - 480.675, health psychology & behavior change - 480.682, behavior change and education through entertainment - 480.686, state-specific information for online programs.

Students should be aware of state-specific information for online programs . For more information, please contact an admissions representative.

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NCA's Doctoral Program Guide

About the Doctoral Program Guide

The  Doctoral Program Guide  is designed to provide timely and useful information about doctoral programs in Communication for students, prospective students, and other interested parties.

Which Programs Are Listed? Many doctoral programs are included in this guide, all of which offer a Ph.D. degree in some area or field of the Communication discipline. We began with the programs that have traditionally been ranked or evaluated as doctoral programs in Communication by other sources and added a number of new programs.   

For doctoral programs in related areas of study, visit the following:

• American Library Association's Accredited Programs page  
• American Society for Theater Research's Doctoral Program Directory  
• American Speech & Hearing Association's EdFind  
• Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication's Graduate Student Info page  
• Modern Language Association's Guide to Doctoral Programs in English and Other Modern Languages  
• Public Relations Society of America's Higher Education Programs Online Directory  

What Information Can Be Found in the Guide?

All information presented in this guide is publicly available on the individual department or program website and/or in other published sources. Each university is identified by its  Carnegie Classification , its membership in the  Association of American Universities , and by the number of doctorates it has conferred from 2010 to 2019, according to the  National Science Foundation's  Survey of Earned Doctorates . The guide provides the areas of study of each program, the admissions requirements for each program, a listing of each program's graduate faculty, and contact information. In addition, we also recognize a program's recipients of NCA Awards from 2000 to the present and synthesize and report on the programs' standing in a series of different rankings/ratings, including:

• The university's 2019 ranking in the Communication & Media Studies category of the QS World University Rankings . (Note: this ranking includes 200 universities; the first 50 are individually ranked, followed by category rankings for the remainder.)
• The university's 2019-2020 ranking in the "Language, Communication, and Culture" category of the University Ranking by Academic Performance measure.  

Explanation of Areas of Study

Most doctoral programs in Communication indicate research areas or special research concentrations. Such areas are usually based on the types of research conducted by the faculty members in the program, as well as by the courses offered toward the graduate degree. 

A program is listed within a specific research area based entirely upon its self-identification of research focus. Because the identification and labeling of research foci vary so greatly across programs, this list groups and categorizes research areas according to commonly understood labels. Thus, a given doctoral program may identify its research specialty as "media economics" or "media studies" or "media effects." That program would be included in the broader category below of "Mass Communication/Media Studies."

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of...

University of North Carolina, Department of Communication...

West Virginia University, Department of Communication...

University of Delaware, Department of Communication

Michigan State University, Ph.D. in Information and Media

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of...

University of Oregon, School of Journalism & Communication

University of Tennessee, School of Communication Studies

American University, School of Communication

Cornell University, Department of Communication

Stanford University, Department of Communication

Howard University, Department of Communication, Culture...

University of Connecticut, Department of Communication

University of North Dakota, Department of Communication

North Carolina State University, Program in Communication...

University of Kansas, Department of Communication Studies

Health and Risk Communication

Interpersonal Communication

Media, Technology, and Society

Organizational Communication

Political Communication

Public Relations

Interdisciplinary Studies

Issues of health have become increasingly critical and complex, generating the need for individuals who can communicate effectively about health. The health communication program at Purdue University seeks to fulfill this growing need for trained health communicators by exposing students to the theory, research, and practice of health communication.

Program graduates pursue academic as well as professional careers in health communication.

Why Purdue for Health and Risk Communication?

• As a student in the Lamb School, you’ll work with some of the most productive scholars in the field.
• While you’re on campus, you’ll participate in stimulating and novel health communication courses that cover a wide variety of areas.
• You’ll have the opportunity to take additional courses across Purdue University in some of the nation’s leading health-related programs, including Purdue’s CEPH Accredited MPH. We’ll work with you to design a personally-tailored plan of study that best suits your needs and interests.
• Our program intentionally integrates theory and practice. While you’re studying here, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in internships and practical opportunities in health care settings.
• You’ll collaborate with faculty members and fellow graduate students on research projects.

Program Faculty and Areas of Interest

• Charlie Catalano :  Biopharmaceutical public relations, advertising and advocacy
• Bart Collins :  Health communication technologies, health behavior change models
• Ilwoo Ju :  Consumer decision making in health, branding strategies, marketing communication
• Marifran Mattson :  Health campaigns, health advocacy, and service-learning
• Evan Perrault :  Health campaign message design, healthcare marketing, program evaluation
• Felicia Roberts :  Provider-patient communication, human-animal interaction
• Hwanseok Song :  Risk Communication; trust and credibility; and social cognitive approaches to risk

Selected Graduate Course Offerings

Introduction to Health Communication, Health Campaigns, Health Advocacy Campaigns, Risk Communication, Interpersonal Communication in the Health Context, Provider-Patient Communication, Narrative Work of Health

Interdisciplinary Connections

In addition to courses offered within the Lamb School, students are encouraged to supplement their study of health communication with courses offered in the areas of  Human Development and Family Studies ,  Consumer Science ,  Health and Kinesiology ,  Health Sciences ,  Nursing ,  Pharmacy ,  Psychology ,  Sociology , and/or  Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies .

Health Communication

Doctor of Philosophy

Offered at IU Indianapolis by School of Liberal Arts .

According to health communication scholar Gary Kreps (2003) and as written in the Healthy People 2020 project commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "health communication is the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that affect health. It links the fields of communication and health and is increasingly recognized as a necessary element of efforts to improve personal and public health."

The Department of Communication Studies at IUPUI is pleased to offer one of the first Ph.D.s in the country specifically focused in health communication.

Students who pursue this degree will have the ability to work with our award-winning faculty in a dynamic program that offers robust opportunities for applied scholarship and research experiences. Classes are small, which allows students to build relationships with faculty and fellow students through discussion- and experience-oriented learning.

IUPUI is located in downtown Indianapolis, and our campus sits adjacent to the IU School of Medicine, the largest medical school in the country. Our students have accessible relationships with the academic medical center, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to participate in ongoing research projects as well as access for their own independent research.

The campus prides itself on the multidisciplinary work that happens here, as well as the strong mentorship provided to students. Students are given ample opportunity to gain research and teaching experience in a variety of health contexts.

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Communication (PhD)

You will acquire the leading-edge theory and research methodologies you need to shape a more ethical and just world. 

Whether you seek a career in academia, the industry, or governmental and non-governmental organizations, you will become a critical educator and researcher of communication through rigorous coursework, independent and collaborative research projects, and teaching opportunities.

You will work side by side with your peers and our distinguished faculty to advance knowledge in the field while creating interdisciplinary solutions to complex societal and organizational problems. At the same time, you will build a professional network of worldwide and lifelong connections with fellow scholars and practitioners.

USC Annenberg’s location at the heart of a top-tier research university and in the dynamic city of Los Angeles provides you with the ideal setting to explore ways to inventively fuse your scholarship and expertise in communication studies with disciplines such as political science, international relations, sociology and information sciences as well as gender, media and popular culture studies.

Program Information

• Learning Objectives
• Research and Teaching
• Areas of Study
• Current Doctoral Students
• Class Profile

By the numbers

Student and faculty work.

Changing the world through better communication

Former U.S. Navy Blue Angels team member Amber Lynn Scott became interested in studying high-reliability organizations for her dissertation to make a positive impact for military and first responders.

Requiem for a meme

Alexandria Arrieta researches how the intersection of memes and music are having a profound impact on people’s communication and connection across social media.

Making social media a better tool for political activism

With his lifelong interest in politics, Alfonso Hedge realized Annenberg’s doctoral program would be the perfect place to study how grassroots political organizations use social media.

From music to AI

Event promoter and DJ Stephen Yang examines the on-the-ground practices of technologists and media professionals as they reshape the culture of production.

Jermaine Anthony Richards named 2023 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow

The merit-based program provides funding for Richards to explore his research on how transmedia storytelling animates human security politics, security cultures, and political movements.

Exploring identity through social media

Samah Sadig shares her passion for identity, expression and education — and how it all brought her to USC Annenberg.

Work on groundbreaking research with expert faculty

As innovations in information and communication technologies continue at a rapid pace, USC Annenberg remains at the forefront of efforts to explore these social, cultural, rhetorical, and organizational processes. You will work and collaborate with fellow doctoral students, our world-class faculty, and industry and public/private sector professionals to advance research and insights across a wide range of interdisciplinary areas of study. You will also have the opportunity to lead research endeavors that impact scholarship and practice across the contemporary communications landscape.

Explore the research of USC Annenberg faculty and students. View the areas of study available to our PhD students.

Get to know your fellow students

The communication doctorate program enrolls students from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and educational experiences. Connect with fellow students by viewing their profiles and get to know USC Annenberg through their eyes.

Communication (PhD) faculty

Communication, PHD

On this page:.

At a Glance: program details

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Communication

The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication offers a transdisciplinary graduate program leading to the PhD in communication.

This program provides coursework and resources in critical-cultural communication and rhetoric, health communication, intercultural communication, interpersonal communication, organizational communication and performance studies. Students receive training in communication theory, research methodology and multiple areas of emphasis, and they actively participate in one or more of the school's collaborative research initiatives.

The program is designed to meet the needs of students whose interests transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries and to prepare scholars for research-oriented careers in universities and in the public or private sectors.

Research Collaboratives

Doctoral Student Resources

Graduate Faculty

Bradley Adame Elissa Adame Pauline Cheong Steve Corman Uttaran Dutta Serap Erincin Laura Guerrero Jenna Hanchey Heewon Kim Loretta LeMaster Paul Mongeau Tomide Oloruntobi Jonathan Pettigrew Tony Roberto Liesel Sharabi Sarah Tracy Joris Van Ouytsel Alaina Zanin  

Affiliated Faculty

Christine Buzinde Cheree Carlson Stephen Carradini Marivel Danielson Mark Hannah Aaron Hess Jeffrey Kassing Jaime Kirtz Nicole Lee Jacqueline Martinez   Lindsey Meân   Majia Nadesan   Gyan Nyaupane Brendan O'Connor Ashley Randall Vincent Waldron Greg Wise

Degree Requirements

Curriculum plan options.

• 96 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (9 credit hours) COM 604 Theory Construction in Communication (3) Choose two: COM 607 Contemporary Rhetorical Methods (3) COM 608 Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Data in Communication (3) COM 609 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in Communication (3)

Electives (45 credit hours)

Other Requirements (24 credit hours) COM 691 Seminar (24)

Research (6 credit hours) COM 792 Research (6)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) COM 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree; 66 credit hours are required beyond an appropriate master's degree.

At least six elective credit hours must be coursework outside of the communication field.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree, in any field, from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• resume or curriculum vitae
• statement of goals
• three letters of recommendation
• writing sample
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Most commonly, students enter with a research-based MA in which they have completed a master's thesis.

Applicants should visit the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication website for further details.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, career opportunities.

A doctoral degree in communication opens doors to a variety of careers in research, teaching, training and consulting. Graduates typically obtain jobs in research and teaching institutions that range from large research universities to four-year teaching schools and community colleges. A number of career opportunities appear in government agencies and organizations, both for-profit and nonprofit.

Graduates have obtained jobs as:

• academic administrators
• academic advisors
• campaign managers
• consultants
• policy advocates
• program directors
• researchers

Global Opportunities

Global experience.

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 602/543-5619

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MA / PhD Program

The Department of Communication offers three graduate degrees: the Master of Arts, the Online Master of Science in Health Communication , and the Doctor of Philosophy. 

Master of Arts

Study for the master's degree takes students beyond undergraduate work in both scope and depth to meet a variety of interests. Some M.A. students aspire to positions in business, in government, or in teaching, while others see the master's degree as one stage on the road to a doctoral program.

Completion of the M.A. program of study requires a minimum of thirty-two hours of graduate credit. For a student holding a half-time assistantship, thirty-two hours can be completed in two semesters plus a summer session (though most students take more time than this). The program may include eight hours in courses outside the department. Each candidate builds an individualized program with the counsel of an adviser chosen by the student or assigned by the Director of Graduate Study.

Each candidate must pass a final comprehensive examination prepared and supervised by the adviser and the candidate's examination committee based primarily on courses taken. A master's thesis is optional.

Students in the M.A. program who wish to continue in the Ph.D. program must apply to do so. Admission to the Ph.D. program is not automatic but rather is based on evaluation of the student's total record including performance in the master's program and recommendations from department faculty.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral programs exist to train research scholars, and the Ph.D. degree is awarded to persons who have demonstrated a capacity for making a contribution to knowledge. This does not mean, however, that everyone who earns a doctoral degree becomes an academic. The Ph.D. programs in the Department of Communication are designed to prepare persons both for college and university teaching and for those other professions where extensive knowledge of theory and research concerning communication is needed. The department trains persons for research and teaching within most of the major domains of the study of human communication, as discussed above, but there are no fixed 'tracks' to constrain a student's definition of a field of interest. Each Ph.D. candidate plans an individual program of study and research with the help of an adviser and a program planning committee.

In brief, the main requirements for the Ph.D. degree are: (1) the successful completion of a program of coursework designed by the students, a faculty adviser, and a program planning committee; (2) demonstrated proficiency in research methods, ordinarily accomplished by successful completion of appropriate courses in research methods; (3) passing a preliminary examination that has both a written component (addressing general questions concerning the field, questions on research methods, and questions on the candidate's areas of special competency) and an oral component (an oral examination by the student's committee concerning the written examination); and (4) successfully completing and defending a dissertation. There are a number of specifications and other requirements not described here (e.g., a requirement that two successive semesters must be spent in residence), but those listed are the central requirements. A minimum of three years of graduate study beyond the M.A. is usually needed to complete all the requirements for the doctoral degree.

For information on the M.S. in Health Communication, click here .

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Welcome to UD's Ph.D. Program in Communication

The Department of Communication at the University of Delaware offers a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree that allows students to continue to build their knowledge about the field of communication while preparing them for research-based careers in academia or a communication-related industry. The Ph.D. in communication is taught from a social science perspective, allowing students to increase their knowledge and ability to use theoretically founded, empirically based research methodologies, and a variety of techniques of statistical analysis. Visit the  Frequently Asked Questions page  for answers to common inquiries about our research-based programs.

Program Information >

Learn more about teaching assistantships >, learn more about our research programs >, program goals.

A graduate of the Ph.D. in communication program will be able to:

• Articulate the central theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts of the discipline.
• Apply communication science theory and methods to conduct research on complex questions and societal problems.
• Demonstrate a capacity to communicate research findings to academic and lay audiences.
• Conduct independent and cooperative research that is publishable in the communication .discipline’s core peer-reviewed journals.
• Establish competency in teaching at the undergraduate level.
• Incorporate ethical communication principles and practices into their research and teaching.
• Recognize the cultural basis of communication and acknowledge their own standpoint, with respect for the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Employ communication strategies to resolve challenges and empower people.
• Appreciate the landscape and norms of pursuing an academic career in the communication discipline.

University of Delaware's Department of Communication Graduate Open House: https://capture.udel.edu/media/1_42nnif3g/

Academic Concentrations

Students in the Ph.D. program choose from one of the following concentrations:

• Health Communication
• Interpersonal Communication
• Media Communication
• Political Communication

Build real-world experience as a teaching assistant

Most (if not all) communication students in full-time graduate programs at the University of Delaware receive financial aid. The financial aid package may include a teaching assistantship. 

The teaching assistantships provide graduate students with real-world teaching experience, which is attractive both to doctoral programs and to professional organizations. They receive more in-classroom experience as the sole instructor than most other graduate programs — including doctoral programs. 

Teaching Assistants (TAs) receive a tuition scholarship for courses taken during fall and spring semesters as well as a stipend. The teaching assistantship is renewed for the second year of study provided that the TA remains in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0) and otherwise performs their TA duties in an appropriate manner.

Responsibilities

The TAs teach "Oral Communication in Business," a public speaking course for non-communication undergraduate majors. Each TA is responsible for stand-alone classroom instruction and grading for their assigned sections.

During the first semester of their first year of study, TAs teach one section of this course. In all subsequent semesters, TAs teach two sections of this course. Second-year TAs serve as peer mentors to first-year TAs.

Guided by a core curriculum, TAs develop their own lecture materials, activities, and multimedia presentations — preparing them future academic or professional teaching opportunities. 

The training focuses on best practices of teaching strategies; practical, hands on course development; as well as learning how to teach both theory and the practical aspects of communication (public speaking).

All TAs meet daily with the Oral Communication course director the week prior to the start of the semester for in-depth training. After their classes are underway, TAs meet weekly throughout the year to continue their development as instructors. 

The weekly meetings with the course director allow the TAs  to discuss pedagogy and teaching strategies as well as any other concerns they may have with their classroom experiences. Each semester, TAs are observed by the course director and a peer mentor, and receive a review of their classroom practices.

Additional Opportunities

Second-year TAs can teach specialized sections focused on scientific and technical communication or business and professional speaking. Additionally, one student each semester serves as the assistant course coordinator to review course materials, teaching strategies and training sessions with the Oral Communication course director. 

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Program Information

Degree requirements.

The Communication Department's  graduate program policy statement  specifies degree requirements, policies, and procedures for communication graduate students. The statements are reviewed and approved by the  Faculty Senate's Graduate Studies Committee .  Visit the UD ​Graduate Catalog​  to review the Ph.D. degree requirements.

Sixty credit hours are required to complete the Ph.D. degree:

Twenty-seven credit hours of core curricula, including nine credits each from theory courses, research methodology courses, and statistical methodology courses

Eighteen credit hours in a focused program of study chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser and/or the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies

Six credit hours of elective courses. No more than three of those credit hours may come from an independent study. [For students entering the Ph.D. program with a baccalaureate, these credit hours must be used to complete a 2nd year graduate research project.]

Students must enroll in the Communication Colloquium series every semester they are enrolled in coursework for a total of up to six semesters.

Nine credit hours of dissertation credits.

No class may be used to fulfill more than one requirement.

Core curricula (27 credits)

Required theory courses (9 credits).

COMM601 Epistemology and Theory in Communication 3

COMM606 Foundations of Contemporary Communication Theory 3

Students must take three additional credits from a theory driven course from a topic within their focused program of study. Students must confer with their advisers to determine which course will best fulfill this requirement. May come from a course outside of the Department of Communication.

Required Research Methodology Courses (9 credits)

COMM603 Communication Research Methods – Procedures 3

Students must take six additional credits of research methods courses focused on different research methodologies that would best benefit their own program of study. Students must confer with their advisers to determine which courses will best fulfill their expectations.

Required Statistical Methodology Courses (9 credits)

COMM604 Communication Research Methods – Analysis 3

Students must take an additional six statistical methods credits: three credits must be an advanced generalist statistics courses and three credits must be from specialist statistics courses. Students should confer with their advisers to determine which courses will best fulfill the expectations of their program of study.

It is expected that students will complete no more than 6 of these 12 additional research and statistical methodology credits from outside of the Department of Communication.

Focused program of study (18 credits)

Students must take 18 credits of communication or related courses, chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser and/or the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies so the student can build the most appropriate program of study for the student.

Students may take no more than 6 credits of independent study (COMM866) total as part of their focused program of study

No more than 9 credits of a student’s focused program of study may be taken outside of the Department of Communication without consultation with the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies.

Elective Courses or Second-Year Graduate Research (6 credits)

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree will complete 6 credits of elective classes chosen in consultation with their advisor. No more than 3 credits may come from an independent study.

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a baccalaureate must enroll in COMM868: Research. They are to enroll in 3 credits during their fall semester and 3 credits during their spring semester of their second year.

The student is to develop, design, and implement a piece of original research, with guidance from a faculty committee of the student’s choosing.

Once the faculty committee is chosen, with one faculty committee member designated as its chair, the student and the chair will work together to develop the idea behind the research project and write a proposal to be presented to the entire faculty committee. The student will meet with the faculty committee to defend the proposal and the faculty committee will evaluate the proposal, make suggestions on how to improve the proposal research project. The proposal should be defended during the first semester of the student’s second year in the program.

Once the proposal is completed the student will then proceed to collect all necessary data and write a written report based on their findings. The written report should include an abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and literature cited section. This research will serve as the basis for an oral defense during the spring semester of their second year, after the written report is submitted to the faculty committee.

The research project, including the oral defense and presentation, should be completed by June 30. If revisions of the written report are required by the faculty committee, they are due by July 30.

Upon successful completion of their second-year research, students should receive an official letter confirming this passing of a major program milestone from their faculty committee’s chair. A copy of the letter should be provided to the Department of Communication’s director of graduate studies.

A document based on original research that served as a basis for a student’s second-year graduate research can be submitted to the University Graduate College as a Thesis to obtain the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in communication.

The M.A. is optional for each student and does not advance a student in the program. The written report must be formatted according to the University Graduate College standards. The master’s thesis requires the signatures of the student’s advisor (research committee chair), the chair of the Department of Communication, the College of Arts and Sciences dean, and the dean of the Graduate College. The minimum number of credits required for the M.A. degree in communication with thesis is 24 semester credit hours plus 6 hours of COMM869: Master’s Thesis.

Communication Colloquium (0 credits)

Students must enroll in the COMM890 – Communication Colloquium each semester they are enrolled in coursework for a total of up to six semesters.

Dissertation (9 credits)

COMM964 Pre-Candidacy Study (3-12 credits, until candidacy achieved)

Candidacy is achieved upon successful completion of written and oral candidacy exams, and defense of your dissertation proposal

COMM969 Doctoral Dissertation (9 credits)

see UD Catalog for Requirements

Dissertation Guide

Dissertation chair and committee selection.

Students will select a dissertation chair with approval from their academic advisor (who is usually the same individual) and with approval of the Department of Communication's graduate committee. The student and their dissertation chair will create a dissertation committee at the time the student begins to develop the dissertation proposal. The dissertation committee will include at least two additional faculty members from within the Department of Communication's graduate faculty. Students must also name at least one dissertation committee member from outside of the Department of Communication with approval of their dissertation chair and the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies. The outside committee member can be from another department within University of Delaware, or a faculty member at a different institution. A dissertation committee will have no less than four members and no more than six total members. All Ph.D. dissertation committee members must hold a doctoral degree. Students must complete a  Dissertation Committee Form  and submit it to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Defense of the Dissertation Proposal

​​​A copy of the dissertation proposal must be available to the student’s dissertation committee members at least two weeks in advance of the proposal defense. The dissertation proposal defense will be scheduled only after the student’s advisor has determined that a defense is appropriate. Once the oral defense of the proposal is complete the  Doctoral Degree Candidacy Recommendation Form  must be completed, signed by all committee members, and submitted to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Defense of the Dissertation

​​​The format of the thesis must adhere to the guidelines specified by the University's  Thesis and Dissertation Manual .

Prior to scheduling a defense, the candidate must use iThenticate, the university-provided plagiarism detection software, to check their work. The advisor and the director of graduate studies should receive a copy of the iThenticate report prior to submitting the final dissertation draft.

The dissertation defense will be scheduled only after the candidate’s advisor has determined that a defense is appropriate. The dissertation defense will be open to the public, with invitations sent to all Department of Communication faculty and graduate students at least one week prior to the defense date. A copy of the dissertation must be made available to dissertation committee members at least two weeks prior to the dissertation defense. The dissertation is expected to reflect the results of original and significant research written in a scholarly and literate manner worthy of publication. After a successful defense with the candidate’s committee, the dissertation must be approved by the dissertation chair, the chairperson of the Department of Communication, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the dean of the Graduate College.

In addition, once the oral defense of the dissertation is achieved, the  Certification of Doctoral Dissertation Defense form  must be completed, signed by all committee members, and a PDF of the final dissertation must be submitted to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Candidacy Exams

Upon the recommendation of the doctoral student's dissertation committee and the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies, students may be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The stipulations for admission to doctoral candidacy are that the student has:

• Had a program of study approved and coursework​ completed
• Completed one academic year of full-time graduate study in residence at the University of Delaware
• Successfully completed candidacy examinations
• Had a dissertation proposal accepted by their dissertation committee
• Received approval from​​ the Institutional Review Board in the case that their dissertation requires data collection from human participants.​​

The deadline for admission to candidacy for the fall semester is August 31. The deadline for admission to candidacy for the spring semester is January 31. Responsibility for seeing that admission to candidacy is secured at the proper time rests with the student.

Candidacy Examinations

Two written exams and one oral exam will evaluate a student’s knowledge of theory, research, and statistical methodology as they relate to their program of study. One written exam is theory-based, and the other evaluates the student’s competency with research and statistical methodologies. The oral exam takes place after the successful completion of the written exams, and is an opportunity for students to clarify or expand on their written answers, and for faculty to encourage students to further elaborate on their responses.​

Students and their academic advisor must identify three faculty members to serve on the candidacy examination committee by the start of their fifth semester (during year 3). The academic advisor will serve as chair of the examination committee and may also be one of the three individuals who administer the questions of the exam. All other faculty members of the examination committee must be approved by the student’s academic advisor and be a member of the Department of Communication’s approved Ph.D. faculty. Students must complete a  Candidacy Examinations Committee Form ​ and submit it to the Communication Department’s director of graduate studies.​

Ideally, these exams will be administered over the course of the five-week winter session of the student’s third year of coursework. The timing of the exams are flexible and must be agreed upon by the student and their committee, with the approval of the director of graduate studies. On the first day of the written exam, the student will be presented with a question (or a series of questions) relating their research content area to theory, broadly defined. Students will have two weeks to complete their response. The response must be of high quality, with the eventual goal for it to serve as the basis for the literature review chapter of the student’s dissertation.​​

Within the following three weeks, on a day and time agreed upon between the student and their academic advisor, the student will sit for an in-person, four hour written exam based upon research and statistical methodologies. It is recommended, though not required, that the student’s exam committee have representation of faculty members who have taught at least one of the research or statistical methodology courses the student had previously taken for the preparation of this portion of the exam. It is important that members of the committee have the background necessary to pose methodological questions for this portion of the exam.

It is up to the committee to determine exam questions, with any number of committee members collaborating on each of the two exams. The advisor should coordinate the writing of exam questions. Questions should be submitted by the committee to the graduate academic program coordinator, who will distribute them to the student.

Successful completion of the written exams is required prior to scheduling the oral exam, which should take place no later than three weeks after students are notified of their written exam results.

Students are required to pass all three candidacy examinations. Written exams must be passed before the oral exam takes place. The oral exam must also be successfully completed in order to apply for candidacy status.

Committee members have the following options in evaluating the exams:

Pass: Students may proceed to the​​ next stage of their degree requirements.

Conditional Pass: If ​the examination committee determines that the student’s performance was generally acceptable but with a specific deficiency, condition(s) will be specified that the student must satisfy to achieve a pass and remain in the program. These conditions may include re-examination of one or more question areas to be completed within three months.

Re-examination: This result is appropriate for a student whose performance was unsatisfactory but who displayed evidence ​​of the potential to complete doctoral degree education. Re-examination must be completed within three months. The possible outcomes of this re-examination are pass or failure. The student may not take the exams a third time. The advisor and examination committee will determine on a case-by-case basis the composition of re-examinations.

​​​Failure: This result i​​​ndicates that the student is not capable of completing the requirements for the doctoral degree and the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program.​

Appeals process

A student who has failed their candidacy exams can submit an appeal to the department’s appeals board. Written appeals from the student will be evaluated by the Department of Communication’s graduate committee. If members of the graduate committee are also members of the student’s candidacy exam committee, other members of the Department of Communication’s Ph.D. faculty may serve on the appeals board. A minimum of three faculty members are required to serve on the appeals board.

The student’s appeal must be submitted within ten days of their written notification of failing the exam; the department chair and the director of graduate studies should be made aware that an appeal is forthcoming as soon as possible. The appeal should be in writing and must include the student’s answers to their exam questions as well as a clearly articulated explanation justifying why they believe they should have passed. If a reexamination was given, questions and answers for both sets of exams must be provided.

Upon notification of an appeal from the department chair and/or the director of graduate studies, the student’s exam committee must provide the comments they made in response to the student’s answers and/or a general statement of why the student’s answers were unsatisfactory. The exam committee has ten days from the time of notification from the department chair and/or the director of graduate studies to make this material available.

The appeals board will issue a written decision to the student, the exam committee, the department chair, and the director of graduate studies within 10 days of receiving the full set of appeals material from the student and the committee.

After the departmental appeals process, if the student still receives a failure on their candidacy exams, it will be recommended that the Graduate College dismiss the student. The student may then take advantage of the appeals process at the Graduate College.

Policies and Forms

Course forms.

Students wishing to enroll in an independent study (COMM866) must complete a graduate-level independent study contract (available through the department), including the steps outlined for creating a proposal. The form must be signed by the faculty member overseeing the independent study, and then forwarded to the director of graduate studies and the department’s associate chair, with the attached proposal, for approval. Once finalized, it will be forwarded to the department’s graduate program coordinator to enroll the student in COMM866.

Curricular Forms

Visit the Graduate College's Academic Support page  under "Forms" for the following academic and graduation forms:

• Application for advanced degree : This must be completed by all graduate students in the semester they plan to graduate. The deadlines are September 15 for December degree conferral, December 15 for winter degree conferral, February 15 for May degree conferral, and April 15 for August degree conferral. The completed form should be submitted to the department’s graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Course substitution request form : This form is for any graduate student who would like to use a course not offered by the Department of Communication or not currently on the list of accepted courses for one of the degree requirements to fulfill a degree requirement. Before this form can be completed, the course must be vetted by the student's academic adviser and the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies. Once this course is approved the form must be completed (with required signatures), and submitted to the department’s graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Request for transfer of graduate credit : Prior to the completion of the form linked above the student must get approval from the Department of Communication's director of graduate studies for transferring course credits. A copy of the course's syllabus must be provided in order to be considered. If the director of graduate studies agrees to the transfer the student must complete the above-attached form, acquire the necessary signatures, and submit it to the department’s graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Change of major/concentration : This form is used to request a change in a graduate student’s academic classification when the change occurs within the same program or department. Upon completion of this form, with all the required signatures, the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Graduate College Forms and Resources for Graduation

• Thesis/dissertation manual : This manual lays out the guidelines of the Graduate College for how an M.A. thesis or a doctoral dissertation must be formatted and written.
• Doctoral dissertation candidacy recommendation : Upon the defense of the dissertation proposal, a Ph.D. student must complete the form linked above. Upon completion of this form, with all the required signatures, the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Dissertation defense form : At least two weeks prior to the oral defense of the dissertation the Ph.D. student must complete this online form. This will place their dissertation defense onto the campus-wide dissertation defense schedule.
• Certification of doctoral dissertation defense : Upon successful completion of a candidate’s oral dissertation defense, this form must be completed. The candidate’s advisor and members of the dissertation committee must sign this, indicating if in their opinion the student passed or failed. Upon completion of the oral defense the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.
• Request to change dissertation committee : If at any point a Ph.D. student would like to change the members of their dissertation committee they must complete the form linked above. Upon completion of this form, with all the required signatures, the student must submit a copy of the form to the Department of Communication's graduate program coordinator, who will forward it to the Graduate College.

Departmental Forms (contact department staff)

• Ph.D. candidacy exams committee form : Ph.D. students must use the form linked above to establish which faculty members are serving on their candidacy exams committee. Once all required signatures from committee members, their academic advisor, and the director of graduate studies are acquired, students must submit this form to the department’s graduate program coordinator.
• Ph.D. candidacy exams oral defense form : This must be completed following a student’s oral candidacy exam. The committee chair and members must sign this form once the student's oral defense is assessed. Upon completion of the oral defense this form must be submitted to the department’s graduate program coordinator.

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About the Health Communication Certificate Program

Students completing the certificate program will be exposed to and have a basic understanding of the theoretical and applied aspects of Health Communication. Competencies achieved will include, but are not limited to awareness of behavior change and communication theories; knowledge of media effects and audiences uses of media/communication modes; and recognition of quantitative and qualitative methods used in the study of Health Communication.

Additionally, the Health Communication certificate program will familiarize students with the design and evaluation (formative, process, and summative) of communication messages, campaigns, and programs.

Curriculum for the Health Communication Certificate Program

Please visit our Academic Catalogue to see the full certificate curriculum requirements. Please also review the certificate completion requirements .

Admissions Requirements

Degree students.

All Johns Hopkins University graduate students are eligible for admission to this certificate program, with the exception of BSPH MAS students, who are not eligible to apply until they have completed their primary degree program.

Applying to the certificate program as a JHU graduate student

Students already enrolled in a graduate program at JHU are not required to submit the School's electronic admissions application, but must email the  Certificate Program Contact  prior to starting coursework for the certificate program.

Eligible Start Terms :

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th

Non-Degree Students

This certificate program is only open to individuals who are currently matriculated in a degree program in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health or other divisions at the Johns Hopkins University.

Information regarding the cost of tuition and fees can be found on the Bloomberg School's Certificate Programs Tuition page.

Questions about the program? We're happy to help.

Sponsoring Department Health, Behavior and Society

Certificate Program Contact [email protected]

Faculty Sponsor Meghan Moran, PhD

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

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