Communication, Culture and Media PhD

Major: Communication, Culture and Media
Degrees Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 90.0 (post-bachelor's) or 45.0 (post-master's)
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 09.0102
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1122

About the Program

The PhD program in Communication, Culture and Media develops innovative scholar-teachers who know how to impart theories and studies on the interaction of social forces and communication. Our graduates are trained as committed researchers in quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication study. The program also encourages interdisciplinary approaches to the study of communication and media through faculty strengths in anthropology, communication, linguistics, and sociology.

Additional Information

For more information, please visit the graduate programs in Communication, Culture and Media page.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the PhD program will be evaluated by the Department's Graduate Committee for admission to the program. Prospective students must submit with their application:

• A 1,500 word statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts of all college-level coursework
• GRE scores
• For international students where English is not the official language, TOEFL or other English language proficiency scores are also required. For more information regarding international applicant requirements, view the International Students Admissions Information page.

Minimum criteria include:

• Completion of a BA or BS degree in an appropriate field
• GPA of 3.0 or higher (preferred GPA 3.5 for courses in the major)
• For international students, a TOEFL score of 100 (iBT) or equivalent score in IELTS, or Cambridge CPE

Students entering the program with a master’s degree or with some graduate credit will be evaluated by the Graduate Committee as to how many of their courses could possibly be counted toward the PhD. Students entering with an MS in an appropriate field are required by the university to take a minimum of 15 credit hours in the PhD program before being eligible to take qualifying exams.

Additional Information

For more information on how to apply, visit the Drexel University Requirements for Admissions page.

Degree Requirements

The PhD requires a minimum of 90.0 credits beyond a bachelor’s degree, including 45.0 credit hours of coursework prior to taking qualifying exams, 15.0 credit hours of coursework after exams, and 30.0 hours of research credits.

The PhD coursework is structured around a set of required core courses, a set of required seminars with rotating topics, and electives in graduate communication lecture courses, independent study work, and dissertation credit.

All students in the program take five common core courses. They then take no less than five courses chosen from CCM 800 level seminar offerings. Students are encouraged to take additional seminars after meeting that requirement since seminar courses enable collaborative relationships with professors and introduce students to the scholarly community. In addition to coursework, students will be assigned required teaching and research duties in the fall, winter, and spring terms.

After completing the core requirements and a sequence of seminars, students are expected to take a minimum of 10 additional courses from existing graduate-level lecture courses (depending on their interests and research needs). Students may take up to two graduate courses (six credits) outside the department. Additional credits to meet the 90.0 credit requirements will come from independent study and dissertation credits.

Qualifying Examinations

After students have completed 45.0 credits, which will usually be at the end of their sixth term, they will be required to take a qualifying examination. The qualifying exam includes three parts: theory, methods, and a content area. Students will be given the grade of fail, pass, or high pass on the exam. A grade of pass in all three sections of the exam will be required to qualify for the PhD. 

Dissertation Defense

Students should defend the dissertation and graduate towards the end of their fourth or fifth year, depending on whether they entered the program with a master's degree.

Visit the graduate programs in Communication, Culture, and Media website for more information.

Program Requirements

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There are five categories of seminar: one in which students learn advanced work and influences on a specific theorist or theoretical school; one in which students learn about theories of language, discourse and the sign; one that teaches the paradigm of structural dynamics central to social sciences theory and research; one in which students study a research methods approach; and one that deals with approaches to research ethics. Seminars can be repeated, with a maximum of three courses taken in each area, as long as the subject covered is different each time.

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Elective credits may be chosen from CCM courses at the 500-800 level, including 800-level seminars that are a different topic from earlier courses taken. Students may take up to 6.0 graduate-level credits outside of the Communication, Culture and Media program rubric with approval of the program director.

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For the dissertation, students work with a principal advisor, one of the Communication, Culture and Media Program graduate faculty and no less than two additional faculty from within the department. Students must find one additional outside reader, and students may bring in up to two outside readers. 

Sample Plan of Study

Students entering the program with a master’s degree or with some graduate credit will be evaluated by the Graduate Committee as to how many of their courses could possibly be counted toward the PhD. Students entering with an MS in an appropriate field are required by the university to take a minimum of 15.0 credit hours in the PhD program before being eligible to take qualifying exams.

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Students continue to register for 9.0 credits of CCM 998 each Fall, Winter, and Spring Term until the completion of program requirements, including successful defense of the dissertation.

Communication, Culture and Media Faculty