Why a University of Michigan Ph.D.?
The Department of Communication Studies is a top department at an internationally renowned university. The newly redesigned Ph.D. in Mass Communication 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 area of interests, 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 the very first year of the program. To see if our program is a match for your interests, see our research strengths.
Our faculty share a strong interest in the media's ability to advance or undermine democratic processes and institutions, their role in shaping individual and group identities, their centrality to globalization, their industrial practices, how they are regulated, and their persuasive capabilities.
Additional information for prospective students interested in our Ph.D. Program in Mass Communications can be found within the program overview.
