phd communications columbia

Ph.D. in Communications: Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Columbia's Ph.D. in Communications program different from other doctoral programs in Communications? Unlike traditional doctoral programs, which treat Communications as a self-contained discipline dedicated to a distinct body of knowledge, our Ph.D. program recognizes that Communications is a subject matter that is of interest to—and is informed by—a wide range of academic fields. We offer a flexible, independent, multidisciplinary approach to the study of relationships between people and media in their cultural, social, political, historical, economic, and technological contexts. With the guidance of an interdisciplinary faculty advisory committee, students craft individual courses of study drawing on Columbia’s graduate resources in the humanities, the social and practical sciences, the arts, and the professional schools. 

What are your areas of research strength?

Among the many areas of common interest for our current faculty and students are: journalism history; communications history; the sociology of news; media technology, law, and policy; misinformation and disinformation; social media and public life; religion and media; right-wing media; freedom of expression; and environmental justice. Students have also found support for more unconventional topics such as binge-watching, literary journalism in Latin America, end-of-life narratives, and the evolution of the photographic pose. You can get an overview of the kind of work we do here by browsing our list of recently defended dissertations and the biographical statements by some of our current students. What kind of courses do Ph.D. in Communications students take?

Students take five required courses designed to orient them in the literature, important subfields, and intellectual traditions of communications. They choose the rest of their courses to fulfill their own research plans, drawing on offerings from most of the graduate divisions of the university. Among the most common choices are courses in History, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, International Affairs, Economics, or Religion, but students have also found useful offerings in such divisions and departments as Urban Planning, Computer Science, Film, Music, Narrative Medicine, Teachers College, the Law School, and the Business School.

How long does the Ph.D. in Communications program take?

Students must first complete either two or three years of coursework, the length of study depending on whether they are granted transfer credit (see below). They spend another two to five years finishing the requirements for the M.Phil. (including a set of comprehensive exams) and researching and writing the dissertation. The time-to-degree varies according to a student’s personal circumstances, but most of our students take a total of five to seven years from start to finish. University policy requires all students to complete the degree within nine years of their first enrollment, or eight if they have been granted a year’s transfer credit.

Can I get a Ph.D. in Journalism?

No, our degree is a Ph.D. in Communications—an academic discipline, not a practical professional program. Although a few of our graduates who worked as journalists before coming to Columbia now teach in professional journalism programs, the Communications Ph.D. is not generally seen as a path to a career in teaching the skills and techniques of journalism. Can I take courses in, say, investigative reporting, feature writing, audio, or other skills and techniques of journalism? Can I study with Journalism School professors who are not members of the core Ph.D. faculty?   

No. The Communications doctoral program is completely separate from the professional master’s programs offered by the Journalism School, and few if any Journalism courses are available to doctoral students. The core Ph.D. faculty and the members of our interdisciplinary advisory committee are listed here . Other Communications programs offer concentrations in marketing, public relations, advertising, or strategic communications—do you? No. Those interests would be better served in traditional Communications or Business programs.

What career paths do your graduates follow? 

About half of our graduates now hold tenured or tenure-track positions in departments of communications, media studies, sociology, social and political science, American studies, English, and other subject areas. Among the colleges and universities where they teach are American,  Drexel, Fordham Law School, George Washington, Gonzaga, IE (Segovia), Muhlenberg, the New School, Northeastern, Pace, Sogang, Stony Brook, Vassar, Yale, and the universities of Calgary, Copenhagen, Glasgow, Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Kentucky, Massachusetts-Amherst, Milan, Minnesota, Oregon, Tulsa, and Wisconsin-Madison. Other graduates have chosen to pursue careers as independent writers; in consulting, research, government, NGOs, think tanks, or finance; or in the practice of law.

Have any of your doctoral students published their dissertations?

Yes, students have published their dissertations with, among others, Oxford University Press, Columbia University Press, Princeton University Press, Temple University Press, MIT Press, Routledge, University of Pittsburgh Press, and Crown. Can I transfer credits from previous graduate work? If you have completed a comparable and acceptable M.A. degree at Columbia or elsewhere you may be granted up to 30 points (two semesters) of transfer credit, subject to certain conditions. If you have taken graduate-level courses but have not completed an appropriate M.A. degree you may receive up to 15 points of transfer credit, subject to certain conditions. Requests for transfer credits are not formally evaluated until after you’ve enrolled; we do not make those decisions during the application process. All Ph.D. students will complete at least two years of full time coursework, regardless of how many previous credits they may have earned elsewhere. Will I get teaching or research experience? All students who receive stipends will be assigned teaching or research assistantships for every year of enrollment after their first. Most Ph.D.s are assigned to assistantships offering pedagogical and administrative support in M.S. lecture courses on journalism law, business, ethics, and history. Depending on the student’s background, opportunities to assist in practical master’s-level journalism courses may be available, and on occasion our students are offered positions as traditional section assistants in undergraduate departments outside the School (we do not have an undergraduate population of our own). Research assistantships, either with program faculty or in the School’s centers (including the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and the Brown Institute for Media Innovation), are also available.

Do you require an applicant to have a specific undergraduate major or concentration? 

No. We are more interested in the quality of your previous academic work than in the subject area. Do I have to have finished a master’s degree to apply for a Ph.D.? No. You must have a bachelor’s-level degree from an accredited institution by the time the fall term begins and if you apply without a master’s degree you will be required  to complete the requirements for a master’s degree “in course” during your first year of enrollment. Whether or not you have a master’s degree does not affect your chances of admission. Can I apply for a terminal master’s degree in Communications? No. We accept only students who intend to complete a doctoral degree. Do I need to have experience as a journalist? No. We welcome applications from current or former journalists, but as an academic program, not a professional one, we do not require experience as a journalist. Most of our students do not have a background in journalism; they come from education, politics, public relations, government, finance, the law, and other fields, or are recent college graduates. What is the most important part of my application?  The single most important element is your statement of academic interests. This should describe the kind of research questions that interest you and why. It could also address the forces, ideas, people, or experiences that have shaped your intellectual journey; how a multidisciplinary approach would inform your work; or what you hope to do after completing the degree.  What else do you look for in an applicant? Successful candidates will have compiled a record of excellence in their previous academic work. We do not specify a minimum GPA, but if you feel yours does not accurately reflect your achievements, tell us why. We prefer that at least two of your three letters of reference come from professors or others who know you well and can evaluate your accomplishments and potential as a scholar, but you may include letters from employers or others in a position to comment knowledgeably on your achievements in the workplace. The personal statement can include anything you want the admissions committee to know about you and your candidacy. 

What kind of writing samples should I submit? Can I submit journalistic work?

As an academic program we prefer to see at least one sample of your best scholarly writing—a term paper, a published article, a section or chapter from a work-in-progress--but a substantial piece of journalism or a thoughtful essay could be acceptable. Ideally your samples will demonstrate your ability to write lucidly, argue with precision and force, and engage with ideas that fall under the broad rubric of communications. You must be the sole author; pieces with a co-author are not acceptable. Do I have to find an adviser on your faculty before I can be considered? No. Like most U.S. doctoral programs (and unlike many international programs) we do not require or even permit you to  secure an adviser before or during the application process. You will explain your research interests and plans in the required statement of academic interests that is part of the online application, which also includes test scores, transcripts, letters of reference, and other elements.

Do you interview applicants? 

Interviews are not required; informational appointments, Q&A sessions, and webinars with admissions staff are available but carry no weight in the application process. Is the GRE required? What are the minimum scores? Yes, we require GRE scores not more than five years old; this requirement is firm and will not be waived. We do not have a required minimum GRE score. \ Is the TOEFL or IELTS required? What are the minimum scores? Yes, if English is not your native language (even if you studied at English-language universities) or if your entire undergraduate education was not completed at an English-language university, we require TOEFL/IELTS scores not more than two years old. This requirement is firm and will not be waived. For the TOEFL we require a minimum score of 650 on the paper-based test, 280 on the computer-based test, or 114 on the Internet-based test. For the IELTS we require an overall score of 8.0. If my application is unsuccessful this year, can I apply again? Yes. A number of students have been accepted on their second try. If I am accepted can I defer my admission for a year? No. If you do not enroll in the program in the fall term immediately following your acceptance, you will forfeit your place and must reapply the next year. Re-admission is not guaranteed.

How many new students do you enroll every year?

Three. Do you offer financial aid? Yes, the standard financial aid package for new full-time students who do not have substantial fellowships from outside sources includes a tuition waiver for up to three years of coursework, a living stipend for five years, and waiver of certain other fees such as health insurance. Students are required to serve as teaching or research assistants for every year except the first that they are receiving a stipend.  Do you accept part-time students? Can I study online? Can I start in the spring semester? No. All students must study full-time and must be in residence long enough to complete all coursework and fulfill the service obligations attached to their financial aid package--at least two or three years and usually four or five. The academic year starts in September and all students must enter at that time.

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