Our scholars investigate contemporary issues and practices in mass media, communication, and cultural studies, and apply critical interdisciplinary frameworks in communication theory, discourse and network analysis, semiotics, and other methodological approaches to better understand mediated cultural and social phenomena locally, nationally, and globally.
The Ph.D. in Communication, Culture and Media Studies at Howard's Graduate School welcomes applicants who hold a master’s degree (M.A., M.F.A. or M.S.) with backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, fine arts, and other communication-related fields. Our program highly encourages an interdisciplinary, multicultural approach to investigating communication issues locally, nationally, and globally. Students engage theoretical concepts across diverse fields, including critical media and cultural studies, visual culture, sociology, history, science and technology studies, anthropology, history, and political economy. As a graduate of the program, you'll be prepared to compete successfully for postdoctoral positions, tenure-track teaching appointments at colleges and universities, and senior-level communications consulting or research positions in the public or private sector. Our program emphasizes critical frameworks and mixed methodological approaches to communications studies, including quantitative and qualitative methods, discourse analysis, network analysis, semiotics, critical communication theory, and ethnography. You may choose from three distinct areas of specialization: health communication; media, and cultural studies; and technology, policy, and society.
