Doctor of Philosophy in Communication

The Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Cincinnati gives students the opportunity to investigate the power of communication to shape our personal identities and impact our social, organizational, mediated, and political lives.

Given our location in the heart of the urban core of Cincinnati, as well as the mission of our department to explore and address social issues, much of our work emphasizes our value of social justice. We recognize the central role that communication plays in our understanding of key social justice issues (e.g., race, gender, health, environment, globalization-related, etc.) and in finding solutions to those issues.

As graduate faculty in communication, we have identified a trend that students approach communication studies from a social justice angle, and are seeking opportunities to advance academic training that prepare them to have a social justice focus in their research or praxis career trajectory. Through academic preparation and externship work, our program prepares students to lead positive change through academic, and applied work, or in professional careers through a blend of theory, research methodology, and practical application.

Unofficial transcripts
CV/Resume
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) for this program typically includes a summary of your research interests, the status of your thesis and name of your advisor, a list of peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, conference papers, panels, and, when applicable community service and any related work experience. In addition, should you have a resume demonstrating your commitment to social justice, you are encouraged to upload this document as well.
Personal Statement
This personal statement is an opportunity for you to describe your interest in the Ph.D. program. This enables the admissions committee to assess how well your goals match what our program offers. Below are a few components that you should be sure to discuss in this statement:
Please identify any specific area(s) of interest or specialty that you would like to study, and how your interest aligns with our program
Please identify specific social issues and topics that motivate your research interest
Tell us how your goals and research interests align with the department's social justice focus
Please name 2-5 graduate faculty from the Department of Communication who you believe could best evaluate your application materials. We strongly recommend that you review faculty profiles on our website, skim through faculty CVs and publications for connections with your research interests, and identify those individuals who you would be excited to work with if you are accepted into our program.
Writing Sample
A writing sample showcases your ability to synthesize literature, articulate your ideas, and build an argument. Please submit a research paper, which includes academic citations. This may be a published article, book chapter, conference paper, or one written for a class, preferably in communication or a related field. If you have written a thesis or capstone paper, turning a portion of those in would be preferred. Your writing sample should be at least 5 pages (excluding references).

The following exams and minimum scores are accepted as proof of English proficiency -
TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT
In-person and at-home online exam scores accepted TOEFL Essentials and My Best Test scores are not accepted.
IELTS minimum score of 6.5 overall band.
In-person and at-home online exam scores accepted.
PTE minimum score of 54.