ohio university phd communication studies

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NCA's Doctoral Program Guide

Ohio university, school of communication studies.

The mission of the doctoral program in communication studies at Ohio University is simple: Through their research, teaching, and service, scholars from this program seek to improve, entertain, and enlighten the world around them. They feel strongly that their scholarly efforts are directly tied to the academic community that they are able to build. Consequently, they are continually searching for students and faculty who are passionate about their work as scholars.

Areas of Study 

• Relating & Organizing
• Health Communication
• Rhetoric & Public Culture

QS World University Rankings—Communication & Media Studies

• #151-200 of 200 World Universities

URAP University Rankings—Language, Communication & Culture  

• #196 of 300 World Universities

Admission Requirements  

• To be admitted unconditionally, you must have received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree or completed equivalent work (as approved by the University) at an accredited institution. You must present for evaluation by the graduate committee evidence of your scholarly writing ability. Additional evidence of your ability to pursue study at the doctoral level is required, as documented from previous personal, professional, and academic experi­ences.

Graduate Faculty  

• Professor Roger Aden, Ph.D., University of Nebraska
• Professor Austin Babrow, Ph.D., University of Illinois
• Professor Benjamin Bates, Ph.D., University of Georgia
• Professor Christina S. Beck, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
• Associate Professor Laura Black, Ph.D., University of Washington
• Associate Professor Amy E. Chadwick, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
• Professor Devika Chawla, Ph.D., Purdue University
• Professor Claudia Hale, Ph.D., University of Illinois
• Professor Lynn Harter, Ph.D., University of Nebraska 
• Associate Professor Angela M. Hosek, Ph.D., University of Nebraska
• Professor Judith Yaross Lee, Ph.D., University of Chicago
• Professor Jerry L. Miller, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma 
• Associate Professor Brittany Peterson, Ph.D., University of Texas
• Professor Bill Rawlins, Ph.D., Temple University
• Associate Professor J.W. Smith, Ph.D., Wayne State University
• Assistant Professor Stephanie (Robbins) Tikkanen, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
• Professor Scott Titsworth, Ph.D., University of Nebraska

NCA Awards for Faculty and Students, 2000-present  

• Woolbert Research Award, 2001, 2003
• Cushman Memorial Award, 2011, 2016
• Ehninger Distinguished Rhetorical Scholar Award, 2006

Major code BC5363

Scripps College of Communication     School of Communication Studies     Schoonover Center Athens, OH 45701 Phone: 740.593.4828 www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies

Jerry Miller, Associate School Director for Undergraduate Studies, contact person [email protected]

Program Overview

The School of Communication Studies (COMS) offers a liberal arts education, emphasizing the scientific and artistic bases of communication. The School is committed to providing quality instruction in the theoretical understanding of human communication and the application of theory in specific contexts. The core courses combine theory and practice as students study the historical and conceptual foundations of the field of communication. An historical understanding of communication theory is useful but insufficient in a globally competitive world, so the major in communication studies also equips students with the competencies most prized by employers including strong oral and written communication, effective interpersonal and group communication skills, critical thinking, meeting planning, and problem-solving/decision-making.

The faculty and staff of the School of Communication Studies are committed to scholarship, teaching, and service in ways that improve the community and offer directions for change in the world. Accordingly, we seek students who want to challenge themselves to develop their potential in and out of the classroom.

All of our undergraduate students are communication studies majors, but each pursues a concentration in one of three areas:

Communication and Public Advocacy

Students concentrating their studies in communication and public advocacy focus on the integration of political and legal communication theory and practice emphasizing the role of communication in argument, debate, and politics, including the ethical and rhetorical implications of constitutional guarantees and persuasive strategies characteristic of contemporary political communication. Recent graduates are attending nationally ranked law schools, working as state legislative staff, lobbying in Washington, D.C., and managing political campaigns.

Health Communication

Health communication graduates are concerned with meeting people’s communication and knowledge needs in such areas as the relationships between patients and their health care providers, family dynamics, dissemination of health information, and cultural and gender influences on communication. Recent graduates are employed in health care organizations as patient advocates or in human resources, national nonprofit health agencies, and as pharmaceutical company sales representatives.

Organizational Communication

Students focused on organizational communication are aiming for professional careers in business, education, government, industry, or the nonprofit sector. The skills and competencies acquired through this concentration enable students to understand the dynamics of, and function more effectively in, organizational structures. Recent graduates are employed in major consulting firms, national financial service providers, conference planning companies, and information management organizations.

Elective courses in the School complement the required courses and expand the student’s repertoire of competencies and skills. Enhancing the core and classes in the concentration are courses in a related area. Students identify the means of completing the related area by working one-on-one with their academic advisors. The related area is an opportunity for students to “customize” their academic interest in ways that set them apart from their peers when undertaking internships or job searches.

Admissions Information

Freshman/first-year admission.

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

Students who are currently enrolled at Ohio University are required to apply to the School of Communication Studies and encouraged to read the information on the COMS website ( www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies ). If there are specific questions that are unanswered after reviewing the website, students should make an appointment to meet with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies. Appointments are scheduled by speaking with the administrative assistant at 740.539.4842.

The School of Communication Studies reviews applications as follows:

• Students should be in good academic standing at the time of application, prepare a 300-word essay explaining how a degree in Communication Studies would be beneficial to them, and complete the online application.
• Applications are accepted throughout the academic year and processed the first week of each month. Applications submitted between May 1 and Sept. 30 are processed the first week of August.

External Transfer Admission

Opportunities upon graduation.

Students completing the Bachelor of Science in Communication degree in the School of Communication Studies are prepared with transferable competency sets that enable them to work in a variety of organizations. The degree is perfect preparation for a career in corporate training, foreign service, law, politics, labor relations, human services, campaign management, event planning, account representation, sales, management, or survey research, to name just a few careers. All told, the major is designed to augment students’ lives and careers through a clearer understanding of the effects of communication and messages in their professional and personal lives.

Requirements

Universitywide graduation requirements.

Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other universitywide requirements, please review the  Graduation Requirements – Universitywide    page.

College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication

View the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication   .

COMS Core Requirements

Complete the following courses with a grade of C or better:

• COMS 1030 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 1100 - Communication Among Cultures Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 2050 - Techniques of Group Discussion Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 2060 - Communication in Interpersonal Relationships Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 2150 - Argumentative Analysis and Advocacy Credit Hours: 3

COMS Theory Requirement

Complete the following two courses with a C or better:

• COMS 2350 - Introduction to Communication Theory Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4800 - Capstone Seminar in Communication Credit Hours: 3

Complete two of the following courses:

• COMS 3400 - Introduction to Health Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3500 - Introduction to Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3600 - Introduction to Communication in Public Advocacy Credit Hours: 3

COMS Research Methods

• COMS 3420 - Qualitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3520 - Quantitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3620 - Rhetorical Inquiry and Criticism Credit Hours: 3

COMS Electives

Complete five courses (two courses must be at the 3000- or 4000-level) for a minimum of 15 credit hours from the following courses:

• COMS 1170 - Beginning Forensics Credit Hours: 1 - 3 (A maximum of 3 credits may be used toward fulfillment of the COMS Electives.)
• COMS 2020 - Communication and Persuasion Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 2040 - Principles and Techniques of Interviewing Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 2170 - Advanced Forensics Credit Hours: 1 - 3 (A maximum of 3 credits may be used toward fulfillment of the COMS Electives.)
• COMS 2200 - Oral Interpretation of Literature Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 2400 - Communication for Innovation Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3060 - Interpersonal Conflict Management Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3200 - Communication and New Technology Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3250 - Communication Technology and Organizing Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3300 - Environmental Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3350 - Managing Risk and Crisis Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3410 - Women and Health Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3501 - Advanced Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3601 - Courtroom Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3602 - Political Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3603 - Contemporary Culture and Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3610 - Advanced Argument and Debate Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3660 - Cultural Studies and Beer Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3920 - Practicum in Communication Education Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4030 - Advanced Presentations Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4050 - Meeting and Conference Planning Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4060 - Advanced Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4061 - Communication, Dialogue, and Creativity Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4080 - The Dark Side of Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4082 - Communication Ethics and Leadership Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4085 - Diversity and Inclusion in Organizational Life Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4100 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4110 - Communicating with People with Disabilities Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4200 - Gender and Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4300 - Health Communication in Neglected Tropical Disease Contexts Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4410 - Communication in the Family Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4501 - Communication & Nonproft Organizing Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4510 - Instructional Training and Development in Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4530 - Communication and the Campaign Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4604 - Responsibilities and Freedom of Speech in Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4630 - Rhetoric and Electronic Media Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4900 - Topics in Communication Studies Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4910 - Communication Studies Internship Credit Hours: 1 - 15 (A maximum of 3 credits may be used toward fulfillment of the COMS Electives.)
• COMS 4920 - Practicum in Communication Studies Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4930 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 1 - 3 (A maximum of 3 credits may be used toward fulfillment of the COMS Electives.)

COMS Related Area

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours in a minor, certificate, or related area outside COMS. Students should attempt to balance lower-divsion (1000-2000) and upper-division (3000-4000) courses with at least one-half of the credits at the upper-division level.

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PhD in Communication

In the Ph.D. program in Communication at The Ohio State University, students work closely with world-renowned faculty on current research.  In coursework, the emphasis is on understanding the body of knowledge in communication and on learning how to use what is known to generate new knowledge through research.  In addition to gaining a solid grounding in the communication literature, through our Ph.D. program students learn the skills necessary to develop solid academic careers through teaching, attending professional conferences and publishing their own research.

We offer funding to all doctoral students admitted to our program.

Doctoral students work closely with distinguished scholars as mentors in developing individualized programs focusing on the topics that intersect the interests of the faculty and the student. Over the course of their program, students are encouraged to co-author papers and journal articles with faculty members.

Through generous travel awards, the School of Communication, as well as the Graduate School at OSU, enable students to participate in national and international communication conferences. At these conferences our students become acquainted with faculty and graduate students from other universities around the world, establishing lasting friendships and professional relationships.

Through the combination of training, mentoring and socialization, our students are among the most sought-after for the top positions in the field.

Most of our Ph.D. students enter academic careers following graduation, although some enter various communication industries and use their research skills in marketing, polling, media or other industries.

For more information, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator by email at [email protected] or call (614) 292-6503.

You can read more about our graduate program requirements and our admissions procedures on the following documents:

Some links on this page are to Adobe .pdf files requiring the use of Adobe Reader. If you need these files in a more accessible format, please contact [email protected] .

Ohio University

4 year • Athens, OH

Ohio University is a public institution that was founded in 1804. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,860 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 1,800 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Ohio University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #178. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,746; out-of-state tuition and fees are $24,114.

Freshmen at Ohio University (OU) in Athens can ease into their college experience through learning communities, or LCs. These clusters of students take courses together and might live together, too. Students can also check out extracurricular activities, including nearly 500 clubs and organizations. With more than 30 fraternities and sororities, Greek life options abound, and about 10 percent of the student body opts to participate. The Ohio Bobcats compete in the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference and have a traditionally successful men's basketball team.

Ohio University students must live on campus until they have completed four semesters. Students who commute from a parent’s home within 50 miles of campus are exempt from the housing requirement, as are students who meet other exemption criteria. OU offers a variety of degree programs for graduate students, too, through academic departments including the College of Education , the Russ College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Business . Notable alumni of Ohio University include actress Nancy Cartwright, who voices the character of Bart Simpson on the animated TV show "The Simpsons"; journalist Matt Lauer, co-anchor of "The Today Show"; and Roger Ailes, president of Fox News Channel and former campaign strategist for Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

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• #178 in National Universities  (tie)
• #96 in Top Public Schools  (tie)
• #98 in Best Value Schools

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$13,460 (2023-24)

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Psychology, General

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Investigative journalism work by Ohio University Fulbright Scholar and journalism graduate student will be featured on FRONTLINE

Patricia Marcano Meza, an Ohio University Fulbright Scholar who is pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, is both excited and nervous for the national premiere of a new documentary for FRONTLINE on PBS called "A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela." It airs   on Tuesday, May 14, at 10 p.m. on WOUB HD. The investigative reporter from Venezuela is featured in the documentary as one of the reporters who covered government corruption for the Venezuelan independent news outlet  Armando.info .

“For us, because we are a small independent media in Venezuela, the opportunity to show this documentary in America is great. We are glad and honored. In Venezuela, there is a lot of censorship and persecution, so this is an important window to show the reality and to reach more people. The people can see what the situation is in our country and how we are doing journalism in a difficult environment,” said Marcano Meza. “But I am also concerned about the consequences of this. Our four editors-in-chief had to go into exile because they were sued by Alex Saab and threatened by the Maduro government. We don't want anything to happen to our team in Caracas. The Maduro government's response to the announcement of the documentary was a new attack on our work; through the Attorney General they are trying to involve us in a corruption case that we revealed last year.”

President Nicolas Maduro is South America’s longest ruling authoritarian leader and has held power since 2013. The FRONTLINE episode examines the Armando.info investigation of a food program called CLAP that was created by Maduro’s government in 2016 when Venezuela was in economic freefall and consumed by hunger. The CLAP program was a domestic aid initiative that was billed as providing high-quality, essential food items to Venezuelans impacted by the nation’s economic crisis — some of whom were at risk of starvation. But the CLAP program was not all that the government claimed it to be.

“We are so excited that this documentary will introduce Patricia’s work to an even wider audience in the U.S. She is a highly decorated journalist, one of Venezuela’s best, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist,” said E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Associate Director for Graduate Studies Aimee Edmondson. “She’s incredibly brave and talented.”

The documentary features groundbreaking reporting from investigative journalist Roberto Deniz and his colleagues, including Marcano Meza. They revealed that the government was purchasing low-quality products for the CLAP program. In fact, a chemical analysis conducted by the Institute of Food Science and Technology at Universidad Central de Venezuela at the request of Armando.info showed some of the powdered milk offered in the CLAP boxes was so deficient in calcium and high in sodium that a researcher noted it couldn’t be classified as milk at all.

The team at Armando.info uncovered that the CLAP initiative itself was enriching a close associate of Maduro’s — Alex Saab, the biggest contractor for the food program. The Armando.info journalists’ reporting ended up helping expose a vast corruption scandal that had benefited Maduro and other officials, spanning from Venezuela to Europe to the U.S. — and it ultimately made the journalists targets of the Maduro government. Facing threats, harassment and possible jail time, Deniz and some of his colleagues made the difficult decision to flee Venezuela. As a result of Deniz’s reporting, he has a warrant out for his arrest, his family’s home has been raided, and he has been sued for criminal defamation by Saab.

“I appear in the FRONTLINE episode talking about an investigation we did on the quality of food delivered by the government through the subsidized food program, and this story is one of several others involving corruption that we tell in the documentary, all linked to Alex Saab,” said Marcano Meza. “We have covered stories about Alex Saab since 2016, in particular my colleague, Roberto Deniz, who has led this investigation, but as a team at Armando.info it has marked us.”

In her master’s degree program, Marcano Meza is focusing on the study of data journalism and plans to take what she learns at Ohio University back to Venezuela to train fellow journalists so they can all improve the investigative work they are doing.

“I would like to learn a lot here and then go back to Venezuela to teach and train my colleagues to use data journalism and do deeper and better investigative work.”

"A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela" premieres on Tuesday, May 14, at 10 p.m. on WOUB PBS and on YouTube, and at 7 p.m. on PBS.org/frontline, in the PBS App, and will also be available on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel. 

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Communication (MA, PhD)

The School of Communication offers an MA and PhD in Communication. Graduate studies are in the areas of Communication Technology and Society, Health Communication and Public Opinion. The primary goal is to train individuals to conduct empirical social science research.

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