Department of Communication (GRAD)
Ph.D. in Communication
The Ph.D. at UNC is an inquiry-based degree, offering students the opportunity to build unique programs of study around their respective research interests. The program requires the student to define a program of study organized by an evolving research question or research problem. The program ensures foundational study in subdisciplines of communication studies, including rhetoric, performance studies, media arts, media and technology studies, interpersonal and organizational communication, and cultural studies. The program encourages interdisciplinary work across these areas and across disciplines to enhance one's ability to address the research question or problem, while at the same time helping to professionalize students for various employment opportunities. The research question or problem and subordinate lines of inquiry that help to define it serve as the basis for selecting coursework, for developing integrative reading lists for the doctoral comprehensive exam, and for completing a major, original research project in the form of a doctoral dissertation. All students — whether admitted with a baccalaureate degree or a master’s degree — are admitted to the doctoral program; the department does not offer a terminal M.A. degree.
Doctoral students (admitted with M.A. or equivalent) complete a minimum of 45 hours of coursework, including 4 core courses (12 hours), 10 research courses (30 hours), 2 professional development courses (COMM 702 and COMM 907 for 6 hours). Dissertation research hours are additional. Students admitted with a baccalaureate degree or equivalent take additional coursework and complete a qualifying exam in their third semester. A student may also wish to pursue formal or independent minors or certifications, language competence related to research, and/or additional courses as needed or desired. All students must demonstrate methodological competence through completion of one professional development course (COMM 702 for 3.0 credit hours).
To learn more, please visit the Communication website.
Courses
Numbered 700-999:
NOTE: Courses are offered on demand except as otherwise noted.
Professors
Renée Alexander Craft, Critical/Performance Ethnography, Performance of Literature, Critical Studies in Race and Gender
Torin Monahan, Technology Studies, Surveillance Studies
Patricia S. Parker, Organizational Communication and Culture, Critical Studies in Gender, Race, Organizational Leadership
Tony Perucci, Performance, Performance and Media, Performance Activism, Cultural Studies
Joyce Rudinsky, Media Studies, Electronic and Interactive Media
Avi Santo, Media and Technology Studies, Consumer Culture, Materials Culture, Children's Media and Play, Fan Studies
Associate Professors
Lisa Calvente, Performance Studies, Cultural Studies
Sarah Dempsey, Organizational Communication, Organizing in Global Contexts
Julia Haslett, Media and Production, Documentary Filmmaking
Sun-Ha Hong, Media and Technology Studies
Christian O. Lundberg, Rhetoric and Public Culture, Cultural Studies, Critical Theory, Religion
Steven K. May, Organizational Communication, Cultural Studies
Michael Palm, Media Studies, History of Technologies
Aaron Shapiro, Media and Technology Studies
Kumi Silva, Gender, Race and Identity, Transnational and Postcolonial Studies
Michael S. Waltman, Interpersonal Communication, Social Cognition, Hate Studies
Assistant Professors
Kelsey Brod, New Media Theory, Creative and Critical Practice
E. Chebrolu, Rhetoric of Race, Rhetoric and Social Media
David Dooling, Organizational Communication, Queer Studies, Gender Studies
Burç Köstem, Media and Technology Studies, Cultural Studies
Haley Schneider, Rhetoric, Environmetal Studies
Professors Emeriti
V. William Balthrop
Carole Blair
Robbie Cox
Cori Dauber
Paul Ferguson
Lawrence Grossberg
Ken Hillis
Gorham Kindem
Beverly Long
Dennis Mumby
Della Pollock
Lawrence B. Rosenfeld
David Sontag
Francesca Talenti
Julia T. Wood
Department of Communication
