The PhD program is designed to balance the need for a broad foundation in communication scholarship with the need to specialize in a field of interest for the dissertation. Program requirements facilitate the achievement of these two goals, but the primary responsibility for program development lies with the graduate student and their supervisory committee. The program provides the student and their committee with the flexibility necessary to tailor the program to the student’s needs and interests.

Registering for General Exam Preparation Credits

Up to 15 credits of COM 600 (General Exam Preparation) may be taken leading up to and/or during the quarter of the exam. These are taken for credit/no credit only. No COM 800 (Dissertation Research) credits may be taken before or during the quarter of the exam.