The Department of Communication, in cooperation with the Department of Sociology, offers doctoral studies in interpersonal, organizational, and intercultural communication. Students in the Ph.D. program in sociology can elect a special field in communication theory. The research specializations of the faculty involved in the two departments include social structure and mobility; social networks, social psychology, particularly in theory and research concerning interpersonal interaction/cultural practices communication; social support; stress and health-related factors; general theory, including structural rules, causal systems and mathematical approaches; language and social interaction. The Sociology faculty offers wide-ranging experience in all aspects of quantitative research methodology, including measurement and scaling, sampling, survey and experimental design, field methods, extensive multivariate, mathematical and statistical analyses. In addition, several Communication faculty have expertise in qualitative methodology, including ethnography and discourse analysis.

Program of Study

The Ph.D. in Sociology with a Communication specialization area includes, as a minimum:

1. 30 credits in sociology, including Soc 509, Soc 510, Soc 511, Soc 522, Soc 590A, and Soc 590B and Soc 609;
2. 24 credits in Communication, including Com 502, Com 503 and 18 credits in one of the three Communication concentrations: interpersonal interaction/cultural practices communication, organizational communication, or political communication;
3. 6 additional credits as advised by the Communication faculty;
4. fulfillment of the residence, teaching, and research tool requirements, as approved by the Sociology graduate committee; and,
5. the dissertation.

Comprehensive Examination

Students in the Sociology program with a specialization area in Communication must take the comprehensive examination in methods (unless it is waived by virtue of an A- average in Soc 509, Soc 522, and Soc 609). Students will also take two specialization examination administered by the Sociology Department. One of these exams will be in one of the three Communication concentration areas.