The Purpose of a Ph.D.

A person with a Doctor of Philosophy is a steward of the discipline. He or she is responsible for the creation and transfer of knowledge. The Ph.D. qualifies people to conduct independent research and thereby to contribute to the creation of new knowledge in the field. It is also usually a qualification for a university professorial position. It also prepares graduates for research positions in mass media.

The specific goals of Ph.D. study are:

• Broad knowledge of the research, literature, models and practices in all fields of Media & Communication.
• The ability to conceptualize, conduct and report original research contributing to the creation of knowledge in Media & Communication.
• The ability to transmit knowledge about Media & Communication through teaching to students and media practitioners.

The Ph.D. in Media and Communications at Texas Tech

The Ph.D. in Media and Communications at Texas Tech focuses on the integration of different approaches to the study of Media & Communication and of all media of Media & Communication. While coursework may concentrate in the areas of advertising, electronic media, journalism or public relations, each student is required to acquire at least some background in all areas of Media & Communication and some familiarity with all media of Media & Communication.

You will be required to take at least one course in Integrated Media Campaigns and one in Communications Technology.  Many other courses in the curriculum incorporate concepts relevant to integrated communications. In addition to courses in mass communications you will be required to incorporate a minor or cognate area of study into your program.

In addition, our program requires that graduate instructors take at least one course in Communications Pedagogy that will help prepare you to teach at the university level.  All graduate students in Media & Communication are encouraged to take this course.

Program of Study & Degree Plan

The Graduate School requires that each student submit a degree plan outlining his or her course of study by the middle of their second semester of study.

Each graduate student's degree plan must be approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and the Graduate School. All graduate students are encouraged to consult the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies as early as possible in their program of study for assistance preparing their degree plan.

Degree plans may be changed up to the beginning of the semester of graduation. However, all degree plan changes must be approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and by the Graduate School by the first week of the semester of graduation.

No student may sit for the doctoral qualifying exam or the research competency exam without a completed and approved degree plan.

More Information

At our Web site, www.depts.ttu.edu/comc, you will find more information and applications, plus links to Texas Tech's Graduate School Web site. For the Graduate Catalog and Course Schedule go to www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications. Please print the applications and start preparing them. After you look at the Web site, please contact the Graduate Advisor if you have questions.

Coy Callison, Ph.D.
Professor
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
coy.callison@ttu.edu
(806) 742-3385