Communication, PhD
Annenberg is interdisciplinary by design. Members of the faculty and students come from a wide range of backgrounds, including Communication, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, History, and Law. Students are also encouraged to supplement their Communication courses with those offered through one of Penn’s 11 other distinguished schools. The result is a vibrant intellectual experience that trains students to apply and adapt diverse theories and methods to the cutting-edge communication issues of the twenty-first century.
All doctoral students are fully funded for up to five years, including tuition and fees, health care, teaching and research fellowships, and dissertation research fellowships. All students also receive yearly research and travel funds, allowing them to develop their research and present it at major national and international conferences. In addition to formal classes, students are able to work with faculty on grant-and center-supported projects, attend and participate in frequent colloquia and workshops, and engage in research and learning opportunities around the globe — all designed to enhance their intellectual growth and professional training.
Annenberg alumni go on to productive and fulfilling careers in academia as well as in research-oriented private and public-sector institutions.
The Annenberg Ph.D. program represents a five-year commitment. In addition to satisfactory completion of the core courses, all students are required to take an Annenberg faculty proseminar as well as introductory classes in research methods and statistics. To progress to dissertation stage, candidates must complete the following milestones: First Year Review, Comprehensive Exams, Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defense.
For more information: https://www.asc.upenn.edu/academics/graduate-program
University PhD Benchmarks
In addition to Program requirements, the following milestones must be completed:
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Evaluation | ||
| Candidacy Examination | ||
| Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam | ||
| Dissertation Deposit | ||
For more information view the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| COMM 5000 | Proseminar | 1 |
| COMM 5220 | Introduction to Communication Research | 1 |
| COMM 5230 | Qualitative Ways of Knowing | 1 |
| Approved Statistics Course | 1 | |
| Introductory Statistics for Educational Research | ||
| Advanced Statistical Analysis | ||
| Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance | ||
| Quantitative Methods I | ||
| Applied Regression and Analysis of Variance | ||
Other Statistics course chosen in consultation with advisor | ||
| Open Electives | ||
| Select six course units anywhere at Penn or use transfer credits | 6 | |
| Distribution Requirement | ||
| Select five courses with five different Annenberg Professors * | 5 | |
| COMM Electives | ||
| Select two COMM courses | 2 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Teaching Requirement | ||
| Two semesters of teaching are required | ||
| Total Course Units | 17 | |
- *
Select 1 course each from 5 attributes between CF01-CF22.
University PhD Benchmarks
In addition to Program requirements, the following milestones must be completed:
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Evaluation | ||
| Candidacy Examination | ||
| Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam | ||
| Dissertation Deposit | ||
For more information view the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Sample Plan of Study
A typical course plan for a student entering the program without a Master’s degree includes these components:
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Six semesters of courses, typically three courses per semester
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Three required classes: COMM5000, COMM5220, COMM5230
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A Comprehensive Exam (see below) at the end of semester 4
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A dissertation proposal defense in semester 6 or 7
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Dissertation research in semesters 7 through 10 (assuming no transfer credit)
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Dissertation defense and graduation at the end of semester 10
Program Milestones
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First Year Review: A review of every first-year student’s grades and fellowship progress. The Graduate Dean will send letters to each student and advisor informing them of their progress and noting any concerns.
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Comprehensive Exams: Students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination at the end of the second year. This exam covers theory and methods. The same exam is given to all second-year students over a week and then defended individually via an oral exam. The student’s proposed dissertation committee would review the written and oral exams.
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Dissertation Proposal: To advance to candidacy and to receive a dissertation research fellowship (DRF), students must submit and defend a proposal for dissertation research to their Dissertation Committee. This should be done by the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth year. The proposal is a complete statement of the research problem, including its theoretical rationale and methodology.
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Dissertation Defense: The dissertation is completed and submitted to the dissertation committee members for review, followed by a presentation and private defense. The defense is fully complete when the student makes the revisions suggested by the committee and "deposits" a written copy with the University.