Wayne State University MA and PhD in Communication – Virtual Information Session

The Department of Communication at Wayne State University is hosting a virtual (Zoom) information session for potential applicants to its graduate-level MA and PhD programs on Monday, November 11, 11-12 pm ET. Register to receive the Zoom meeting room link.

The department offers a Masters in Communication program with concentrations in (1) Communication Studies, (2) Public Relations & Organizational Communication, and (3) Journalism. A fully online version of the MA in Public Relations and Organizational Communication is also available.

For professionals interested in upskilling, career shifts, or trying to decide whether they want to pursue a graduate degree, we offer 12-credit hour Graduate Certificates in Communication and New Media (online), Health Communication, and Risk and Crisis Communication (online). 

The PhD in Communication is designed to establish and maintain high standards of scholarly activity, while providing excellence in academic instruction at both the theoretical and applied levels. The doctoral program encompasses the full range of quantitative, qualitative, rhetorical and critical approaches to the study of communication. Doctoral faculty expertise comprises three overlapping clusters or areas of research: 1) media and technology studies, 2) culture and relationships, and 3) crisis, risk and health communication.

We also offer a dual-title Ph.D. in Communication and Urban Sustainability, which is designed to prepare researchers and professionals to solve challenging urban problems that require interdisciplinary solutions. Students enrolled in this dual title program will take courses in topics and develop specific skills across several departments, undertake activities such as community service, and prepare a funding proposal related to urban sustainability. 

Ph.D. students are encouraged to apply for Graduate Teaching Assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. Students receive a salary stipend (approximately $21,627, 9-month contract), tuition coverage, and full medical, dental, and vision insurance. Our university is unionized, and our graduate students have their own union.  

Admission deadline for the Ph.D. program is January 15, 2025. MA applications are considered on a rolling basis. Please also note that application fees and GRE scores have been waived for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

To learn more about our graduate programs, please visit: https://comm.wayne.edu/graduate  

If you have questions or would like to schedule a virtual meeting, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Rahul Mitra, at rahul.mitra@wayne.edu.

You are also invited to join a webinar 10-11 am ET on November 11, hosted by the WSU Graduate School to learn more about the unique career and education opportunities a graduate education at Wayne State University affords, including funding opportunities and what it's like living in Detroit. Register for the 10-11 am webinar here: https://gradslate.wayne.edu/register/info-session-fall24