The collegewide doctor of philosophy degree in the College of Communication and Information Sciences is designed to:
prepare communication scholars for positions of leadership in education, public service, the media, libraries, information-management positions, and other communication-related fields
add to a student's usable body of knowledge in a chosen area of specialization within the field of communication and information sciences
develop each student's research, teaching, and professional capabilities
promote scholarly achievement and advancement of knowledge in the communication and information science disciplines, through basic and applied research
Representing four academic units of Advertising and Public Relations, Communication Studies, Journalism and Creative Media, and Library and Information Studies, C&IS offers a multidisciplinary doctoral program in communication and information sciences that enables students to either build an interdisciplinary plan of study or specialize in one of seven concentrations, in Advertising and Public Relations, Book and Publishing Studies, Health Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Media Processes and Effects, Rhetoric and Political Discourse, or Social Justice and Inclusion Advocacy. The interdisciplinary plan of study allows students to craft a curricular plan unique to their skills and interests while the concentrations provide students an opportunity to earn distinction through a prescribed suite of courses preparing them to contribute to the academe as distinguished scholars and teachers at a variety of institutions across the globe.
Alongside the concentrations, the program emphasizes three signature areas of interdisciplinary research: emergent media, health communication, and sports communication. A core group of world-class graduate faculty across various disciplines focus their research agendas around these three areas.
Students who take the interdisciplinary approach or select a concentration are encouraged to pursue their own research agendas in tandem with their coursework.
January 2025
College of Communication and Information Sciences
Box 870172,
TUSCALOOSA,
Alabama,
35487, United States
Applicants to the doctoral program in communication and information sciences must meet the admission criteria of the Graduate School of The University of Alabama and those stated below.
Applicants may be considered for regular admission if they have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall, 3.0 for the last 60 semester hours in a degree program, or 3.0 for a completed graduate degree program. International applicants who are required to submit a English language test score (please see the admission section of this catalog) must score at least 90 on the TOEFL iBT language proficiency exam and also score at least 24 on the speaking and writing sections of the iBT exam. International applicants who prefer to submit IELTS test scores must score at least 7.0 and also score at least 7.5 on the speaking section and 6.5 on the writing section. International applicants who meet these criteria may also be invited to participate in a videoconference with the college application review committee.
Online: Application Priority Deadline: February 15
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
