Fall Application Deadlines
US applicants: Nov. 15
International applicants: Nov. 15
In the online application, select Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design (APRD) as the department, Media Research & Practice as the degree, and Strategic Communication as the subplan/track.
The PhD in Strategic Communication offered by the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design is one of three separate and distinct tracks of the Media Research and Practice doctoral program within the College of Media, Communication and Information.
A PhD in Strategic Communication is a distinct track that is designed to provide students with rigorous training in theory and research. Students gain an understanding through coursework that explores theories and methods that shape strategic communication research. This program emphasizes how theory informs practice, critically analyzing how advertising and public relations operate in ways that can—or could—constructively contribute to the successful, ethical and resilient functioning of society.
The strategic communication and journalism studies tracks for the PhD are administered together by the departments of Advertising, Public Relations and Design and Journalism. Students in both tracks are taught by and have access to the faculties of both departments. The curriculum includes an overview of mass/public communication literature with specific modules and courses dedicated to advertising, journalism and public relations. Classes also focus on areas that straddle each industry such as social media, political communication, ethics, media organizations, health communication and video games. We welcome and appreciate both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research. Graduates pursue teaching and research positions at universities as well as work in the private sector.
APRD is proud to share its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mission statement: APRD strives to be a community whose excellence depends on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We aim to understand and challenge systems of privilege and disadvantage in higher education, such as those based on class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and dis/ability. We seek to reach across social and political divides and to make space for voices historically underrepresented in higher education and marginalized in society. In other words, diversity is not just a future reality for which we try to prepare students. It is a priority we want to put into practice here, now, and together, in order to foster places of learning where all members can thrive.
Why enroll?
Research interests of faculty teaching in the program
- Advertising and Public Relations Pedagogy: Erin Schauster
- Activism and Organizations: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Jordan Morehouse, Kay Weaver
- Corporate Branding and Image Management: Burton St. John III, Seow Ting Lee, Erin Willis
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Burton St. John III, Seow Ting Lee
- Crisis Communication and Risk Management: Burton St. John III, Seow Ting Lee, Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Jordan Morehouse
- Critial Theory: Kay Weaver
- Digital Advertising: Chris J. Vargo, Harsha Ganga, Toby Hopp, Bridget Barrett
- Digital Games and Society: Harsha Ganga, Toby Hopp, Jolene Fisher, Mia Wang
- Global Public Relations: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Kay Weaver
- Health Communication: Seow Ting Lee, Erin Willis, Mia Wang
- Media Effects: Harsha Ganga, Mia Wang, Kay Weaver
- Media Ethics: Erin Schauster, Seow Ting Lee
- Moral Psychology: Erin Schauster
- Organizational Culture: Erin Schauster, Krishnamurthy Sriramesh
- Persuasion and Digital Media: Harsha Ganga, Erin Willis, Seow Ting Lee, Jordan Morehouse, Mia Wang
- Propaganda: Burton St. John III, Kay Weaver
- Public Diplomacy: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Seow Ting Lee
- Social and Economic Effects of Advertising: Harsha Ganga
- Social and Media Analytics: Chris J. Vargo, Toby Hopp, Bridget Barrett
- Strategic Public Relations Management: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Seow Ting Lee, Jordan Morehouse, Kay Weaver
- Strategic Communication for Social Change: Burton St. John III, Jolene Fisher, Mia Wang, Kay Weaver
- Sustainable Development and Communication: Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, Burton St. John III
- Technology and Advertising: Harsha Ganga, Mia Wang, Bridget Barrett
- Quantitative Methodology: Seow Ting Lee, Chris J. Vargo, Toby Hopp, Harsha Ganga, Kelty Logan, Mia Wang
- Qualitative Methodology: Erin Schauster, Erin Willis, Jolene Fisher, Jordan Morehouse, Bridget Barrett, Kay Weaver