Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Concentration: Mass Communication

The field of mass communication is expansive as it evolves at a fast clip with communication technologies at the same time that it reflects a symbiotic relationship with older disciplines in the social sciences such as sociology, political science, psychology, history, and literature. This offers the Ph.D. student a broad spectrum of academic foci in which to pursue research interests. Accordingly, the coursework in the UAEU program provides opportunities to pursue study of the effects of new communication technologies on culture (especially in the Arab and/or Islamic region), the role of communication in development, comparative media systems, as well as regulatory frameworks for different media systems. Students must develop a strong grasp of research methodologies to pursue independent study in the field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the breadth of knowledge in the discipline and advance, in-depth knowledge in the sub-discipline or area of specialization.
• Perform and defend an original work of research in their fields of specialization which contributed new human knowledge.
• Identify, analyze critically and explain open problems in their disciplines and apply relevant research methodology for finding a possible solution.
• Communicate the major tenets of their field of specialization and their work orally and in writing to the faculty, their peers, and the lay public.
• Identify areas where ethical issues may arise in their field, and articulate strategies to mitigate situations related to ethical issues in their profession.
• Demonstrate an insight into the transferable nature of research skills to other work environments and the range of career opportunities available to them inside and outside academia.

Degree Requirements

Required Credit Hours : minimum 54 hours

Program Requirements: