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I.1.1 Major Areas of Graduate Training The following represent major areas of graduate study offered in our program. These scholarly foci originate in our department's founding and represent prominent sub-disciplines in the field of communication. One of the s...

Completion of the PhD requires that the student first obtain a Master of Arts (MA) degree. Students admitted to the MA/PhD track earn their MA degree at UCSB as outlined in this section.

To earn an MA degree students must: Complete a minimum of 44 units in the MA portion of the program. Complete course requirements. Successful defense of a Master’s thesis. II.3.1 Degree Milestones & Good Progress Deadlines Milestone Recommended by Re...

For more detail on specific courses see the UCSB Course Catalog. Also see more information about III.5 Opt-out of Required Courses. II.4.1 Required Coursework Students entering the MA/PhD program must successfully complete the following 4 core courses during t...

The plan below shows one way to complete the MA portion of the program on time. It is illustrative, not prescriptive — the order of electives and the survey course is flexible, and students should build an actual plan with their MA advisor and confirm it with ...

II.6.1 MA Advisor’s Role MA students must select a ladder faculty advisor who will guide their plan of study, oversee their degree progress and research, and chair their MA committee. See V.1 Advising for more detail on advising policy and norms. See VI.5 APPE...

II.7.1 Nature and Scope The thesis is typically an empirical research project that addresses an important issue in communication. It may be based on data gathered by the student or on data available from other sources. The thesis is typically a collaborative e...

The PhD in the Department of Communication is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, and the ability to conduct rigorous and meaningful original research. All students must first obtain a thesis-based MA degree from UCSB or another accredited...

For more detail on specific courses see the UCSB Course Catalog. Also see more information about III.5 Opt-out of Required Courses. III.4.1 Required Coursework Students must successfully complete the following 5 core courses during the Phd portion of their deg...

Who Can Opt-Out? Students can petition to opt out of the following courses under the following circumstances: Those students entering UCSB with an MA who have previous comparable or advanced training in research methods/statistics and wish to opt-out of COMM 2...

Several interdisciplinary programs are available for doctoral students to obtain cross-training in the theories and methods of other disciplines that approach the same area of study, but from different perspectives. Please contact the Graduate Director for whi...

III.8.1 Deadlines for Selecting Advisor and Committee Members Ideally, the PhD advisor should be chosen by: MA/PhD students: end of the Spring quarter of year 1 in the doctoral phase of their program. PhD students: end of Spring quarter in year 1 of the progra...

III.9.1 Purpose of the Qualifying Exam The qualifying exam process is designed to serve several purposes. To test a student's conceptual mastery of influential theories and research within the student's chosen area of study: interpersonal, organizational, or m...

III.10.1 Nature and Scope The dissertation represents the culmination of a student's intellectual and scholarly growth. The dissertation should be an original piece of research that makes a significant contribution to knowledge within the field of communicatio...