The TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communication is launching a Ph.D. in Communication and Media that will give graduate students skills in teaching and research in areas such as health communication, media effects, crisis communication and new communication technologies. Schieffer doctoral graduates will be prepared for careers as professors and researchers in communication organizations.
The four-year doctoral program (pending SACSCOC approval) will welcome its first cohort in fall 2027 and offer two concentrations: Communication Studies; or Media and Strategic Communication. Students will work closely with faculty, gain teaching experience and have opportunities to conduct and publish research throughout the program.
For Julie O’Neil, professor and associate dean for research and faculty affairs in Schieffer College, the launch marks an important step in the college’s continued growth in graduate education and research.
What does this new program mean for Schieffer College?
O’Neil: For years, many Schieffer faculty have dreamed of creating a Ph.D. program in the college.
Our faculty—accomplished scholars and teachers—are excited to work alongside students to produce impactful scholarship that advances their disciplines, informs professional practice and makes a difference in society.
Why is now the right time to launch it?
O’Neil: Our Communication and Media Ph.D. will help advance TCU’s strategic goals of increasing doctoral graduates, enhancing research expenditures and strengthening TCU’s visibility, thereby helping TCU on its trajectory to Research One (R1) status.
What will make the student experience unique?
O’Neil: Our Ph.D. program is unique for many reasons. First, our Ph.D. will interdisciplinary training across all four departments, giving students greater flexibility in their coursework and research.
Second, our Ph.D. in Communication and Media will offer a distinctly communication-centered doctoral program, focusing on human connection, media and strategic communication.
Downtown Fort Worth skyline.
Given our location in the DFW Metroplex—the fourth-largest media market in the United States—students are uniquely positioned to partner with local nonprofits, hospitals, corporations and community organizations on collaborative research, thereby increasing TCU’s and Schieffer College’s reputation as a place for innovation and new knowledge.
Third, students can be trained in advanced research methods using the AI-powered tools of the Schieffer Media Insights Lab. These AI research skills are transferable to both academic scholarship and industry jobs.
Two Paths for Doctoral Study
Students can tailor that interdisciplinary experience through one of two concentrations, each offering a different path for exploring communication and media.
The Communication Studies concentration is designed for students interested in how people communicate in personal, workplace and health-related settings, with a focus on how messages are created, shared and understood in different contexts.
The Media and Strategic Communication concentration is for students studying topics such as strategic communication, news and media influence, digital communication and the role of media in democracy, as well as those preparing for research or leadership careers in academia, industry or public life.
Julie O’Neil (left), professor of strategic communication, teaches students how to use platforms to foster a data-driven approach to public relations work. (Photo by Rodger Mallison)
Across both concentrations, students will learn how to design and conduct research using quantitative and qualitative methods while developing their own areas of expertise. They will have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research, present their work at conferences and pursue publication.
The program also incorporates teaching experience and professional development, preparing students to translate their research and expertise into careers both inside and outside higher education.
The 54-credit program is designed for students who already hold a master’s degree in communication, strategic communication, marketing or a related field. Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in higher education, research and other fields where advanced expertise is needed.
Learn more about the Ph.D. in Communication and Media and how to apply.