Dr. David Sherman Colloquium

Please mark your calendars for our colloquium speaker, David Sherman, Ph.D. who is a Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Sherman will be giving a talk entitled “Environmental Engagement in a Diverse World” on Wednesday, February 28th, 2024 at 9:30 - 10:30 am in room 102 Kent Hall Annex, Kent campus.

‘We Are the Community Maj Nurtured Into Speech’

the Maj Ragain Poetry Park at Wick Poetry Center

The Kent State University literary community gathered on Sept. 14 under crisp blue skies to remember one of Kent's most beloved teachers, the late poet Maj Ragain. “Maj wrote poems to, for and about this town, this home of his in Kent,” said David Hassler, director of the Wick Poetry Center in his remarks at the dedication. “His poems gave shelter and solace and sustenance to our community, and it feels so right that we’re dedicating this poetry park today in his memory and his honor.” The gathering resembled a reunion of sorts as Ragain’s close family, friends, colleagues and ge...

Communication and Information - Ph.D.

Kent State's Ph.D. degree in Communication and Information offers a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares you for a career as a faculty in higher education or as a researcher in communication, media, or information industries. Through coursework and research, you'll gain an integrative view of the disciplines of communication, media and information while specializing in research topics that intersect these disciplines.

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Program Information for Communication and Information - Ph.D.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Communication and Information prepares individuals for traditional and emerging careers in teaching, research and administration in the converging fields of communication and information. The degree program consists of a prescribed core of interdisciplinary courses and varied selection of elective coursework within and across disciplines. The study is flexibly structured and designed to provide both an integrative and historical overview, as well as specializations in communication and information.

Admissions for Communication and Information - Ph.D.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the Ph.D. degree in Communication and Information will not be accepted starting with the fall 2026 admission term. 

  • Master's degree in one of the disciplines represented in the College of Communication and Information or a discipline closely related to the applicant's proposed course of study1
  • Minimum 3.300 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (3.500 GPA or higher is recommended)
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae
  • Goal statement2
  • Letters of recommendation from those in a position to evaluate graduate academic performance and potential
  • Sample of superior scholarly writing (published paper, major term paper, thesis chapter, etc.).
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:3
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 120 DET score

The Ph.D. degree is strongly research oriented. Applicants are expected to demonstrate previous research experience such as thesis or conference paper. Admission will be restricted to the most promising applicants. Applications are viewed holistically to evaluate the student's likelihood of success in the program. Applicants normally are accepted for admission only for the fall semester and for full-time enrollment. Applicants who do not meet all of the requirements listed above but who have otherwise exceptional credentials may apply and may be admitted conditionally.

1

Applicants with academic preparation in other fields may be required to enroll in preparatory coursework at the master's level that will not count toward the Ph.D. degree.

2

The goal statement must describe the applicant's academic goals and intended topics of study that are compatible with the focus of the doctoral program including area of specialization. It is expected that this statement will clearly indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue doctoral education. Included in the statement should be an indication of the theoretical area or areas the applicant wishes to study and the line of research the applicant wishes to pursue. Statements that make reference only to the applicant's teaching or administrative goals are strongly discouraged. 

3

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority deadline: January 1
      All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
    • Application deadline: March 1
      All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted after this deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.
    • Final deadline: April 15
      Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of an area of expertise within one or more disciplines within the field of communication and information.
  2. Produce research that advances existing areas of scholarly investigation within the field of communication and information.
  3. Be prepared to succeed as research-oriented, tenure-track faculty at research universities.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
CCI 80000FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION INQUIRY 3
CCI 80001FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION 3
CCI 80097COLLOQUIUM IN COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (taken four times)4
Advisor-Approved Theory Courses from the College of Communication and Information6
Quantitative Research Methods Course3
Qualitative Research Methods Course3
Additional Methods Courses 16
Electives 212
Culminating Requirement
CCI 80199DISSERTATION I 330
Minimum Total Credit Hours:70
1

Students choose two courses from any subject area.

2

Courses in the elective category are selected with the approval of the student's advisor and supervisory committee to support the student's research interests.

3

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for CCI 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. Thereafter, doctoral candidates will continuously register for CCI 80299 for each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • The Ph.D. degree in Communication and Information requires a minimum of 40 credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the master's degree and 30 credit hours of dissertation work for a total of 70 credit hours.

Candidacy Requirement

To achieve candidacy, doctoral students must pass the doctoral comprehensive examination.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Applications to the Ph.D. degree in Communication and Information will not be accepted starting with the fall 2026 admission term. 

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Communication and Information - Ph.D.

Communications teachers, postsecondary

3.2%

about as fast as the average

35,600

number of jobs

$71,030

potential earnings

Library science teachers, postsecondary

3.0%

about as fast as the average

5,400

number of jobs

$71,580

potential earnings

Media and communication workers, all other

8.1%

much faster than the average

35,200

number of jobs

$49,730

potential earnings

Web developers and digital interface designers

8.0%

much faster than the average

174,300

number of jobs

$77,200

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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