COM_PHD - Mass Communication (Ph.D.)

Program Information

Ph.D. with a major in Mass Communication

The Ph.D. degree is a research degree. The Ph.D. program is designed to help develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills so graduates can make important contributions to understanding mass communication. Faculty members help students lay the foundation for a lifetime of significant, creative work.

The doctoral program prepares students for a variety of opportunities in mass communication. Graduates are expected to teach at colleges and universities; conduct research for organizations in advertising, journalism, public relations, telecommunication, and other mass communication fields; do consulting; and conduct research and contribute to policy in government and private organizations. Doctoral students in the College of Journalism and Communications gain valuable experience in both teaching and research. Assistantships help prepare students for academic and other research positions. Students in the program have consistently been among the nation’s leaders in winning top-paper awards at national and regional scholarly meetings.

Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.M.C.)

The Master of Arts in Mass Communication includes both thesis and non-thesis options on campus and several non-thesis concentrations offered fully online.

On-Campus Options

Customizable Research and Theory (thesis)

The customizable on-campus thesis option focuses on research and theory in mass communication, including courses in the areas of advertising; journalism; international and intercultural communication; and media production, management and technology. Students are required to take courses that focus on research, theory, ethics, and writing, leading to a master’s thesis as the capstone. This option is appropriate for students wishing to pursue careers in research or a Ph.D.

Public Relations Concentration (thesis)

The Public Relations Concentration is an on-campus research-based program designed to prepare students for careers and advancement in the industry or for entering doctoral studies.  Students learn the conceptual foundations of public relations and develop professional and research competency within the duration of the program. Courses in the public relations specialization focus on conceptual foundations of public relations, including mass communication and society; professional and managerial skills mastery; and research expertise. 

For more information, please see our website: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/graduate/research-and-theory/mamc-public-relations/

Science and Health Communication Concentration (thesis)

The Science and Health Communication Concentration is an on-campus program designed to teach scientists and health specialists to communicate effectively via media, and to teach mass media specialists the background science to translate the language of science and health into meaningful and understandable stories for their audiences. These goals are achieved through theoretical writing and applied courses. At least two aspects of the program make it unique among science communication programs nationwide. First, other existing science communication programs in the U.S. focus on training journalists. UF’s program is open to journalists who want to specialize in covering science and health, offers training for people planning to work as public affairs or public information officers for science and health organizations, for other communication specialists, and for scientists who need to be able to communicate with the public about their work. Second, the program focuses on training students to understand and communicate effectively about science and health policy. 

For more information, please see our website: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/graduate/research-and-theory/mamc-science-health/

Professional Master’s (non-thesis)

The Professional Communication Concentration (or “Professional Master’s”) is an on-campus professional program designed specifically for those who want to develop additional skills to become more competitive in the job market. The program’s “mix and match” coursework structure allows students to develop their own customizable degree plans, with only six required core courses and a wide range of electives available across the college’s four departments. Degree plans culminate with a capstone project, completed over at least two semesters and supervised by a graduate faculty committee. Student projects range from documentary films and long-form journalistic narrative pieces to public relations and advertising campaigns, and many others in between. These projects allow students to explore various interests within the college and showcase a variety of skills learned during their course of studies.

The Professional Master’s can be completed at your own pace, in as little as one year for those who want an accelerated program, or two years for a more traditional path.

For more information, please see our website: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/current-students/masters/promasters/.

Online Concentrations (non-thesis)

UF CJC Online offers eight comprehensive, current, and digitally focused online master's concentrations: Audience Analytics, Digital Strategy, Global Strategic Communication, Political Communication, Public Interest Communication, Public Relations and Communication Management, Social Media, and Web Design and Online Communication.

Audience Analytics

The Audience Analytics Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications designed to prepare students with the theoretical foundations, industry knowledge, and analytical tools to understand the nature, value, and behaviors of audiences across multiple media platforms and disciplines. The courses equip students with the analytical tools and methodological foundations to assess and analyze audience-related datasets. Students will also learn how to use such data and present insights in order to tell fundamental stories that will ultimately drive the ability to make informed decisions for their stakeholders.

For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/audience-analytics/

Digital Journalism and Multimedia Storytelling

The Digital Journalism and Multimedia Storytelling Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications designed for students who want to master the latest reporting, writing, and technical skills for traditional journalism, digital media, and various genres of storytelling across a variety of multimedia platforms. Students will learn to explain the role and apply principles and laws of a free press, identify key events in the history of journalism, and trends in artificial intelligence and current media. They will learn to exhibit respectful collaboration and professional ethical principles and work in the pursuit of truth, accuracy, and fairness. Further, students will apply tools and technologies appropriate for various communications professions including social media. 

For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/digital-journalism/

Digital Strategy

The Digital Strategy Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications designed for students who want to become better digital marketers. This concentration is designed to challenge students to develop effective messaging to drive increased conversions and create loyal customers.  Our courses focus on teaching students the skills they need to be effective at copywriting for every type of social and digital channel, developing an inbound strategy, generating leads,  analyzing effectiveness, designing around the user’s experience, and more.

For more information, please see our the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/digital-strategy/

Global Strategic Communication

The Global Strategic Communication Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and is designed for students who are passionate about solving global issues. This specialization embodies three core pillars: Messaging, Communication, and Culture.  Students in this concentration will learn how to communicate across cultures, influence public policy, engage audiences, and initiate dynamic change despite geographical boundaries. The Global Strategic Communication program will allow students to offer solutions to world problems, business ethics, education, and more using strategic interpersonal communication skills with attention to cultural considerations. For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/global-strategic-communication/

Political Communication

The Political Communication Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications that prepares students to become digital political professionals with an understanding of cutting-edge digital advertising, engagement, and analysis techniques.  Professionals in the field will prepare students to navigate the ever-evolving political landscape by giving them the tools of modern campaigning to help increase political engagement and drive change. The Political Communication Concentration is narrowly focused on communicating online for political organizations, nonprofits and corporations. Ultimately, this program provides hands on experience on how to effectively design a political campaign in the new digital age.

For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/political-communication/

Public Interest Communication

The Public Interest Communication Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications that embraces the vision of creating science-based, strategic communications designed to advance the human condition. It is critical to achieving significant behavioral or social changes on an issue that transcends the particular interests of any single organization. This program offers students the opportunity to develop the skills, strategies, theory and techniques required to build movements and drive positive social change using strategic communication. This interdisciplinary concentration includes both theoretical and practical work and draws from practice and scholarship in public relations, journalism, advertising, psychology, sociology, political science, anthropology, and neuroscience. The coursework places an emphasis on working across organizations and sectors, system-level thinking, strategic planning and the core skills critical to any effective social change effort.

For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/public-interest/

Public Relations and Communication Management

The Public Relations and Communication Management Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications that focuses not only on strategic communication, but also incorporates elements of copywriting,graphic design, and business. This program will teach students how to effectively communicate during crises, build meaningful relationships with the media, manage a brand's reputation, evaluate and measure change, in addition to influence opinions. With the Public Relation and Communication Management Concentration, students will be able to approach Public Relations like a strategic conversation where they control the narrative to get the results clients need. For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/public-relations/

Social Media

The Social Media Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications that focuses on making meaningful online connections and ensuring students have the tools and training to be effective at reaching their audience. This comprehensive program will not only teach students how to use current social media platforms, but it will also team them to approach social media marketing in a holistic way, by incorporating writing, video production, and brand marketing.  

The program will also teach students how to use research to drive content creative, how to create effective advertising and public relations campaigns, and how to use new and emerging technologies to appeal to target audiences and drive meaningful social change. For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/social-media/

Web Design and Online Communication

The Web Design and Online Communication Concentration is an online program offered through the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications that takes a three-pronged approach with courses on design skills, communication theory and code.  The curriculum starts off with a solid foundation of graphic design principles along with best practices of HTML5 and CSS. Students then take additional coding courses to learn how to use JavaScript, PHP, jQuery, and more. By the end of the program, students will be able to code a completely customized, mobile responsive website for a real client.

For more information, please see the program’s website: https://onlinemasters.jou.ufl.edu/web-design/

For more help with any of our graduate degree programs, please refer to our website:  https://www.jou.ufl.edu/graduate/

Combination Degrees:  
The College of Journalism and Communications offers a robust Combination Degree program that is open to undergraduate students from any major who meet the program’s admission criteria. 

For more information, please see the program’s website: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/combination-degree-main/