Ph.D. in Communications

With the guidance of an interdisciplinary faculty advisory committee, students craft individual courses of study drawing on the university's graduate resources in the humanities, the social and practical sciences, the arts, and the professional schools.

Our goal is to connect the strengths of the Columbia journalism tradition with intellectual work in the humanities and human sciences to enhance our understanding of media and journalism in society. Dissertation projects have included "fake news" and political culture; the ordinary person's experience of appearing in the news; the evolution of the photographic pose; fact‐checking and objectivity in the age of digital media; and media, mobilization and political campaigns.

Nearly half of our graduates now hold full-time tenured or tenure‐track teaching positions, while others work in government, industry, consulting, research, policy, finance or the law.

A full time Ph.D. student is generally offered a standard financial aid package that can include tuition exemptions, coverage of medical fees and a stipend. Some service as a teaching or research assistant is required.

The university's Columbia Plan health insurance and the university health service fees are covered for all funded Ph.D. students through the fourth year after their completion of coursework—i.e. for a total of six or seven years depending on advanced standing. Students must actively register for their health insurance after the completion of coursework; enrollment is automatic while taking classes. University matriculation fees are covered for funded students for the first four years after their completion of coursework.