The student is required to take a minimum of 76 units and write an approved dissertation. Four core courses as well as COMM 794ab Doctoral Dissertation are required for all students. The required core courses are:

COMM 525 ~ Humanistic and Social Scientific Approaches to Human Communication I
COMM 526 ~ Humanistic and Social Scientific Approaches to Human Communication II
COMM 550 ~ Quantitative Research Methods in Communication
COMM 552 ~ Qualitative Research Methods in Communication

Students specialize in one of five tracks by completing a minimum of three courses (12 units) in one of the following:

(1) Rhetoric and Political Communication

COMM 509 ~ Classical Rhetorical Theory

COMM 511 ~ Contemporary Rhetorical Theory

COMM 512 ~ Rhetorical Criticism

COMM 513 ~ Neoclassical Rhetorical Theory

COMM 514 ~ Social Movements as Rhetorical Form

COMM 515 ~ Postmodern Rhetorical Theory

COMM 517 ~ Rhetorical Theory and Culture

COMM 518 ~ American Public Address

COMM 521 ~ Argumentation

COMM 522 ~ Kenneth Burke’s Dramatistic Theory

COMM 580 ~ Media and Politics

COMM 599 ~ Special Topics Course

COMM 610 ~ Studies in Rhetorical Theory

(2) Media, Culture and Community

CMGT 587 ~ Audience Analysis
COMM 516 ~ Feminist Theory and Communication
COMM 519 ~ Cultural Studies in Communication
COMM 534 ~ The Culture of New Technologies

COMM 544 ~ The Arts and New Media

COMM 575 ~ Advocacy and Social Change in Entertainment and the Media

COMM 580 ~ Media and Politics

COMM 584 ~ Interpreting Popular Culture

COMM 599 ~ Special Topics Course

COMM 605 ~ Advanced Macro Theories of Communication I

COMM 618 ~ Mass Media Effects

COMM 620 ~ Studies in Communication Theory

COMM 629 ~ Global Culture

COMM 653 ~ Research, Practice and Social Change

COMM 654 ~ Art, Artists and Society

COMM 660 ~ Entertainment and Games

COMM 662 ~ Video Games Research

(3) Interpersonal and Health Communication

CMGT 587 ~ Audience Analysis

COMM 504 ~ Interpersonal Communication

COMM 524 ~ Small Group Process

COMM 562 ~ Cognitive Approaches to Communication

COMM 599 ~ Special Topics Course

COMM 602 ~ Seminar in Persuasion

COMM 615 ~ Health Communication

COMM 620 ~ Studies in Communication Theory

COMM 625 ~ Theory Construction in Communication

COMM 650 ~ Survey Construction and Validation

(4) Organizational Communication

COMM 508 ~ Power, Politics and Conflict in Communication

COMM 524 ~ Small Group Process

COMM 585 ~ Organizational Communication

COMM 599 ~ Special Topics Course

COMM 620 ~ Studies in Communication Theory

COMM 635 ~ Economics of Information

COMM 636 ~ Interpretive and Cultural Approaches in Organizational Communication

COMM 637 ~ Current Readings in Organizational Communication

COMM 638 ~ Global, International and Intercultural Communication in Organizations

COMM 640 ~ Communication and Organizational Change

COMM 641 ~ Organizations and Communication Technologies

COMM 645 ~ Communication Networks

COMM 648 ~ Online Communities and Networks

COMM 652 ~ Field Research in Communication

(5) Information and Society

COMM 546 ~ Diffusion Theory and Research

COMM 553 ~ Political Economy of Global Telecommunications and Information

COMM 570 ~ Economics of the Communication Industries

COMM 582 ~ International Communication: National Development

COMM 599 ~ Special Topics Course

COMM 605 ~ Advanced Macro Theories of Communication I

COMM 620 ~ Studies in Communication Theory

COMM 630 ~ Communication Technology and Social Change

COMM 631 ~ Minds and Media

COMM 635 ~ Economics of Information

COMM 645 ~ Communication Networks

COMM 647 ~ Network Society

COMM 660 ~ Entertainment and Games

COMM 662 ~ Video Games Research

In addition, students must take at least two courses in one other track outside their specialization (8 units total). Students also pursue an approved cognate elective program of study in which at least two courses (normally 8 units) are taken in a related field outside the Annenberg School. Students entering the School of Communication with a master’s degree may, with permission, apply part of their previous graduate course work to the cognate requirement. Students in the organizational communication track are required to take at least two methods classes in addition to the core courses, COMM 550 and COMM 552. If taken in a department or unit other than the School of Communication, these courses cannot also be counted toward the student’s cognate requirement.

Screening Procedures
Student progress is carefully monitored by the School of Communication faculty. Students are normally screened at the end of their first year of graduate study. At that time they must have completed no fewer than 16 and no more than 24 units, including COMM 525, 526, 550 and 552. Students are evaluated on subject matter competence, teaching potential and their ability to conduct independent research. Upon successful passage of the screening procedure, the student has 30 days in which to form a guidance committee.

Research Tool Requirement
Doctoral students are expected to demonstrate methodological competence in an area of specialization prior to taking the qualifying examination. Such competence is usually demonstrated through course work (the successful completion, with grade B or better, of selected course work in addition to their content courses that is approved by the Ph.D. guidance committee taken in the school and/or related departments), and by completion of a preliminary research project. Under special circumstances, students with an exceptional prior background in research methods may demonstrate their competence by successfully passing a research tool examination designed and administered by the Ph.D. guidance committee.

Guidance Committee
This committee is composed of five USC faculty members, at least three of whom are from the School of Communication. Students are expected to work closely with the members of their guidance committee, especially their committee chair, in selecting advanced course work and shaping areas of interest and research. In addition to helping the student plan a program, the committee administers the oral portion of the qualifying examination and approves the dissertation committee.

Qualifying Examination
Qualifying examinations for the Ph.D. usually are taken in the third year of study following completion of all required courses and a preliminary research paper. The examination includes both written and oral portions. The written portion is composed by committees of faculty in the relevant areas of study; the oral portion is administered by the student’s guidance committee. Students must pass both portions to be advanced to candidacy. Students must confer with their guidance committee chair, not later than the second week of the semester during which the examinations are to be taken, regarding distribution of written examination hours among subject matter areas.

Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation is an original research project contributing to knowledge about human communication and should demonstrate a high level of competence in methodologies of scholarly inquiry.

Defense of Dissertation
Dissertations are defended in a formal meeting with the three-member dissertation committee. The school prefers that the defense oral be taken prior to final typing so that recommended changes can be made in the final manuscript.