Communication (COMM)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Arts and Humanities
Abstract
The Department of Communication is committed to communication for the public good. Faculty members and graduate students in the Department pursue and produce research that spans a wide range of the Communication discipline, generally focused in three broad curriculum areas:
- Communication Science & Social Cognition,
- Public Relations & Strategic Communication, and
- Rhetoric & Political Culture.
The Department encourages applications for graduate study from students wishing to pursue interests identified within these foci. The graduate program in Communication is designed for students whose educational objective is the Ph.D. degree (currently the program does not admit students whose degree objective is the M.A.). Most graduates of the doctoral program pursue academic careers; however, some work in public policy research and other professions requiring highly developed research skills.
Financial Assistance
Most departmental financial aid is in the form of graduate assistantships. However, a limited number of fellowships are available.
CONTACT
Ray Chang
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Communication
2130 Skinner Building
4300 Chapel Lane
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.0870
Fax: 301.314.9471
Email: raychang@umd.edu
Sun Young Lee, Ph.D.
Co-Director of Graduate Studies (for current graduate students)
Department of Communication
2130 Skinner Building
4300 Chapel Lane
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20740
Telephone: 301.405.8264
Email: sunlee@umd.edu
Lindsey B. Anderson, Ph.D.
Co-Director of Graduate Studies (recruiting/admissions)
Department of Communication
2130 Skinner Building
4300 Chapel Lane
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20740
Telephone: 301.405.3578
Email: lbander@umd.edu
Website: http://www.comm.umd.edu
Relationships: English Language and Literature (ENGL)
Courses: COMM
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- CV/Resume
- Writing Sample: This could be a research paper.
- Description of Research Interests: Describe in detail your primary research interests with reference to specific studies you have conducted in the past and/or plan to carry out in the future. Please also discuss your future career goals. This should be 2-4 pages. Please upload in the Uploads Requirements page of the online application.
Students must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or the equivalent) prior to enrollment in the Ph.D. program. Although most applicants to the program will have earned a degree in the communication field, others with an interest in studying communication may be admitted (with the possibility of additional courses assigned to remedy deficiencies). Admission to the Ph.D. program is based on the student’s prior academic record, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and research interests, sample of scholarly writing, and other information relevant to the applicant’s likelihood of successfully completing the program.
For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: www.gradschool.umd.edu/admissions
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | January 3, 2025 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | January 3, 2025 |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Other Deadlines: comm.umd.edu
Program Website: https://communication.umd.edu/academics/graduate
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying
The Department of Communication houses the Center for Health and Risk Communication (http://www.healthriskcenter.umd.edu), the Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership (http://www.comm.center.umd.edu), the Black Communication and Technology (BCaT) Lab (https://communication.umd.edu/bcat-lab), and the Oral Communication Center (https://communication.umd.edu/academics/undergraduate/oral-communication). The campus provides extensive computer resources and excellent library collections in communication. In addition, the Washington metropolitan area provides research and laboratory facilities for studying communication that are unmatched by other departments in the discipline.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldoory | Linda | Full Member | B.A., George Washington University, 1988; M.A., University of Texas-Austin, 1991; Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1998. | Professor Emerita, Communication |
| Anderson | Lindsey | Full Member | B.A., Purdue University, 2004; M.A., Indiana University, 2010; Ph.D., Purdue University, 2014 | Associate Chair, Communication Associate Professor, Communication Graduate Director, Communication |
| Barner | Briana | Full Member | B.A., Bennett College, 2012; M.A., University of Texas–Austin, 2017; Ph.D., University of Texas–Austin, 2021 | Assistant Professor, Communication |
| Dhanesh | Ganga S. | Full Member | B.A., University of Kerala, 1994; M.B.A., Cochin University of Science and Technology, 1997; Ph.D., National University of Singapore, 2011 | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Fink | Edward L. | Full Member | B.A., Columbia University, 1966; M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1969; Ph.D., 1975. | Professor Emeritus, Communication |
| Fordjour | Nana Kwame Osei | Full Member | B.A., University of Ghana, 2011; M.A., University of Ghana, 2014; Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 2023 | Assistant Professor, Communication |
| Joyce | Nicholas | Full Member | B.A., Lewis and Clark College, 2004; M.S., University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 2009; Ph.D., University of Arizona, 2014 | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Khamis | Sahar Mohamed | Full Member | B.A., American University in Cairo, 1986; M.A., American University in Cairo, 1989; Ph.D., University of Manchester, 2000. | Associate Professor, Communication Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Kim | Jiyoun | Full Member | B.A., Korea University, 2003; M.A., Korea University, 2006; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2014 | Assistant Professor, Communication |
| Lee | Sun Young | Full Member | B.A., Ewha Womans University, 2005; M.A., University of Georgia, 2007; Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2012 | Associate Professor, Communication Graduate Director, Communication |
| Liu | Brooke Fisher | Full Member | B.A., Washington University in St. Louis, 2001; M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003; Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2006. | Professor, Communication |
| Maddux | Kristjana L. | Full Member | B.A., University of Georgia, 2001; M.A., University of Georgia, 2003; Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2007. | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Namkoong | Kang | Full Member | B.A., Korea University, 1999; M.A., Korea University, 2005; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2011 | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Nan | Xiaoli | Full Member | B.A., Beijing University, China, 2000; M.A., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2003; Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2005. | Professor, Communication |
| Otis | Hailey Nicole | Full Member | B.A., University of Northern Colorado, 2015; M.A., Colorado State University, 2017; Ph.D., Colorado State University, 2021 | Assistant Professor, Communication |
| Parry-Giles | Shawn J. | Full Member | B.F.A., Emporia State University, 1984; M.A., University of New Mexico, 1987; Ph.D., Indiana University, 1992. | Chair, Communication Director, Professional Communication for Enhanced English Fluency Director, Professional Communication for Enhanced English Fluency (online) Professor, Communication Affiliate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Parry-Giles | Trevor S. | Full Member | B.A., Ripon College, 1985; M.A., University of New Mexico, 1987; Ph.D., Indiana University, 1992. | Professor, Communication |
| Pfister | Damien | Full Member | B.A., University of Alabama, 2000; M.A., University of Pittsburgh, 2004; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2009 | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Qu | Yan | Full Member | B.A., Shandong University, 2014; M.P.P., University of Maryland–College Park, 2016; Ph.D., University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, 2021 | Assistant Professor, Communication |
| Seate | Anita | Full Member | B.A., Georgia State University, 2004; M.A., Georgia State University, 2009; Ph.D., University of Arizona, 2012 | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Steele | Catherine | Full Member | B.A., University of Illinois- Urbana-Champaign, 2007; M.A., Depaul University, 2008; Ph.D., University of Illinois-Chicago | Associate Professor, Communication |
| Toth | Elizabeth L. | Full Member | B.A., Northwestern University, 1966; M.A., Purdue University, 1969; Ph.D., Purdue University, 1975 | Professor Emerita, Communication Affiliate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Waks | Leah | Full Member | B.A., Tel Aviv University, 1980; Ph.D.,University of Michigan, 1991. | Senior Lecturer, Communication |
| Wolvin | Andrew D. | Full Member | B.S., University of Nebraska, 1962; M.A.,1963; Ph.D., Purdue University, 1968. | Professor Emeritus, Communication |
| Woods | Carly S. | Full Member | B.A., University of Mary Washington, 2004; M.A., University of Pittsburgh, 2006; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2010 | Associate Professor, Communication Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Zelaya | Carina | Full Member | B.A., University of Kentucky, 2016; M.A., University of Kentucky, 2018; Ph.D., University of Kentucky, 2022 | Assistant Professor, Communication |