PhD Curriculum

Total 90 hours, with varying amounts of M.A. and Ph.D. transfer credit to be determined by the Gaylord College Graduate Committee, Graduate Director and Graduate College.

37 hours minimum in core classes

• 3 hours – Research methods proficiency (basic graduate-level proficiency demonstrated through completion of JMC 5093 Introduction to Research Methods, a graduate-level methods course elsewhere in the university or a methods course transferred in)
• 3 hours – JMC 5073 Conceptual Issues in Graduate Study in Journalism and Mass Communication or 3 hours of graduate electives (if course was taken at M.A. level)
  
• 3 hours – JMC 6133 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods or 3 hours of 6000-level electives as approved by the student’s advisory committee (if JMC 5133 Quantitative Research Methods was taken at the M.A. level)
  
• 3 hours – JMC 6113 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods or 3 hours of 6000-level electives as approved by the student’s advisory committee (if JMC 5113 Qualitative Research Methods was taken at the M.A. level)
  
• 3 hours – JMC 6083 Advanced Mass Communication Theory or 3 hours of 6000-level electives as approved by the student’s advisory committee (if JMC 5083 Mass Communication Theory was taken at the M.A. level)
  
• 3 hours – JMC 6183 Approaches to Teaching
  
• 4 hours – JMC 6091 Ph.D. Seminar (1 credit per semester, minimum 4 hours)
  
• 3 hours – Additional research methods course and/or graduate-level statistics (to be taken at 5000 or 6000 level in an OU department outside of JMC -- for example, Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, History)
• 12 hours minimum – JMC 6980 Dissertation

24 hours minimum in Concentration and Emphasis

• 9 hours minimum – Courses in concentration
  

Students will choose one of the following areas and take Advanced Topics in that area at least three times for a total of 9 hours. With approval of their advisory committees, students may divide the 9 hours among more than one of the Advanced Topics areas:

• JMC 6153 Advanced Topics in Media Arts*
• JMC 6163 Advanced Topics in News and Information*
• JMC 6173 Advanced Topics in Strategic Communication*

• 15 hours minimum – Secondary area of emphasis outside JMC
  

At least 15 additional hours from outside the Gaylord College. The student’s emphasis will be defined in the plan of study and will likely include courses from two or more departments.

Numerous possibilities for interdisciplinary study exist in the university. Given the breadth of intellectual grounding in mass communication study, possible departments are many, including Anthropology, Communication, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology, Human Relations, Marketing, and Management. The secondary-emphasis requirement will enable students to take maximum advantage of these opportunities.

Total from above requirements: 61 hours (minimum)

Remaining hours to bring degree total to 90 will come from a combination of additional electives taken during the student’s doctoral study at OU, transfer credit, or both.