Dean: D. McFarlin
Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research: T. Kelleher

Graduate Coordinators:

• (Advertising) H. Chen
• (International Communication) K. Walsh-Childers
• (Journalism) R. Rodgers
• (Public Relations) M.A. Ferguson
• (Pro Master’s) E. Calienes
• (Science/Health Communication) D. Treise
• (Telecommunication) J. Babanikos

Through the Division of Graduate Studies and Research, the College of Journalism and Communications offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree and the Master of Arts in Mass Communication (thesis or project option) degree which is divided into two areas-PhD preparation and professional development. Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Doctoral students work closely with faculty members in research leading to a dissertation embodying a humanities, law/policy, or social sciences approach. Emphases within these approaches for which faculty members have expertise include advertising, journalism, public relations, telecommunication, international communication, and political communication. Details of doctoral faculty research interests and other aspects of the program are given in the College’s Ph.D. Handbook.

The master’s program is a two-track system, one focused on PhD preparation and one on professional development. In the PhD-preparation program, you learn the ideas and skills you need for satisfying life-long careers in mass communication. You can choose to obtain a Master of Arts in Mass Communication degree by selecting one of the specializations below. Master’s students in the PhD-preparation track may complete a thesis in advertising, journalism, public relations, telecommunication, international communication, or science/health communication. A project in lieu of thesis option is available for some specializations.

The Pro Master’s track allows students to “mix and match” coursework from three key career areas-Data/Research, Creative or Management - to develop a customizable curriculum. Students can use the suggested curriculum or create their own path to reach personal career goals. 

Mass Communication/Law joint degree programs: Programs leading to the Master of Arts in Mass Communication or the Doctor of Philosophy and the Juris Doctor are offered under the joint auspices of the College of Journalism and Communications and the College of Law. For students interested in scholarship or practice of communication law or in reporting on the law, the programs offer the opportunity to blend relevant work from the two colleges. Students must meet the entrance requirements of both colleges. A thesis or dissertation is required. Interested students should apply for admission to both the Graduate School and the College of Law, noting on the applications the joint nature of the admission requests. Further information on the programs and on application procedures is available from the Holland Law Center and from the Division of Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Journalism and Communications.

General admission: Admission is granted to applicants with and without background in mass communication. Students without academic preparation in mass communication or appropriate experience may be required to take articulation work. These courses are taken concurrently with general graduate courses, starting in the first term of registration. Some degree plans require a background course in statistics. Students who have satisfied that requirement must provide written verification. Including articulation courses, the master’s degree normally can be earned in one or two years of full-time study. Doctoral studies require three or more years of full-time study and research. Students who may require articulation courses should contact the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Grading policy: Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation. Any doctoral student who receives one grade below B- or a Master’s student who receives one grade below C+ will be placed on probation, with the exception of courses taken from the Levin College of Law. For these courses, any student receiving one grade below C in any course from the Levin College of Law will be placed on probation. A requirement of the probation is that the student must achieve or maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher at the end of the next academic term in residence. A student who fails to satisfy the requirement will be suspended. A Doctoral student who accumulates two grades below “B-“– or a Master’s student who accumulates two grades below C+ during graduate studies will be suspended, as will a student who receives one grade of “D+” or lower at any time. Students will be allowed only one suspension.

Combined degree program: The College offers a combined bachelor’s/master’s program. For information, contact the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs.

For additional information, please see our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/grad.