Program Information

Ph.D. in Mass Communication

The Ph.D. degree is a research degree. The Ph.D. program is designed to help develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills so graduates can make important contributions to understanding mass communication. Faculty members help students lay the foundation for a lifetime of significant, creative work.

The doctoral program prepares students for a variety of opportunities in mass communication. Graduates are expected to teach at colleges and universities; conduct research for organizations in advertising, journalism, public relations, telecommunication, and other mass communication fields; do consulting; and conduct research and contribute to policy in government and private organizations. Doctoral students in the College of Journalism and Communications gain valuable experience in both teaching and research. Assistantships help prepare students for academic and other research positions. Students in the program have consistently been among the nation’s leaders in winning top-paper awards at national and regional scholarly meetings.

Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.M.C.)

There are several specializations available for the Master of Arts in Mass Communication:

The Journalism specialization program in the UF College of Journalism and Communications combines study of the academic literature on the societal role and effects of mass communication in general and journalism in particular with courses designed to improve students’ practice of the journalism craft. The Journalism specialization at the master’s level is designed for students interested in all areas of non-broadcast journalism (i.e. newspapers, magazines and online publishing). Those who have an educational and /or professional background in journalism can enhance their understanding of the role of journalism in society, as well as improving reporting and writing skills. However, the program is also well-suited for students with a long-term interest in college-level journalism education, who can pursue the master’s degree as preparation for entry into a doctoral program. For more information, please see our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/academics/masters/mamc-journalism.

The Pro Master’s specialization: The Professional Master’s track is an on-campus program focused in four core/cross disciplines:

• applied theory;
• communication, technology and society;
• multimedia storytelling; and
• data creation/analysis/data visualization.

The track is designed specifically for those who want to develop additional skills to become more competitive in the job market. The program allows you to develop your own customizable curriculum from three key career areas: Data/Research, Creative or Management. Students can use our suggested curriculum or create your own path to reach your personal career goals.

The Professional Masters’ can be completed in one year, for those who want an accelerated program, or two years. Admission is for the fall semester only. For more information, please see our website: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/current-students/masters/promasters/.

The Public Relations specialization at the master’s level is a research-based program designed to prepare students for careers and advancement in the industry or for entering doctoral studies. Students learn the conceptual foundations of public relations and develop professional and research competency within the duration of the program. Courses in the public relations specialization focus on conceptual foundations of public relations, including mass communication and society; professional and managerial skills mastery; and research expertise. For more information, please see our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/academics/masters/master-of-public-relations.

The Telecommunication specialization program in the UF College of Journalism and Communications combines courses in Mass Communication, Telecommunication, and other areas relevant to the student’s goals. There is a thesis track, appropriate for students who will later seek the Ph.D. or who wish to learn the skills and knowledge associated with thesis research or project in lieu of thesis. The Telecommunication track is designed for students with the following interests:

• Operation or management of telecommunication outlets (broadcast stations, cable systems, program distributors, etc.) and emerging media
• Telecommunication regulation and policy
• Audience research
• Preparation for an advanced degree

For more information, please see our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/academics/masters/mamc-telecommunication.

The International/Intercultural Communication specialization: The field of international communication encompasses the study of international journalism (both print and broadcast) and international business and marketing communication. The field of intercultural communication focuses on the interactions between people of different cultures, values and histories. Through their study, students learn to appreciate and engage diverse cultures and media, gaining the knowledge and skills you need to thrive in today’s challenging global community. The international/intercultural track in mass communication culminates with the student writing a thesis on an international/intercultural topic in communication, applying one or more of the methods used in communication research. For more information, please see our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/academics/masters/mamc-internationalintercultural-communication-specialization.

The Science and Health Communications specialization program is designed to teach scientists and health specialists to communicate effectively via media, and to teach mass media specialists the background science to translate the language of science and health into meaningful and understandable stories for their audiences. These goals are achieved through theoretical writing and applied courses. At least two aspects of the program make it unique among science communication programs nationwide. First, other existing science communication programs in the U.S. focus on training journalists. UF’s program is open to journalists who want to specialize in covering science and health, offers training for people planning to work as public affairs or public information officers for science and health organizations, for other communication specialists, and for scientists who need to be able to communicate with the public about their work. Second, the program focuses on training students to understand and communicate effectively about science and health policy. For more information, please see our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/academics/masters/mamc-sciencehealth-communication.

Combination Degrees:  The College of Journalism and Communications participates in many combination degree programs throughout UF.  They currently participate in the following ways:  between any UF undergraduate Bachelor's Degree and Master of Arts in Mass Communication; a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Advertising and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.M.C.) with a major in Mass Communication; a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.M.C.) with a major in Mass Communication; a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Media Production, Management, & Technology and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.M.C.) with a major in Mass Communication; and, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Public Relations and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication (M.A.M.C.) with a major in Mass Communication.  

For more help with any of our graduate degree programs, please refer to our website: http://www.jou.ufl.edu/academics.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Mass Communication

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Clinical and Translational Science
• Master of Arts in Mass Communication 
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Audience Analytics 
  • concentration in Digital Strategy
  • concentration in Global Strategic Communication
  • concentration in Political Communication 
  • concentration in Professional Communication
  • concentration in Public Interest Communication 
  • concentration in Public Relations
  • concentration in Public Relations and Communication Management
  • concentration in Science and Health Communication 
  • concentration in Social Media
  • concentration in Web Design and Online Communication 

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

College of Journalism and Communications Courses

mass communications (PHD)

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Develop a thorough identification and review of mass communication theory and proficiency in research methods surrounding a specific area of expertise in the mass communication field.

SLO 2     Knowledge        
Discuss and translate mass communication theory and proficiency in research methods surrounding a specific area of expertise in the mass communication field.

SLO 3     Skills     
Explain and report communication subject matter and methodology, successfully complete research studies through conceptualization, methodological expertise, analysis and submission to professional conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

SLO 4     Professional Behavior   
Display of ethical behaviors, cultural sensitivity and appreciation for diverse viewpoints, leadership, independent and creative thinking.

SLO 5     Professional Behavior   
Participate in professional and academic service activities that develop leadership skills.

Mass Communications (MAMC)

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Identify, describe, explain, and apply communication theory research methods, aiding in a synthesized perspective for evaluating and addressing professional or theoretical problems

SLO 2     Skills     
Address communication subject matter and issues through application, analysis, or synthesis of subjects, theories and methodologies

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Display ethical behaviors, teamwork, cultural sensitivity/appreciation for diverse viewpoints, and meet professional standards for effective and ethical decision making