Graduate Programs
The school offers an on-campus doctoral program (Ph.D. in Media and Communication), on-campus master’s program (M.A. in Media and Communication) and an online master’s program for working professionals (M.A. in Digital Communication). The on-campus M.A. program is made up of three areas of study:
- Journalism, featuring three specializations:
- Interactive design journalism
- Public life reporting
- Video journalism
- Strategic communication
- Theory and research
The Office of Graduate Studies provides information to students and collects program-level submissions (forms and dissertations/theses/thesis projects/capstone projects) from them via the program-specific handbook websites and Canvas sites. These sites are designed for and addressed toward students, but faculty might find them useful. The program handbooks can be accessed by anyone with an active Onyen. If you would like to be added to any Canvas site, please request access via email to mjgrad@unc.edu.
Handbook and Canvas links for each program/area of study are provided below, along with other relevant information.
Ph.D.
The Ph.D. in Media and Communication is designed for outstanding graduate students preparing for academic faculty positions or research jobs in communication-related industries or positions. Our doctoral program is interdisciplinary and is tailored to the needs of each student.
Students are expected to attain a high degree of competence in research methodology and develop expertise in at least one substantive area of study, as well as a broad range of knowledge in communication science. The specific content of each student’s program is determined by the student and the student’s dissertation committee and will vary with student background, interests and goals.
Mission Statement
The doctorate in media and communication prepares students to excel in college teaching and research positions or research careers in communication industries. Advancing the body of knowledge through theory building and testing, faculty work closely with each student to develop a program of study that is both interdisciplinary and tailored to meet the specific needs
and interests of the student. The goal of the program is to produce outstanding scholars, educators and highly skilled researchers.
Faculty Involvement
Entering Ph.D. students are assigned an initial advisor and are encouraged to decide by the end of the first year whom they want as a permanent advisor. The permanent advisor serves as chair of the student’s dissertation committee, which also includes two other faculty members from our school and two outside faculty members. Details and forms related to program requirements, policies, comprehensive exams, the dissertation and more are available via the program handbook and Canvas site:
M.A. Journalism
Our new journalism curriculum allows aspiring and early-career journalists to—in just 12 months—complete an intensive dive into learning the specialized skills of their craft. Students start with a bootcamp course in late summer before the fall semester and conclude with a final project in the summer following the spring semester.
On-campus M.A. mission statement
The master’s in media and communication prepares students to be leaders and critical thinkers through training in skills, communication concepts, and research and analysis. With high standards for scholarly and professional achievement, the program serves individuals interested in entering media and communication professions, professional communicators who want more education in a specialized field, and individuals interested in communication research and teaching.
Adopted 2020
Faculty involvement
The program director advises journalism master’s students on course selection and other academic matters. Four faculty members serve on a capstone panel in the students’ final summer section. Each faculty panelist guides the student through revision and completion of a capstone project the student drafted in the spring. Then panelists then come together at the end of the term for students’ capstone presentations and oral comprehensive exams. Details and forms related to program requirements, policies, comprehensive exams, the capstone and more are available via the program handbook and Canvas site:
M.A. Strategic Communication
The 2023 entering cohort is the last group of strategic communication master’s students to enroll in the two-year program. In preparation for careers in advertising, marketing communication and public relations, students complete three semesters of coursework before dedicating their final spring to work on their thesis projects.
Beginning in fall 2024, students will take courses in the fall and spring semesters and then focus on a practicum and related capstone project in the summer.
On-campus M.A. mission statement
The master’s in media and communication prepares students to be leaders and critical thinkers through training in skills, communication concepts, and research and analysis. With high standards for scholarly and professional achievement, the program serves individuals interested in entering media and communication professions, professional communicators who want more education in a specialized field, and individuals interested in communication research and teaching.
Adopted 2020
Faculty Involvement
The program director advises journalism master’s students on course selection and other academic matters until students identify a thesis project chair at the start of the second year in the program. The chair leads a three-person committee, which includes another school faculty member and an outside expert, to guide the student through the completion and defense of the thesis project. A set of email templates for the chair’s communication with committee members is linked below, along with the grading form for comprehensive exams, the program handbook and the program Canvas site.
M.A. Theory and Research
This program of study is designed for students interested in pursuing doctoral degrees and careers in academia, or for students interested in non-academic research positions. Over two academic years, students complete four courses in each of the first three semesters and a research thesis in the fourth semester. They take courses with our Ph.D. students explore topics within the five areas of substantive study that comprise our doctoral program.
Theory and Research students in the J.D./M.A. dual-degree program follow a specialized plan that allows them to complete our requirements and those of the UNC School of Law in about four years, depending on their individual programs of study and progress.
On-campus M.A. mission statement
The master’s in media and communication prepares students to be leaders and critical thinkers through training in skills, communication concepts, and research and analysis. With high standards for scholarly and professional achievement, the program serves individuals interested in entering media and communication professions, professional communicators who want more education in a specialized field, and individuals interested in communication research and teaching.
Adopted 2020
Faculty involvement
A temporary advisor is assigned to each M.A. student at the beginning of the program, based on compatibility with the student’s expressed area of interest. A temporary advisor may continue as a student’s permanent advisor and thesis committee chair, or a student may find that another faculty member better meets the student’s needs.
The chair leads a three-person committee, which includes another school faculty member and an outside faculty member, to guide the student through the completion and defense of the thesis project. A set of email templates for the chair’s communication with committee members is linked below, along with the grading form for comprehensive exams, the program handbook and the program Canvas site.
M.A. Online
Our school sees online education as a way to reach an important group of students: working professionals who want to advance their careers and immediately put their learning into practice. The MADC delivers an education of the same rigor that generations of students have experienced in our residential programs, but with a curriculum and format designed to fit professionals’ career ambitions and busy schedules. The program is designed to be completed in 2.5 years, with two years of courses and a thesis project in the third fall semester.
Mission Statement
The master’s in digital communication empowers working professionals to advance their careers and bring immediate impact to their organizations. Students explore the economic drivers and technological changes affecting media and communication. Through a rigorous, project-based curriculum, students learn to find trends, patterns, and stories in data and communicate insights that will drive impactful decision-making. Students collaborate closely with faculty and peer professionals, learning to develop effective content creation and dissemination strategies across platforms, deliver unforgettable user experiences, and lead with strategic and entrepreneurial thinking.
Adopted 2020
Faculty Involvement
The MADC program has a prescribed curriculum with no electives. The program director monitors each student’s academic progress and is available to address concerns and questions about the program. The MADC program director also assists students in the selection of a thesis project advisor, who is a member of the school’s full-time faculty.
The chair leads a three-person committee, which includes another school faculty member and an outside expert, to guide the student through the completion and defense of the thesis project. MADC committee members do not write and grade questions for comprehensive exams. Those duties are carried out by course instructors. Details and forms related to program requirements, policies, comprehensive exams, the thesis project and more are available via the program handbook and Canvas site: