UW-Madison ranks as one of the top universities for communication and media studies in the world. Our doctoral program in mass communication is internationally recognized for our faculty and areas of research. Our program offers: engaged advising and mentoring; training in quantitative and qualitative research methods; and opportunities for collaborative research.
Top 5
university for communication and media studies worldwide.
Faculty & Staff
Internationally recognized faculty
87%
of our Ph.D. graduates find placement in university positions. Recent graduates
Research and Teaching Strengths
- Civic and political communication
- International & inter-cultural communication
- Information technologies
- Health, environmental and science communication
- History of communication
- Law and ethics of media
- Social networking and digital media
- Journalism studies
- Processes and effects of mediated communication
Explore our Graduate Programs
Mass Communications PhD
The PhD degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors.
Research MA
The Research MA focuses on developing tools in mass communication research and typically leads to enrollment in a doctoral program.
Professional MA
The Professional MA typically leads to careers in news and information production.
Graduate Program Open Houses
Interested in learning more about our graduate programs? Join one of our informational open houses! Graduate adviser Lindsey Bliefernicht, program directors Greg Downey and Stacy Forster, and other faculty members will share information about our internationally recognized program, our department, UW-Madison and the Madison community. They’ll also share helpful application tips and answer all of your questions.
PhD and Research MA Virtual Open House
Tuesday, October 21
9 a.m. CT
Register today
Tuesday, October 21
4 p.m. CT
Register today
Graduate Program News
Graduate Student Highlight: Laila Abbas
PhD student Laila Abbas earned an ICA Top Dissertation Award Honorable Mention for her research on how emotionally charged TikTok content can inspire political identity and collective action. In a Q&A, she reflects on the impact of her research and offers advice for aspiring scholars.
Spotlight on Graduate Student Award Winners
This year, four TAs were awarded campus-wide and college-level awards for their work both in and out of the classroom. They shared what these awards mean to them and what they find most rewarding about teaching.
Graduate Student Highlight: Professional M.A. Class of December 2024
Last week, four of our Professional M.A. students presented portfolios of their journalistic work and completed their masters degrees.