UW-Madison ranks as one of the top universities for communication and media studies in the world. Our doctoral program in mass communication, jointly administered with the Department of Life Sciences 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
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 Ph.D.
The Ph.D. 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 M.A.
The Research M.A. focuses on developing tools in mass communication research and typically leads to enrollment in a doctoral program.
Professional M.A.
The professional M.A. typically leads to careers in news and information production.
Graduate Program News
Graduate Student Highlight: Professional M.A. Class of 2021
Here’s a look at our two graduating ProTrackers and some of the stories they’ve completed throughout the program, as well as skills they’ve learned and other major takeaways.
2021 James L. Baughman Senior Achievement and Graduate Student Award Winners
Congratulations to our Baughman Senior Achievement Award Winners and graduate student teaching and leadership award winners!
Graduate Student Highlight: Yiping Xia
Ph.D. student Yiping Xia, was recently awarded a Mini Fellowship from UW-Madison's Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies. We caught up with Yiping to hear more about him and what he hopes to do after graduation.