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
PhD Student Jianing “Janice” Li Receives Social Data Dissertation Fellowship from SSRC
Li was recently awarded the Social Data Dissertation Fellowship from the SSRC in order to study how citizens can form healthy skepticism toward information they encounter on social media.
New Fact-Checking Projects Focus on Combatting COVID-19 Misinformation
With information about COVID-19 rapidly circulating online, it can be difficult to determine what’s true and what’s not. SJMC faculty and students are working on several projects to combat misinformation.
SJMC Graduate Students and Faculty to Participate in AEJMC Virtual Conference
Graduate students and faculty will be active throughout the AEJMC virtual conference, by presenting research, acting as panelists and moderators in group discussions, and more.