Graduate Information

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Graduate program overview
Typically 70 students are enrolled in the graduate program at any one time (40 Masters and 30 Doctoral). This provides a program large enough to have a variety of communication interests but small enough to have individual attention (with a 3-to-1 ratio of faculty to graduate students and an average seminar size of 10 to 15 students).

What makes our doctoral program distinctive is the focus on the role of culture and change in communication. We define culture broadly as pertaining not only to social/psychological orientations held by particular groups, but also emergent identities, discursive practices and norms, artistic and mediated forms, locations of speaking/acting/producing, organizational systems, and institutional structures. We view culture as socially constructed and structurally produced and therefore a factor that is influential across all communication contexts.

The Ph.D. program features culture and communication applied to three areas of concentration: intercultural communication, health communication; and mass communication. The doctoral program is designed to prepare individuals for university teaching/research positions or positions in the private/public sector that require the ability to conduct research in applied contexts.

According to C & J departmental requirements, the Ph.D. Program in Communication requires 36 hours of course work beyond a Master's Degree, plus 18 credit hours for the dissertation. Additionally, 12 credits from M.A. programs/other doctoral programs may be transferred to meet UNM requirements; see section on Transferring Credits.

Areas of Concentration
You will work closely with faculty advisors to design a program of study suitable to your interests and goals. While completing core courses in communication theory and research methodology, you will concentrate your Study in one or two of the following areas:

Intercultural Communication: This concentration area examines the role of culture and cultural difference in discourse and social interaction.

Culture and Mass Communication: The structure, practice, social impact, and criticism of the mass media.

Culture and Health Communication: Communication based on improving health.

Concern with inter-ethnic and cross-cultural communication
This concern is emphasized in each of these areas in the department. New Mexico provides a rich cultural environment in which such diverse communities as Chicano/a, Hispanic, Anglo, Native American, and others have interacted for centuries. One of the strengths and missions of the University is to engage in teaching and research within a multi-ethnic context. This concern with cultural influences may become a focus of study in any of the areas of concentration.

Diversity of Program
The UNM department of Communication and Journalism maintains relationships with other departments in the University, including linguistics, anthropology, education, sociology, psychology, women studies, and business. Graduate courses and seminars typically include students from these allied disciplines. In addition, the department cooperates with a variety of research institutes and centers located at the University.

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