The doctoral program in communication focuses on health and strategic communication. It prepares students for increasingly complex public and private communication environments. Students receive a strong theoretical and multi-methodological foundation, which enables them to examine the critical role communication performs in health promotion, disease prevention, quality of care, risk assessment, and crisis management.
The doctoral program in communication at North Dakota State University is unique. Students are encouraged to engage in action-oriented research: research that seeks to solve real-world problems. While some programs produce dissertations and research that are read by few and used by no one, our program seeks to make a difference in the world. Our research goes beyond data analysis to create concrete programs of action that are implemented, evaluated, and modified, if necessary.
Although the program allows students to prepare for traditional careers in the professoriate, many students are seeking advancement in careers in business, consulting, or other professional areas. The program is based on theory and research with a practical, applied, action-oriented goal. Doctoral students strive to understand issues, solve problems, and create programs that can improve organizational, educational, interpersonal, and intercultural settings and situations.
The program seeks two groups of students: successful mid-career professionals who wish to advance within their own areas of pursuit or wish to change focus, and young scholars with exceptional undergraduate records and accomplishments. The braiding of these two groups creates a classroom atmosphere that is dynamic and allows practical wisdom to be combined with current research and theory.
Doctoral-seeking students in the program come from a variety of academic backgrounds and are afforded great flexibility in course delivery and course content. Acceptance into the program is competitive, but students may enroll in up to twelve credit hours before they complete an application for the program. Sixty credit hours beyond the master’s degree are required, with thirty credit hours focused on the content of the discipline, and thirty credit hours focused on research. Doctoral students must complete a dissertation acceptable to their advisor and their committee.
The strong emphasis on research in the program; the faculty’s view of the centrality of teaching; the faculty’s involvement in national, regional, and state associations; and the close working relationship with the doctoral advisor and other faculty members allow a number of positive outcomes. First, students generally have two to three publications and multiple convention presentations before graduation. Second, students who are pursuing careers in the professorate have a keen understanding of teaching and learning. Third, students who are interested in academic associations are encouraged to serve in multiple roles within them. Finally, students understand the importance of community and university service.
Financial aid
Teaching Assistantships
The CRDM Program offers six to eight Teaching Assistantships each year to newly admitted students, with a stipend of $14,500 and payment of health insurance and tuition (but not fees, which the student must pay; see Cashier’s Office for current fees). Some appointments for Research Assistantships may also be available. The financial support, through the Graduate Student Support Plan, requires the student to be registered for 9 credit hours each semester. Teaching Assistants in the doctoral program are eligible for the tuition support and health insurance for a maximum of eight semesters.
Duties for Teaching Assistants will be assigned by the director of the program in which they work, usually the First-Year Writing Program, the Professional Writing Program, the Campus Writing and Speaking Program, or the Basic Course in the Department of Communication. Other teaching assignments may be given to advanced students. Work assignments are 8-9 credit hours or approximately 20 hours a week.
NC State’s regional accrediting association requires that Teaching assistants have 18 credit hours of graduate coursework in the department in which they teach in order to be given responsibility for their own course. TAs who do not meet this requirement will be assigned other duties until they have enough coursework. TAs may also be required to take a training course to prepare them for a specific teaching assignment (this course usually fulfills the Professional Preparation requirement).
Research Assistantships
Faculty may have grant support for their research projects, and such grants may include support for a graduate Research Assistant. A Research Assistantship pays a stipend determined by the sponsoring faculty member or the granting organization and also provides payment of health insurance and tuition through the Graduate Student Support Plan. Fulltime RAships require the student to be registered for 9 credits each semester. Like TAs, RAs are eligible for tuition support and health insurance for a maximum of eight semesters.
The availability of RAships will vary from year to year. Applicants who indicate interest on their application forms by checking the “Research Assistantship” box will be contacted by the sponsoring faculty member or by the Director of the CRDM Program if they are eligible for any available RA positions.
SAS Institute Research Assistant: The SAS Institute Distinguished Professor of Rhetoric and Technical Communication provides support for one or more Research Assistantships each year, with a stipend matching that of TAs, along with tuition support and health insurance provided by the Graduate Student Support Plan. RAs will provide support for the Professor’s ongoing research and have the opportunity to develop their own related research projects. Contact Dr. Carolyn R. Miller, SAS Professor.
Digital Libraries Intern: The NCSU Libraries supports one CRDM student each year to work with library staff on projects to support the instructional and research mission of the library. The library is a leader in digital library services and has a staff of innovative professionals who are actively interested in supporting student learning and faculty research.
PCOST (Public Communication of Science and Technology): PCOST supports research on the factors that affect the public perception and acceptance of scientific and technological developments in the 21st century. One current project is the Nanotechnology Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT), exploring intuitive toxicology and risk perception associated with nanotechnology. Contact Dr. David Berube, Director.
The master program in Communication Sciences and Disorders offers two areas of concentration: education of the deaf and hard of hearing, and speech-language pathology. The curriculum focuses on the academic, clinical and research foundations for a career in communication disorders. The program is designed to prepare the student to make intelligent decisions and take appropriate, thoughtful action. The program is organized to encourage the student to use critical thinking and problem-solving to identify and meet the communication needs of individuals and families.
The Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders program is designed to prepare a person for a career in the public schools, special schools, special school districts; or in clinical settings such as hospitals, guidance centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes; or in industry; or in private practice; or others. The person majoring in this area may also prepare for entry into a doctoral program
PhD in Communication
The doctoral program is primarily designed for students who are interested in pursuing academic teaching and research careers within the communication discipline. However, some may choose to use the degree to launch a career in one of the various communication-related industries, research, consultancy, not-for-profit organizations, or governmental affairs.
Regardless of the student’s chosen career path, the primary objective for all will be to become an independent and original scholar. Beginning with a common set of foundational courses, students will encounter a range of philosophical, theoretical, and methodological approaches to communication scholarship. A major goal of the program is for students to gain knowledge of and an appreciation for the complexities and interdependencies within communication inquiry. To that end, students will gain a critical, historical, and theoretical grounding in the broad communication discipline and then will pursue more advanced study through doctoral-level seminars, directed independent studies, and supervised research experiences within one of two emphasis areas: Mass Communication or Speech Communication. For more information, visit our Ph.D. in Communication site.