Cronkite Doctoral Program

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a student-centered, scholarly research-oriented Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in journalism and mass communication. It is focused on original research, faculty-student mentoring, an interdisciplinary experience and flexibility.

The program’s emphasis is on original research to prepare students for careers in journalism and mass communication education as well as related business fields. Students are immersed in methodology, theory, philosophy and critical thinking and develop evaluation and research skills and extend those into new areas of scholarship. The program provides students with the opportunity for peer reviewed presentations/publications, in addition to the required scholarly dissertation.

Students study in the Cronkite School’s new $71 million state-of-the-art journalism complex on ASU’s Downtown Campus in the heart of Phoenix, the nation’s fifth-largest city. Students also may take courses in fields such as public affairs, justice studies, law, history and theater at both the downtown and Tempe campuses.

Students admitted into the program are expected to have professional media experience along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism, mass communication or a related field. Students without master’s degrees may be admitted but will be required to complete additional course work. All Ph.D. students will have the opportunity to interact with master’s degree students, undergraduates and professionals in an enriched learning environment.

A key part of the degree program is the opportunity for students to be mentored by nationally known scholars who also have professional experience in broadcasting, strategic media and public relations, new media and print. The interests of the Cronkite faculty include both qualitative and quantitative methods on topics such as Spanish-language media, media management and economics, gender and race, news quality, entrepreneurship, sex and the media, First Amendment theory, popular culture, newsroom culture, international communication and history.

The Cronkite School’s Ph.D. is the only program of its kind in Arizona and one of the few in the Southwest. Students are encouraged to visit the school, tour the campus and meet with faculty members. Interested students should contact Assistant Dean B. William Silcock at b.silcock@asu.edu.