Overview

About the program

If you’re looking for a career in teaching and research at the highest levels, or research and management with mass media companies, consider our Ph.D. program.

Our Journalism and Mass Communications program at the University of South Carolina is small and selective, giving students substantial flexibility to tailor their coursework and area of study to their particular career goals.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Communication Research Design
Seminar in Mass Communication Theory and Theory Construction
Seminar in Teaching Mass Communication
Advanced Communication Research
Communication Research: Critical, Cultural, and Naturalistic Approaches

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 120 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-01-08 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-15 00:00:00
Starting 2026-08-20 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-01-15 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

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PTE Academic

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TOEFL^® IBT

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Duolingo English Test

120

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Credits

30 SCH

60 graduate credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree or 30 beyond the master’s

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Columbia, United States

Disciplines

Journalism Media Studies & Mass Media View 29 other PhDs in Media Studies & Mass Media in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

Check IELTS test dates and locations. Book an IELTS test now!

Other requirements

General requirements

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university (or international equivalent)

Required Documents

Official Academic Transcripts (from all previously attended colleges)
3 Letters of Recommendation (including at least two from academic references)
Statement of Purpose
Resume
Writing Sample(s)
Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (for applicants without a degree from an English-speaking institution)
Official GRE scores (optional)

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of South Carolina and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

29760 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 14880 USD per semester during 120 months.
National

29760 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 14880 USD per semester during 120 months.
In-State

13734 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 6867 USD per semester during 120 months.

Living costs for Columbia

999 - 1508 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Journalism and Mass Communications.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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