This advanced degree program is designed to be completed in four years, although every student’s path is different. Most students take the core sequence in the first year and complete the remainder of the coursework by the end of the second year. After completing comprehensive exams, you should expect to spend approximately two years researching and writing your dissertation.
You can find an example schedule below, but keep in mind that your program will vary because it will be tailored to your research program and areas of interest.
First Year - Fall Term
First Year - Winter Term
First Year - Spring Term
Second Year - Fall Term
| J649 International Communication (600-level media studies specialty course) |
4 |
| SOC615 Racism and Sociology (600-level field course outside SOJC) |
4 |
| J660 Ethnography (600-level media studies specialty course) |
4 |
| Serve as teaching or research assistant for 16 hours/week |
N/A |
Second Year - Winter Term
| J610 History and Theory of New Media (600-level media studies specialty course) |
4 |
| SOC557 Sex and Society (600-level field course outside SOJC) |
4 |
| SOC618 Sociological Theory (600-level field course outside SOJC) |
4 |
| Serve as teaching or research assistant for 16 hours/week |
N/A |
Second Year - Spring Term
| J643 Advanced Doctoral Seminar |
5 |
| ANTH610 Qualitative Data Analysis (additional methodology course) |
4 |
| Serve as teaching or research assistant for 16 hours/week |
N/A |
Program Checklist
In addition to your required courses, you’ll need to complete the following tasks between enrollment and graduation, with guidance from your faculty advisor.
- Select your faculty advisor. During orientation, the program director will assign you a preliminary faculty advisor, but you will have the opportunity to select a permanent advisor whose research interests align with your own. This person will be your first point of contact for academic, dissertation, and career advice.
- Complete your core coursework. Most students complete their core sequence in the first year and the rest of their coursework by the end of the second year. These courses will give you an understanding of the key theories and methods that define media studies and serve as a starting framework to develop your dissertation.
- Select your committee. Before taking your comprehensive exams, you will select an exam committee consisting of your advisor, two SOJC faculty members, and one tenure-track faculty member from outside the SOJC. You can choose a different committee for your dissertation.
- Take your comprehensive exams. To maintain satisfactory progress, doctoral students must pass their comprehensive exams by the end of fall term of your third year. Enroll for at least 9 credits (usually J601 Research and J605 Reading) during the term you take exams to maintain eligibility for graduate employment.
- Submit your dissertation proposal. Prepare this proposal in consultation with your advisor. Plan to defend your proposal by the end of spring term of your third year.
- Advance to candidacy. Once you have passed your comprehensive exams and your committee has approved your dissertation proposal, the department will advance you to candidacy.
- Conduct research and write dissertation. Each student’s dissertation experience is different, depending on such factors as the nature of the research, their relationship with their advisor and committee, and individual styles and preferences. Follow the style guidelines outlined in the UO Thesis and Dissertation Style and Policy Manual.
- Apply for graduation. By the second week of the term in which you plan to graduate, fill out the graduation form on GradWeb.
- Complete your oral defense of dissertation. You must apply for your oral defense in GradWeb at least two weeks prior to your defense date and complete the defense by the applicable doctoral degree completion deadline. This is intended to be a public discourse, so the date will be announced to the school community.
- Submit your approved dissertation to the Grad School. Upload a PDF of your dissertation and all final approval forms to the UO Division of Graduate Studies within two weeks after your oral defense. Doctoral completion deadlines can be found here.
Questions?
Need some guidance? Here are a few options:
- Download our graduate handbook for more details about program requirements and resources.
- Contact our Associate Director of Graduate Affairs with questions about the program, the application process, and admission.
Once you’re admitted, you’ll be matched with a faculty advisor who will be your first point of contact for academic and career guidance.
