Research one of the most powerful forces in the modern world from a home base in the stunning Pacific Northwest. Learn from internationally recognized faculty in a school with a legacy of more than 100 years of academic excellence.
In our doctoral program, you’re more than a student. You’ll work as a co-author, scholar, and teacher, conducting impactful research alongside pioneers in media and communication. Our faculty are well regarded for their expertise in:
- Media institutions
- Ethics, law, and policy
- International and multicultural communication
- New media, including social media data analytics and games studies
- Science communication
What You Can Do with a Media Studies Graduate Degree
Our PhD students graduate with the knowledge, skill, and research portfolio to claim teaching and research posts at top universities and think tanks around the world. They also develop valuable analytical and research skills that set them apart in any field. A media studies degree offers a solid foundation that can springboard you into academia or a career in media, government, law, or nonprofit work. See what two of our graduates are up to:
Fully Funded PhD
You bring the intellectual curiosity, we’ll take care of the tuition: our doctoral candidates are fully funded for four consecutive years, including health benefits and a stipend. We also offer resources for conducting research that contributes to the field while preparing you for a career in higher education or meaningful work in the public and private sectors.
$1,400–$1,575
Monthly Stipend
16 Hours/Week
Teaching and Research Work
When money talks, Ashley Cordes listens. Her research has led to a new understanding of currencies—not just as a way to buy things, but as a means of communicating group identity. From shells and beads to the Oglala Lakota nation’s cryptocurrency, MazaCoin, she’s examining the role of currencies in Native American and U.S. governmental and social relations.
Named for renowned journalist Eric W. Allen, who founded the SOJC over 100 years ago, Allen Hall sits at the heart of the tree-filled University of Oregon campus in Eugene. In our state-of-the-art classrooms, studios, and collaboration spaces, you’ll get expert guidance from leading researchers and teachers in the field.
Pinup culture pushed the boundaries of feminism. Kathleen Ryan’s documentary about it pushes the boundaries of filmmaking. The 2014 PhD graduate—now an associate professor at the University of Colorado—explores the history and resurgence of pinup style and community in an interactive documentary that lets the viewer choose which storylines to follow. Using what she learned at the SOJC and drawing on her background as a broadcast journalist, Ryan produced an award-winning film to pioneer a new type of storytelling.
Chris Chávez travels the world to study the intersection of globalization, media, and culture—and he takes his students with him. From a project supporting public radio in Ghana to a visit to Indonesia for UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day, the author and researcher orchestrates experiential learning trips for students while investigating the role of advertising and the media in shaping our collective identity.
Ready to Apply?
We are now accepting applications for fall 2019. The deadline to apply is January 1, 2019.