cfpca - College of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts

The Department offers degree programs leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Communication with emphases in the two following areas:

• Communication Studies
• Media Arts and Studies

For more information about the program requirements and admissions information, download the PhD Handbook (pdf format).

The handbook outlines the admissions requirements as well as the program curriculum.  It is important to note, the deadline for admission to the PhD program in February 1st.  Applicants must ensure that ALL materials, including transcripts and GRE scores, are at the Office of Graduate Admissions by the deadline date.  Students interested in applying for Graduate Assistantships must also complete the separate Application for assistantship found below.

Current Wayne State University students who wish to apply for the Doctoral Program in Communication do not need to reapply through the Office of Graduate Admissions.  In lieu of an admissions application, students may submit the Change of Graduate Status Form and submit the form with their supplemental materials (i.e. GRE scores, writing sample, etc.) directly to the Department of Communication.  Application requirements and deadlines do apply.  See the PhD Handbook for specific details.

*Note on the Letter of Intent*
As part of the materials required to be considered for admission into the Department of Communication's Ph.D. program, prospective students must submit a "Letter of Intent" (also described as a Personal Statement) in which students should state their reasons and rationale for desiring to be admitted into the department's PhD program.  Applicants should include a brief description of their academic interests and discuss which faculty members' research interests intersect with their own.  Applicants are encouraged to read the profiles of the Department's faculty members at www.comm.wayne.edu/faculty_profiles.php.

Dissertation Fellowship Application: As part of the Ph.D. Enhancement Grant awarded to the Department of Communication, we will be offering Dissertation Fellowships to qualifying students.  To qualify, students must be a PhD student in the Communication department and have defended their prospectus before applying.  Students must complete the Fellowship Application and the student's advisor must complete the recommendation form.  Applications are accepted throughout the academic year on a rolling basis.  Please contact the Graduate Director, Dr. Loraleigh Keashly at l.keashly@wayne.edu for more details.

• Fellowship Application form for students
• Fellowship Application advisor recommendation form

PhD Downloadable Forms:

• Application for Graduate Assistantships
• GTA Renewal form 
• Application for Graduate Student Travel Awards
• Change in Graduate Advisor Form
• PhD Annual Review form
• PhD Plan of Work checksheet - Media Arts and Studies
• PhD Plan of Work checksheet - Communication Studies

 Other official forms are located at the Graduate School website, www.gradschool.wayne.edu including the Doctoral Plan of Work form on www.gradschool.wayne.edu/Current/OnLineForms.asp