Graduate Programs
Communication, Culture & Media
The Communication, Culture and Media (CCM) graduate program at Drexel University creates new areas of interdisciplinary inquiry and educates emerging scholars who pursue bold, original and socially meaningful research.
The Master of Science and Doctorate CCM degree programs are highly interdisciplinary, drawing from the fields of communication, sociology, anthropology and linguistics. Graduate students examine these disciplines through multiple critical and empirical lenses, including Marxism; poststructuralism; phenomenology; feminism and queer theory; critical theory; narrative and other discourse analysis; and media representation.
Student Handbook (PDF)
Research
The work of communication, culture and media faculty and students covers a wide range of topics. Some work on consumer culture and commodification, while others study health communication and political topics involving conflict and collective morality. A number work on projects affiliated with Drexel’s Center for Mobilities Research and Policy. New media studies is a common critical focus in research.
In terms of research approaches, our communication graduate programs strongly favor mixed methodologies. While some faculty conduct content, network and other statistical analyses, other are more qualitatively oriented, engaged in discourse analysis, in-depth interviews and ethnography. Many of the faculty cross these methodological divides, equally sympathetic to all.
Master of Science Degree Program
The Master’s degree program in Communication, Culture and Media is a great option for academically oriented students who want to learn the basics of research and theory in communication and media studies, possibly to test the waters for further study, or to explore a personal fascination with mass media, mediated communication, cultural studies, social change and media. Students have the opportunity to take courses in Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Dornsife School of Public Health, LeBow College of Business or in the School of Education, and can use their elective credits to earn a graduate minor in another field of interest.
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Doctoral Degree Program
The doctoral degree program in communication is built on a highly collegial culture. Faculty regard students as junior colleagues who teach their own courses and co-write conference papers, articles, and even books. The students carry this culture one-step further: On their own initiative, they collaboratively write professional papers. While students are always invited to participate in faculties’ ongoing projects, they may also develop their own original research projects with the support and guidance of faculty. An active graduate student association places student representatives on faculty committees.
Program Requirements
The PhD coursework is structured around a set of core courses; a set of seminars with rotating topics; and electives in lecture courses, independent study work and dissertation credit. Students are encouraged to take additional seminar courses, as they enable collaborative relationships with professors and introduce students to our scholarly community. The communication PhD program requires 90.0 credits in total, and is full time only.
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