Fourteen graduate students pose in front of the Nittany Lion shrine, a large sculpture of a mountain lion carved out of limestone.

Graduate Programs

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications offers a master’s degree in media studies and Ph.D. in mass communications. Our curriculum allows students to design a program of study tailored to their interests, choosing from an array of classes each semester that explore theory and cutting-edge research methods in mass communication.

News

Nov 19, 2024 From the newsroom, doctoral student studies journalism’s modern-day challenges

Oct 24, 2024 More user control may help ease negative reactions to ads on voice assistants

Sep 26, 2024 Two Pulitzer Prize winners highlight annual Foster-Foreman Conference

Sep 26, 2024 Photographers to discuss challenges of covering major news events

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    one winner of 2020 Martin Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student: Jason Freeman

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    past and forthcoming presidents of leading professional organizations: Marie Hardin (AEJMC) and Mary Beth Oliver (ICA)

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    three International Communication Fellows: Homero Gil de Zúñiga, Mary Beth Oliver and S. Shyam Sundar

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    of our faculty are editors or senior editors for major journals: - Computers in Human Behavior (Bu Zhong) - Mass Communication & Society (Michael Schmierbach) - Journal of Media Ethics (Patrick Plaisance) - Journal of Information Policy (Krishna Jayakar)

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    recent job placements by our Ph.D. graduates: - Litzy Galarza, assistant professor, University of Northern Alabama - Virginia Harrison, assistant professor, Clemson University - Wunpini F. Mohammed, assistant professor, University of Georgia - Maria D. Molina, assistant professor, Michigan State University - Jinping Wang, assistant professor, Duquesne University

Recent Graduates

Rose Liqiu Luwei head shot

Rose Liqiu Luwei

Assistant Professor, Hong Kong Baptist University

2018, Ph.D.

Arienne Ferchaud head shot

Arienne Ferchaud

Assistant Professor, Florida State University

2018, Ph.D.

Yan Huang head shot

Yan Huang

Assistant Professor, University of Houston

2107, Ph.D.

Michail Vafeiadis head shot

Michail Vafeiadis

Assistant Professor, Auburn University

2017, Ph.D.

Steve Bien-Aime head shot

Steve Bien-Aime

Assistant Professor, Northern Kentucky University

2016, Ph.D.

Frank Waddell head shot

Frank Waddell

Assistant Professor, University of Florida

2016, Ph.D.

Bo Zhang head shot

Bo Zhang

UX Researcher, Facebook

2015, Ph.D.

Kathryn Blevins head shot

Kathryn Blevins

Assistant Professor, University of Idaho

2014, Ph.D.

Melanie Formentin head shot

Melanie Formentin

Assistant Professor, Towson University

2014, Ph.D.

Erin Ash head shot

Erin Ash

Associate Professor, Clemson University

2013, Ph.D.

Lauren DeCarvalho head shot

Lauren DeCarvalho

Assistant Professor, University of Denver

2013, Ph.D.

Chenjerai Kumanyika head shot

Chenjerai Kumanyika

Assistant Professor, Rutgers University

2013, Ph.D.