THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Degree Types: PhD

The Program in Media, Technology, and Society (MTS) offers an innovative, interdisciplinary, and flexible curriculum focusing on the impact of our dynamic media and technology environment. The program encourages students to pursue their passion by designing individualized programs that incorporate relevant classes from across the University.

The program faculty is internationally renowned for their research in areas such as children’s development, digital media use and effects, health and well-being, human-computer interaction, innovation and change, media institutions, networks and organizing, and social media. Our faculty actively pursues opportunities to make positive economic, cultural, and social impact through their research in businesses, nonprofit, and government agencies.

Additional resources:

• Department website
• Program handbook(s)

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

Master's

Students who enter without a master’s degree complete their MA as part of their preparation for the doctorate. In addition to the coursework requirements described below, students shall be required to prepare a conference-quality paper under the supervision of a three person committee during the fall quarter of their second year of coursework. Students are encouraged to use the first summer following coursework to begin preparation of this paper.

PhD

Two years (six quarters) of full-time coursework is required. All doctoral students are required to take two courses:

1. a proseminar (MTS 501-0 Introduction to Grad Research in MTS), in which students are introduced to a variety of interests within MTS; and
2. a second-year practicum course focused on learning how to write a publishable-quality, empirical social-scientific research paper (MTS 503-0 The Practice of Scholarship).

Not including these required courses, students must fulfill the TGS coursework requirements, including at least four letter-graded courses offered by MTS faculty at the 400 or 500 level. Students are also required to develop methodological expertise appropriate to their interests as specified by their committee.

Other PhD Degree Requirements

• Examinations: upon completion of coursework, written and oral comprehensive examination
• Research/Projects: present a research paper or grant proposal by the end of the second year of coursework
• PhD Dissertation: based on original, independent research
• Final Evaluations: oral defense of dissertation