The Manship School is home to the nation’s only doctoral program in media & public
affairs. We have a broad view of media and public affairs, with research on political polarization,
digital technology, crisis communication, wartime propaganda, gender and sexuality,
media effects, health communication, native advertising and the representation of
minority groups, among others.
We fund all of our doctoral students for four years ($25,000 per year) and admit only
a small class to ensure personal attention and mentorship from faculty. Our acceptance
rate is about 15%. Our doctoral program graduates work at a variety of institutions:
research-intensive, teaching-centered, Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
and international institutions.
Cutting-Edge Research Facilities
The Manship School prepares scholars to study the ever-changing world of mass media
with three research laboratories and infrastructure for a wide range of quantitative
and qualitative approaches to research media messages and their effects.
Collaborative Research Groups
The Manship School uses endowed professorships to support collaborative research groups
of faculty members and students. The funds allow the teams to collect original data,
hire research assistants, travel to archives and host mini-conferences.
Excellent Funding
The Manship School admits a small cohort of doctoral students each year on a highly
competitive basis. Our doctoral funding includes a $25,000 9-month stipend, for each
of four years, provided the student remains in good standing, and a tuition exemption
(students must pay some mandatory student fees). We support doctoral students to present
research at two conferences per academic year, with additional funds available from
the LSU Graduate Student Association. We also fund doctoral research through our distinguished
Hamilton Fellowship awarded annually, funded research groups and dissertation awards.
Admissions
The Manship School doctoral program accepts applications for fall admission. Applicants
submit a statement of purpose, resume, writing sample, transcripts from all prior
universities or colleges attended and standardized test scores (e.g., GRE and TOEFL
for international applicants) online. We also require recommendation letters from
three people familiar with your academic work. For full consideration, you should
submit your application by January 15 to be reviewed for admission and funding decisions
for the following fall.
You must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA, undergraduate and master’s. You must be in the
process of completing or have completed a master’s degree or a terminal graduate degree
(for example, an M.F.A. or a J.D.) We prefer to see GRE scores above 156 verbal &
quantitative and above 4.5 analytical writing. GRE exemptions are available. Please
inquire. For TOEFL, we prefer scores above 100 on the internet-based test.
For international degree requirements, please visit https://www.lsu.edu/graduateschool/admissions/international_admissions.php.
We accept applications by January 15 for fall admission. There is no summer or spring
admission for the doctoral program.
After initial screening, finalists for admission to the doctoral program are invited
to LSU and the Manship School for a campus visit and interview at our expense. Applicants
living outside the U.S. are invited to participate in the interview process via Skype.
Final offers for admission are made after the campus visit, typically the first or
second week in March
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Degree Requirements
The total number of hours required for Ph.D. in Media & Public Affairs degree is 88
hours.*
I. Core Courses (31 hours)
- MC 7000: Proseminar in Mass Communication and Public Affairs (1)
- MC 7001: Research Methods in Mass Communication (3)
- MC 7002: Mass Communication Philosophy and Principles (3)
- MC 7005: Public Opinion and Public Affairs (3)
- MC 7018: Legal Problems of the Mass Media (3)
- MC 7019: Emerging Media: Theory, Application & Effect (3)
- MC 7021: Mass Communication Theory (3)
- MC 7036: Seminar in Media and Public Affairs Theory (3)
- MC 7201: Advanced Research Methods in Mass Communication and Public Affairs (3)
- MC 7209: Public Communication Practices (3)
- MC 7210: Public Communication Administration (3)
II. Required Externship & Dissertation (27 hours)
- MC 8009: Public Affairs Externship (9)
- MC 9000: Dissertation Research (18)
III. Mass Communication Electives (12 hours)
IV. Two additional advanced Statistics or Methodology courses (6 hours)
V. Four courses concentrated in a single outside program or concentration of four
courses drawn from at least two supported fields (12 hours)
- If you wish to declare a University recognized minor, you must complete the outside
minor program’s full requirements in addition to the required 88 hours to complete
the doctoral program.
Excellent Funding
The Manship School admits a small cohort of doctoral students each year on a highly
competitive basis. Our doctoral funding includes a $25,000 9-month stipend, for each
of four years, provided the student remains in good standing, and a tuition exemption
(students must pay some mandatory student fees). We support doctoral students to present
research at two conferences per academic year, with additional funds available from
the LSU Graduate Student Association. We also fund doctoral research through our distinguished
Hamilton Fellowship awarded annually, funded research groups and dissertation awards.
