University of Central Florida, Nicholson School of Communication and Media
Health Communication
Instructional Communication
Public Relations and Strategic Communication (including Risk and Crisis Communication)
overview of program
The Ph.D. Program in Strategic Communuication at the University of Central Florida offers advanced instruction in health communication, instructional emergency risk communication, and crisis communication; it prepares students with the necessary knowledge and skills to pursue a successful, advanced career in communication and related fields in both academic and applied settings.
Carnegie Classification: R1
Modes Offered: In-person
Professional Development: $500 for conference travel
Communication doctorates conferred between 2020-25: 15
Contact information
Director of Graduate Studies
Dr. Jennifer Sandoval
Nicholson School of Communication
12405 Aquarius Agora Dr.
Orlando, FL 32816-1366
Phone: 407-823-1711
- Strategic Communication
- Digital/New Media/Communication Technology
- Science/Environmental/Risk Communication
Library Information
Additional Resources
URAP University Rankings—Language, Communication & Culture
- #260 of 300 World Universities
- Applicants must have an earned master’s degree or its equivalent in Communication or a related field (e.g., public relations, emergency management). Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all graduate work and must also have a cumulative 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate degree.
- A competitive score, with the range to be reviewed on regular basis, on each of the quantitative and verbal sections of the Graduate Record Examination (taken within five years prior to application to the program).
- Three letters of reference that evaluate the applicant’s academic performance, suitability, and potential for undertaking doctoral study, at least one of which must be written by a faculty member at the institution where the master’s degree was earned, preferably the thesis advisor or program director.
- A personal statement outlining the applicant’s academic and professional experience, the applicant’s professional and research goals, and a statement indicating a preference for working with a particular faculty member(s).
- A writing sample of the applicant’s work (at least 2500 words in length) demonstrating the ability to complete graduate-level research, preferably a portion of the student’s M.A. thesis.
- A CV or Resume.
- International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) unless they hold a degree from a U.S. accredited institution. The TOEFL is strongly preferred. The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 90 on the Internet-based test (IBT) and must take the speaking portion of the TOEFL and score a 26 or higher, 232 on the computer based test, or 575 on the paper-based test. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0.