Department of Communication, Stanford University — comm.stanford.edu
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Frequently Asked Questions

How many students are admitted each year and how many are there in the program?

5-6 student are admitted per year. The program is a four year program. We have approximately 30 Ph.D. students.

What are the amounts awarded for fellowships and assistantships? Is everyone funded the first year?

Fellowship support is available for 2 or 3 quarters of the first year, and various forms of support are available for subsequent years. Four years of support are guaranteed for students who are making satisfactory progress toward the degree. Forms of support include both teaching and research assistantships. If the student has completed all degree requirements except the dissertation within the four years, a fifth year of support may be available. For students matriculating in fall 2011, fellowships awarded will cover tuition and a living stipend of $7,760 per quarter.

Is health insurance covered and is additional funding available for the summer?

Health insurance is covered for the fall, winter, and spring quarters. See Stanford University's Cardinal Care for more information. While summer support is not guaranteed, students have often received summer support through their advisor(s).

How many units of courses can a student with a Master's degree transfer for credit toward Ph.D.?

The University will transfer up to 45 units of credit for a Masters degree toward the Ph.D. degree in Communication.

Where can I find more information about the faculty's published works?

Most faculty list their published work on the faculty pages on the department web site, or on their personal web site.

How many core courses does a Ph.D. student have to take?

There are 5 core courses that every first year student has to take -- 301, 311, 314, 317, and 318 -- that are provided for them exclusively. In addition, the Ph.D. students need to take 206 and 208 that are also open to Masters students. Before the end of third year, Ph.D. students must complete a course in statistics, 2 advanced methods courses, and 3 series of lecture and seminar courses.