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Communication
Department Chair: Theodore O. Windt
Main Office: 1117 Cathedral of Learning
(412) 624-6569 (phone) (412) 624-1878 (fax)
http://www.pitt.edu/~website/communication/gradstudy.html

Primary Faculty: Professors KRIPS, LYNE (Director of Graduate Studies), WINDT (Chair); Associate Professors CLARK, DANIEL (Vice Provost), EGOLF, KANE, OLSON, POULAKOS, STABILE; Assistant Professors FUSFIELD, MITCHELL, SKUPIEN; Lecturer GAREIS 

Affiliated Faculty (Adjunct faculty and those with primary appointments in other areas): Professors BEVERLEY (Hispanic Languages and Literatures), BOVÉ (English), FISCHER (English; Director, Film Studies), MacCABE (English), McGUIRE (History and Philosophy of Science)

Emeritus Faculty: Professors MATTHEWS, NEWMAN, WALTER; Associate Professor MELIA

The department offers the MA and PhD degrees in Rhetoric and Communication. Prior to January of 1996, the department also included a program in Communication Science and Disorders. For more information on that program, which is now part of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, call (412) 647-1344.

The candidate will, upon admission, be assigned an advisor who will assist the candidate in planning a course of study. Following are policy statements and requirements for Rhetoric and Communication (COMMRC).

The areas of major emphasis are: rhetorical theory and criticism, political communication, public argument, philosophy and rhetoric, rhetoric of science, communication theory, communication and production of meaning, and media studies. 

Admission to Graduate Studies
The department offers programs leading to the MA and PhD degrees. Admission is highly selective. In order to be admitted to graduate standing, students must meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and supply materials called for in the department’s application packet, available on request. Materials to be submitted by February 1 are: Graduate Record Examination scores, TOEFL scores (for non-native speakers), certified copies of all post-secondary educational records, three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample. Those requesting admission without a teaching assistantship have until April 1 to apply.

Graduate Student Support
The department has a limited number of teaching assistantships each year, and these are renewable for up to four years, depending upon circumstances. They include full tuition scholarships. There are also several fellowships as well as financial assistance for minorities available through the University.

Master's Degree Requirements
Master of Arts candidates must take a total of 30 credits. Six of these credits may be from another department. The University requirements concerning residence and course requirements are explained earlier in this bulletin under the Requirements for the Master of Arts and Master of Science Degrees section. After the completion of 30 credits, candidates will be examined by this division's Comprehensive Committee. To satisfy the comprehensive requirements for the MA, students must answer questions in two of the following three areas: communication, rhetoric, and media, plus additional questions in an area of specialty as designated by the candidate. In addition, candidates are required to complete two major research papers or a master's thesis.

Doctoral Degree Requirements
Candidates for the PhD degree must meet the general requirements of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences regarding preliminary and comprehensive examinations, overview or prospectus meeting, dissertation, and oral defense. For the comprehensive, students must answer questions in two of the following three areas: communication, rhetoric, and media, plus additional questions in an area of specialty as designated by the candidate. A minimum of 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate is required, including 12 dissertation credits. Twelve of these credits must be taken from another related department.

  Courses

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Director of Graduate Studies; Department of Communication; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

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