Communication Field Requirements

To remain in good standing and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, students must meet the academic requirements outlined in the Code of Legislation, the field handbook, and by the special committee. These layers of governance work together to provide oversight and support for academic progress, while the policies clarify and establish mutual expectations for achieving degree milestones. Students are encouraged to work closely with their special committee, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), and Graduate Field Administrator (GFA) to stay on track and to communicate early about any delays or challenges. Failure to meet these expectations indicates that a student is not making satisfactory academic progress and is therefore not in good academic standing, which may affect funding and continued enrollment in the degree program.

The PhD program involves three stages of study:

  • Stage 1 in years one and two involves taking required and other coursework and culminates with the completion of the Second-Year Project.
  • Stage 2 in year three involves completing the A exam.
  • Stage 3 in years four and five involves conducting research, writing the dissertation, and defending it in the B exam.

Coursework

Although the specifics of each student’s PhD program will be determined by their special committee, all students are required to take four core courses, as well as graduate-level coursework within and outside of the field. The field’s core courses are:

  • COMM 6800 Studies in Communication (fall)
  • COMM 6810 Advanced Communication Theory (spring)
  • COMM 6820 Quantitative Research Methods (fall)
  • COMM 6830 Qualitative Research Methods in Communication (spring)

During these core courses students will write an application for Institutional Review Board approval and undertake CITI Basic Online Training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) - Full Course on RCR for Social & Behavioral Sciences (ID 47309).

While Cornell’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy stipulates that students in research degrees must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 to be in good academic standing or to be eligible for Title IV Aid, Communication PhD students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.7. A GPA below this threshold triggers a formal academic warning, requiring a remediation plan. If the GPA is not raised within 2 semesters, the student faces loss of funding or dismissal, following Graduate School and CGSU‑UE due process procedures.

Grades of B and below do not normally constitute satisfactory progress. All required courses must be taken for letter grades. S/U or “Audit” grades may be used for undergraduate courses taken to provide basic background (such courses do not count toward the required minimum credits). Course grades of Incomplete and No Grade Reported (which appear on transcripts as “INC” and “NGR,” respectively) can be resolved with a letter grade within one year from the date of the end of the course. After that time, they become a permanent part of the transcript. A student can retake a course for a grade, which would then appear on the transcript along with the INC or NGR.

A student’s elective courses should have a focus, usually relating to a specialization and/or the dissertation topic. This focus can be achieved by taking a number of courses within the Field of Communication or across fields that offer related courses, and courses should be selected in consultation with their committee. Students should be aware that other fields may have specific requirements for Minors; students should consult the relevant Graduate Field Administrator for more information.

Teaching Assistantship

Each PhD student is expected to assist in teaching an undergraduate course for at least two semesters, including COMM 2010 Oral Communication. This requirement will be completed through a funded teaching assistantship (TAship). TAs and their supervisors will complete the TA duties form each semester. Every student who TAs a Communication course is required to have successfully completed the Teaching Assistant Online Orientation. Additionally, international students must be cleared to TA by the Center for Teaching Innovation’s (CTI) International TA Program (ITAP). 

The Field encourages students to take advantage of the courses, workshops, and trainings offered by CTI. If a student's teaching performance is found to be unsatisfactory or incomplete, the student will not be considered in good academic standing. 

The Special Committee

The student’s program is guided by a special committee composed of graduate field faculty members chosen by the student in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The program places considerable responsibility on the student to determine, with their special committee, appropriate courses and a program of study to fulfill the requirements for the degree. Under this system, the student works with faculty members who can best direct the student’s course of study.

  • The minimum PhD special committee will consist of at least four members: the chair and at least two other members (minor members) must be from the Field of Communication, and one additional member whose primary appointment is outside of the field.
  • To ensure that a student is clearly identified with the Field of Communication, each student is encouraged to select their chair from the Field of Communication graduate faculty whose primary appointment is in the Department of Communication.
  • One field member will be appointed as a temporary advisor until the chair is selected. Once selected, the special committee chair must be added by the student in Student Center by September 30th of the student’s first semester of registration. The minor members must be in place by the end of the third registered semester, and the additional member needs to be secured before the A exam process can begin.
  • The student’s special committee will meet at least twice annually for an individual review of progress.
  • If a chair or committee member steps down, students must find a replacement within expected timeframes outlined in the Code of Legislation to remain in good standing. Students may not remain registered in the Graduate School if they fail to reconstitute a committee. If a student is unable to find a new chair within the required timeframes, they will be withdrawn from the Graduate School.

Doctoral students may make changes to their special committee at any time prior to the A exam. Committee changes after an A exam require the dean’s approval. Updates must be submitted through Student Center.

 Please see the Graduate School's website for additional information about special committees.

Biannual Student Progress Review

Academic progress for all students will be reviewed twice each academic year by the field faculty. Students will provide documentation suitable for the review as solicited by the Graduate Field Administrator. In the spring, students will also complete the Student Progress Review (SPR) form prior to the field faculty meeting. Students with cumulative grade point averages below 3.7 (on a 4.0 scale) should expect serious questions to be raised about their ability to complete the PhD program.

At the field meeting, the progress and suitability of each student’s program will be evaluated. Input about the student’s academic progress, including examination results, teaching assistantship evaluations, and overall progress in the program, will be collected from faculty and other appropriate sources. The outcome of the review will be shared with the student via an email from their chair after the December review and via the faculty portion of the SPR form after the May review. The special committee holds the final determination of whether the student is making satisfactory progress in the program.