Doctorate in Philosophy Communication

The Department of Communication at the Faculty of Arts offers an MA program in Communication with thesis or with research paper, a Master of Communication (MC) by coursework to which a co-op option can be added, and a PhD in Communication.

The Department of Communication, in collaboration with the University of Ottawas Co-op office, offers a co-op option to a limited number of students in the MC program. Students must request this option in their admission file. The co-op option provides the opportunity to acquire practical work experience by completing two one-term paid work placements.

The School is one of the participating units in the collaborative program in Science, Society and Policy (master's level only).

The PhD in Communication program is designed for students with academic and professional training.

The program focuses on two fields of research: media studies and organizational communication. The media studies field examines the content and the modes of operation of traditional and emerging media in their social, cultural, economic, political and regulatory contexts.

Organizational communication focuses on interpersonal and group interactions in the workplace; planning for internal and external communication in private, public, and nonprofit organizations; risk/crisis communication, public relations, ICTs uses within organizations, etc.

The program aims to develop in graduates the following skills:

• Evaluate critically the theories, concepts and assumptions underlying media studies or organizational communication with particular attention to their chosen research interest.
• Demonstrate an ability to identify and work with the varying epistemological traditions developed by French-speaking and English-speaking scholars in communication studies.
• Contribute to the development of skills, theories, approaches, and materials for both academics and professionals.
• Analyze data and communicate research results to diverse audiences, including scholars, policymakers, and professionals in communication studies.

The master's programs are offered on a full-time or on a part-time basis. The PhD program is offered full-time. The master's programs are offered in English and in French whereas the PhD program is offered in bilingual (English-French) format.

In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have a right to produce their work, their thesis, and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

The programs are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

For an application to be considered, the applicant must:

• Hold a master’s degree with thesis or research paper in communication, or in a related discipline.
• Have obtained a minimum average of 75% (B+) calculated according to graduate studies guidelines.
• Provide two confidential letters of recommendation.
• Provide a CV and a statement of interest outlining career goals.
• Provide the name of at least one faculty member of the program whose research interests match their own.
• Provide an outline of the proposed research project.

Candidates with a master’s degree in a field related to communication and who have not taken any basic course in communication (i.e. theory or research) will have to fill this gap by completing one or two (undergraduate or master’s) courses prior to admission. To find out which courses to take, applicants should contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication.

Language Requirements

This program is bilingual: students must take courses in English and courses in French. The program's structure is such that 50% of courses are offered in English and 50% in French.

Applicants must demonstrate an active knowledge of either French or English and the ability to read and understand the other language. To demonstrate his/her active knowledge whether of French or English, the applicant must provide evidence that he/she has studied for at least three years (full-time) in a school, college or university in Canada or elsewhere, where the language of instruction is exclusively English or French; that his/her mother tongue is English or French; that he/she has at least one full year of professional work experience in English or in French. Candidates who are unable to provide satisfactory evidence of their proficiency in English and/or in French must complete one of the following language tests and obtain the specified minimum grade :

• A minimum TOEFL score of 625 (5 in the written); a minimum score of 107 (24 in the written) in the IBT (Internet Based TOEFL).
• A minimum IELTS score of 7 (International English Language Testing System).
• An average score of 5 in listening/reading and a writing score of 4.5 in the CanTEST (for English) or TESTCan (for French), administered by the University of Ottawa.
• A minimum DALF (Diplôme approfondie de langue française) score C2.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to interview candidates and impose a language test the outcome of which will determine whether the applicant must take a course in French or English (e.g. FLS 2513/ESL 2113) to enhance their competence.

Transfer from Master’s to PhD

Students enrolled in the MA program in Communication at the University of Ottawa have the opportunity to go directly to the PhD program without having to write the thesis provided the following conditions are met:

• Have an average of A- in the last two years of undergraduate studies;
• Have successfully completed four courses of the MA program (12 units) with an average of at least A-;
• Have shown satisfactory progress in their research;
• Have a letter of recommendation from the proposed doctoral thesis supervisor;
• Have the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Communication.

The student must make a written request to transfer to the PhD program no later than the beginning of the fourth term of enrolment and must enrol in the doctoral program in the fifth term at the latest. Once the transition is made, all the requirements of the doctoral program must be met. The total number of course units required is 27 (12 at the master’s level, plus 15 at the doctoral level).

• Apply online through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), by completing form 105.
• Declare all your current and previous postsecondary studies, completed or not, even if they are not related to your application. Failure to do so may lead to the cancellation of your application or the withdrawal of your offer of admission at any time.
• Enter your email address, making sure it is accurate. We will use this address to communicate with you for all matters. Also, check your inbox (and junk mail folder) regularly for messages from the University of Ottawa.
• Pay the application fees for all your admission applications. Applications are forwarded to the University of Ottawa only after fees are paid in full and the payment has cleared. Learn more about application fees.
• Note that OUAC is not part of the University of Ottawa. It handles applications to all Ontario universities and is responsible for transferring your application to our admission office.