communication phd wisconsin

Ph.D. in Mass Communications

Our doctoral program in mass communication, jointly administered with the Department of Life Sciences Communication, is internationally recognized for our faculty and areas of research. Applicants to the Joint Ph.D. in Mass Communications may apply to one or both departments, depending on your areas of research interest. Options are:

• Mass Communications: Journalism & Mass Comm (code G630L)
• Mass Communications: Life Sciences Comm (code G630A)

The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors. Our Ph.D. graduates become some of the most successful researchers and leaders in the field of mass communication. We require our  students to engage in a systematic search for answers to well-formulated and substantive questions. The research process culminates in the discovery and reporting of new knowledge to others.

A doctoral dissertation in Mass Communications demonstrates a student’s ability to examine in detail an important issue in the field, using original research. Faculty members expect the dissertation to be clearly presented while conveying the student’s close familiarity with his or her research area.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

Working closely with their advisor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their area of specialization.

Visit the  Ph.D. in Mass Communications  website for more information.

• Admissions Info

Admissions requirements:

The Graduate School establishes  minimum admission criteria for all students who enter the University of Wisconsin–Madison. International applicants should refer to the Graduate School’s website for information on English proficiency requirements and financial resource information.

Application deadline:

December 15

Application requirements:

• Online application
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• GRE: The GRE is optional for Mass Comm-Life Sciences Communication applicants for the fall 2024 application cycle.

The online application is available  here .

Writing samples are not required for applications to Mass Comm-Life Sciences Communication.

Fee Waivers

The UW-Madison Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee waivers for eligible students. Please visit the  Graduate School website to see if you qualify and to apply. If you are from a Graduate Research Scholars-eligible group and do not already qualify for a waiver from the Graduate School, please contact our academic advising manager Lynn Bartholomew at  [email protected] at least one week prior to the application deadline to inquire about a fee waiver. Unfortunately, LSC is not able to provide fee waivers to international students or other domestic students who are not GRS-eligible.

LSC Resources

LSC Ph.D. student handbook appendix Mass Comm PhD Joint-Program Handbook LSC funding and financial aid

Academic Resources

Deadlines for graduate students Enrollment information (deadlines, procedures, FAQs, etc.) Academic Policies and Procedures

Graduate School Resources

Graduate School Home Graduate School Contacts Graduate student family and parent resources Guide to student life Professional development

Other Resources

Assistantship appointment rates CALS Career Services Commencement McBurney Disability Resources Center Scholarship application and information Student Privacy Rights (FERPA) Tuition UW-Madison emergency procedures University Health Services UW-Madison Grants Database

Do I need to secure an advisor prior to applying to the program?

No, in fact, students are admitted to the program without a formal advisor and will typically pick one during their first year. In order to help students get started in the program, they are assigned an orientation advisor who will help them prepare for and proceed through their first year in the program. In many cases, students work with this advisor throughout their time in the program. We also have a process for switching advisors if a student later decides that a different faculty advisor would be a more appropriate fit.

Is funding available for students in this program?

Yes. Please refer to our funding page for more information.

What can I do with this degree?

Students with a Ph.D. in Mass Communications go on to a variety of careers in academia and industry. Check out this page for a list of first jobs secured after graduation by our doctoral students.

Is the program offered in an online modality?

No, we do not offer an online Ph.D. in Mass Communications.

Plan a Visit to the Department of Life Sciences Communication We encourage all potential graduate student applicants to visit the Department of Life Sciences Communication (LSC) at Hiram Smith Hall. The best time to visit is when most faculty and students are on campus, September through May.

We encourage applicants to contact  specific faculty members  to explore mutual interests.

Before scheduling a visit, please contact our Academic Advising Manager,  Lynn Bartholomew , or the Director of Graduate Studies, Nan Li .

While visiting LSC, sit in on a  class  or a  SCIMEP research group  meeting, or tour campus facilities and attractions, such as the  student unions , or the  Wisconsin Institute for Discovery .

Finding LSC LSC is located in Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive.   Use the campus map to find us .

Getting Around Campus The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus is located in downtown Madison. Public transportation is an easy way to travel on campus and buses frequently stop close to Hiram Smith Hall. Information about bus routes can be found on the Madison Metro website and also at the bus stops themselves.

• Madison Metro Route 80 is a free campus shuttle that covers most of campus with a stop close to Hiram Smith Hall.
• All City/UW bus routes can be found at  Madison Metro
• For more information about getting around campus, use the  Transportation Services  link and the official  map of UW-Madison Campus

Parking The closest public parking ramp to Hiram Smith Hall is Lot 36. There is also free after hours and weekend parking on campus. View the online campus  maps with parking locations .

More Information UW Visitor & Information Programs  has information about the entire campus as well as the beautiful city of Madison.

Ph.D. in Mass Communications

Applications are due December 15th

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Mass Communications is offered jointly by the Department of Life Sciences Communication and the  School of Journalism and Mass Communication .

The Ph.D. degree in Mass Communications provides future academics and professionals with rigorous training in theory and research with highly individualized programs that students develop in consultation with their advisors. Our Ph.D. graduates become some of the most successful researchers and leaders in the field of mass communication.   We require our students to engage in a systematic search for answers to well-formulated and substantive questions. The research process culminates in the discovery and reporting of new knowledge to others.

A doctoral dissertation in Mass Communications demonstrates a student’s ability to examine in detail an important issue in the field, using original research. Faculty members expect the dissertation to be clearly presented while conveying the student’s close familiarity with his or her research area.

The program offers several internationally recognized areas of research and teaching excellence: 

• civic and political communication
• health and environmental communications
• history of media institutions
• information technologies
• social networking and digital media
• processes and effects of mediated communication
• law and ethics of media
• international and inter-cultural communication
• public opinion
• science and risk communication
• social marketing
• journalism studies
• media ecologies
• race and media

Working closely with their advisor and committee, students draw from courses offered in departments across campus to develop a plan of study in preparation for independent and original research in their area of specialization.

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Communication.

Communication, PhD

Related certificates.

• Graduate Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation
• Graduate Certificate in Rhetorical Leadership
• Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

The Department of Communication offers MA and PhD programs. The Doctor of Philosophy in Communication provides study and training for entry into academic or professional careers that would necessitate theory-driven basic or applied research on communication practices and outcomes. The program’s thrust emphasizes studying the effects of professional communication practices on organizational goals and structure, the processes of interpersonal communication and conflict resolution, and the conduct of civic practice and public communication.

Admission Requirements 

Credits and courses, additional requirements, application deadlines.

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars .

An applicant must meet  Graduate School requirements , hold a master’s degree in communication or a related field, and meet these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program in regular status:

• Have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.33 (B+) in course work for the master’s degree.
• Submit a reason statement describing your qualifications and reasons for applying to this program, as well as the fit between your interests and department offerings. 
• Submit your curriculum vitae outlining relevant qualifications, employment, and scholarly and professional activity.
• Submit letters of recommendation from at least three (3) communication professionals attesting to the student’s capability to perform satisfactorily at the doctoral level (academic references preferred).
• Submit a writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s analytical and critical thinking skills.

Applicants lacking the requisite GPA, and those without the Master of Arts/Science in Communication (or an equivalent degree) may be considered for admission on probation, and may be required to complete preparatory coursework.

Reapplication/Readmission

Students who receive the MA in Communication from UWM must reapply to be considered for admission to the PhD program.

To fulfill the credit requirement for the PhD in Communication, a student must complete at least 54 credits beyond the master’s degree, of which at least 48 credits must be in courses numbered 700 or above. Thirty-six (36) credits must be taken from the Communication Department. Students may complete 6 credit hours in courses below 700 offered outside the Department of Communication. Courses taken toward a master’s degree will not apply to the doctoral program of studies. The 54 credits must be distributed as follows:

Students will determine additional research-tool credits in consultation with their advisor, so as to demonstrate methodological competence in their chosen area of study.

No more than 12 credits of COMMUN 990 may be applied toward the 54-credit requirement.

Major Professor as Advisor

Initially, unless a student specifically requests a particular faculty member, all doctoral students are assigned an “interim” advisor. After the completion of 12 credits, a student is required to designate a faculty member with specialized interests compatible with those of the student to act as the major professor. The major professor is expected to assist the student in planning the remainder of the program of studies, chair the student’s preliminary examination committee, supervise the completion of the PhD dissertation, and conduct of the dissertation defense meeting. All students should consult the departmental handbook for additional details on departmental policies and procedures.

Comprehensive Preliminary Examination

A student must pass all components of a comprehensive preliminary examination to be advanced to candidacy for the doctoral degree. The examining committee is responsible for setting an examination schedule agreeable to all parties subject to the constraints that:

• examinations must include at least 18 hours of questioning, and
• must be completed in no longer than two (2) calendar weeks.

Each member of the examining committee must read and pass the student on all examination questions the faculty member contributes. The student must receive a passing evaluation from all members of the committee on the written portion of the examination in order to attempt an oral defense of the examination. An affirmative vote constitutes the committee’s decision to advance the student to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

Students who fail the doctoral preliminary examination may not proceed to the dissertation. The exam may be retaken only once. The preliminary examination must be successfully completed within five years of initial enrollment.

Dissertation

The candidate, under the supervision of the major professor and in collaboration with a dissertation committee, must write a dissertation that demonstrates the ability to formulate a research topic and pursue an independent and original investigation of the chosen topic. The practices for the dissertation will conform to the guidelines established by the UWM Graduate School. The dissertation committee shall be composed of the major professor and four additional graduate faculty members (at least three of whom must be from the Communication Department’s graduate faculty). The dissertation committee is responsible for assessing the dissertation project, which involves approving the dissertation prospectus proposal, reviewing working drafts of research in progress, and, finally, evaluating the candidate’s ability to defend decisions made during the course of research. After submission of a reading copy of the dissertation to the faculty dissertation committee, the candidate and the major professor will schedule a committee meeting for the purpose of undertaking an oral defense of the dissertation work by the candidate. At the conclusion of the candidate’s oral remarks, the dissertation committee will vote on passing the candidate’s dissertation work. A majority of the committee must vote to approve the dissertation and recommend granting of the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

The student must meet minimum  Graduate School residence requirements  of one continuous academic year of full-time graduate studies at UWM. This can be satisfied by completing at least 8 graduate credits in each of two consecutive semesters, or 6 or more graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions. Residence credit cannot be earned at the master’s level.

All components of the PhD program must be completed within 10 years of matriculation.

Communication PhD Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the PhD Program in Communication will be able to: 

• Summarize, synthesize, and critique relevant literature to develop critical understandings of the history, theory, concepts, and debates in at least two major areas of communication research. 
• Develop and complete an original, large-scale research project that pursues a significant research question in the field of communication. 
• Justify the rationale that produced their project’s research questions, methodological choices, and conclusions. 
• Ethically conduct high-quality research in communication, including methods, analysis, and writing. 
• Develop and use professional oral and written communication skills suitable for professional conference presentation, academic publication (print or digital), applications for grants, awards, and fellowships, and other forms of professional discourse. 
• Explain the significance of their coursework and research in communication for developing individual and social responsibility, civic knowledge and engagement (both local and global), ethical reasoning, and action.  
• Embody professional expectations for ethics, collegiality, service, and engagement with the communication discipline by attending and presenting at academic conferences, conducting research, writing grant proposals, and performing other professional activity. 

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• Communication Sciences and Disorders, PhD

The department offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD in communication sciences and disorders. An additional program in the department leads to the AuD in audiology. The graduate program provides the opportunity for study in the areas of audiology, speech–language pathology, hearing science, language science, and speech science. The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare clinicians, researchers, and teachers who possess a solid foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.

The PhD program provides relevant classroom and laboratory experiences for the scholar–researcher interested in communication processes and communicative disorders. A student's academic program will consist of course work within the department and in related areas such as psychology, biology, linguistics, statistics, computer science, and education. Students completing the program will be prepared for careers as university professors, laboratory researchers, and senior clinicians.

Individual programs can be designed for students who wish to pursue professional training/clinical certification (in either speech–language pathology or audiology) and the PhD degree. Such students follow a modified sequence of course work, clinical training, and research experience in order to satisfy all academic and certification requirements in five to six years.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

The program is open to individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree and who meet the minimum admission requirements of the Graduate School and the department. Entering students who do not have undergraduate majors in communicative disorders will typically be required to take prerequisite course work, which may lengthen the time require to earn a graduate degree.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must meet the Graduate School’s admission requirements, as well as department-specific requirements.

A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (4.0=A); however, the students we accept into the program typically have much higher GPAs

Letters of Recommendation

These letters should address your potential for academic success in graduate school. At least two should come from instructors who have knowledge of your academic performance. The third may come from a clinical supervisor, employer, or other individual who has knowledge of your academic potential and likelihood for success in graduate school. Please submit no more than three letters of recommendation. 

Reasons for Graduate Study

This is an opportunity for you to highlight experiences, related skills, and personal attributes which make you an exceptional candidate. 1-3 pages, single-spaced.

CV or Resume

Include honors and awards

Transcripts

Upload a copy of your unofficial transcripts. These show grades earned at every college or university you have attended, including study abroad. If admitted, the Graduate School will request official transcripts.

Supplemental Application

Fill out the supplemental application that is found in the online graduate school application. 

English Proficiency Requirement

International degree-seeking applicants must prove English proficiency using the Graduate School's requirements .

Notable Advice

• Submit all materials one week prior to deadline. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
• File your application early. Do not wait until you can gather all your materials. It is better to file early and send additional items as they become available.
• Track your application status .  After submission of your application, you will receive a link to a personal web page where you can track your application status. We update this page as we receive your materials, usually within two weeks of receipt.
• For more information, review the UW–Madison Graduate School “ Steps to Apply ” and “ Admissions FAQ ”.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Financial assistance, sometimes available to graduate students in communication sciences and disorders, consists of scholarships, fellowships, traineeships, and project and research assistant positions. Financial assistance is very limited and varies from year to year. Students who are considering applying for financial aid should contact the department for further information.

PhD students typically receive funding in the form of research assistantships and work in their advisor's research lab.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Mode of Instruction

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Required Courses

The plan of study must encompass an area of specialization chosen from speech pathology, audiology, language disorders, and normal aspects of speech, hearing and language. Although there are no specific course requirements for the major, the study plan should be comprehensive in scope and should be tailored according to the student's research and academic needs. Students must also satisfy a core requirement by taking the following seminar/courses:

Teaching Requirement

The teaching requirement can be met by taking a 1-credit seminar taught within or outside the department, a 1-credit independent study with the advisor that involves lecturing or developing course materials or student projects, or an independent study with the major advisor that involves reading and discussing scholarly writings that concern teaching. The form of the teaching credit should be discussed with the major advisor and must have the advisor's approval.

Statistical Methods

All doctoral students are expected to become proficient in statistical methods. Students are required to complete at least 9 credits of statistical methods, which must also include a course on research methods or experimental design. Many students satisfy this requirement by taking courses in the Educational Psychology ( ED PSYCH ) or the Statistics ( STAT ).

For instance, a rigorous and worthwhile statistics sequence could be STAT/​F&W ECOL/​HORT  571 Statistical Methods for Bioscience I and STAT/​F&W ECOL/​HORT  572 Statistical Methods for Bioscience II plus an experimental design class, such as ED PSYCH 762 Introduction to the Design of Educational Experiments .

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate credits earned at other institutions.

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

Credits earned as a professional student at uw-madison (law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary careers), credits earned as a university special student at uw–madison.

No prior coursework taken as a UW–Madison University Special student is allowed.

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

When you are admitted as a doctoral student, you will choose an academic advisor who will serve as your sponsor and mentor for the duration of the program. You may change advisors at any time in the course of your program, provided you and your advisor agree on this.

Your academic advisor may be a regular faculty member in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, or may be affiliate or joint faculty. If an affiliate faculty member is serving as your academic advisor, a regular faculty member must be assigned as your departmental contact to regularly review your progress and adherence to departmental requirements.

To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree, the Graduate School expects them to meet with their advisor on a regular basis.

Students are required to submit an annual assessment of their progress to their advisor, which is then reviewed by the PhD Committee.

Credits Per Term Allowed

Time limits.

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS)  (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Students should contact the department chair or program director with questions about grievances. They may also contact the L&S Academic Divisional Associate Deans, the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning Administration, or the L&S Director of Human Resources.

• Professional Development

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

• Learning Outcomes
• (Foundations of Research) Possess foundational knowledge about the particular subject area of the chosen area, and be fully conversant with the classic and contemporary literature.
• (Foundations of Research) Master data collection techniques specific to their chosen area of research.
• (Foundations of Research) Fully conversant with the theoretical issues and tensions within their chosen area of research.
• (Foundations of Research) Gain high-level knowledge and expertise in the statistical analysis of research data and graphical approaches to exploration of data sets.
• (Foundations of Research) Communicate complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
• (Dissertation) Design and execute an original experiment (or experiments) that clearly fills a gap in the existing literature and is worthy of publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals.
• (Dissertation) Skill, experience, and knowledge base to defend the dissertation work to a committee of five faculty members.
• (Professional Conduct) Design and conduct experiments.
• (Professional Conduct) Formulate research questions that are based on sound analyses of existing literature, and that show evidence of logical argument.
• (Professional Conduct) Understand how to examine data for patterns that are meaningful and patterns that reflect likely data collection errors.
• (Professional Conduct) Write research proposals and learn to develop carefully argued proposals and explanations.
• (Professional Conduct) Make presentations of their research at national and international conferences.
• (Professional Conduct) Pass a summary exam (6 hours written, 2 hours oral) that admits them to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Information about faculty and staff can be found on the   program's website .

• Requirements

Contact Information

Communication Sciences and Disorders College of Letters & Science Doctorate Program https://csd.wisc.edu/

Chris Pahl, Graduate Coordinator [email protected] (608) 262-6464 318 Goodnight Hall 1975 Willow Dr., Madison, WI 5306 https://csd.wisc.edu/ph-d.htm

Dr. Nadine Connor, Program Director [email protected] (608) 262-1044 361 Goodnight Hall 1975 Willow Dr., Madison, WI 53706 https://csd.wisc.edu/ph-d.htm

Graduate Program Handbook View Here

Graduate School grad.wisc.edu

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Graduate Admissions

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication is dedicated to being a welcoming and inclusive place where all students feel they belong. Our community thrives when voices from every background are heard and valued. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our admissions process.

The application for Ph.D., Research M.A. and Professional M.A. programs closed on December 15, 2023.

Next September 2024 the application will open again for admission in fall 2025.

New students are admitted to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for the fall semester. A committee of faculty members reviews each application. Among the indicators considered for admission are:

• Quality of an applicant’s academic record
• Preparation to pursue an advanced degree
• Clearly defined goals and rationale for graduate education in the field
• Compatibility of goals with faculty specializations and areas of expertise

SPECIAL NOTE ON GRE SCORES: The School of Journalism and Mass Communication no longer requires or reviews GRE scores for any applicants to our M.A or Ph.D. programs. The Graduate Committee takes a holistic approach to admissions, reviewing all parts of the application to get a picture of the person’s academic and professional background, interests and goals, and fit with what our program offers. For applicants to the Ph.D. in Mass Communications in LSC, the GRE scores are optional. Please refer to their website for information.

Students are not required to have academic or professional background in mass communication to qualify for admission to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Graduate School establishes minimum admission criteria for all students who enter the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication, however, has additional requirements, which are listed below.

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Graduate Degree Requirements

Professional and research master of arts degree applicants must have:.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• A B.A. or B.S. before the start of the semester for which they are applying
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA (4.0 scale) on last 60 credits of course work

Visit the Professional M.A. or Research M.A. info pages.

Ph.D. applicants must have:  

• Bachelor’s and thesis-based master’s degrees from accredited institutions
• An M.A. or M.S. before the start of the fall semester for which they are applying
• Minimum 3.5 cumulative graduate GPA (4.0) scale on M.A. degree course work

Visit the  Ph.D. in Mass Communications website for more information.

International Students

Additional requirements for international applicants:.

• TOEFL, Internet-based Test: Minimum 92 (120-point scale)
• TOEFL, Paper-based Test: Minimum 580 (677-point scale)
• IELTS: Minimum score of 7
• the official language of previous instruction was English or
• they have completed at least two full-time semesters of graded coursework, not including ESL courses, in a U.S. college or university.
• You may be required to take the SPEAK test before teaching at UW Madison.
• To determine your academic record and degree equivalent and whether it qualifies you for admission to graduate study, review the Grad School admissions requirements. Locate your country of study and then check minimum requirements for UW–Madison Graduate School admission. If you have other questions, please contact graduate program manager Lindsey Bliefernicht .
• International applicants are required to have adequate financial resources to cover their expenses for the duration of their studies at UW–Madison. Do not send any financial statements until requested.

M.S./Ph.D. Program

The M.S./Ph.D. program is designed for students who wish to pursue both the Ph.D. degree and professional training & clinical certification in Speech-Language Pathology, obtained via the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology.

The clinical component of the program meets the requirements for:

• ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
• License to practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the state of Wisconsin
• Teacher certification in the state of Wisconsin from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Our clinical master’s degree program in Speech-Language Pathology is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

M.S./Ph.D. students typically take a modified sequence of the same courses as students in the M.S. program, which allows time for involvement in research from the beginning. After you have completed your master’s degree, you will transition into the doctoral program.

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Apply Online

Applications for Fall 2024 have closed. Applications for Fall 2025 will open in September.

Interested in applying? The deadline for application submission is January 1 .

SLP CAA Accreditation Statement

The Master’s of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

If you have questions about our program not answered on this or related pages, please contact us:

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The UW Department of Communication Ph.D. and M.A./Ph.D. graduate programs are built on four core principles: pluralism, interdisciplinary theorizing, collaboration, and public scholarship. These principles have shaped every facet of the programs, such as the core courses, committee structure, and admissions policy. Our graduate program’s strengths are emphasized in our seven areas of study . We encourage you to apply to join our community of scholars.

Admission decisions are based primarily on these criteria: a) applicants’ academic readiness for our rigorous Ph.D. or M.A./Ph.D. program; b) the clarity and strength of applicants’ articulations of their scholarly interests and rationale for applying to our Ph.D. or M.A./Ph.D. program; c) applicants’ understanding of, interest in, and potential to contribute to our program’s diverse intellectual community; d) the level of alignment between an applicant’s scholarly interests and those of at least two of the Graduate Faculty who are available to mentor students in the incoming cohort.

These Graduate Faculty in Communication  are currently available  to mentor incoming graduate students in the 2025 cohort (subject to change):  Leah Ceccarelli, Patricia Moy, Wang Liao, Katy Pearce, LeiLani Nishime, Carmen Gonzalez, Christine Harold, Matt Powers, Adrienne Russell, Amanda Friz . 

These Graduate Faculty in Communication  are currently unavailable  to mentor incoming graduate students:  Matt McGarrity, Kirsten Foot, Ralina Joseph, Valerie Manusov, Andrea Otáñez, Doug Underwood, Ekin Yasin, Timeka Tounsel. 

The Department of Communication accepts applications to its Ph.D. and M.A./Ph.D. graduate programs for Autumn quarter entry only. The application due date for our application is December 1. If you have any questions about this information, please e-mail the Graduate Program Advisor at  [email protected] .

Application Opening and Closing Dates for Autumn 202 5

Applications to the MA/PhD and PhD open on 1 September 2024. The closing date is December 2, 2024.  A NOTE ON THIS DUE DATE : This application due date is real and is a completion due date. Applications and all required documents received after the due date will not be considered. Applications and all required documents must be uploaded to our online application system. We do not accept any mailed materials.

• Minimum 3.0 or B grade point average over the two most recent years of study (90 quarter or 60 semester credits) guarantees consideration. However, average GPAs for the students we have admitted have been higher. See recent applicant statistics below on this page.
• Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a master’s degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for those applying to the Ph.D. program to be working on their thesis in the year during which they apply.
• M.A./Ph.D. applicants must show proof of completion of a U.S. equivalent bachelor’s degree prior to starting the program, though it is common for applicants to be in their senior year of college when they apply to the M.A./Ph.D. program.
• Full-time status is required for all funded students, but domestic U.S. residents who do not receive assistantships can enroll half-time (please note this is exceedingly rare).
• Applicants who are not native speakers of English must provide  evidence of English language proficiency  (see  Policy 3.2: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements ) and  evidence of spoken English proficiency  (see  Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English ).
• Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States meet both requirements (Note: A master’s or doctoral degree does not satisfy this requirement). Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution must have a minimum total score of 92 and speaking score of 26 if using the TOEFL, and a minimum total score of 7.0 and speaking score of 7.0 if using the IELTS. If proof is not provided that these minimums are met as of December 1, the applicant will not be considered.

Submit the following materials online:

• Graduate School online application . The Graduate School requires all applicants to use the web application (if you are truly unable to use the web application, e-mail [email protected] ).
• Application fee . The application fee must be received and recorded by Graduate Admissions prior to the application deadline. You must pay the fee online using a MasterCard or Visa card (both credit and debit cards are accepted) or a TeleCheck (an online “check” taken from your existing checking account). If eligible for and requesting an application fee waiver, please note you must submit your application a minimum of 7 days prior to the application deadline, and earlier is recommended. Details on application fee waivers are available here .
• Unofficial transcripts from each institution from which you received a degree of Bachelor or higher within the online application. Official transcripts are not required for the admissions application and should not be mailed. An unofficial transcript could be a scan of an opened official transcript, or a printout of your academic history from your university’s web portal. It must include all classes taken, grades received, and degrees granted.
• Important : It can take up to two weeks after your testing date or report request for UW to receive your scores, so the GRE should be taken/scores requested no later than November 15 to ensure your scores arrive by the December 1 application completion deadline.
• Important : It can take up to two weeks after your testing date or report request for UW to receive your scores, so the TOEFL or IELTS should be taken/scores requested no later than November 15 to ensure your scores arrive by the December 1 application completion deadline.
• Three recommendations . Letters of recommendation from professors are strongly preferred, but if you have been out of school for many years or have another reason for using non-academic references, other professional recommendations are acceptable. These recommendations are completed online and should not be mailed. The online recommendation includes a short questionnaire, ratings assessment, as well as the opportunity to paste or upload a letter. Please designate your recommenders within the online application early to allow enough time for them to submit their online recommendations no later than December 1.
• Describe explicitly why you have chosen to apply to earn an M.A./Ph.D. or Ph.D. in communication, and why specifically at the University of Washington. If there are additional UW departments in which you would like to take courses, feel free to mention them.
• Describe the main ideas and/or veins of theory that interest you as well as the kind of communication phenomena you wish to study.
• State your academic goals so that the admissions committee may determine whether your goals could be met in our department.
• Explain how the expertise of the 2-3 particular Graduate Faculty whom you selected in the Overview Questions section could support scholarly interests you would like to pursue.
• Write this letter honestly and to the best of your ability, because the admissions committee will read it for its substance and as an indicator of your readiness for and fit with this program.
• For Ph.D. applicants : Please provide a sole-authored academic writing sample , roughly 10-30 pages long, that demonstrates your research competence and your ability to produce original scholarship. This might be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, a seminar paper, or something similar. If necessary, edit your paper for length before submitting it with your application. The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing competence, the clarity of your argument, and the depth of your analysis and insight.
• For M.A./Ph.D. applicants : Please provide a sole-authored academic writing sample , roughly 10-30 pages. This is typically a paper you wrote for a college or university class, but it can also be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, or a seminar paper. The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing competence, the clarity of your argument, and the depth of your analysis and insight.
• Resume or curriculum vitae . If you don’t have a vitae, don’t worry. A resume will do. If you do have a vitae, use it instead.
• Overview questions. You will be asked about your career goals and research experiences, given the opportunity to explain any transcript anomalies, and asked to specify 2-3 Graduate Faculty by whom you would like to be mentored.
• In one or two pages, please describe how your experiences and/or academic interests could contribute to a diverse community of communication scholars. For example, you might describe interactions you have had with people of cultural or ethnic backgrounds different from your own, or you might write about intellectual exchanges you have had with persons holding different viewpoints. Your essay might also discuss the unique qualities of your own intellectual or cultural background and how these are likely to enhance diversity in any community.

Are you an international applicant? An international applicant is anyone who is not a United States citizen or a Permanent Resident (green card holder). Please go to the following at the Graduate School website for further information for international applicants: Graduate School international applicant information . Undocumented applicants should follow the instructions here for completing the online application.

• Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States meet both requirements (Note: A master’s or doctoral degree does not satisfy this requirement). Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree from a US institution must have a minimum total score of 92 and speaking score of 26 if using the TOEFL, and a minimum total score of 7.0 and speaking score of 7.0 if using the IELTS. If proof is not provided that these minimums are met as of December 1, the applicant will not be considered.
• Newly-admitted international students will be required to demonstrate adequate financial support without resorting to unauthorized employment. More information will be sent to applicants who receive an offer of admission. Financial documentation is not necessary at this stage of the application process.
• Full-time status is mandatory for all international students.

Financial aid and funding from the Department

The Department maintains approximately 35-40 assistantships, which are merit-based awards available to students in the M.A./Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs. The vast majority of these are teaching assistantships (TAships), where graduate students assist in the teaching of undergraduate courses and receive a salary for their teaching. A few of these assistantships are for research assistantships (RAships). These students receive a salary for providing assistance to faculty research projects. Students entering the Ph.D. program with an assistantship receive four years of support. Students admitted to the M.A./Ph.D. program with an assistantship receive five years of support. Continued support is always contingent on satisfactory progress in the graduate program and satisfactory performance of assistantship duties. Students holding these appointments receive a waiver of the operating fee, building fee, technology fee, and U-PASS fee portions of the quarterly  tuition and fees  but are required to pay approximately $271 in fees per quarter, or $813 per nine-month academic year. Assistantships automatically include  health insurance coverage . Applicants to the M.A./Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs are automatically considered for graduate assistantships. Funding in subsequent years is renewable based on satisfactory progress in the program and satisfactory performance of assistantship duties.

International students are considered for graduate assistantships on the same basis as U.S. applicants. International applicants who are not native speakers of English must demonstrate English proficiency in order to receive appointment as Teaching Assistants. There are a number of ways this may be established (see  Graduate School Policy 3.2  and  Graduate School Policy 5.2 )

The Graduate School offers a limited number of fellowships for entering students. The Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) offers a limited number of Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships to graduate and professional students and applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who meet designated requirements. The University of Washington’s Office of Student Financial Aid has a variety of need-based funding available to prospective students.

Application statistics

Each year, we keep statistics on the average GPAs and GRE scores for those students we accept for admission to our graduate program. These are statistics for the applicants admitted in the last five years:

Averages for accepted applicants

Graduate Non-Matriculated information

Taking a course as a graduate non-matriculated (GNM) student can be a useful way to make a more informed decision about going to graduate school. It also allows faculty in the Department of Communication to become more familiar with your interests and aptitude for graduate study. The Department only grants GNM status on occasion and usually under special circumstances, as faculty focus their graduate teaching on the population of matriculating graduate students in the Department. In a typical year, there are only one or two GNM students in the Department. If you are interested in applying for GNM status, please note the following important deadlines and application information.

Graduate non-matriculated (GNM) is a classification for post-baccalaureate students who are not seeking a graduate degree at the present time. As such, it is not available to international students or anyone who requires a student (F-1) visa. While you do not need to have GNM status to register for a graduate-level class, you must have it in order to apply the credits to a graduate degree at the University of Washington should you later be admitted as a graduate student. By contrast, courses taken either as a post-baccalaureate student (those seeking a second bachelor’s degree) or as a non-matriculated undergraduate cannot be applied to graduate degree requirements. The GNM application process is distinct from the regular graduate program application process and GNM status does not influence decisions about admission into the Department of Communication’s M.A./Ph.D. or Ph.D. graduate programs.

A maximum of 12 GNM credits may be applied toward a graduate degree at the University of Washington. In the Department of Communication, this is the equivalent of two 5-credit seminar courses. GNM students are not permitted to enroll in the core sequence of courses (COM 500, COM 501) or in any COM courses at the level of 590 or higher, with the exception of COM 597, the special topic seminars.

We do not accept GNM applications for summer quarter entry.

• Minimum 3.0 or B grade point average over the two most recent years of study (90 quarter or 60 semester credits).
• U.S. equivalent bachelor’s degree.

Submit the following in the online application:

• GNM application . Note that there is a $75 application fee for GNM status.
• Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded from each institution from which you received a degree of Bachelor or higher.
• Letter of intent (2-3 pages) detailing your educational and career goals. This letter should make it clear why you have chosen to apply for GNM status in the Department of Communication. State your academic goals so that the admissions committee may determine whether your goals could be met in our department and through GNM status.
• Three recommendations . Letters of recommendation from professors are strongly preferred, but if you have been out of school for many years or have another reason for using non-academic references, other professional recommendations are acceptable. These recommendations are completed online and should not be mailed. The online recommendation includes a short questionnaire as well as the opportunity to paste or upload a letter. Please designate your recommenders within the online application early to allow enough time for them to submit their online recommendations by the deadline.
• Academic writing sample (roughly 10-30 pages). This is typically a paper you wrote for a college or university class, but it can also be a thesis chapter, a journal publication, or a seminar paper. The admissions committee will read your paper to evaluate your writing competence, the clarity of your argument, and the depth of your analysis and insight.
• Resume or curriculum vitae . If you don’t have a vitae, don’t worry. A resume will do. If you do have a vitae, send it instead.
• GRE scores are NOT required , but should be included in your application if they are available. Official scores should be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service . GRE reporting code is 4854 (no department code).

For more information, visit the M.A./Ph.D. Frequently Asked Questions page .

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General Communication Minor

Bachelor's degree program.

The General Communication Minor includes all aspects of the art of cummunication.

CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?

PR student Jen Purcell shares her story

Jen Purcell, Communication alum and former president of the student body, talks about transferring to UW-Whitewater after taking a year off college — and the success and support she found here.

Hear Jen’s story [video]

Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.

98% of UW-Whitewater Communication graduates in 2018-2019 were employed in their field within one year of graduation.

Why study Communication at UW-Whitewater?

The world of communication is changing more rapidly than ever before, and UW-Whitewater prepares you for today’s and tomorrow's  communication jobs. Our program focuses not just on theory and application, but also on the latest industry best practices, including an emphasis on strategic research and digital platforms.

Here are just a few other ways UW-Whitewater stands out:

• Our size allows you more chances to stand out with leadership roles, faculty research assistance and other involvement.
• You will learn how to interact interpersonally, negotiate persuasively and resolve conflicts — which are among the soft skills most desired by employers today.
• Our program offers considerable flexibility with course selection — and a wide range of classes — which allows you to customize your education to meet your interests and goals.
• Choose a   minor or second major   to supplement your education and expand your communication career

What our Communication students do

Campus media

• The Royal Purple ­– award-winning weekly campus print and online newspaper
• UWW-TV – campus cable television station, located in Conover Studio in Andersen Hall
• WSUW-FM: 91.7 “The Edge” – campus radio station broadcasting throughout the region from a tower atop Hyer Hall

In addition to gaining career experience, you have the opportunity to earn practicum credit for participation in these media outlets.

Travel study and study abroad

In today’s global society, Communication professionals will benefit from international experience. Our curriculum includes courses in cross-cultural communication, but we encourage you to take that exposure farther (literally) by traveling.

Go on a faculty-led travel study

You’ll have the chance to take a semester-long class on campus which culminates with a related, short-term international trip, lasting from 10 days to a month. In recent years, our faculty have taken students to Brazil, Greece, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Learn more about travel opportunities

Study abroad for a semester

UW-Whitewater’s Office of Global Experiences offers many semester-long study-abroad programs that fit with the communication curriculum. Popular locations with our majors include Spain, Finland and Ecuador.

Internships

Internships offer you the chance to put what you’ve learned in your Communication classes into practice in a real-world setting. You’ll meet and learn from professionals in the field, build your portfolio and make valuable connections.

Our Communication students find internships in a variety of industries and at organizations, including ad agencies, nonprofits, corporations and marketing firms.

Learn more about communication internships

Research opportunities

UW-Whitewater has a strong Undergraduate Research Program , and the Communication program encourages our students to participate. This allows you to dive into a topic that interests you or delve into a creative project you’ve been imagining.

You’ll also have the chance to share your work at the UW-Whitewater Undergraduate Research Day or the larger UW System Research in the Rotunda event at the state capitol.

Learn more about research

Student involvement: Campus and industry organizations

Communication students can hone important skills, gain industry experience and make connections through several student organizations: 

Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) – find valuable networking and development opportunities in the student chapter of the #1 national organization for PR professionals.

CHIP (Communicating Health in Practice) – explore professional development and career opportunities related to healthcare communications in this interactive group.

Forensics Team – enhance your public speaking skills, boost your confidence and travel across the country as a member of our competitive forensics team. (Forensics is also known as speech and debate.)

Additionally, members of the team also have the chance to mentor the local high school speech and debate community through UW-Whitewater’s summer Forensics Institute .

UW-Whitewater Advertising Association – participate in real-world projects, make industry connections, attend events, tour agencies and more.

What our graduates do

Communication jobs: Career success

When you look at what some of our recent Communication students are doing post-graduation, it’s clear Communication positions are among the versatile and exciting jobs in communications.

Here are just a few places our recent Communication graduates found careers:

• Alzheimer’s Association (Menomonee Falls)
• American Lung Association (Brookfield)
• Aurora University (Aurora, Illinois)
• Blended Integrated Marketing (Madison)
• STIR Advertising (Milwaukee)
• Cramer-Krasselt (Chicago and Milwaukee)
• CSU Managed Services (Schaumburg, Illinois)
• Data Dimensions (Janesville)
• Edelman (Frankfurt, Germany)
• Hatch Staffing Services (Milwaukee)
• Impact Networking (Brookfield)
• Land’s End (Dodgeville)
• Landmark Credit Union (New Berlin)
• Legacy Marketing Partners (Chicago)
• Oxford Global Resources Group (Madison)
• Rotary Botanical Gardens (Janesville)
• The Walt Disney Company (Orlando, Florida)
• UW Health (Madison)
• Weber Shandwick (St. Louis, Missouri and Frankfurt, Germany)
• WPS Health Solutions (Madison)

Our Communication faculty

You’ll learn from expert scholars and practicing professionals. The Department of Communication are diverse in their backgrounds, research interests and industry experience.

Want to learn more about adding a PR emphasis to your Communication degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater? Contact us »

• PROGRAMS AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
• HOW TO APPLY

The Communication minor:

• Minor in General Communication

In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements , your minor in General Communication will require a set of core courses, including:

With the help of your advisor and based on your academic and career goals, you’ll also select electives from a variety of other courses across the communication curriculum.

To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater application for admission and indicate your interest in the Communication minor.

Explore related programs at UW-Whitewater

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Clinical Research Coordinator

• Madison, Wisconsin
• SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH/RADIOLOGY-GEN
• Partially Remote
• Staff-Full Time
• Staff-Part Time
• Opening at: May 31 2024 at 09:55 CDT
• Closing at: Sep 17 2024 at 23:55 CDT

Job Summary:

The Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, School of Medicine & Public Health is seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) to help advance exciting medical imaging and disease-focused projects! The CRC works as part of a team, which includes physicians, PhD researchers, imaging staff, and other research support staff, to support and advance a portfolio of interesting research projects. Radiology projects focus on anything from the development of novel imaging techniques, to work towards understanding and curing disease. The role of a CRC is quite varied - an average day could include responsibilities ranging from recruiting and enrolling subjects into a study, to coordinating and conducting actual subject visits, to collaborations with the study team on a wide variety of topics.

Responsibilities:

Institutional statement on diversity:.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Preferred Bachelor's Degree

Qualifications:

Required - Research experience. Preferred - At least one year experience with clinical research studies. - Experience working within a higher education setting. - Prior experience working within a healthcare setting. The ideal candidate will have strong attention to detail and ability to think critically and/or strategically to solve problems.

Full or Part Time: 80% - 100% This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. The incumbent must have schedule flexibility to occasionally work outside of standard 8:00AM- 5:00PM weekday hours. The position occasionally requires travel to other, local UW locations.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Minimum $48,000 ANNUAL (12 months) Depending on Qualifications The starting full time salary for the position is $48,000 but commensurate with experience and qualifications. Actual pay is determined at hire and is based on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at ( https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/ ).

Additional Information:

Applicants for this position will be considered for the titles listed in this posting. The title is determined by the experience and qualifications of the finalist. This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years. University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1-OPT STEM Extension participants. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button. You will be asked to upload a current resume/CV and a cover letter briefly describing your qualifications and experience.

Amanda Joncas [email protected] 608-262-2716 Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Clin Res Coord I(RE015) or Clin Res Coord II(RE016)

Department(s):

A53-MEDICAL SCHOOL/RADIOLOGY/RADIOLOGY

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Renewable

Job Number:

The university of wisconsin-madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer..

You will be redirected to the application to launch your career momentarily. Thank you!

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72 Gigabit-Per Second Wi-Fi Is Coming — Is This the Future Of the Internet?

These innovations are set to transform wireless communication.

Imagine a future where internet connections are not only lightning-fast but also remarkably reliable, even in crowded spaces. This vision is rapidly approaching reality, thanks to new research on terahertz communications technologies. These innovations are set to transform wireless communication, particularly as communications technology advances toward the next generation of networks, 6G .

I’m an engineer who focuses on photonics , the study of how light and other electromagnetic waves are generated and detected . In this research, my colleagues and I have developed a silicon topological beamformer chip . Topological refers to physical features in the silicon that help steer terahertz waves, and beamformer refers to the purpose of the chip: forming terahertz waves into directed beams.

Terahertz frequencies are crucial for 6G, which telecommunications companies plan to roll out around 2030 . The radio frequency spectrum used by current wireless networks is becoming increasingly congested. Terahertz waves offer a solution by using the relatively unoccupied portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and infrared. These higher frequencies can carry massive amounts of data, making them ideal for the data-intensive applications of the future.

Our chip takes a terahertz signal from a single source and splits it into 54 smaller signals, which are then guided through 184 tiny channels with 134 sharp turns. Each beam can transmit and receive data at speeds of 40 to 72 gigabits per second, many times faster than today’s 5G networks.

With the help of artificial intelligence, we designed the chip to have a specific microscopic honeycomb pattern to form lanes for the terahertz waves. The array of channels sends out powerful, focused beams that cover the entire 360 degrees around the chip. This allows a phone or other wireless device anywhere around a Wi-Fi router or other communications device to use the chip to receive the high-speed signal. We demonstrated the chip by splitting an input signal of a streaming HD video into four output beams.

Beamformers in wireless networks

Terahertz waves have a shorter range compared with lower-frequency signals used in 4G and 5G networks. Terahertz beamformers address this challenge by precisely directing high-frequency signals to ensure they reach their destination without loss or degradation.

Beamformers are essential for the next generation of wireless communication. Unlike traditional antennas that broadcast signals indiscriminately, beamformers focus signals in specific directions, boosting both efficiency and reliability. Our chip ensures that those beams provide coverage in all directions.

This focused approach not only extends the signal’s range but also improves its quality, even over long distances. Beamformers are likely to be crucial in managing stable connections by reducing interference as the world adds billions of connected devices.

A future with terahertz beamforming

The potential impact of terahertz beamforming chips on everyday life is profound. For example, these chips could make it possible to download a 4K ultrahigh-definition movie in mere seconds compared with 11 minutes over today’s W-Fi, or support immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences without any lag.

Beyond entertainment, they could make real-time holographic communication a reality, where people appear as lifelike holograms. Smart cities could use this technology to seamlessly coordinate traffic systems and emergency responses, while health care could benefit from remote surgeries where doctors control robotic instruments from afar.

The terahertz beamforming chip represents a significant step forward on the path to faster, more reliable wireless communication by overcoming the challenges of high-frequency signal transmission.

This article was originally published on The Conversation by Ranjan Singh at University of Notre Dame. Read the original article here .

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Home > CUNY Graduate Center > Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects > 5956

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Association of autistic traits and psychiatric symptoms in children with a fragile x premutation allele: the neurodevelopmental profile.

Ariel Zucker , The Graduate Center, City University of New York Follow

Date of Degree

Document type.

Dissertation

Degree Name

Veronica J. Hinton

Committee Members

Deborah J. Walder

Emily Jones

Emily G. Allen

Jessica Ezzell Hunter

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

Fragile X Premutation, Fragile X Syndrome, Autistic Traits, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Psychiatric Symptoms

Throughout the lifespan, approximately 14% of males and 5% of females with a fragile X premutation (PM) (defined as 55-200 CGG repeats on the X-linked FMR1 gene) are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For individuals that do not meet diagnostic criteria for ASD, autistic traits (ATs) are often present in this population and have been shown to have a subtle and sub-clinical presentation of social communication and interaction deficits. While less is known about the phenotype of children with a PM, studies have found increased rates of ASD and ATs in adults with a PM allele compared to controls. Psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder have also been shown to be elevated in this population throughout the lifespan, although rates may be skewed due to potential ascertainment bias and/or secondary to other PM-related outcomes such as having a child with fragile X syndrome. The current study was designed to examine the neurodevelopmental profile of individuals with a PM from a developmental perspective, with a focus on the relationship between ATs and psychiatric disorders. Following the review, a study was conducted to evaluate ATs and psychiatric disorders in a large sample of non-referred children with a PM.

Recommended Citation

Zucker, Ariel, "Association of Autistic Traits and Psychiatric Symptoms in Children with a Fragile X Premutation Allele: The Neurodevelopmental Profile" (2024). CUNY Academic Works. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5956

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Doctoral Degree Requirements

Basic credit requirements.

For successful completion of the PhD, the Graduate School requires a minimum of 51 credits, which includes coursework, independent study, and research credits. This requirement stipulates that at least 50 percent of these credits must be received in courses specifically designed for graduate work, which the Graduate School defines as: courses numbered 700 and above; courses numbered 300-699 that are specifically designed for graduate students in a graduate program; courses numbered 300-699 that assess graduate students separately from undergraduate students; courses numbered 300-699 that have a graduate student enrollment greater than 50 percent in a given semester. Credits taken towards the completion of a Master’s Degree in the Department of Communication Arts may count toward this requirement. Credits taken while enrolled as a graduate student outside of the Department and UW-Madison may count toward this requirement with the approval of the Graduate Committee.

Each area of graduate study within the Department, however, has further specific requirements for the completion of the PhD. The Department also requires that a minimum of 40 credits must be completed in residence. If you have any questions about these requirements, contact your advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, or the Graduate Coordinator.

• Basic Credit Requirements More
• Coursework Requirements for Communication Science More
• Coursework Requirements for Film More
• Coursework Requirements for Media and Cultural Studies More
• Coursework for Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture More
• PhD Minor More
• Process for Preliminary Examination More
• Preliminary Examination for Communication Science More
• Preliminary Examination for Film More
• Preliminary Examination for Media and Cultural Studies More
• Preliminary Examination for Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture More
• Dissertator Phase in Communication Arts More

Coursework Requirements for Communication Science

If a student did not complete their MA coursework in the department, the following coursework is required:

• CA 760: Advances in Communication Theory
• CA 762: Communication Research Methods
• Four additional Communication Science courses at the 500 level or above. One semester of thesis credits (CA 990) may count towards this requirement. Colloquium does not count towards this requirement.

The following coursework is required of all students:

• At least two courses in statistics ( See the list in the MA requirements )
• C&E Soc 755, 960
• Comp Sci 770
• Coun Psy 788, 789
• Curric 788, 789
• Ed Pol 755, 788, 789, 955
• Ed Psych- 770, 771, 788, 789, 827, 945, 963
• ELPA 788. 789, 827
• Journ 811, 812, 813
• Poli Sci 817
• Psych 752, 755, 770
• RP & SE 788, 789
• Soc 735, 751, 752, 754, 755, 955, 960
• Soc Work 945
• At least four additional courses at the 700 level or above. At least one of these courses must be a seminar in Communication Science (CA 970). Only one of these courses may be an independent study (CA 799). Colloquium does not count towards this requirement.
• Completion of a 9-credit minor
• One credit of Communication Science Colloquium (CA 904) every semester

The choice of PhD minor option is made by the student in consultation with his or her advisor. Depending on their dissertation topic, students may need to fulfill a foreign language or tool requirement. The need for such a requirement is determined by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee. The mix of courses to be completed must reflect the following principles:

• Build a solid theoretical and methodological foundation in Communication Science
• Cover sufficiently broad areas in communication and related social science disciplines
• Have at least one area of specialization. This program should normally be developed before the start of the second semester in residence. The course work must be approved by the student’s advisor and must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 3.75

A recommended set of courses would include:

• One or two additional courses in research methods
• Five additional Communication Science courses at the 500 level or above. One semester of thesis credits (CA 990) may count towards this requirement. One of these courses may be an independent study (CA 799)
• Four additional courses related to one’s area of specialization at the 700 level or above (may count toward one’s minor)
• Four to five statistics courses, which may count toward one’s minor, including the most relevant of the following: multiple regression or ANOVA and ANCOVA; factor analysis or other multivariate analysis; structural equation modeling; hierarchical linear modeling; nonparametric statistics
• One colloquium credit per semester

Coursework Requirements for Film

In addition to completion of the M.A., the Ph.D. program in Film requires 40 credits of coursework, n ormally completed in four consecutive semesters, with three courses and a weekly Film Colloquium every semester.  Each course earns 3-credits and Colloquium earns 1 credit per semester.  

 Students in the Ph.D. program are expected to complete the following curriculum:  

• CA 955: Media Historiography; or CA 958: Film Historiography (3 credits)
• One additional National Cinema or Modes and Practices or Power, Representation, and Identity course  ( See the lists in the MA requirements )(3 credits)
• At least one 900-level graduate seminar offered by program faculty or as approved by the student’s advisor (3 credits)
• Completion of a three-course PhD minor (9 credits)
• Six elective courses (18 credits)
• One credit of CA 902: Film Colloquium every semester (4 x 1 credit per semester).

It is customary for some elective credits to issue from Independent Studies with faculty geared toward research surrounding anticipated dissertation topics.  Electives may also support acquisition of advanced language skills or specialized disciplinary knowledge essential for future dissertation research.    

Graduate students who enter the program at the Ph.D. level (i.e., M.A. in hand from another Film/Media program) are expected to cover any parts of the M.A. core curriculum not already mastered in prior graduate studies. Students should work with their advisors directly upon arrival to determine course equivalency and map out an effective course of study.

Coursework Requirements for Media and Cultural Studies

The program requires 40 credits of coursework taken prior to taking prelims and advancing to dissertator status, as listed below:  

• At least 12 credits at 900 level or above in MCS  
• 4 credits of CA 903 MCS Colloquium (1 per semester)  
• 24 credits at the 300 level or above, 6 of which should be in MCS, the other 18 in Communication Arts or other departments in consultation with advisor  
• Of the above courses, 24 credits worth should be at the 600 level or above, not including MCS Colloquium (CA 903)     

PhD students must complete a 9-credit minor. These may be taken as part of the 24 credits of 300-level or above requirements. Up to 6 credits of the minor requirement may be applied from MA coursework taken elsewhere, with approval of the advisor.  

Following the completion of coursework for students with an MA from MCS or elsewhere ,  students   must complete   preliminary exams to advance to dissertator status. Then students must register for CA 903 (MCS Colloquium) and CA 990 (Research and Thesis) each remaining semester (for a total of 3 credits per semester).  

Coursework for Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture

For students who receive an MA in the UW-Madison Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture program, the PhD program requires 2 additional semesters of academic  credits (not including CA 990—Research and Thesis). The required coursework includes:

• 9 credits of electives
• Completion of a 9-credit PhD minor
• 1 credit of RPC Colloquium (CA 905) every semester

For students with an MA from another institution that is recognized by the Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture program as an equivalent to the MA in rhetoric at UW-Madison, the program requires 4 semesters of academic credits (not including CA 990—Research and Thesis). The program requires the following or equivalent classes that were satisfied during the MA to be completed for the PhD:

• CA 570: Classical Rhetorical Theory
• CA 571: Modern Rhetorical Theory; or CA 969: Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
• CA 976: Rhetorical Criticism
• Two Communication Arts courses at the 300 level or above
• One class with primary content focused on issues of race and ethnicity

Those entering with an equivalent MA from another institution must also complete a 9-credit PhD minor and enroll in 1 credit of RPC Colloquium (CA 905) every semester.

The 51 graduate-level credits required for the PhD include work in the doctoral minor. The minor requirement is designed to give breadth to the doctoral program and should expose the student to subjects and/or methodologies that expand upon and complement their primary area of study. The minor requirement can be fulfilled in one of three ways:

• Option A (external doctoral minor): 9 credits in a single department other than Communication Arts
• Option B (distributed doctoral minor): 9 credits forming a coherent topic, distributed across two or more departments other than Communication Arts, or, 9 credits forming a coherent topic among non-home area courses within Communication Arts
• Option C (Graduate/Professional certificate): Requires successful completion of a Graduate/Professional certificate in a program outside of Communication Arts.

To pursue a minor in a single department other than Communication Arts, students should seek the approval of their advisor and consult with the outside department to learn about its requirements to receive a PhD minor.

To pursue a distributed minor, students should consult and seek the approval of their advisor in forming a coherent topic.

To pursue a distributed minor exclusively in Communication Science, students should consult with a faculty member from this area.

To pursue a distributed minor exclusively in Film, students may choose among the following courses:

• Students with no prior film studies background are encouraged to take CA 350: Introduction to Film before enrolling in more specialized courses, but CA 350 will not count as one of the three courses in the minor track.
• CA 454: Critical Film Analysis
• CA 455: French Cinema or CA 456: Russian and Soviet Film
• CA 463: Avant-Garde Film
• CA 556: The American Film Industry in the Era of the Studio System
• CA 664: Classical Film Theory
• CA 665: Contemporary Film Theory
• Special Topics and 900-level
• 900-level graduate seminars are regularly offered in a variety of advanced and specialized areas. A faculty member in the department can assist graduate students in selecting among these.

To pursue a distributed minor exclusively in Media and Cultural Studies, students should consult with a faculty member from this area.

To pursue a distributed minor exclusively in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture, students should consult with a faculty member from this area.

All Graduate School students must utilize the Graduate Student Portal in MyUW to add, change, or discontinue any major/named option,  doctoral minor, or graduate/professional certificate . To apply for a distributed minor in Communication Arts, an external minor in another department, or a certificate, please log in to MyUW, click on Graduate Student Portal, and then click on Add/Change Programs.  The relevant coordinator will review your application for admittance and reach out to you if they have any further questions.

Process for Preliminary Examination

Preliminary examinations are administered three times a year: in late August, at end of the fall semester, and at the end of the spring semester. Generally, students take their preliminary examinations in May or August. In the semester before a potential preliminary exam date (e.g., spring semester for August examinations, fall semester for May examinations), students should confer with their advisor to see if they are ready to take this step.

In consultation with the advisor, the student must form a Prelim Committee early in the semester in which the student plans to take exams. The committee, usually formed of three or four faculty members, will write questions for the exam, read the answers, and sit on a Prelim defense committee. At the defense, the Prelim Committee may decide to pass the student’s exam answers with honors; to pass the student’s exam answers; to attach a contingency to the successful completion of the exam; or to fail the student’s exam answers.

Early in the semester or summer that the student plans to take preliminary examinations, the student should notify the Graduate Coordinator of the makeup of his or her Prelim Committee. Two months before the anticipated examination dates, the student should approach the Prelim Committee and, in consultation with their advisor, schedule a time for their Prelim Defense. Fall and spring semester exams generally occur during finals week, while August exams generally occur during Welcome Week. The student should also confer with the Graduate Coordinator as to when exams will take place.

The preliminary examination typically emphasizes the student’s ability to synthesize and apply creatively what they have learned. Factual knowledge is not the sole focus of the examination; nor does it suffice merely to know what others think or say. Likewise, the preliminary examination should not be regarded simply as a repetition of exams and materials encountered in the student’s courses, although the questions often relate to coursework. Rather, the preliminary exams should demonstrate the student’s competent mastery of relevant areas within a field of study, and indicate the ability to define and propose a unique plan of research for the dissertation.

To take preliminary examinations, students must have completed all of the PhD coursework requirements of their area and their minor coursework. Students must also be in Good Standing, (see section VI: SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS). An outstanding grade of incomplete will bar a student from taking exams.

The expectation for the preliminary exams defense is that it will take place in person in Vilas Hall, with at least the student and the advisor present. That said, when factoring in the timing of the defense, availability of the participants, etc., exceptions and accommodations for virtual defenses can be made at the area level.

Preliminary exam defenses may not be recorded, unless an exception has been approved in writing at an earlier date by each committee member.

Sample examination questions are available upon request from the Graduate Coordinator.

Preliminary Examination for Communication Science

Upon completion of coursework in Communication Science and the graduate minor, a PhD preliminary examination is administered in four areas.The writing component of the preliminary examination is followed by an oral defense.

Students are examined in the following areas:

• Communication processes and contexts: Two separate exams on two major topic areas in the field focusing on theories and major empirical findings
• Specialization: The student’s area of specialization; typically, the dissertation research dictates the area of specialization
• Quantitative research methodology and theory construction: This portion of the exam may include questions addressing statistics, research design, measurement, and the construction and evaluation of theory

Students have their choice of two options for each of the four areas.  They may either take a four-hour closed-book exam, or an eight-hour open-book exam.   If the latter option is chosen, the student is expected to provide more fully elaborated and well-sourced critical analysis and synthesis

The student needs to clearly communicate with each faculty member from whom they are taking a prelim question about format and expectations when developing their reading list. After completing consultation with all members of the prelim committees, the student should communicate in writing with their advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator on the format of each of the four exams.

Preliminary Examination for Film

Upon completion of coursework in Film and the graduate minor, a PhD preliminary examination totaling 12 hours of writing is administered.

Students take 12 hours of written examinations. Nine of the hours are divided across the following three concentrations:

• Film theory
• Film history
• Film analysis and criticism

The student will also write three hours in an area of specialization determined in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Preliminary Examination for Media and Cultural Studies

Upon completion of coursework in Media and Cultural Studies and the graduate minor, a PhD preliminary examination totaling 24 hours of writing is administered (four open-book essay exams, six hours each, taken on separate days). The writing component of the preliminary examination is followed by an oral defense. The examination is typically administered in May or August; end of fall semester preliminary exams are administered only in the case of extenuating circumstances.

The examination covers a combination of general and specialized areas in relation to the planned dissertation project, to be chosen in a group consultation with the student’s advisor and major faculty. Although examiners are usually MCS faculty, with advisor approval a non-MCS faculty member may also be asked to serve as an examiner if their expertise is in a subject area central to the planned dissertation.

Preliminary Examination for Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture

Upon completion of coursework in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture and the graduate minor, a PhD preliminary examination totaling 12 hours of writing is administered. The writing component of the preliminary examination is followed by a two-hour oral defense.

Students take 12 hours of written examinations divided across four concentrations:

• Rhetorical theory: students will assemble and engage a set of scholarly publications primarily on rhetorical theory as well as related theory.
• Rhetorical discourse: students will assemble a series of primary and related materials (e.g. speeches, archival documents, websites, images, places, monuments, fieldnotes, interview transcripts) that they will engage critically.
• Critical method: students will assemble and engage a set of scholarly publications on a rhetorical method (e.g. criticism, fieldwork, historiography, digital ethnography).
• Special topics: The student will also write three hours in an area of specialization determined in consultation with the student’s advisor and doctoral committee.

Students who enter Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture without an MA in a cognate program usually take preliminary examinations by the end of the spring semester or in late August of their third year in residence. Students who enter the program with an MA in a cognate program ordinarily take preliminary examinations by the end of the spring semester or in late August of their second year in residence.

Students should schedule at least 7 days between their last question date and the oral defense.

Other Defenses

For all other defenses, students should plan for at least the following number of days between document delivery to the committee and the oral defense. Thesis and Prospectus: 14 Days Dissertation: 21 Days

Dissertator Phase in Communication Arts

Upon passing the preliminary examination, the student enters the dissertator phase. Dissertators must enroll in CA 990 each semester. In order to stay in Good Standing, students cannot receive a grade of U (Unsatisfactory) in successive semesters; it is thus imperative that students continue to make progress with their dissertation research and writing.

The Dissertation Proposal

The student begins the dissertator phase by writing a dissertation proposal. The aim of a dissertation proposal is to articulate a scholarly question or problem and a plan for addressing it. The proposal should:

• Identify and explain the significance of the dissertation topic
• Analyze the state of the scholarly literature on the topic
• Describe preliminary arguments or hypotheses the dissertation will investigate
• Identify the primary research sources for the dissertation
• Sketch out a research and writing schedule

Students should develop the proposal in consultation with their advisor. During this process, students must consult with their advisor and committee regarding the appropriate length of the dissertation and any area-specific guidelines for the structure and development of the dissertation. The department recognizes that a dissertation may take the form of a single book-length monograph or a series of publishable journal articles.

Before the student may proceed with writing the dissertation, the proposal must be approved by the student’s advisor and dissertation proposal committee, which consists of 3-4 Communication Arts faculty members. A student and advisor may choose to add outside members to the proposal committee, but this is not required. (For copies of past proposals, please see the Graduate Coordinator). While writing the dissertation, a student must obtain the approval of the advisor for modifications to the dissertation that depart significantly from the proposal.

The Dissertation Committee

Once the proposal has been approved by the proposal committee, the student must form a dissertation committee. Often, the members of the proposal committee serve on the dissertation committee, but the membership of the two committees may differ. The Graduate School sets the baseline rules for composition of the committee (See  https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/committees/ ) and then graduate programs are expected to craft additional language to meet departmental requirements. For Comm Arts then, doctoral committees/final oral examination committees must meet the following criteria:

• The chair or one of the co-chairs of the committee must be graduate faculty from the student’s program.
• The committee must have at least 3 other members, with at least 2 members from at least two University of Wisconsin—Madison graduate programs (ours and another; affiliate faculty in our department can satisfy this requirement). Note that former UW-Madison graduate faculty can satisfy this latter requirement up to one year after resignation or retirement.
• At least one member of the committee must be a faculty member external to the Communication Arts department (i.e. another department or another institution; affiliate faculty in Communication Arts *do not* satisfy this requirement)
• One member of the dissertation committee may be emeritus faculty, or academic staff, but only those within 1 year of retirement will count to meet committee membership requirements.
• All members of a student’s dissertation committee must be designated as “readers.” According to the Graduate School, “Readers are committee members who commit themselves to closely reading and reviewing the entire dissertation.”
• All committee members have voting rights. To receive a doctoral degree, students cannot receive more than one dissenting vote from their committee on the final degree warrant.

A student must consult with their advisor in determining the composition of the dissertation committee. With advisor approval, those wishing to draw upon the expertise of faculty outside their area may add extra members to their committee. Or, in cases in which a faculty member outside the home area has highly relevant expertise, the advisor may approve the substitution of one Communication Arts faculty member from outside the student’s area for one of the three within the area. However, requests for a double substitution (i.e., for only one member of the committee to be from the home area) must be forwarded to the Graduate Committee. In written form, these requests must be supported by the advisor, and must clearly articulate the pressing intellectual grounds for the proposed committee constitution. Approval is rare, given concerns that graduates from each of the four areas be evaluated by faculty in those areas.

Some possible sample committee compositions might include:

Sample Committee #1 – 4-person committee

• Reader 1 – Committee Chair who is a faculty member from student’s home area
• Reader 2 – Faculty member from student’s home area
• Reader 3 –Comm Arts faculty member who is an affiliate faculty in another UW graduate program
• Reader 4 –  Faculty member from a different institution

Sample Committee #2 – 4-person committee

• Reader 3 – Emeritus professor from student’s home area or another area in Comm Arts
• Reader 4 –  Another faculty member from another UW grad program

Sample Committee #3 – 5-person committee

• Reader 3 – Academic staff member from Comm Arts
• Reader 4 – Faculty member from another UW grad program
• Reader 5 – Faculty member from student’s home area or another institution

In exceptional circumstances, the student may seek a formal co-advisor for their dissertation committee. The Department recognizes two situations in which this may be appropriate: (1) the student’s dissertation project genuinely pursues an interdisciplinary topic that requires the equal involvement of a faculty member in Communication Arts and a faculty member in another department at UW-Madison; (2) the student’s advisor retires or resigns from the University, and the student cannot complete the dissertation within one year of the retirement or resignation, which requires the student to seek a new advisor in the Department. In both cases, the student must first obtain the approval of their advisor in Communication Arts (for situation 2, this person is the newly selected advisor). If the student’s advisor agrees to a co-chair arrangement, the student must submit a written request to the graduate committee and receive its approval.

The Dissertation Defense

The dissertation committee serves as the Final Oral Committee, before whom the student must defend the completed dissertation manuscript. As the student nears completion of the dissertation manuscript, the student, in consultation with the advisor, should check the Graduate School degree deadlines and consult with the committee to determine a date for the defense of the dissertation. Students should consult individually with each committee member to determine how far in advance of a defense date they wish to receive a copy of the final draft of the dissertation: committee members may require a final copy at least one month beforehand. Students should also be mindful, in planning a defense date, of committee member travel plans. Moreover, since the meeting with the committee often generates required revisions to the dissertation, defenses should be scheduled well in advance of the Graduate School’s deposit deadlines as well as a candidate’s personal deadlines for completion, so that the revisions can be made properly.

Once a date has been determined, the student should convey this information—along with the names of the committee members—to the Graduate Coordinator at least three weeks before the scheduled date. This is necessary so that the Graduate Coordinator may order a Final Dissertation Warrant from the Graduate School. The Final Dissertation Warrant is the official document that is signed by the student’s committee and submitted to the Graduate School to indicate that the student has received their PhD.

The Department considers the physical presence of all committee members during the defense to be in the best interests of the student, since this allows for full scholarly interchange and the most conscientious and rigorous advising of dissertators. The expectation for the dissertation defense is that it will take place in person in Vilas Hall, with at least the student and the advisor present. That said, when factoring in the timing of the defense, availability of the participants, etc., exceptions and accommodations for virtual defenses can be made at the area level. It is the student’s responsibility to work with the staff of the Instructional Media Center to arrange a secure, reliable means of real-time participation for any virtual/remote committee members. Students are responsible for booking the room for the defense. Graduate Committee policy is that students not bring food or drink for committee members. Dissertation defenses may not be recorded, unless an exception has been approved in writing at an earlier date by each committee member.

Defense meetings typically last two hours, but they may take longer. Sometimes, at the beginning of the meeting, the committee may request the candidate to leave the room while it discusses the dissertation manuscript. The committee also may ask the candidate to begin the meeting with a brief oral presentation that provides an overview of the project. At the end of the meeting, the committee will ask the candidate to leave the room while it confers on a decision. The committee may decide to pass the dissertation without revision; to pass the dissertation pending revisions, which may be supervised by the advisor or the full committee; or to fail the dissertation. In some cases, a second meeting with the committee may be required following revisions.

For information about formatting and depositing the dissertation, see:

https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/doctoral-guide/

In accordance with Graduate School policy, doctoral students must orally defend and deposit the dissertation within five years of passing the preliminary examination. In rare instances, a student may appeal this time limit by requesting that their advisor submit a written request to the Graduate Committee and the Graduate School Degree Coordinator.

https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/?policy=fiveyearrule

https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/?policy=timelimits

Note that students will be expected to pay tuition fees for the semester in which they deposit their dissertation (including Summer), unless they are employed as a TA, PA, RA, or lecturer. Students who are on fellowship and deposit their dissertation during the academic year will not be responsible for tuition fees; students who are on fellowship and deposit their dissertation during the summer will be responsible for tuition fees. Considering these variations, students should consult the Graduate School’s cut-off dates for semesters.

Ridgewood Your Local News for Ridgewood, New Jersey

Death Penalty Sought For Nicole Virzi

The death penalty is being sought against a PhD student from New Jersey who is accused of killing an infant boy and abusing his twin brother in Pennsylvania, according to court records obtained by Daily Voice on Friday, Sept. 6.

Nicole Virzi.

Nicole Virzi, 30, a PhD student who graduated from Northern Highlands Regional High School, was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, child endangerment, and more in connection with the incidents last June.

The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty in Virzi's case on Thursday, Aug. 22.

There are currently 109 defendants on death row in Pennsylvania. Only one is a woman, online records show.

Virzi was babysitting 6-week-old Leon Katz in a Pittsburgh apartment while the infant's parents were taking his twin brother, Ari, to a hospital for treatment of a bloody injury to his genitals, CNN reports.

Virzi had been a "trusted family friend" of the boys' parents, Ethan and Savannnah, according to a GoFundMe raised for the grieving couple.

While the Katz's were at the hospital, Virzi called them saying Baby Leon had fallen out of a bassinet and hit his head on the floor. He suffered a severe skull fracture and multiple brain bleeds, and an autopsy found they were consistent with child abuse and had been caused by blunt force trauma, CNN says. He died hours later.

Virzi's attorney, David Shrager, did not immediately respond to Daily Voice's request for comment.

News of accusations that Virzi is facing came as a shock. 

She'd been close to completing her PhD, according to her attorney. Her LinkedIn, which has been removed, showed that she was a grad student at the University of California-San Diego.  Redditors say that she was a Cyclebar instructor in the San Diego area.

The NY Post reports that Virzi's father is Peter J Virzi, an esteemed cardiologist at Mount Sinai in New York City.

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