Mass Comm guy with interests in Rhetoric/Comm/Info Design PhD

[hejduk]

My background is Mass Comm, and I'm interested in Mass Comm. I'm looking at programs at Clemson, NCSU, and Georgia Tech in Rhetoric/Comm/Info Design. They seem to be programs that incorporate mass comm research with hybridized teaching possibilities. Am I headed in the wrong direction by looking at these programs? My dissertation/research interests are by no means pegged down, and the programs seem quite exciting/interesting.

[cork1203]

Hey,

I'm an undergraduate at a private liberal arts college and I am applying to MA/PhD programs in the fall. My interests aren't exactly similar to yours as I am trying to find a more traditional programs in Rhetoric, but I am hoping to have some sort of emphasis in Mass Media (specifically popular music). If I may ask, to help lead the advice to you, is there any more insight you can give as to your specific interests? Most of the advice I have been given has pointed me toward finding professors at universities that are focused on the same things you are. In my case, for example, the University of Iowa, which boasts a terrific program in Rhetoric, has several professors working with exactly what I want to be doing.

- Cork

[cork1203]

Sorry,

To address your original post as well, I do not know much about Tech or Clemson, but I have visited NCSU, and would be more than happy to discuss with you the campus itself, the location in Raleigh, and other things. When I looked I wasn't interested in Communication Graduate work, so I can't speak on that specifically, though I did consider it in my first round of graduate searching, and it didn't appeal to me academically.

All are great schools with plenty of opportunities for TA/RA-ships. What are you most looking for in a program?

[hejduk]

Thanks for your reply! My grad searches are similar to yours, in that I am also looking to programs in mass comm. My GRE is really hot, so I'm looking for good schools, but no means Top 10 (Penn, USC, etc). My short list right now includes:

University of New Mexico

University of Oregon

University of Utah

LSU

Washington State Univ.

NC State University

Clemson

I posted about Clemson and NCSU in another thread, and asked about their interdisciplinary programs combining Rhetoric/Comm/Digital Media. That post is here:

I think you give great advice on researching schools and listed faculty that are involved in my research areas, but I don't know what the good programs are! I know what the NCA rankings for Mass Comm are, but getting into my more niche interests, I've got nothing to go!

Research interests: branding, advertising, social networking, new media, pedagogic methods