The PhD program in mass communication

The PhD program in mass communication is one of three PhD programs started in October 2008 by the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” Doctoral School,.
The PhD program in mass communication was created by Mohyla School of Journalism and the Sociology Department of NaUKMA with the financial assistance of Rinat Akhmetov’s “Development of Ukraine” fund which provided a seed grant of 560 000 UAH for the 2008/2009 academic year. 

The aim of the Program is to prepare top-ranking lecturers and research staff in compliance with the third cycle of education as described within the Europrean Higher Education Area (see “Saltzburg Principles.”)

The program currently offers four doctoral fellowships. The program of study includes: participation in a set of interdisciplinary and disciplinary courses; conduct of an independent original scientific research project under the guidance of several research supervisors; publication of (selected) research results in both international peer-reviewed and Ukrainian discipline-specific journals; presentation of (selected) research results at international and Ukrainian conferences, workshops and symposia; teaching several undergraduate level courses; preparation of a thesis on the basis of a doctoral student’s own research and its public defense before a specialized panel that includes reputed scholars from Ukraine and abroad.

Major directions of research of the PhD program:
• communication and the public sphere
• anthropological aspects of communication;
• political messages, public opinion and psychology of communication;
• international media systems and global communication;
• organizational, strategic and marketing communication;
• media politics and governmental communication;
• intercultural and interpersonal communications;
• gender aspects of communication;
• visual communication and cinema research;
• health communication

Structure and administration

The Program management is carried out by the Scientific Panel/Council directed by the Panel/Council Director. The Council members are academic and research staff of the School of Journalism of NaUKMA and the Department of Sociology. The Program is coordinated by Rinat Akhmetov’s “Development of Ukraine” fund, as well as by leaders of research centers of several NaUKMA departments. Other representatives of academic disciplines with an advisory vote can also be incorporated into the Council. Should an international consortium be created for the program with the participation of foreign universities, those universities’ representatives can also become members of the Scientific Council.

The Program is administered by the Program Director, and coordination of day-to-day activities is accomplished by the Program coordinator.

Program duration – 4 years
Program form- full-time