Program Mission

The Ph.D. Program in Communication Studies aims to provide second to none doctoral education in our three areas of specialization: Rhetoric and Strategic Communication, Communication Technologies and Influence, and Cultural Action and Participatory Communication. Embedded in the tradition of Shih Hsin University, we advocate the merging of scholarship with practice, and knowledge with action. Doctoral students are encouraged to take courses across three areas of specialization to become innovative knowledge producers, who can provide professional leadership in the communication field, and related policy decision bodies.

It is our firm belief that capability, attitude and vision can come together to facilitate knowledge innovation and creation. “Capability” refers to competency in theory building, dialectic discourse, independent study, critical thinking, and effective problem solving; “attitude” emphasizes multicultural consciousness, professionalism, and academic ethics; and “vision” includes both local and global perspectives, in order to align with the development of the communication field and requirements of related industries. Our students learn to make connections using their knowledge across academic boundaries, enabling engagement in research and practice reflective of concerns for social justice and collective well-being for individuals and society.