Handbook 2026–2027
This handbook provides a general overview of our graduate program along with the specific requirements, procedures, and expectations that are essential for students to know as they progress through each stage of graduate student life.
I. Program Overview
II. Master of Arts Degree
II.1 Introduction
Completion of the PhD requires that the student first obtain a Master of Arts (MA) degree. Studen...
II.2 Time to MA Degree
Time to Degree is the number of years considered to be reasonable by the faculty of an individual...
II.3 MA Degree Requirements
To earn an MA degree students must: Complete a minimum of 44 units in the MA portion of the prog...
II.4 MA Coursework Requirements
For more detail on specific courses see the UCSB Course Catalog. Also see more information about ...
II.5 Sample Progress & Progress Benchmarks
The plan below shows one way to complete the MA portion of the program on time. It is illustrativ...
II.6 MA Advisor & MA Committee
II.6.1 MA Advisor’s Role MA students must select a ladder faculty advisor who will guide their p...
II.7 MA Thesis
II.7.1 Nature and Scope The thesis is typically an empirical research project that addresses an ...
III. Doctor of Philosophy Degree
III.1 Introduction
The PhD in the Department of Communication is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excell...
III.2 Time to PhD Degree
Time to Degree is the number of years considered to be reasonable by the faculty of an individual...
III.3 PhD Degree Requirements
To earn an PhD degree students must: Complete a minimum of 66 units beyond the MA (students ente...
III.4 PhD Coursework Requirements
For more detail on specific courses see the UCSB Course Catalog. Also see more information about ...
III.5 Opt-out of Required Courses
Who Can Opt-Out? Students can petition to opt out of the following courses under the following ci...
III.6 Sample Programs of Study
There is no single way to progress through the program. As long as all requirements are completed...
III.7 Interdisciplinary Emphases
Several interdisciplinary programs are available for doctoral students to obtain cross-training i...
III.8 PhD Advisor & Committee
III.8.1 Deadlines for Selecting Advisor and Committee Members Ideally, the PhD advisor should b...
III.9 Qualifying Examination
III.9.1 Purpose of the Qualifying Exam The qualifying exam process is designed to serve several ...
III.10 Doctoral Dissertation
III.10.1 Nature and Scope The dissertation represents the culmination of a student's intellectua...
III.11 Leaving ABD (All But Dissertation)
Doctoral candidates are strongly encouraged to complete the dissertation while in residence. The ...
IV. Funding
IV.1 Introduction
The Department of Communication is committed to providing financial support to all graduate stude...
IV.2 Teaching (TA and Associate)
IV.2.1 Teaching Assistant Because of large undergraduate enrollments, the most common form of fi...
IV.3 Research Grants
IV.3.1 Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) A limited number of graduate student research positions...
IV.4 Fellowships
Fellowship funds are awarded on the basis of merit and promise of productive scholarship. Types o...
IV.5 Employment Limits
Limits on % Time Employment Graduate students generally are limited to 50% time employment at UCS...
V. Policies
V.1 Advising
V.1.1 Advisor’s Role Each MA or PhD student must select an academic advisor. The role of the advi...
V.2 Grading
V.2.1 Letter Grades To remain in good standing, graduate students are required to maintain a min...
V.3 Standards of Scholarship
V.3.1 Good Standing Policy To remain in good standing, students must make timely progress and me...
V.4 Credit Transfers
With the approval of the Graduate Director and the Graduate Division, a maximum of 8 units of gra...
V.5 Out-of-State Students
Graduate students coming to UCSB from outside the State of California are expected to begin estab...
V.6 Leaves of Absence
V.6.1 General Leaves of Absence Students must apply for a leave of absence with the Graduate Div...
V.7 Maternity/Childcare Benefits
The department is committed to facilitating communication and cooperation between student and adv...
V.8 Exit Survey
The Department is continually looking for ways to improve the graduate student experience. As par...
V.9 Access to Student Files
The Department keeps a file on every graduate student that includes such paperwork as transcripts...
V.10 Instructional Funding
The Department has set limits on the total number of years graduate students can be funded throug...
V.11 Procedures for Relinquishing a TA Position
Opportunities often arise that give graduate students a chance to work as Research Assistants on ...
V.12 Department Resource Policies
V.12.1 Mailboxes Located in room 4108 in the Department of Communication, mailboxes are assigned...
V.13 Rights and Responsibilities
A series of campus regulations address the rights and responsibilities of members of the Universi...
V.14 Mandatory Annual Sexual Harassment Training
Each academic year, all graduate students are required to complete the online Sexual Violence/Sex...
VI. Appendices
VI.1 APPENDIX 1 - Department of Communication Administrative Structure
Below is a brief description of each position’s responsibilities, but in all cases the Graduate D...
VI.2 APPENDIX 2 – Department Offices & Meet Spaces – Social Sciences and Media Studies (SSMS)
Graduate student offices are assigned on a yearly basis, determined by the type of funding and re...
VI.3 APPENDIX 3 - University Resources
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) Disabled Students Program Graduate Division Graduate ...
VI.4 APPENDIX 4 - Glossary of Key Terms
Below is a glossary of key terms used throughout this handbook. 199RA The course number used for ...
VI.5 APPENDIX 5 - Standards for Faculty/Graduate Student Relationships
VI.5.1 Overview The purpose of this document is to specify our departmental standards of behavio...