york university phd communication and culture

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Doctor of Philosophy Media, Culture, and Communication

Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach to the study of media and culture, our doctorate draws from a rich array of disciplines and theoretical frameworks. Department expertise spans the globe: the Middle East, East Asia, the Global South, Africa, and Europe. Our faculty generate some of the most original scholarship in their respective fields, creating a stimulating environment in which to pursue graduate work.

Degree Details

Official degree title.

PhD in Media, Culture, and Communication

Research Focus

Alumni placements, funding for full-time phd students.

Five research areas operate as guiding frameworks for intellectual inquiry across the department: Global Communication and Media, Technology and Society, Visual Culture and Sound Studies, Media Industries and Politics, Interaction and Experience.

Your work as a doctoral student will be shaped by our commitment to:

• Engaging with theoretical concepts from a range of disciplines—media and cultural studies, visual culture, history, science and technology studies, anthropology, sociology, disability studies, sound studies, political science.
• A multi-methodological approach to research—from semiotics, global ethnography, gender and queer theory, critical race theory, qualitative and quantitative discourse analysis, to political/cultural economy, among other critical frameworks.
• A global perspective—conceiving of the global mediascape as transnational and transcultural.
• Recognizing media and technology’s long history and antecedents.

Read some sample dissertation abstracts .

After graduating, alumni join academic departments of media and communication, with placement in the social sciences and interdisciplinary humanities becoming increasingly common. MCC PhDs who graduated in the past ten years are now tenure-track or tenured professors at the University of California, Berkeley; University of Washington, Seattle; Cornell University; Stanford University; UCLA; Rutgers; Fordham; University of Michigan; George Mason University; University of North Carolina; University of Arizona; College of Charleston; Memorial University of Newfoundland; University of San Francisco; Scripps; Pratt; University of Maryland; American University of Beirut; American University of Paris, Ryerson University; Trent University; St. Joseph’s College.

Over the past decade, our PhD graduates have received numerous prestigious postdocs, including a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities in the Department of Comparative Media Studies/Writing at MIT; Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at MIT's Center for Art, Science, and Technology; Postdoctoral Fellow, Berkman Klein Center, Harvard University; Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science; Postdoctoral, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University; Postdoctoral Fellowship at Rice University in Technology, Culture, and Society; Research Associate, Center for Digital Humanities, Princeton University; Postdoctoral Fellow, Media, Inequality & Change Center, University of Pennsylvania.

If you are accepted as a full-time NYU Steinhardt PhD student without an alternate funding source, you are eligible for our competitive funding package, which includes a scholarship and tuition remission.  Learn more about our funding opportunities .

Graduate Leadership

Associate Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication; PhD Director

Susan Murray

Department chair and professor of media, culture, and communication.

If you have additional questions about our degree, please contact us at [email protected] .

Alumni Profiles

Jacob Gaboury (PhD 2014)

Jacob is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Film & Media at the University of California, Berkeley. His dissertation "Image Objects: An Archaeology of Computer Graphics, 1965-1979" investigated the early history of computer graphics and the role they play in the move toward new forms of simulation and object oriented design.

Xiaochang Li (PhD 2017)

Xiaochang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Stanford University. Her teaching and research interests include the history of computing and information systems, AI and algorithmic culture, speech and language technology, and software/platform studies. Before joining Stanford, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin.

Hatim El-Hibri (PhD 2012)

Hatim is Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies at George Mason University. His research examines media technologies and urban space in the Middle East. His dissertation traced the history of the visualization of Beirut, from the politics of aerial photography and mapping during the French Mandate, to the visual economy of postwar construction, to the materiality of Hizballah's live satellite television.

Liz Koslov (PhD 2017)

Liz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. Previously, she was a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at MIT. Her research examines the cultural, political, and sociological dimensions of climate change adaptation. Her first book project, Retreat: Moving to Higher Ground in a Climate-Changed City , is under advance contract with the University of Chicago Press.

Devon Powers (PhD 2008)

Devon is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Advertising, Media & Communication at Temple University. Powers' research interests include popular music, 20th century history, and cultural intermediation – the people and processes that operate "in between" the production and consumption of culture. Powers completed a fellowship at the University of Leeds in 2014, and was recently elected Vice Chair of the Popular Communication Division of the International Communication Association.

Matthew Powers (PhD 2013)

Matthew is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington-Seattle. His dissertation "Humanity's Publics: NGOs, Journalism and the International Public Sphere" examined reporting roles assumed by international NGOs as legacy media outlets cut their foreign news budgets, and received the Gene Burd Outstanding Dissertation in Journalism Studies award from the International Communication Association. 

Media, Culture, and Communication

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Degree Requirements

All students must complete the following six half courses:

• Communication & Culture 6004 3.0: Communication and Culture: An Interdisciplinary Approach
• Communication & Culture 6002. 3.0 Research Methodologies
• Communication & Culture 6005 3.0: Research Specialization and Practice

Three elective courses offered by the Communication & Culture program; one in  each  of the three areas of specialization:

• Media & Culture;  and
• Politics & Policy;  and
• Technology in Practice — Applied Perspectives

Students may complete the degree by Master’s Research Paper (MRP); Thesis,  or  Project.

Students must successfully complete:

• 9 half courses plus a Master’s Research Paper:
• 6 required half courses (as listed above); and,
• 3 additional half courses selected from the list of elective courses offered by the program.

A maximum of two elective courses may only be taken outside of the program with permission from the program(s).

Candidates must undertake research under the direction of a faculty member appointed to the Joint Graduate Program in Communication & Culture on an approved topic and submit a paper of about 40-60 pages incorporating this research. The paper will be assessed by the supervisor and an arms-length second reader.

• 8 half courses plus a thesis or project;
• 2 additional half courses selected from the list of elective courses offered by the program, other elective courses outside the program may only be taken with permission from the program(s).

In addition to coursework, candidates must undertake an original research under the direction of three faculty members (normally at least one from each university). The principal supervisor must be a member of the Graduate Program in Communication & Culture. Candidates must submit a thesis (of about 100-120 pages) based on original research and in a Faculty of Graduate Studies’ appropriate thesis form. Candidates are required to defend the thesis at an oral examination.

In addition to coursework, the project option permits MA candidates to report on advanced work in non-traditional ways. Projects could include an audio, video, or multi-media production, a website or network design, a photo essay, technical manual, or strategic information plan, among many possible examples. The required project paper (about 30 pages) must document the work involved, place it in the context of theory and practice in the field, and explain its theoretical and/or methodological contribution to the field of communication and culture (i.e. demonstrate how it ‘breaks new ground’). The work is done under the direction of three faculty members (normally including one from each university). The principal supervisor must be a member of the Graduate Program in Communication & Culture. Candidates are required to defend the project/paper at an oral examination.

Please go to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) for further details.

Students must take a minimum of six half–courses including:

• Communication & Culture 7000 3.0: Perspectives in Communication and Cultural Studies; and
• Communication & Culture 7200 3.0: Advanced Research Methodologies; and
• Communication & Culture 7005 3.0: PhD Field Seminar: Disciplinary Practices

Candidates must select a  major  area of specialization: a minimum of two half courses as selected from in–program electives, and a  minor  specialization: a minimum of one half course [which may be taken in a related program only with permission of the program(s)]. In program–courses selected from:

• Media & Culture; and/or
• Politics & Policy; and/or
• Technology in Practice — Applied Perspectives:

Upon completion of the above course work are required to complete their Qualifying Examination (also called Comprehensive Exams) as described in 'Qualifying Examination'.

PhD candidates must demonstrate an overall command of the field and of the major and minor areas of area specialization by passing a written and oral comprehensive examination. The examination is normally taken by the end of the second year of registration (or by the end of the third year for part-time students). The examination tests the student’s grasp of the history of the field, its central themes and debates, and the key theoretical and methodological issues. The examination will also reflect the diversity of perspectives in the areas of specialization and its interdisciplinary nature in general. Successful completion of both the written and oral components of the examination demonstrates that the candidate is qualified to teach at the university level and has the level of knowledge in her/his area of specialization needed to begin work on the dissertation.

The expected outcome of the qualifying examination is that the candidate will prepare a formal dissertation proposal, under the direction of an advisory committee of program faculty (at least one from each university). Upon completion of the qualifying exams, the formal proposal will be submitted for approval by the Thesis Committee and the Graduate Program Director.

In addition to coursework, candidates must undertake an original research under the direction of three faculty members (normally at least one from each university). The principal supervisor must be a member of the Graduate Program in Communication & Culture. Candidates must submit a thesis based on original research and in a Faculty of Graduate Studies’ appropriate thesis form. Candidates are required to defend the thesis at an oral examination.

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The York & Toronto Metropolitan University Joint Graduate Program in Communication & Culture at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education.

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Matthew Tegelberg

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Associate Professor Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Social Science (ISS) Program

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Office: 717 Ross Building South Phone: 416 736 2100 Ext: 30125 Email: [email protected] None, I am available to media --> None, I am available to media -->

• Publications
• Full Profile

Matthew Tegelberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Science at York University. He is a Research Associate with MediaClimate, an international network of media scholars that study environmental communication, placing particular emphasis on global media coverage of climate change. Tegelberg's research and teaching interests are in climate justice communication, global tourism, and media representations of social movements. His research has been published in Journalism, Journal of Science Communication, Tourist Studies, International Communication Gazette, International Journal of Cultural Studies, Nordicom Review, Canadian Journal of Communication, and in several books and edited volumes.

Area of Specialization

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Research Interests

Current research projects.

2018 -  Media and Transnational Climate Justice: Indigenous Activism and Climate Politics . New York: Peter Lang MacMillan. (coauthored with Anna Roosvall) http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2017/07/12/york-u-researcher-part-of-international-collaboration-on-climate-change-communication/ https://www.peterlang.com/view/product/32024

2017 -  Media and Global Climate Knowledge: Climate Journalism and the IPCC . London: Palgrave MacMillan.(coedited with Elisabeth Eide, Risto Kunelius and Dmitry Yagodin)

2017 -  “Conclusion: From Assessments to Solutions.” In Elisabeth Eide, Risto Kunelius, Matthew Tegelberg and Dmitry Yagodin (eds.) Media and Global Climate Knowledge: Climate Journalism and the IPCC . London: Palgrave. (coauthored with Elizabeth Eide and Risto Kunelius)

2017 -  “Following the Tweets: What happened to the IPCC AR5 Synthesis Report on Twitter?” In Elisabeth Eide, Risto Kunelius, Matthew Tegelberg and Dmitry Yagodin (eds.) Media and Global Climate Knowledge: Climate Journalism and the IPCC . London: Palgrave. (coauthored with Dmitry Yagodin, Débora Medeiros and Adrienne Russell)

2016 - “Natural Ecology Meets Media Ecology: Indigenous Activists’ Views on Nature and Media.” In Heike Graf (ed.) The Environment in the Age of the Internet: Activists, Communication, and the Digital Landscape . Cambridge: Open Book Publishers. (coauthored with Anna Roosvall)

2016 -  “Donors Do Not Trust: Actor-networks and Intermedia Agenda-setting in Online Climate News.” Nordicom Review .(coauthored with Dmitry Yagodin)

Approach to Teaching

Past courses taught:

• SOSC 1000 9.0 - Introduction to Social Science
• SOSC 2560 6.0 - Ideology and Everyday Life
• SOSC 3006 6.0 - Technology and Social Movements
• SOSC 4001 6.0 - Critical Issues in Tourism Studies

Current Courses

Upcoming courses, all publications.

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Communication and Culture (MA, PhD)

Joint Program with York University  

Program Overview

Format : Full-time (MA, PhD), Part-time (MA)

Degree Earned : Master of Arts (MA) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This unique partnership between two universities combines expertise and opportunities for advanced study of media and cultural technologies, as well as communication politics in practice and theory. The two-year, full- or part-time MA program combines academic and professional work through independent research in theory-building, media practice or policy implications. The full-time PhD program provides a thorough grounding in theory and method, and the practices, processes and technologies of contemporary, media-immersed cultures.

At a Glance

Admissions information.

• Completion of a four-year undergraduate (or equivalent degree) from an accredited institution
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.33/4.33 (B+) in the last two years of study
• Statement of research interest
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency requirement
• Writing sample
• Completion of a master’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) or equivalent of 3.33/4.33 (B+)

More information on  admission requirements . Due to the competitive nature of our programs, it is not possible to offer admission to everyone who applies that meets the minimum entrance requirements for the program. 

Program-specific requirements

Financing Your Studies

For detailed graduate tuition and fees information please visit  Fees by Program .

For information on scholarships, awards and financing your graduate studies visit  Financing Your Studies.

Research Areas

• Media and Culture: the confluence of media and culture and their relationships within social systems.
• Politics and Policy: the critical role of the state and civil society in the development of communication systems, the production and distribution of culture, and issues of societal power.
• Technology in Practice: the development, application, and influence of historical, current and emerging communication technologies in cultural production, both personal and organizational.

Sample Courses

• Accelerating Technicity
• Activist Video Making
• Advanced Communication Technology
• Advanced Research Methodologies
• Armed Conflict, Peace and Media
• Asian Studies Perspectives
• Bodies in Technology
• Body and Culture Of Modernity
• Cinema and Media: Key Concepts
• Communication and Culture: An Interdisciplinary Approach
• Communication and the Sociotechnical
• Contemporary Theory In Visual Arts
• Cultural Policy
• Cultural Production Workshop
• Culture and The Environment
• Cultures of Sexuality and Gender
• Design and Research Theory
• Digital Games and Learning
• Field Placement (MA)
• Future Cinema
• History of News
• Media Democracy
• Media Ethics
• Media History
• Perspectives in Communication and Culture
• Photographic Vision and Practice
• Political Economy of Media
• Politics of Aesthetics
• Popular Music Studies
• Reading Film
• Reading Television
• Research Methodologies
• Social and Cultural Implications of New Media
• Social Theory and Communication Processes
• Visual Culture
• Centre for Digital Humanities
• Infoscape Research Lab
• Modern Literature & Culture Research Centre & Gallery
• The Image Centre

Graduate Admissions

Admissions information and how to apply

Graduate Studies Admissions Office 11th Floor, 1 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON Telephone: 416-979-5150 Fax: 416-979-5153 E-mail:  [email protected]

For information specific to programs please see the program contact information below.

Program Contacts

Dr. Miranda Campbell  Graduate Program Director Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 553519 Email: [email protected]

Sarah Edmonds Graduate Program Administrator Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 554837 Fax: 416-979-5153 Email:  [email protected]

“This program has enabled me to tap into a unique community of passionate scholars and creative thinkers who have sharpened my research and artistic practice.” Dave Colangelo, PhD alumnus

Student Profile:  Indigenizing Fashion  (external link) 

Riley Kucheran (communication and culture PhD student) explores clothing and assimilation in Indian Residential Schools

Find curriculum, course descriptions and important dates for Communication and Culture (MA, PhD).

Once you’ve made an informed choice about which program(s) you are going to apply to, preparing your application requires careful research and planning.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we understand that pursuing graduate studies is a significant financial investment. Funding comes from a combination of employment contracts (as a teaching assistant), scholarships, awards and stipends. There are a number of additional funding sources – internal and external – available to graduate students that can increase these funding levels.

As an urban innovation university, Toronto Metropolitan University offers 60+ cutting-edge, career-oriented graduate programs, as well as 125+ research centres, institutes and labs, in a wide range of disciplines. Our close connections with industry, government and community partners provide opportunities to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges and make a difference.

Graduate Admissions

Culture, communication & leadership in canadian business.

Diploma programs are open to students in any relevant graduate program or to those who have a general interest in graduate-level work. For diplomas that are part of a graduate degree (concurrent), please contact the relevant graduate program office. For graduate diplomas that can be pursued on their own (stand-alone, direct entry), applications are submitted online.   More information about Graduate Diploma programs

The Schulich Graduate Diploma in Culture, Communication & Leadership in Canadian Business provides students with an opportunity for an in-depth appreciation of cultural differences, business practices, skills and knowledge of conventions and vocabulary to effectively interact with and contribute to the organizations they will be engaged with post-graduation. This outcome is achieved with a professional development course, a selection of courses focused on communication, culture and leadership, and a placement.

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Ways to connect with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Program Supports

Have a program-related question.

Contact the graduate program assistant: yorku.ca/gradstudies/program-contacts/

Have an admission related question? Contact the Graduate Admissions Team

By phone: 416-872-9675

By email:   [email protected]

Upcoming graduate webinars/in-person events for Future Students: futurestudents.yorku.ca/events/graduate

York University Office of Admissions Bennett Centre for Student Services 99 Ian Macdonald Blvd Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 CANADA 

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