Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University

Michigan State University link 

Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media

The Media and Information Studies PhD Program


The interdepartmental Media and Information Studies Ph.D. Program is offered jointly by the Department of Advertising, the School of Journalism, and the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media.The program prepares students to become active scholars, teachers and/or leaders in the communication industry.

Rankings and Reputation

In recent studies of research productivity, both in terms of published journal articles and presentations at scholarly and professional meetings, the faculty and students in the Media and Information Studies Ph.D. Program have consistently been at or near the top of national rankings. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked MSU's Media and Information Studies Ph.D. program No. 2 in the category of mass communication in the 2005 Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, published by the Chronicle in 2007. The National Communication Association (NCA), in their Novermber 2004 doctoral program reputation study, ranked MSU’s Ph.D. programs as No. 1 in educating researchers in communication technology, and in the top four in mass communication.

TISM Faculty in the Media and Information Studies PhD Program

Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media Department faculty are leading scholars in their respective areas, creating a rich environment for doctoral study. Particular areas of department research strength in the MIS PhD program are:

Communication Technology
(includes Internet research)

Frank Biocca
Constantinos Coursaris
Kurt DeMaagd
Nicole Ellison
Carrie Heeter
Robert LaRose
Cliff Lampe
Mark Levy
Wei Peng
Charles Steinfield
Joseph Walther
Pam Whitten
Steve Wildman

Telecom and Media
Economics and Policy

Thomas Baldwin (emeritus)
Johannes Bauer
Kurt DeMaagd
Tom Muth (emeritus)
Charles Steinfield
Steve Wildman
Mass Communication
Thomas Baldwin (emeritus)
Frank Biocca
Bradley Greenberg (emeritus)
Robert LaRose
Mark Levy
Wei Peng
Steve Wildman


Games, Learning, Telehealth
Frank Biocca
Carrie Heeter
Robert LaRose
Wei Peng
Pam Whitten
Brian Winn
Organizations and Technology
Constantinos Coursaris
Kurt DeMaagd
Nicole Ellison
Cliff Lampe
Charles Steinfield
Pam Whitten
Communication Technology
and Economic Development

Johannes Bauer
Kurt DeMaagd
Cliff Lampe
Robert LaRose
Mark Levy
Jennifer Olson
Charles Steinfield

For More Information

The Media and Information Studies Ph.D. Program is administered by the College of Communication Arts & Sciences. For additional information, please see the Media and Information Studies Ph.D page or contact:

Nancy Ashley
287 Comm Arts Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1212
Tel: 517.355.3410
E-Mail: ashleyn@msu.edu