Science Communication, PhD

Academics
Graduate
Science Communication, PhD
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Overviewexpand_more

The Department of Life Sciences Communication (LSC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison offers a PhD program that prepares students to become leaders in the field of science communication. As part of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, our department is at the forefront of both theoretical and applied research, focusing on how to effectively communicate complex scientific topics to diverse audiences. Our doctoral program equips students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to address communication challenges in areas such as emerging technologies, public health, environment, agriculture, and biological sciences, all within a rapidly evolving media landscape. The program offers a flexible, customizable curriculum along with funded research and teaching opportunities, ensuring graduates are highly competitive in the job market. Our graduates have built successful careers in academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors, where they serve as key drivers in advancing the field of science communication and enhancing public engagement with science. 

For more information on the types of research our faculty and students are doing, where our PhD alumni are now, and additional details about the program, please visit the Life Sciences Communication website. 

Admissionsexpand_more

Fall DeadlineDecember 15
Spring DeadlineThe program does not admit in the spring.
Summer DeadlineThe program does not admit in the summer.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)Not required but may be considered if available.
English Proficiency TestEvery applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT)n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required3

The application deadline for the Science Communication PhD program is December 15. LSC will consider late applications on a rolling basis until February 15th.

Successful applicants have a thesis-based master’s degree in communication or related disciplines. However, the admissions committee may admit applicants with a demonstrated interest and background in communication research with evidence of suitable preparation.

Applicants must meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirements for admission. Materials include an online application, optional GRE scores, statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts from all previously attended institutions, a CV, and three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should come from people who can speak to the scholarly abilities of the applicant. International degree-seeking applicants must prove English proficiency using the Graduate School’s requirements. Unofficial test scores must be uploaded to the online application. 

For more information, visit the Department of Life Sciences Communication website.

Fundingexpand_more

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Graduate students in LSC have access to a variety of financial support options. Historically, nearly all of our students have been funded through teaching, research, and project assistantships—either within the department under faculty supervision or through collaborations with other departments and programs that highly value the communication and research skills of LSC students. In addition, fellowships, scholarships, and funding for professional development and travel are available. For further details, please see the funding page on the LSC’s website: https://lsc.wisc.edu/funding/.

Professional Developmentexpand_more

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School’s professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Program Resources

LSC offers a wide range of resources to support graduate students’ professional development. Students receive hands-on guidance not only from their advisor but also from other faculty members. At LSC, collaboration with multiple faculty members is encouraged to provide diverse teaching and research experiences.

Our colloquium (LSC 700) features cutting-edge research presentations from leading scholars, critical insights from science communication practitioners, and discussions on emerging trends in policy and nonprofit sectors. This platform helps students build valuable connections with experts and potential employers in the field.

Graduate students also have access to research opportunities within faculty-led groups, where senior students mentor junior cohorts, gaining leadership and mentoring experience. Throughout the academic year, students participate in regular professional development sessions with faculty and alumni. These sessions cover topics such as navigating the academic job market, incorporating AI in the classroom, and exploring new frontiers in science communication research. Students also engage with DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) issues through curated workshops and complete TA training if they take on teaching roles.

Requirementsexpand_more

Mode of Instruction for this program: Face-to-Face, courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Curricular Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement65 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement32 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement33 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement3.50 GPA required
Other Grade RequirementsGrades below B do not satisfy degree requirements but do count in the cumulative GPA.
Assessments and ExaminationsDoctoral students must pass preliminary exams once coursework is completed. Students must defend their dissertations in front of their doctoral committees to graduate from the program. They are also encouraged to publish in peer-reviewed journals before graduation.
Language RequirementsNo language requirements
Graduate School Breadth RequirementBreadth is provided via interdisciplinary training. Students are not required to earn a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate.

Required Courses

Colloquium (1 credit)
Students must complete at least 1 credit of the following course. Up to three colloquia (including one semester of LSC 700) may satisfy minimum degree requirements.
LSC 700: Colloquium in Life Sciences Communication

Science Communication Theory (3 credits)
Students must complete one of the following courses.
LSC 720: Introduction to Communication Theory & Research
LSC 902: Public Opinion of Life Science Issues

Research Methods (3 credits)
Students must complete one of the following courses. Consult with your advisor to discuss alternative courses to satisfy this requirement.
COM ARTS 762: Communication Research Methods
ED PSYCH/​COUN PSY/​CURRIC/​ED POL/​ELPA/​RP & SE  719: Introduction to Qualitative Research
ED PSYCH 762: Introduction to the Design of Educational Experiments
ED PSYCH/​COUN PSY/​CURRIC/​ED POL/​ELPA/​RP & SE  788: Qualitative Research Methods in Education: Field Methods I
ED PSYCH/​ELPA  827: Surveys and Other Quantitative Data Collection Strategies
ED PSYCH 963: Design & Analysis of Quasi-Experiments for Causal Inference
JOURN 812: Qualitative Communication Research Methods
LSC/​JOURN  811: Conceptualization and Design of Mass Communication Research
C&E SOC/​SOC  750: Research Methods in Sociology
SOC 751: Survey Methods for Social Research
SOC 752: Measurement and Questionnaires for Survey Research

Graduate Level Statistics (3 credits)
Students must complete one of the following courses. Consult with your advisor to discuss alternative courses to satisfy this requirement.
ED PSYCH 760: Statistical Methods Applied to Education I
ED PSYCH 761: Statistical Methods Applied to Education II
ED PSYCH 763: Regression Models in Education
ED PSYCH 773: Factor Analysis, Multidimensional Scaling and Cluster Analysis
ED PSYCH 960: Structural Equation Modeling
ED PSYCH 964: Hierarchical Linear Modeling
ED PSYCH 965: Applied Bayesian Statistics for Education Research
LSC 660: Data Analysis in Communications Research
POLI SCI 812: Introduction to Statistical Methods in Political Science
POLI SCI 813: Multivariable Statistical Inference for Political Research

Electives (55 credits)
Students must complete additional coursework to meet minimum degree requirements. These courses will be selected to meet the student’s specific educational needs as determined through consultation with their advisor and members of their doctoral committee. Common courses students complete to satisfy the elective requirement are listed below.
LSC 560: Scientific Writing
LSC 561: Writing Science for the Public
LSC/​COM ARTS/​JOURN  617: Health Communication in the Information Age
LSC 625: Risk Communication
LSC 660: Data Analysis in Communications Research
LSC/​JOURN  811: Conceptualization and Design of Mass Communication Research
LSC/​ENVIR ST/​JOURN  823: Science and Environment Communication
LSC 835: Strategic Science Communication
LSC 850: Visual Science Communication
LSC 912: Public Understanding of Politicized Science

Total Credits: 65

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Policiesexpand_more

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

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Prior Courseworkexpand_more

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

With program approval and in consultation with advisor, students may transfer up to 33 credits of graduate credits completed at another institution (earned post-baccalaureate). Credits earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree are not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

With program approval, students may transfer up to 7 credits numbered 600 and above from the undergraduate career completed at UW–Madison. These credits are not allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless numbered 700 or above from UW- Madison. Credits earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree are not allowed to satisfy requirements. Students may not transfer undergraduate credits earned at other institutions. 

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

With program approval and in consultation with advisor, refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW-Madison

With program approval and in consultation with advisor, students may transfer up to 12 University Special student credits numbered 600 and above. However, these credits are not allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless numbered 700 or above or are taken to meet the requirements of a capstone certificate and has the “Grad 50%” attribute. Credits earned ten or more years prior to admission to a doctoral degree are not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Probationexpand_more

Doctoral students must do the following to maintain satisfactory progress:

  • Earn a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA by the end of the second semester in residence and maintain that GPA for the duration of the degree program.
  • Remove grades of Incomplete in the semester following their occurrence.
    • A course proposal cannot be approved until all incompletes are removed.
  • Complete preliminary exams within three to six months of completing coursework.
  • Maintain steady progress toward completion of degree, including final oral exam and deposit of dissertation. Full-time students can expect four to five years; completion will vary for part-time students.

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor/Committeeexpand_more

Doctoral committees must include at least two members from outside the Department of Life Sciences Communication.

Credits Per Term Allowedexpand_more

15 credit maximum. Refer to Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests.

Time Limitsexpand_more

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appealsexpand_more

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

  1. The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
  2. If the student is unsatisfied, and the complaint involves any unit outside CALS, the student should seek the advice of the dean or director of that unit to determine how to proceed.
    1. If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
    2. If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
  3. The student should contact the department’s grievance advisor within 120 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment. The departmental administrator can provide this person’s name. The grievance advisor will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint, in discussions with the student and the person at whom the complaint is directed.
    1. If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
    2. The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
    3. If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
    4. If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
  4. If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

Otherexpand_more

Applicants are considered for funding as part of the admissions process. We offer a range of funding including graduate assistantships, fellowships and research scholarship awards. 

Learning Outcomesexpand_more

  • Articulate research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory, knowledge, or practice within science communication.
  • Formulate ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within science communication.
  • Create research or scholarship that makes a substantive contribution.
  • Demonstrate breadth within their learning experiences.
  • Advance contributions of science communication to society.
  • Communicate complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
  • Apply ethical and professional conduct in research.

Peopleexpand_more

For the most current list of faculty members, please visit the LSC website: https://lsc.wisc.edu/people/faculty-research-staff/

Contact Information

Lynn Bartholomew, Academic Advising Manager

lbartholome2@wisc.edu
608-262-1241
233 Hiram Smith Hall

Nan Li, Director of Graduate Studies

nli8@wisc.edu
608-262-7791
226 Hiram Smith Hall

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