Doctoral Education Trends: Content Analyses of Dissertations and Job Postings

Abstract

This study analyzes doctoral education trends in journalism and mass communications. Dissertation abstracts (N = 643) from ACEJMC-accredited schools from 2019 to 2024 were coded; popular topics included underrepresented communities, social media, and health, and popular methods included qualitative interviews. Job postings (N = 1,067) shared through AEJMC from 2021 to 2024 were also coded; most did not require specific research concentrations or methods, but they explicitly required teaching and professional experience. Implications for graduate students, mentors, and program directors are discussed.