Core Courses

The DComm student shall take four core courses totaling 12 units:

COMM 310 (Communication Theory and Practice)	Description: Contemporary communication theories and practices; communication models; approaches to theorizing in communication. Prerequisite: None
COMM 390 (Communication Research Paradigms)	Description: Foundations of communication research. Basic assumptions, concepts and approaches to communication research. Prerequisite: COMM 310
COMM 391 (Communication Research Methodologies)	Description: Quantitative and qualitative approaches to communication research. Prerequisite: COMM 390
COMM 399 (Online Colloquium in Communication Research)	Description: Student-managed online colloquium focused on selected topics related to or tools useful in the systematic study of communication phenomena and best practices in the profession. Prerequisite: COMM 391

Specialized Courses

 The DCOMM student shall take seven specialized courses totaling 21 units. These courses have no prerequisites and may be taken in any order. However, it is advisable (but not mandatory) to take these specialized courses after COMM 310, 390 and 391 that provide the appropriate perspectives and contexts.

COMM 320 (Management of Communication Media Resources & Systems)	Description: Concepts and structures of communication systems; application of contemporary management theories and approaches in the effective operations of communication systems.
COMM 330 (Communication Policy and Planning)	Description: Current approaches to communication policy sciences and planning at the organizational, national, and global levels.
COMM 340 (Organizational Communication)	Description: Concepts, techniques, and contemporary thinking in organizing and managing corporate communication systems.
COMM 350 (Information and Knowledge Management)	Description: Theoretical foundations, principles, and development applications of Information and Knowledge Management. Management of information and knowledge systems.
COMM 360 (Information & Communication Media Technologies)	Description: Current and emerging information and communication technologies and their application to the generation, processing, storage, and utilization of information and other social messages.
COMM 370 (Corporate Social Responsibility Communication)	Description: Philosophical, social, and moral foundations of the corporate social responsibility of human organizations in a developing society.
COMM 380 (Advocacy and Social Mobilization)	Description: Contemporary principles in and approaches to advocacy and social mobilization in a changing social environment.

Dissertation

COMM 400 (Doctoral Dissertation)

Description: Comprehensive and exhaustive, directed independent study consisting of in-depth analysis of communication phenomena, synthesis of scientific communication literature, or in-depth analysis of best practices in the field of communication. You must have completed your coursework before enrolling under COMM 400.

Dissertation Milestones

The capstone requirement of the Doctor of Communication program is the conduct and writing of a dissertation (12 units).

You enroll in COMM400 in order to have your dissertation proposal formally approved and eventually completed, not to begin developing your ideas about your work. You should begin considering topics for your dissertation early on in the program.

You may only enroll COMM400 after completing all your coursework and your graduate advisory committee constituted. The dissertation has a credit of 12 units to be enrolled in one semester. This does not mean that you need to complete your dissertation within that length of time. The timeline for your dissertation will be decided upon by your advisory committee and you.

In keeping with the spirit of openness, the DComm Program will not structure nor put timelines on your dissertation. It will allow the student and his/her adviser to work on the dissertation in an iterative manner without specific milestones and timeline restrictions. Take note that the program does not have a maximum residency period. This will also avoid confusion in recalling the total number of units registered. If you are unable to complete your dissertation in a given semester, you should enroll for residency in the succeeding ones until you successfully defend your work.

Your final grade is issued only once the dissertation has been completed and defended. An official note is placed on the transcript or records stating the semester when you have satisfactorily completed your dissertation.

Topic Presentation

 Immediately upon enrolling your COMM 400 (Doctoral Dissertation), you are encouraged to communicate with your graduate advisory committee to discuss your topic. Your adviser may require you to give a topic presentation. In this event, you are expected to present your identified dissertation topic to your graduate advisory committee for their approval. Ordinarily, the topic presentation would consist of the following: your proposed title; the rationale for the topic including research gaps or inconsistencies found in the literature; research questions; a theoretical framework or lens; and your proposed methodology. This implies that you have read the literature related to the topic that you can fully discuss the rationale, the research problem and the research objectives for your topic.

Dissertation Examinations

There will be two dissertation examinations: the proposal presentation; and the oral defense or final exam. The student and his/her advisory committee will determine the appropriate dates based on the progress of the dissertation. Individual members of the advisory committee may exercise his/her right to postpone the proposal presentation or oral defense if he/she has any doubts on the student’s readiness.

For the proposal presentation, you are to present, in addition to the rationale of the study, research problem, and research objectives, the detailed methodology of your research.  This should include how the data will be gathered – if survey, who and how many will be your respondents and how will they be selected; if content analysis, what documents will be analyzed and how will the analysis be done; etc.  You are also to present the research instruments if these will be part of your research methodology and discuss how you will analyze the data that you will gather.

You should be prepared to describe measures that you will undertake to ensure that your research will adhere to the accepted Research Ethical Guidelines. After the proposal presentation, you are expected to submit a final research proposal and to clear it with the UPOU Research Ethics Committee. Guidelines on research ethics will be distributed to you in a separate cover.

For the final defense, in addition to the parts already discussed in your proposal presentation, you should present the following components of your dissertation manuscript: Results and Discussion; Conclusion; and Recommendations.

For the benefit of the student, it is highly recommended that presentations and defense examinations be done face to face not only to avoid technical difficulties but to avail of the opportunity to interact face-to-face with the DComm faculty.

However, it may be conducted online ONLY if conditions merit such but it will be done at your own risk of technical problems and coordination difficulties.
Note that the committee may opt to decide on an outcome in spite of these constraints and it may not be on your favor. If you will opt for the online defense, you will be advised on what tool will be used.

Doctor of Communication Faculty of Information and Communication Studies
	1st SEMESTER	2nd SEMESTER	MID YEAR TERM
1st YEAR
	COMM 310 Communication Theory and Practice	COMM 390 Communication Research Paradigms
	COMM 320 Management of Communication Media Systems	COMM 330 Communication Policy and Planning	COMM 340 Organizational Communicaiton
2nd YEAR
	COMM 391 Communication Research Methodology	COMM 360 Information & Communicaiton Media Technology
	COMM 350 Information & Knowledge Management	COMM 370 Corporate Social Responsibility	COMM 380 Advocacy & Social Mobilization
3rd YEAR
	COMM 399 Online Research Colloquium	COMM 400 Doctoral Dissertation
4th YEAR
	Residence	Residence	Defense
Note: Courses in bold letters are Required

Program Chair

• Dr. Jean A. Saludadez (Professor)

Full-time Faculty

• Dr. Benigno B. Agapito, Jr. (Assistant Professor)
• Dr. Myra C. Almodiel (Assistant professor)
• Dr. Emely A. Amoloza (Assistant Professor)
• Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria (Professor)
• Dr. Ria Mae H. Borromeo (Associate Professor)
• Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr. (Associate Professor)
• Dr. Diego S. Maranan (Associate Professor)
• Dr. Reinald Adrian D. Pugoy (Associate Professor)

Affiliate Faculty

• Dr. Joane V. Serrano (Associate Professor)
• Dr. Arminda V. Santiago (UP Diliman)
• Dr. Benjamina G. Flor (UP Los Banos)
• Dr. Serlie B. Jamias (UP Los Banos)
• Dr. Rachel Khan (UP Diliman)
• Dr. John Ponsaran (UP Manila)
• Dr. Sheila Bonito (UP Manila)

Adjunct Faculty

How many years will it take for me to finish the program?

Assuming a normal load of six units per semester are taken, the average period to complete the course would be four (4) years. The period it would take to complete the course would however, depend on the student’s own pace.

I am currently working. Can I still enroll?
The DComm Program was primarily designed for part time and working students. Thus, distance e-Learning  suits working students well.

What if I am based outside the Philippines?
All courses are taught online, which means that you can study any course wherever you are.

How can I apply for admission?
The procedure of application may be found here.

Are there classroom sessions?
All DComm courses are delivered online.

Do I have to view the modules at a certain time or date or can I study these modules at my own pace?

The courses taught are asynchronous. You can view these modules on your own pace, at your available time. However, do take note or be updated if there are deadlines set by the faculty-in-charge.

Will there be an instance where I would be required to personally go to the university?

If possible, present your proposal or dissertation defense in person. This not only lessens the technical difficulties you may encounter, but it would also be an opportunity for you to meet the faculty face to face.

How can I conduct my dissertation defense? 

First, you need the approval of your adviser and panel members. The key here is to constantly communicate the progress of your draft with your adviser and panel members. Once the go-signal is given, schedule a defense date with your committee then prepare a powerpoint presentation to send to the student support staff before the date of your defense.

Please refer to this flowchart for more information.

If I could not make a face-to-face defense/presentation, how do I conduct an online defense?

Once you get the approval of your dissertation committee, set a date for your online defense.  Record a video screen capture with audio narration (screencast) of your presentation and email it to the DComm student support staff.  We will then instruct you on the video conferencing tool that you will be using (Zoom).

What do I need to prepare before my dissertation defense?

You need to prepare your powerpoint (or screencast) presentation. Provide a copy of your final draft to the committee, if possible. Other than that, laptops, projector, etc., will be provided by us.

Where can I access the program handbook? 

The program handbook, style guide for dissertation, and other FAQ materials can be accessed here.