*We are currently accepting applications for 2026*
The Doctoral Program is the oldest postgraduate program at the Faculty of Communication, and the first doctoral program in communication in Argentina with the largest number of graduates. It is a stage of intensive training, constituting the University's most specific task, as it culminates its educational mission. Its objective is to train researchers and prepare future university professors capable of promoting the advancement of science through their work. Those who choose doctoral studies have a strong vocation for research and teaching.
To offer research tools, methodologies and techniques so that students are able to develop their research in an autonomous and innovative way.
To provide training in communication from an interdisciplinary perspective.
To promote the dissemination and publication of scientific research carried out within the framework of the career.
Coursework for required and elective subjects:
First block: from August to October | Second block: from August to October of the following year.
Once the courses are passed, the student will have a period of thirty-six (36) months to submit their thesis. If they are unable to meet this deadline, they may request up to two extensions of up to one (1) year each and pay a registration fee.
A doctoral candidate must have a strong vocation for research and teaching. This represents the highest level of postgraduate studies and focuses on developing solid research and theoretical skills. Doctoral candidates have a noble desire for deeper knowledge and a healthy dissatisfaction with what they have already learned. Some combine their passion for scientific research with university teaching. Doctoral training is highly valued in research departments of both public and private institutions.
SOME OF THE QUALITIES OF THE DOCTORAL CANDIDATE'S PROFILE ARE:
Diligence in carrying out serious and demanding work.
Persistence in pursuing goals.
Discipline, tenacity, and order in the planning and execution of work.
Ability to integrate into research teams and to carry out collaborative work in the academic world.
Pursuing a doctorate allowed me to shape and rigor my research interests, as well as project my academic career internationally, in what I consider the best communication school in Argentina.
The PhD was a turning point. Learning the methodology for conducting research opened many unexpected doors for me. Today, I work primarily as a visual artist, and much of the approach I take to each project is thanks to what I learned during my PhD. The PhD allowed me to set personal goals outside of any institution and gave me the tools to achieve what I set out to do. It's the most personal step I took at university. It gave me a lot of freedom.
It was key in my professional career: it allowed me to move from experience to evidence and to support what I do today with science. I work with leaders and their teams on how to make better decisions and turn strategy into sustainable results, with sound judgment and rigor, and with communication as the central focus. The best decision of my life was choosing my partner. The second best was pursuing my PhD. Forever grateful.
Pursuing a doctorate meant a change in my professional trajectory because it showed me the horizon of research and from that moment my teaching and administrative profile shifted to that of a researcher.
The doctorate opened many doors for me. First, it allowed me to establish myself as a researcher, giving me greater theoretical and methodological rigor. I also had the opportunity to find another position as a professor, in postgraduate settings. Through the doctorate, I met professors, colleagues, and my thesis advisor, with whom I later developed close relationships and shared academic, teaching, and research spaces. I also discovered research topics : the choice of my object of study allowed me to solidify my interest in issues related to digital technologies, communication, and education.
My doctorate represented two major dimensions of growth for me. On the one hand, I gained a deep understanding of a theoretical field and methodology. This theoretical foundation continues to be the basis from which I understand reality as a researcher. On the other hand, during my doctorate I incorporated a way of doing intellectual work, virtuous intellectual habits that constitute the great formative contribution of the doctorate.
Pursuing a doctorate offered the opportunity to open a door to a new professional world. A world that thrives on developing ideas and communities of thinkers. A world where the greatest challenge is sharing these ideas with a new generation that will follow the same path to discover their own. A world where there is no division between theory and practice, but rather an indivisibility that implies constant enrichment in our perception of reality.
The curriculum for this degree program is structured around 10 required courses and 60 hours of elective courses. In addition, students must submit an Initial Research Paper or State of the Art Review and prepare a final thesis. Depending on the master's degree the student has completed, they may also be required to take some courses from the master's programs offered at the EPC.
The curriculum focuses on completing training in Research Methodology , Communication Theory, Interactive Digital Communication , and a series of elective courses related to various areas of communication. The program's main focus is on the dissertation, interviews with the supervisor, and efforts will be made to integrate the doctoral candidate into a research group , as their doctoral project must align with the research interests of the faculty members at the School of Communication.
1) EPISTEMOLOGY (20 h)
Professor: Dr. Ignacio Silva
2) QUALITATIVE RESEARCH STRATEGIES IN COMMUNICATION (20 h)
Professor: Dr. Damián Fernández Pedemonte
3) COMMUNICATION THEORY (20 h)
Professor: Dr. Luciano Elizalde
4) HUMANISTIC BASES FOR SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE (20 h)
Professor: Dr. Ignacio Silva
5) THESIS WORKSHOP I (20 h)
Coordinating Professor: Dr. Marcela Pizarro
6) THESIS WORKSHOP II (20 h)
Coordinating Professor: Dr. Marcela Pizarro
7) RESEARCH METHODOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION (20 h)
Professor: Dr. Cesar Arrueta
8) CONTENT ANALYSIS (20 h)
Coordinating Professor: Dr. Natalia Aruguete
9) STATISTICS (20 h)
Professor: Mag. Celina Cantú
10) INTERACTIVE DIGITAL COMMUNICATION (20 h)
Professor: Dr. Francisco Albarello
TOTAL: 200 HOURS
A total of 60 hours of elective courses must be completed.
* The admissions process opens every two years *
Applicants who hold a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Social Sciences or Human Sciences, issued by a national or foreign university, may apply for admission to the Doctorate in Social Communication.
Research and teaching experience will be taken into account: the candidate's activities, including peer-reviewed publications (indexed and non-indexed), conference presentations, book chapter writing, related work experience, and participation in projects, among others. A thesis topic proposal must be submitted along with the application.
All applicants must have reading and comprehension skills in English.
The application process includes a personal interview with the Director of the Doctoral Program, Dr. María del Carmen Grillo, to learn about the characteristics of the curriculum, the requirements, and the lines of research.
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