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Research Programs

Communication
Contact information
125 Academy Street
Pearson Hall, Room 250
Newark, DE 19716, USA
University of Delaware
comm-staff@udel.edu
302-831-8041

Innovative and collaborative research

A college graduate student stand inside an office next to a research poster on an easel.
Ph.D. student Gilbert Kipkoech won the graduate poster competition at the annual Eastern Communication Convention in April 2022. He received his Ph.D. in communication in May 2024.

The University of Delaware offers exciting opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate communication students to engage in innovative and collaborative research. Students in the program have a strong track record of publishing their work in peer-reviewed journals and earning accolades at professional conferences.

One notable example is the work done under the mentorship of Professor Paul Brewer. Ph.D. students Wyatt Dawson, Ashley Paintsil, and James Bingaman achieved significant recognition by winning the top paper award in media communication at the annual Eastern Communication Association Convention in April 2022. Their award-winning research, which explores media use and public opinion about gene editing, has been published, adding to the academic discourse in this critical field.

Additionally, Ph.D. student Emily Pfender conducted impactful research on video therapy, guided by her faculty mentor, Professor Scot Caplan. Her work was published in Counseling Psychology Quarterly, highlighting the therapeutic benefits and innovative applications of video technology in counseling.

These examples demonstrate the university's commitment to supporting student research that not only advances academic knowledge but also addresses real-world issues. With strong faculty mentorship and a collaborative research environment, communication students at the University of Delaware are well-equipped to make meaningful contributions to their fields.

University of Delaware senior Charise Lewis sits inside a media production room at UD, at a desk and surrounded by monitors, keyboards, and equipment.

Explore undergraduate research at UD

Charise Lewis, a senior majoring in communication with minors in advertising and women and gender studies, spent her summer analyzing the portrayal of Black women in the media. She monitored content on streaming services, identifying the presence of stereotypes across 220 episodes of 70 different shows.

Visit the Undergraduate Research Program to discover more opportunities at UD.

Academic Credit for Undergraduates

Undergraduate students can earn academic credit for research and independent study while building transferable skills, leadership, and educational competencies in the communication discipline. Students work closely with faculty who are widely recognized not only for their published research but also for their commitment to teaching and advisement. To learn more, email the Department of Communication at comm-staff@udel.edu.

Independent Study

Work one-on-one with a communication professor on an in-depth, specialized project

Next Steps

Independent Study

For academic credit, students register for COMM366 or COMM466. Communication majors in their junior and senior years must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 in their major and 2.75 overall. Communication-related projects by non-majors will be reviewed for independent study credit and considered on a case-by-case basis.

To register for the course, independent study candidates must submit a contract (linked below) for review and approval by the chairperson.

The contract must include the following information:

  • Faculty sponsor: Students may contact communication professors whose teaching or research is related to the project they would like to pursue, or communication professors may recruit students for specific projects.
  • Written proposal: Includes the purpose, expected results, sources, and value of the project.  The specific criteria the faculty will use to evaluate the project must be included.

Complete the Independent Study Contract

Undergraduate Research

Build transferable skills, leadership, and educational competencies in communication

Next Steps

Undergraduate Research

For academic credit, students register for COMM468, Undergraduate Research in Communication. To be eligible, the student must be a junior or senior majoring in communication with a grade point average of at least 3.0 in their major and 2.75 overall. Registration by non-majors will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

To register for the course, the undergraduate research candidate must submit a contract (linked below) for review and approval. The contract must include the following information:

  • Faculty sponsor: The candidate contacts a faculty member whose teaching or research is related to the project they would like to pursue. 
  • Written proposal: The candidate and faculty sponsor discuss the proposed research idea and prepare a plan that includes purpose; research and/or research support responsibilities; the value of the research to the student; and project evaluation criteria.

Complete the undergraduate Research Contract

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Collaborations

Research opportunities are available for undergraduate and graduate students with the Center for Health Communication and the Center for Political Communication. Recognized for their social science research, both centers offer research training for graduate students, including stipends for research assistants and use of data sources.

Center for Health Communication

UD Communication Professor Amy Bleakley on far left with three UD communication graduate students, attending a welcome luncheon in September 2022.

Visit UD's Center for Health Communication

About

The Center for Health Communication at the University of Delaware is a hub for faculty and students to conduct research and collaborate with others to advance the science of health communication. We promote the translation of research and engagement with communities to improve health and well being. With health, interpersonal and media communication expertise, CHC collaborators are working​​​ to expand their reach across and beyond campus to identify partnership synergies for competitive funding opportunities. 

Housed in UD's Department of Communication, the CHC is a hub for faculty and students to engage in scholarly research and collaborations with the goals of:

Advancing the science of health communication. CHC approaches scholarship from interpersonal and mass media perspectives and works to investigate questions about the bidirectional influence of communication and health at multiple (i.e., micro and macro) levels. Questions center around understanding (a) how individuals can communicate in ways that improve their relational, psychological, and physical/physiological health, (b) how health-related issues impact communication in relationships, (c) how media affect health cognitions and behaviors, (d) the development of persuasive health messaging, and (e) how to best communicate about risk.

Training a diverse set of health communication scholars. The CHC uses a team science approach, with research teams of faculty, postdocs, undergraduate students, graduate students, and community members. CHC researchers mentor undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students and provide opportunities for publishing, presenting at national and international conferences, and grant writing experience. The CHC is inclusive and enthusiastic about working with students and scholars from diverse backgrounds. 

Promoting the translation of research findings and engaging with communities to improve health and well-being. The CHC provides expertise to assist researchers in their goal to translate and disseminate research findings through interacting with stakeholders and engaging in outreach efforts to disseminate research information to specific target audiences.

Center for Political Communication

Two female University of Delaware students attending an event inside Mitchell Hall's theater. One student holds a microphone for the other so she can address a question to the guest speaker.

Visit UD's Center for Political Communication 

About

The Center for Political Communication at the University of Delaware is a nonpartisan, interdisciplinary center connecting academics, students, and the community to relevant issues in political communication. Since its creation, the CPC consistently touches on issues that are part of, or about to be part of, the national conversation. Whether it is racial injustice, climate change, polarization, or the future of our democracy, the CPC provides context through courses, research, and programs.

Faculty affiliated with the Center for Political Communication conduct cutting-edge research through national and statewide public opinion polls. Studies sponsored by the CPC have received coverage in a wide range of news outlets, including the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, US News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, and Wired.

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