Bridging Academia and Industry: A Communication PhD as a Practitioner’s Path
For many, the idea of earning a PhD is synonymous with a future in academia—conducting research, publishing papers, and eventually securing a tenure-track faculty position. However, just as a PhD in psychology can lead to a career as a practicing therapist rather than a lifelong academic, a PhD in communication can be a direct pathway to industry, where one applies their deep theoretical knowledge and research skills in practical, real-world settings.
The Academic vs. Applied Divide
The field of psychology provides a helpful comparison for understanding how a PhD in communication can transition into industry. In psychology, PhD graduates often choose between academia and practice—some focus on research, studying human behavior in controlled settings. In contrast, others apply that knowledge to therapy practices, helping people navigate their progress on personal growth milestones and conquer mental health challenges.
A similar division exists in communication. While some scholars devote their careers to theoretical exploration in the academic sphere, others take their expertise into industries such as corporate consulting, media, public relations, user experience (UX) research, and organizational development. Just as therapists translate psychology theory into actionable strategies for their clients, communication PhDs can leverage their deep understanding of human interaction, persuasion, media effects, and organizational dynamics to solve real-world challenges when given the proper outlet in industry settings.
The Communication PhD as a Practitioner
A communication PhD provides a robust foundation for industry work. The rigorous training in research methods, data analysis, and theoretical frameworks equips graduates with highly transferable skills. Here are a few ways communication PhDs are already taking industry by storm as influential communication practitioners:
1. Strategic Communication & Consulting
Companies increasingly seek professionals who understand audience behavior, persuasion techniques, and media strategies to craft effective communication plans. So, enter the PhD graduate who can apply communication theories to help businesses and organizations refine their messaging, improve public perception, or manage crises.
2. User Experience (UX) & Human-Centered Design
A whole subfield of communication research is dedicated to understanding how people process messages and interact with technology. In fact, our founder, Emily, holds a minor in InfoSci from Cornell, which taught her the foundations of this research and practical application. Industry positions in UX research or human-centered design rely on communication theories of cognition, media engagement, and interpersonal interaction to enhance user experiences in digital spaces.
3. Organizational Development & Leadership
Organizational communication is a significant component of the broader academic communication discipline. In practice, Communication PhDs help organizations improve culture, teamwork, and leadership. Their expertise in things like network analysis and group communication practices makes them valuable assets in leadership development, corporate training, and change management consulting.
4. Media, Entertainment Research, & Marketing Strategy
Since marketing is a primary avenue for undergraduates with communication degrees, it is no surprise that many communication PhDs can find upper-level or management roles analyzing media consumption, audience engagement, and content impact. Whether in entertainment companies, advertising agencies, or tech firms, communication researchers from PhD programs are experts at shaping media strategies that resonate with audiences.
Changing the Narrative Around PhDs in Industry
One of the challenges PhDs face when entering industry after graduation is the assumption that their skill set is too abstract or theoretical. However, going back to this article’s original analogy, just as clinical psychologists demonstrate the real-world impact of their academic training, communication PhDs can and, in our opinion, should advocate more for the practical applications of their expertise. By highlighting skills such as qualitative and quantitative research, data-driven decision-making, and expertise in human behavior, communication scholars can position themselves as indispensable assets in various industries.
How Duly Noted is Poised to Make a Difference
Advocating to blend academic and industry resources is baked into the core of Duly Noted’s mission, which is a large part of what drove Emily to start the company. Her personal experience with the life-changing power of communication science theory isn’t something she wants to keep to herself, nor does she want to see that knowledge cooped up in the academic bubble. Through Duly Noted, Emily dedicates her career to bringing the incredible findings of top-tier communication scholars worldwide into practical solutions for clients seeking to improve their interpersonal relationship skills.
Emily firmly believes that not everyone should have to study for eight to twelve years, as she did to feel like a communication expert. Communication is a skill so essential to everyday life that we can’t afford to be bad at it. So, as Duly Noted does now and will continue to do for generations to come, we are committed to translating the academic theoretical knowledge of interpersonal communication science into practical applications that can serve our clients and real-world communities.
In describing why she wanted to earn her PhD with her beloved Meme and Pa (her grandparents with whom she is very close), Emily said, “Think of me as a communication therapist of sorts. In the same way that someone might seek out an expert with a PsycD to help them navigate their mental health, I want to be like that, a “CommD,” so to speak, helping people transform the way they communicate and build healthy relationships with others.”
Closing Thoughts
When further explaining her career path to her family, she stated, “The big difference between me and a psychologist is that there are lots of them. There is hardly anyone practicing in industry who specifically translates interpersonal communication research to help people improve their skills.” So here at Duly Noted, Emily is seeking to revolutionize the way the rest of the world sees PhDs as practitioners by taking her deep knowledge of theory and research expertise and directly applying those skills to improve people’s lives rather than molding herself to fit in a box that other academics turned practitioners have done before such as the paths described above. She hopes that as one of the first “CommDs” to carve this brave new path, she can help change the way industry views people who endure the brutal scrutiny required to earn a doctorate and show future PhD students that their career is what they make it.
As you can see, a PhD in communication is not just a research degree—it can be just as much a practitioner’s degree if the individual earning it wishes to walk that road, much like a practicing psychologist. Whether improving corporate messaging, refining digital experiences, guiding organizational strategy, or forging a new path of communication consulting based on their unique research niche, as Emily has done, communication PhDs bring rich, research-based insights into the professional world. As more scholars embrace industry careers, the perception of the practicing PhD will continue to evolve, proving that advanced academic training is not only limited to the ivory tower but is also a powerful tool for real-world impact.
By reframing the role of the communication PhD in industry, perhaps thinking of it as a “CommD,” we can expand its value beyond academia and recognize it as a degree that equips professionals to lead, innovate, and solve complex communication challenges in every sector. We hope you will join us in a standing ovation for those PhDs brave enough to bridge the academic-applied divide.
