Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Studies

Coursework

The degree requires a minimum of 90 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree for the PhD degree or 45 credits beyond an applicable MS degree. At least three consecutive terms of full-time resident doctoral study are required. Students may be admitted to the program for part-time study, but they must be formally accepted as doctoral students and must meet the residency requirement.
Courses are taken, under an approved plan of study, to ensure the development of competence in:

• Information science and technology broadly construed
• One or more domains of study
• Research methodology

Advancement to Candidacy

To measure proficiencies in research and to assess students’ mastery of their chosen area of study, students maintain a portfolio that is reviewed on a regular basis. Candidacy is awarded based on satisfactory reviews and the presentation of a scholarly document reviewing the literature and developing research questions in the student's dissertation area.

Dissertation

The dissertation must be an original scholarly contribution to the field of information science and technology that will demonstrate the student’s capacity to conduct research. The final defense of the dissertation completes the program.

For a sample plan of study and more information about the degree, visit the College of Information Science and Technology's PhD Program Description.