Information Science and Technology, PhD

Contact:

Dr. Bei Yu, Program Director, 320 Hinds Hall, 315-443-3614, byu@syr.edu

Website:

Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology

Overview:

The Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology at Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies is a research degree, one that prepares its graduates to address information-related phenomena in a broad range of diverse settings and across a wide range of analytic frames spanning technological, individual, organizational, societal, political perspectives.

The Information Science and Technology Ph.D. program is interdisciplinary, bringing together relevant knowledge and methods from information science, the behavioral and social sciences, organization studies, economics, computer science, linguistics, communications, law and public policy. Graduates of the Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology are world-renown for their excellence in the advancement and dissemination of new knowledge, both basic and applied, regarding the designs, uses and evaluation of information systems, services, and policies for individuals, for groups, for private-sector firms, and for nonprofit and governmental organizations.

The Ph.D. students in our program represent a wide range of education, training, experience and expertise that includes:

Information and Society: information and public policy, societal change and information and communication technologies (ICT), e-government, digital inequities, media convergence, community networks, libraries and access
Information and Organizations: new forms of digitally-enabled organizing, ICT governance e-commerce, technology-driven innovation/change, ICT-enabled organizations
Information and Individuals: human-computer interaction, information-seeking behavior, medical informatics
Information Systems: design, survivability, security
Information Technology: emerging technologies, wireless networks, natural language processing, middleware, information visualization.
Information Organization and Access: data science and massive data sets, metadata, representation, knowledge discovery, information retrieval, image retrieval
Networked Information: digital libraries, distribution of public information, digital reference
Information and Education: digital literacy, e-learning, school library media, asynchronous learning networks

Since the program began in 1969, over 140 students have earned their Ph.D.

More than half of these graduates pursue careers in academic and research institutions.
About 25% of the PhD program’s graduates pursue successful careers in information-related industries as entrepreneurs, consultants and policy experts.
About 25% of the PhD program graduates enter governmental organizations in policy, technology and organizational leadership roles.

We are delighted that so many remain in contact with the faculty, the iSchool and other PhD program graduates.

Admission:

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a broadly relevant area; GRE scores at or above the 82nd percentile (161 for Math and 160 for Verbal (equivalent to 600s on the old scoring scale) and an analytic writing score of at least four (4); TOEFL scores in the 80th percentile (about 100) for students whose first language is not English; academic transcripts, three letters of recommendations from people who can evaluate the research potentials of the applicants; at least one writing sample; a current CV or resume; and a personal statement of research interests. Although not a requirement, most admitted students also have a master’s degree. In making decisions about admission, the committee considers an applicant’s career goals, motivation, research interests and potential fit to the faculty’s expertise, prior education and work experiences, evidence of research preparation and experiences, and oral and written communication skills. Applications are considered for the fall semester only. The deadline for receipt of the completed application is early January.

The PhD in Information Science and Technology is a full-time, residential program. Students will need to commit to moving to Syracuse for at least four years (more typically five). The program of study is designed to maximize informal interaction and the apprentice-style of learning that is the hallmark of excellent PhD programs. The goal of the faculty of the School of Information Studies is to develop future peers through the PhD program, to advance knowledge for society through impactful research, to train the next generation of scholars, and to ensure that the graduates of this PhD program excel at what they choose to pursue!

Learning Outcomes:

Successful Ph.D. graduates will have the following set of skills and knowledge in:

Comprehensive Mastery of a body of knowledge: Demonstrate mastery of the body of knowledge and research methods of a defined scholarly field and its relation to the interdisciplinary study of information science and technology. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the PhD in Information Science and Technology, comprehensive mastery includes both an assessment of the depth of knowledge in the focal area of one’s dissertation along with an assessment of a broader range of overlapping intellectual spaces. This combination of breadth and depth is the distinguishing characteristic of interdisciplinary PhD programs and reflects a set of analytic skills and command of a breadth of knowledge beyond what disciplinary PhD programs provide (or expect).
Expertise with Research Design, Data Collection and Data Analysis methods: Demonstrate the ability to independently plan, design, execute, and report a scholarly research project.
Competence with leading a college course and designing engaging learning experiences: Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver instructional experiences at the post-secondary level.
Prepared for Professional Practices: Demonstrate knowledge of the professional norms, practices, and ethical standards of a defined scholarly field.
Pursue Academic Life: Demonstrate the ability to participate as an active contributor in the academic life as a faculty member or researcher.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Conduct original information science and technology research

2. Summarize and synthesize topically-focused body of relevant literature

3. Explain foundational knowledge of information systems, services and policies

4. Formulate and analyze information technology problems using appropriate analytical tools

5. Analyze and synthesize data

6. Develop skill in scholarly writing

7. Develop and deliver instruction

Curriculum:

The program requires 78 credits post-baccalaureate. Up to 30 of these credits can be transferred in for PhD students with a relevant MS degree. Thus, most PhD students need to complete 48 credits while at Syracuse.

Typically, 18 of their credits are devoted to the PhD thesis - the culminating and critical component of the Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology.

IST 999 - Dissertation 1-15 credit(s)

12 Credits of Research and Teaching Practica

As such, the program is very flexible and can be constructed to meet individual student’s unique need. The only formal requirement is that PhD students must complete 12 credits of research and teaching practica (which typically takes four semesters). These practica are apprentice-like experiences working one-on-one with faculty - these serve as the foundation of the PhD in Information Science and Technology and are the common experience shared by all students in the program.

IST 810 - Practicum in Research 2 credit(s)
IST 840 - Practicum in Teaching 1-2 credit(s)

The Remaining 30 credits

The remaining 18 credits are taken through a combination of research methods courses, research seminars, and topical courses so as to maximize the PhD student’s ability to achieve mastery, advance their research skills, and develop as a faculty member. Typically we offer two doctoral level courses each semester

IST 801 - Doctoral Gateway Seminar 1 credit
IST 776 - Research Methods in Information Science and Technology 3 credit(s)
IST 777 - Statistical Methods in Information Science and Technology 3 credit(s)
IST 790 - Advanced Topics in Information Organization 1-3 credit(s)
IST 820 - Seminar in Research Methods 3 credit(s)
IST 830 - Seminar in Information Systems 3 credit(s)

Additional Information

Given the nature of the PhD, the total number of credits accumulated (at Syracuse or elsewhere) is not a major consideration in a student’s progress through the program. Instead, what matters is a student’s mastery of the skills needed to become an independent, productive researcher. While coursework completed elsewhere may decrease the number of credits that must be earned at Syracuse, it may not necessarily decrease the length of a student’s program.

To move from taking courses to pursuing dissertation research, PhD students must showcase their comprehensive mastery of their field of study and research skills in a process we call “end of coursework” or “EOC.” The EOC requires both a written case to be made as to why the PhD student is prepared to move forward, followed by an oral defense of their case (typically in the third year of study). Students who successfully complete EOC are admitted to PhD candidacy. After that, a dissertation proposal and then a dissertation must be presented and defended. Students are expected to defend their dissertation in their fifth year of study.