Contact

Ingrid Erickson
Program Director
315-443-2911
igrad@syr.edu

Website

https://ischool.syr.edu/academics/ph-d-in-information-science-and-technology/

Overview

The iSchool’s PhD program focuses on theories and methods for studying information-related issues with the goal of expanding human capabilities by connecting people, information, and technology. Our faculty and doctoral students conduct research on library and archive practice, IT and management, computational social science, human-centered computing, and network technologies. Rising from these intersecting areas are also our research strengths in new topics such as future of work, information justice, misinformation, and AI ethics. As an interdisciplinary program, we draw applicants from library and information science, computer science, linguistics, communication, rhetoric, sociology, psychology, economics, business, public administration, design, and others. The diversity of student backgrounds reflects the diversity of our faculty’s interests, the breadth of information-related topics and the pervasive presence and issues of digital technologies relative to social, economic and behavioral phenomena.

Since the program began in 1969, over 160 students have earned their Ph.D degrees. They pursued a variety of career paths, including but not limited to:

• Academic and research institutions.
• Information-related industries as entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, consultants and policy experts.
• Governmental organizations in policy, technology and organizational leadership roles.

Admission

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a broadly relevant area; GRE is optional but will be reviewed if a student chooses to submit; TOEFL , IELTS, or Duolino scores for students whose first language is not English, though most admitted students scored TOEFL 100, IELTS 7.0, Duolingo 130 or above; 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 December 15th.

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.

Student Learning Outcomes

Successful Ph.D. graduates will be able to:

1. Summarize and synthesize 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)
2. Conduct original information science and technology research with the ability to independently formulate information, science and technology problems, design and use appropriate research methods to collect, analyze, and synthesize data, and report a scholarly research project
3. Plan and teach a course and design engaging learning experiences at the post-secondary level
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the professional norms, practices, and ethical standards of a defined scholarly field
5. Demonstrate the ability to participate as an active contributor in the academic life as a faculty member or researcher

Degree Requirements

The PhD program requires 78 credits post-baccalaureate. Up to 30 of these credits can be transferred in for PhD students with a relevant MS/MA degree.

Research and Teaching Practica:

The program is very flexible and can be constructed to meet students’ unique needs. The only formal requirement is the completion of 12 credits of research and teaching practica, which are apprentice-like experiences where students work one-on-one with faculty. Practica are typically completed within the first two years of the program.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IST 810	Practicum in Research	2
IST 840	Practicum in Teaching	1

Coursework

Coursework credits (48 credits without a master’s degree, 18 credits with transferred MS/MA credits) are taken through a combination of methods courses, theory seminars, and topical research courses. Unlike other doctoral programs, the PhD in Information Science and Technology has no required curriculum, enabling students to build their knowledge and advance their research skills on their own terms.

The PhD program offers at least two doctoral-level classes per year, drawn from the courses listed below. Doctoral students can also elect to take courses anywhere on campus, so long as at least 12 of these credits are at the 700-level or above.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IST 776	Research Methods in Information Science and Technology	3
IST 800	Selected Topic Seminar	1-3
IST 830	Theoretical Foundations of Information Science and Technology	3

End of Coursework (EOC):

Given the nature of a PhD degree, 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 development of the skills needed to become a productive researcher. Acquiring these skills allows a student to move from taking courses to independently pursuing dissertation research.

To achieve this outcome, the program has the equivalent of a comprehensive exam, in which PhD students must showcase a mastery of their field of study in a process we call “end of coursework” or “EOC.” The EOC, which typically occurs in the third year of study, requires a student to produce and orally defend a written mastery document in front of a committee.

Successful completion of the EOC indicates that a PhD student is prepared to move forward to the dissertation phase of the program, indicated by an admission to PhD candidacy.

Dissertation:

The doctoral curriculum devotes 18 credits to the completion of a dissertation, which is considered the culminating component of the PhD degree. The dissertation process begins with the development and defense of a dissertation proposal, followed by the development and defense of the dissertation itself. Students are expected to defend their dissertation by the end of their fifth year of study.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IST 999	Dissertation	1-15