Information Sciences, PhD
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Sciences
The Ph.D. program consists of the following components:
- a history and foundations of IS seminar (4 graduate hours);
- research methods (8 or more graduate hours);
- electives (36 graduate hours);
- field exam; and
- thesis (32 or more graduate hours).
Thus, a minimum of 48 graduate hours of coursework plus 32 graduate hours of thesis credit are required.
The School of Information Sciences (iSchool) offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science (M.S.), the Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S), and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Three Master of Science (M.S.) degrees are available. The M.S. in Library and Information Science (L.I.S.) prepares students for professional careers in all types of information organizations, including libraries. The M.S. in Information Management (I.M.) will prepare the students for information-intensive professional roles in a broad range of sectors. The Library and Information Science concentration of the campus-wide M.S. in bioinformatics program emphasizes multidisciplinary skills that are required for a career developing and managing information systems for the biological sciences community. The C.A.S. program provides the opportunity
- to study an aspect of information sciences in greater depth than is possible in the M.S. program,
- to refresh and upgrade one's professional training several years after completing a M.S. program, or
- to redirect one's career into a different area of library and information science.
School Librarian Licensure is available in conjunction with both the M.S. in L.I.S. and C.A.S. The Ph.D. is a research degree program.
Admission
The general admission requirements of the Graduate College apply. Consideration is also given to language study and computer skills, relevant work experience, letters of reference, and evidence of leadership. International students must score at least 620 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (260 on the computer-based test; 104 on the iBT version); or 7.5 on each section of the IELTS. The M.S. in bioinformatics requires a strong background in information science including undergraduate-level computing and mathematics. The C.A.S. requires a master's degree in library and information science and a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) in the master's program.
School Librarian Licensure
Candidates interested in the School Librarian Licensure program must first be admitted and enrolled as a degree-seeking student within the School of Information Sciences before their application to the School Librarian Licensure program is reviewed. Accepted students must successfully pass two Illinois State Board of Education testing requirements prior to registration for the final fieldwork experience.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in the Ph.D. program for those interested in faculty careers.
Facilities and Resources
Among the major areas of faculty research are:
- community informatics
- data analytics
- data curation
- digital humanities
- digital libraries
- history of information
- information retrieval
- organization of knowledge and information
- privacy, security, and trust
- ethics and values for information
- youth literature, culture, and services
The iSchool's Center for Informatics Research in Science and Scholarship (CIRSS) conducts research on information problems that impact scientific and scholarly inquiry. The Center for Children's Books (CCB) provides a review and research collection of the newest literature for children and young adults. The Communications Office produces two high-quality publications, Library Trends and The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. The staff of each of these units is available to students and faculty for consultation and guidance. A computer network with Internet connectivity is integral to teaching and learning activities. The University Library provides a vast reservoir of resources for all types of study and research in library and information science.
The School maintains an ongoing commitment to continuing education through conferences, institutes, workshops, and course offerings.
Financial Aid
Financial aid may be available from the iSchool, the University Library, and elsewhere in the University in the form of graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and hourly paid work. Area libraries may provide pre-professional or hourly positions. Also, the iSchool offers a limited number of fellowships for which doctoral students tend to be favored over C.A.S. and master's degree students. Students in the joint program that do not hold a FLAS fellowship are eligible for, but not guaranteed, fellowship or assistantship support in the semesters in which they are enrolled in the iSchool. Any assistantship awarded to these students provides a waiver of the base in-state tuition and service fee as well as a stipend. Non-Illinois residents must pay the difference between in- and out-of-state tuition.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Major in Information Science
For additional details and requirements, refer to the unit's Graduate Programs of Study and the Graduate College Handbook.
Entering with approved MS/MA degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IS 509 | History and Foundations of Information Science | 4 |
| IS 519 | Research Design in Information Science | 4 |
| Additional Methods Course | 4 | |
| IS 529 | Doctoral ProSeminar (taken twice for 1hr each time) | 2 |
| PhD Electives | 18 | |
Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (16 hrs max applied toward degree) | ||
Non-IS Courses (16 hrs max counted toward degree) | ||
| IS 599 | Thesis Research (32 hrs min applied toward degree) | 32 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: | 20 hours of IS coursework |
| A minimum of two years in residence is required to complete the necessary coursework; an additional year or more, preferably in residence, is required for the thesis. | |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.25 |
Entering with approved BS/BA degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IS 509 | History and Foundations of Information Science | 4 |
| IS 519 | Research Design in Information Science | 4 |
| IS 529 | Doctoral ProSeminar (taken twice for 1hr each time) | 2 |
| Additional Methods Course | 4 | |
| M.S. equivalent (IS and non-IS hrs) | 32 | |
| Electives | 18 | |
Non-IS coursework (16 hrs max applied towards degree) | ||
Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (16 max hrs applied toward degree) | ||
| IS 599 | Thesis Research (32 min hrs applied toward degree) | 32 |
| Total Hours | 96 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: | 20 hours of IS coursework |
| A minimum of two years in residence is required to complete the necessary coursework; an additional year or more, preferably in residence, is required for the thesis. | |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.25 |
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Major in Information Science
- Global Information Consciousness
- Definition: The iSchool’s PhD students will discover how complex, interdependent global systems— including informational, social, and technical —affect and are affected by the characteristics and behavior of individuals, communities, and institutions.
- Intellectual Reasoning and Knowledge
- Definition: The iSchool’s PhD students will acquire broad and deep expertise, including knowledge and skills, across subfields of information science. This includes the ability to engage with, plan, and conduct interdisciplinary research.
- Creative Inquiry and Discovery
- Definition: The iSchool’s PhD students will apply their knowledge and skills to promote inquiry, discover solutions, generate new ideas, and communicate their research. This includes conducting independent and exemplary research, presenting their work in public settings, and publishing their work in peer-reviewed venue.
- Social and Cultural Awareness and Understanding
- Definition: The iSchool’s PhD students will develop a critical and reflective orientation toward such social and cultural differences as race, indigeneity, gender, class, sexuality, language, and disability. This includes the ability to conduct ethical and responsible research.
- Effective Leadership and Community Engagement
- Definition: The iSchool’s PhD students will build and sustain productive relationships to respond to information-centric, civic and social challenges at local, national, and global levels, creating positive impact in their communities. This includes the ability to convey their knowledge to others, e.g., by teaching or TA courses or workshops, and through outreach and service activities.
Graduate Degree Programs in the School of Information Science
- Majors
- Bioinformatics: Information Sciences, MS (on campus & online)
- Information Management, MS (on campus & online)
- Library & Information Science, MS (on campus & online)
- Library & Information Science, CAS (on campus & online)
- Information Sciences, PhD
- optional concentration
- Joint Programs
School Librarian Licensure: available in conjunction with both the MS in LIS and CAS in LIS
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Sciences
School of Information Sciences
Dean: Eunice Santos
Program Contact: Katrina Hagler
School of Information Sciences website
iSchool Faculty
501 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6211
(217) 244-3432, (800) 982-0914 (within the US)
ischool email
Admissions
PhD in Information Science Admissions & Requirements
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements