Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science is a research-oriented degree that prepares students for careers in academia, research, and industry. The program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the theoretical foundations of information science, as well as the skills and knowledge needed to conduct original research in the field.

Program of Study

The program of study consists of the following components:

• Fundamentals of Information Technology: Four modules, including Python, R, Data Visualization, and one additional approved option.
• Core Courses: Four courses, including Managing Information and Technology in Organizations, Information and Society, Information Organization, and Information and Computing.
• Research Methods: Four courses, including Research Seminar Sequence, Information Science Research Conference, Research Design in Information Science, and Doctoral course in statistics/quantitative analysis.
• Primary Specialization and Field Exam: Six to seven courses in the student's area of interest.
• Secondary Specialization: Three courses in another specialization area.
• Comprehensive Exam: A comprehensive exam that tests the student's knowledge and understanding of the field.
• Dissertation: An original research dissertation that contributes to the field of information science.

Areas of Specialization

The program offers several areas of specialization, including:

• Geographic Information Science: Required courses include Geographic Thought, Advanced Cartography, and Geographic Information Systems. Sample electives include Digital Image Analysis, Advanced Cartography, GIS in Criminal Justice, and Graduate Internship in Geography.
• Information Assurance: Required coursework includes information systems, networks, databases, and statistics. Sample electives include Data Mining, Cryptography, Information Retrieval, Auditing of Advanced Accounting Systems, Information Security, and Computer Forensics.
• Information, Government, and Democratic Society: Required courses include Foundations of Government Information Strategy and Management, and Theories and Research in Political Communication. Sample electives include Message Design and Social Influence, Technology and Contemporary Organizational Life, Responsible Use of Criminal Justice Information, and International Law and Organization.
• Information in Organizational Environments: Students can choose from two tracks: General Organizational Studies, and Human-Computer Interaction and Organizational Transformation. Sample courses include Cultural Analysis of Organization, Organizational Behavior and Theory, Group Dynamics, Managing Productivity and Quality of Work Life, Complex Organizations and Bureaucracy, and Creativity and Entrepreneurship.
• Knowledge Organization and Management: Required courses include Information and Knowledge Organization, and Information Storage and Retrieval. Sample electives include Natural Language Processing, Computational Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, Logic and Philosophy, and Intro to Mathematical Logic.
• Data Analytics: Required courses include Databases and Data Management, Predictive Analytics or Machine Learning, and Data Mining or Analytics and Data Mining. Sample courses include Spatial Statistics, Remote Sensing, Image Analysis, Database and Business Intelligence, Data Mining, Bayesian Data Analysis, Simulation Modeling for Decision Making, and Simulation for Policy Analysis and Design.
• Information for Risk in Emergency Management & Security: Required courses include Fundamentals of Emergency Management, and Risk Analysis and Fundamentals of Homeland Security. Sample electives include weather, climate change and societal impacts, health communication and health disparities, planning risk and continuity, intelligence & U.S. national security policymaking, and geographic information systems.

International Students

This degree is designated as a STEM program. International students maintaining F-1 status are allowed to apply for up to 12 months of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) following completion/graduation from their degree program. Currently, this degree program is also designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an eligible degree for the F-1 STEM OPT work authorization extension; students who secure qualifying employment may be eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension for a cumulative total of up to 36 months of F-1 OPT work authorization.

Program Faculty

The program faculty includes:

• Gary Ackerman
• Rukhsana Ahmed
• Brandon Behlendorf
• DeeDee Bennett Gayle
• George Berg
• Eric Best
• Peter Brandon
• Alexander Buyantuev
• M. Abdullah Canbaz
• Sukwoong Choi
• Suraj Commuri
• Kimberly Cornell
• Stephen Coulthart
• Catherine Dumas
• Philip B. Eppard
• Angel Ford
• J. Ramon Gil-Garcia
• Mila Gascó-Hernandez
• Carol Anne Germain
• Norman Gervais
• Sanjay Goel
• Jennifer J. Goodall
• Alex Greer
• Robert P. Griffin
• Matthew C. Ingram
• Hemalata Iyer
• Sam Jackson
• Yeasung Jeong
• Shiguo Jiang
• Omer Keskin
• Rey Koslowski
• Archana Krishnan
• Phung Lai
• Catherine T. Lawson
• Luis Felipe Luna-Reyes
• Erika Martin
• Brian Nussbaum
• Theresa A. Pardo
• Samantha Penta
• C. Ariel Pinto
• Eliot H. Rich
• David L. Rousseau
• Peter Shea
• Amber Silver
• Donghee Sinn
• Joette Stefl-Mabry
• Eric Stern
• Abdulhamit Subasi
• Jeannette Sutton
• Piotr Szpunar
• Kinsun Tam
• Unal Tatar
• Giri Kumar Tayi
• David Turetsky
• Raymond K. Van Ness
• Kevin Williams
• Benjamin Yankson
• Michael Young
• Xiaojun (Jenny) Yuan

Admissions Requirements

• Deadlines:
  • Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 15), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
  • No Departmental Assistantship Consideration: Fall (January 15), Spring (Not Available), Summer (Not Available)
• Required Application Materials:
  • Transcripts from all schools attended
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Resume
  • Statement of Goals
• Special Notes:
  • This program offers an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience in the course listing as an option to fulfill course requirements.
  • Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions.

Student Learning Objectives

• PhD:
  • Demonstrate fundamental knowledge in five areas of information science.
  • Demonstrate knowledge in a chosen primary specialization area.
  • Demonstrate competence in research methodology, methods, and tools.
  • Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the research literature in the chosen field.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the issues and research in a secondary area of specialization.
  • Demonstrate competence in independent research.