phd position in library and information science

Ph.D. in Information and Library Science

This doctoral program provides an environment that enables creative and energetic students to become innovative thinkers and leaders. Through coordination of student and faculty interests and activities, the program offers opportunities for research, teaching, and leadership in a variety of settings.

Information and library science research leaders must be able to identify problems that are significant for our future as an information society, carry out rigorous studies and draw valid conclusions from them, and communicate those findings to stakeholders who can act on them. The SILS doctoral program provides intensive, but highly flexible and customizable, preparation for careers in academia and research.

The Ph.D. in Information and Library Science is designated as a STEM program, which allows eligible international graduates to apply for a 24-month OPT extension.

After successfully defending their dissertations, SILS’ graduates have accepted positions as tenure-track faculty in information schools, research scientists in corporate and government labs, and chief information officers in a myriad of organizations and businesses. With a degree from our doctoral program, our graduates are making a difference.

• Kimberly Hirsh, 2021, Consulting Scholar-Librarian
• Sandeep Avula, 2020, Research Scientist, Amazon
• Eliot Hauser, 2020, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
• Colin Post, 2020, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Jonathan Crabtree, 2020, Assistant Director of Research Data Information Systems, Odum Institute, UNC-CH
• Emily Roscoe, 2020, Adjunct Instructor, School of Government, UNC-CH
• Megan Threats, 2020, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University
• Heather Barnes, 2020, Digital Curation Librarian, Wake Forest University
• Yinglong Zhang, 2020, Research Scientist, Google
• Shenmeng Xu, 2020, Scholarly Communications Librarian, Vanderbilt University
• Sarah Beth Nelson, 2019, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
• Anita Crescenzi, 2019, Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, UNC-CH
• Kathleen Brennan, 2018, Senior Researcher, Google
• Samantha Kaplan, 2018, Research and Education Librarian, Duke University
• Ericka Patillo, 2018, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Grace Shin, 2018, Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea, Adjunct Professor at SILS.
• Leslie Thomson, 2018, Postdoctoral Fellow, UNC-CH

Other notable graduates in recent years:

• Jay Dominick, 2005 , Vice President and CIO at Princeton University
• Meredith Evans, Ph.D.  2006 , Director, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum & 74th President of the Society of American Archivists
• Meredith Weiss, 2010 , Vice President for Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Fred Stutzman, 2011 , CEO, Freedom

Financial Support

SILS typically provides support for full-time doctoral students during their first five years of study. Prospective doctoral students must apply by December 10 to receive full consideration for financial aid.

Learn more from our Financial Information page.

SILS seeks PhD students who:

• Aim to be information leaders in the 21 st century.
• Are attracted to information and library science as a field that incorporates diverse theoretical perspectives and a wide range of research methods.
• Possess the discipline and will to be independent investigators, and the vision and communication skills to be influential leaders in the field.
• Are committed to a life of research and scholarly inquiry addressing critical questions.
• Enjoy intellectual challenges and demonstrate analytical and critical thinking.

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive and based upon the strength of the applicant’s educational background and standardized test scores, work experience, statement of research, and personal interview. In reviewing applicants for admission, the school will consider past academic record and scholarly potential of an applicant, as well as the match of the candidate’s research interests with those of the school’s faculty. One or more faculty must be willing to assume the advisory role for the student.

Doctoral and Special Programs Coordinator

[email protected] or 919-962-0182

Ph.D. Programs in Library and Information Sciences

Written by Kelly Davis

MLIS – Clarion University | Youth Services Librarian

A Ph.D. in library science or information science provides scholars with the tools to produce individual research, collaborate with other researchers, and teach library and information science in higher education. The standards are not as concrete for Ph.D. programs as for Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) programs, but there are a few ways to rank a program’s quality. One way is to look at the school of information offering the Ph.D. and the other programs they offer, including if the school provides an MLIS degree and if the degree is accredited by the American Library Association. Another sign of a quality program is seeing the research and progress made by graduates and faculty and how much access a Ph.D. student will have to quality research opportunities.  

In this article, we highlight some of the most comprehensive Ph.D. programs in the U.S. based on these two significant factors. We also try to provide a few programs in each region of the U.S. in the hopes that one of the programs will be near you. Additionally, we will look at many other aspects of each program as well, including the format, what the coursework involves, and how to apply and become qualified for each Ph.D. program in library and information science. 

All of the following Ph.D. programs come from a school that is accredited by the American Library Association and offers students the ability to work with decorated and world-class scholars and professors. Additionally, the programs we chose are in areas that provide ample career opportunities following the program. If you want to know more about each program and what may be a good fit for you, keep exploring below.

ADVERTISEMENT

• ACBSP Accredited
• Flexible Online Courses
• Financing Options Available

Liberty University

Online D.B.A. in Information Systems

Experience real-world applications, equipping you as an innovator in strategy, security, ethics, design and development, and business process support.

Ph.D. in Information from the University of Michigan

Doctoral students will work one on one with professors in information, many of which specialize in communication technologies, collective research capabilities, and how to change social relations. All professors know a wide range of research and topics and look at information and how individuals and communities interact with information and technology. Additionally, in your application, you will pick which professors you want to work with out of the 100 in the program. 

Many Ph.D. graduates receive careers as professors at prestigious schools including Brown University, Stanford University, and the National University of Singapore. Many receive fellowships at prestigious universities including Harvard University and Brown University. Other careers they received shortly after graduating include UX researcher for Google, Yahoo, and Facebook, design researcher for IBM, and data analysis for Microsoft. 

How to apply

First, apply online and pay the application fee. Send in a Statement of Purpose essay which will include the area of research you want to contribute to and past research done. Additionally, you will need to send in a personal history statement, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts. Your admission acceptance will be multifaceted in the factors the program will examine. Namely, they will look at past research, work experience, and your goals moving forward. 

Ph.D. in Information Studies at Long Island University

The Ph.D. program includes a dissertation and requires 60 credit hours. There are two areas of study for students which are Information Access and Systems, and Information Studies and Services. Additionally, this program can be taken part-time or full-time to accommodate students’ schedules. The on-campus classes can be taken between 6 PM and 9 PM. It is also the only program of its kind in the Metropolitan New York area, and it is within a school that is accredited by the American Library Association. 

How to Apply

You need a master’s degree to qualify, which can be in any area of study. Admissions will also evaluate you based on previous research, work experience, and the interest you have in research going forward. Then apply online , and pay the application fee. You will also need to send in transcripts, three letters of recommendation,  a statement of research and area of study, a resume, a personal statement, and a sample of scholarly writing. 

Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology at Syracuse University

Syracuse University offers its Ph.D. scholars opportunities to work and research one on one with professors and other doctoral students. The research opportunities are in areas of philosophy, psychology, sociology, computers and digital information, policy studies, librarianship, and information communication. This program is not offered online or part-time. It is a four to five-year program of full-time residential coursework. The Ph.D. student is funded by the school, and for this reason, the program is very selective. 

Apply online , pay the application fee, and send in transcripts and any other research or work experience completed. Applicants will be evaluated by a committee based on their readiness for the program, their intellectual ability and academic record, research interests as they relate to faculty interests, communication skills, and research preparedness. 

Ph.D. Philosophy in Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

Chapel Hill is the most respected information science department in North Carolina and its MLIS program is often ranked first or second by the U.S. News and World Reports. Their doctoral program is sure to hold to the same standards. Many of the faculty for the MLIS program are also professors in the doctoral program. The difference is that Ph.D. students work one on one with these world-class professors. The program is rigorous, but it provides some flexibility for those holding a job, or have families to care for. There is financial support for Ph.D. students and many receive full support for the first four to five years of the program; typically, students finish within that period. Students learn more about library and information science and they enhance their research and presentation of research capability. 

How to apply 

Accepted students in this program are often seeking to be information leaders, have a knowledge of diverse research methods, enjoy being an independent investigator, are committed to finding information to address critical questions, and enjoy intellectual challenges.  Applicants must have either an MLIS degree or an equivalent of study and research completed. To apply, go online and fill out the online application and pay the application fee. Also, send in all transcripts, an updated resume, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose that includes your area of research interest. 

Ph.D. in Communication and Information at Kent State University

The Ph.D. program in communication and information from Kent State University in Ohio is part of the information science school, which has been around for over sixty years. The program is offered online and in person and is a 70-credit hour degree program including a dissertation. Doctoral students must also pass the doctoral comprehensive examination to graduate. 

The degree program is for those interested in research, information communication, teaching higher education and academic librarianship administration, and administration in other information fields. The school of information science provides and encourages outreach opportunities for those pursuing a degree in library and information science. The outreach programs give students more experience and knowledge in conducting scholarly research and analyzing the needs of communities and the diversity within those communities. 

How to Apply 

To qualify you must have a master’s degree and a minimum of a 3.30 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Then applicants must fill out an online application and pay the application fee. Applicants should also send in official transcripts, an updated resume, a goal statement, a sample of scholarly writing, and three letters of recommendation.

Gateway Ph.D. in Library and Information Science at San Jose State University

San Jose, California is a great place to earn a doctoral degree in librarianship and information science because of the various research options and a number of opportunities due to the variety of ethnic groups and cultures in the cities of California. The Gateway doctoral degree program in library and information science teaches students to become independent scholars as well as collaborate with other researchers and colleagues.  Ph.D. students complete the program mostly online, however, there is an annual meeting that is a week-long and focuses on collaborative research. San Jose’s Gateway program also holds a partnership with the Manchester Metropolitan University, which offers doctoral students the opportunity to work with their professors as well in their research and to learn from them in coursework. With this program, students from both schools have won prestigious awards for their individual and collaborative research. 

The application process is one of the more extensive doctoral programs, and the program is highly selective. There are three stages of the application process. The first is filling out an online application , paying an application fee, and sending in a statement of purpose, an updated resume of related work, unofficial transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a 1000-word research proposal. In the second stage, the applicant is interviewed by faculty members, and they may ask for more writing samples. If the applicant makes it past the first two stages, then Manchester Metropolitan University will go over the final applicants and approve or disapprove of them. 

Doctorate in Information Science at the University of Washington

The information science department at the University of Washington is known for the research their doctoral students and their faculty do. They also teach students to become professors in their field and to be administrators in librarianship. The doctoral program puts emphasis on collaboration between students and faculty, plus they care about diversity in ethnicity and culture with the idea it brings richer research due to a mix of different backgrounds. The Ph.D. students also learn about UX, or User experience, which is how to evaluate a culture or group and its relationship with information and technology. Doctoral students are also taught to use various research methods and various ways to present information and research results. 

To qualify for the doctoral program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with an average 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and a master’s or other additional higher education degree is preferred. However, admissions also look at your experience, interest and goals, and scholarly research.  Applicants can apply online . You will need to pay the application fee, send in transcripts, a personal statement, a diversity statement, a research statement, three letters of recommendation, and your interest in areas of research and which faculty member(s) you prefer to work with.

Ph.D. in Library and Information Science at Simmons University

Simmons University is located in Boston Massacutes which provides an ideal environment for research and study. Boston is full of history, diversity, and cutting-edge technology. The area also has a multitude of career opportunities after graduation. This degree program provides a flexible format for those who do not live in the area because the courses can be taken online. Additionally, students can take a mix of courses online and in person. The main focus of the degree program is to further skills in research and teaching within the library and information science.  Doctoral students also gain skills in organizing, analyzing, retrieving, and managing information. Students also learn how to preserve materials and learn more about archiving physical documents and digitizing documents for online archives. Simmons University also partners with other universities in other countries for higher quality and diversity of research. 

To qualify for the program, applicants need either an MLIS degree or an MS degree in Library and Information Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association. To apply, go online and fill out the application and pay the application fee. Also, submit all transcripts from any colleges or universities you attended, and send in a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, a writing sample of previous research, and a comprehensive curriculum vitae. 

University of Texas at Austin Ph.D. in Information Studies

The University of Texas at Austin has a well-funded Ph.D. program in information studies that allow for new technology to be a part of the curriculum and research. The doctoral students also can learn and then teach other institutions about various new technologies and the best ways to implement them to meet their community’s needs. Additionally, Austin is an advancing and thriving city in the midst of technological growth, and the city offers opportunities for research and careers in information science. The program includes a dissertation and 39 hours of coursework. During this time, students will produce two peer-reviewed scholarly journals. 

You do not have to have a master’s degree to qualify for this program, but you do need a bachelor’s degree and an average 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale. 

Then, apply online and pay the application fee. Afterward, send in three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. 

The University of North Texas’ Information Science Ph.D. Program

The Doctoral program at the University of North Texas is the nation’s largest Ph.D. program in the Information Science discipline. It is also interdisciplinary so that students can work with students and faculty in various other degree programs including geography, computer science, engineering, linguistics, and merchandising. The program also has concentration options and dual degrees in data science consumer behavior and experience management, journalism cybersecurity, geospatial information systems, health informatics, and linguistics.

To qualify for any doctoral program you must have at least a 3.50 in either your undergraduate degree or your master’s degree. Also, talk to the admissions department for the information science department. Then apply online , send in transcripts, pay the application fee, and send any other documents or scholarly writing the application requests. 

Florida State University PH.D. in Information

Florida is a great state to earn a Ph.D. in library and information because of the diversity in the state of Florida as well as the environmental and marine biology research that is done in Florida. This is good for research opportunities as well as career opportunities. The number of good colleges in FLordia provides many career opportunities as well. 

Florida State has a program called the iSchool and it is ALA-accredited. Additionally, their doctoral students are able to travel across the U.S. for presenting at conferences like the ALA conference, ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, and the Association for Information Science and Technology conference.

To qualify you must have a master’s degree and at least a 3.0 GPA. To apply, fill out the online application and send in a resume, statement of purpose, writing sample, and three letters of recommendation. Right now the GRE requirement is waived. Be sure to speak to an admissions counselor for any additional application requirements or recommendations. 

Library and Information Science Ph.D. Programs Final Thoughts

Ph.D. programs in library and information science are worth pursuing if you have a passion for sharing information through various modes to communicate with other scholars, but more importantly, with the world and its many communities. Many of these programs are lengthy and require dedication, but if you believe you have the drive to become a Ph.D. in Information and Library Science, then I hope this article helps you find a good match for your professional research and career goals. 

© 2023 Library Science Degrees Online

Privacy Policy | Terms of Condition | Sitemap

• 2022 Update
• 2021 Update
• 2020 Update
• Reputation and History
• Departments and Programs
• Faculty Recruiting
• Zoom Backgrounds
• Board of Visitors
• SCI Learning Academy
• Administration
• Faculty Directory
• Staff Directory
• PhD Students
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SCI
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
• School Initiatives and Resources
• University Initiatives and Resources
• Carving the path to safer and smarter buildings
• A holistic approach to intelligent social learning
• How to anticipate hiccups in health care
• Preserving a shared digital memory
• Holding information technologies accountable and addressing misinformation on the web
• More than an afterthought: Dr. Ibrahim shows students the necessity of cybersecurity
• Current Grants
• Faculty Accepting Undergraduate Students for Research
• Submit Research for Undergraduate Students
• Labs, Centers, and Institutes
• Visiting Scholars
• Undergraduate Research Scholars
• Degrees and Programs
• Find the Right Major for You
• Computational Biology
• Computational Social Science
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Digital Narrative and Interactive Design
• Information Science
• BS + MS in Computer Science
• Physics and Quantum Computing
• Library and Information Science
• Intelligent Systems
• Telecommunications
• Computational Modeling and Simulation
• Information Science with a focus in Telecommunications
• Applied Data Driven Methods
• Big Data Analytics
• Cybersecurity, Policy, and Law
• Information and Network Security
• Professional Institute
• Types of Opportunities
• Experiential Learning Courses
• Meet Alexa Spaventa
• Meet J. Stephanie Rose
• Meet Lydon Pelletier
• Meet Pedro Bustamante
• Meet Nico Campuzano
• Meet Andrea Michael
• Meet Kinori Rosnow
• Take the Next Step
• Undergraduate Admissions FAQ
• Master's Admissions
• Doctoral Admissions
• Certificate Admissions
• GRE Requirements
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships
• Campus Life
• Information Sessions
• A-Z Student Resources
• Responsibilities
• Placement Assessments
• General Education Requirements
• Major and Minor Declaration
• Faculty Mentors
• Contact the SCI Advising Center
• Building Hours
• Career Resources
• Post-Graduate Outcomes
• Course Schedule
• Enrollment Resources
• Graduation Process and Expectations
• Apply for Graduation
• School Recognition Ceremony
• Information Technology
• Graduate Student Orientation
• New Graduate Student FAQ
• Undergraduate Student Orientation
• Ombudsperson
• Academic Integrity Policy
• Experiential Learning Policies
• School Forms
• Student Appeals
• Student Organizations
• Academic Support and Tutoring
• Student Success Workshops
• Who to Contact
• Submit a News Item
• Event Assistance & Promotion
• Doctoral Degrees

Library and Information Science, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science program, in the Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship (ICDS), prepares students for careers in research, education, and professional practice. The primary purpose of the PhD program is to develop an understanding of library and information science beyond the master’s degree, with particular emphasis on the conduct of original research, the production of significant research findings, and the contribution of such findings to public knowledge.

This is a research-driven program where you will work closely with professors who are experts in their fields. Opportunities for our PhD students include:

• Archives and Information Science: For doctoral students interested in pursuing academic careers in the archives area, with a focus on digital preservation or curation and archival ethics, accountability, and appraisal issues.
• Information Behavior: For doctoral students who seek to understand how people plot a course through complex information ecologies including digital environments, and how such ecologies can respond to their ways of thinking, feeling, and valuing. A special emphasis is placed on behaviors of children and youth.
• Health Information Behavior and Health Education Interventions: For doctoral students who wish to investigate the information practices and behaviors of health professionals, patients, caregivers, and consumers.
• Social Information Systems: For doctoral students who will investigate issues related to the design and use of social information systems, focusing on the impact of social media on people’s information behavior.
• Web-based Information Systems: For doctoral students interested in studying, designing, and implementing web-based systems for representing, retrieving, extracting, and disseminating relevant information.
• School Librarianship: For doctoral students interested in teaching, research, and administrative experience in a top-ranked, competency-based School Library Certification Program designed for school librarians and school library supervisors.

Degree Requirements

This PhD degree requires a minimum of 54 credits beyond the master’s degree with a total credit minimum of 72. A minimum of 36 credits must be taken in advanced course work. The student must receive a letter grade in each course taken in this 36-credit requirement, except for the teaching practicum course.  

An additional 18 credits are required, which must be applied to dissertation research and writing; however, regardless of the number of credits taken, no more than 18 credits for dissertation research and writing may be applied toward graduation. The grade for these credits will appear as an “S” on the student’s transcript. In order to register for, and successfully complete, dissertation credits, students must show evidence of work toward the dissertation by completing the Dissertation Credit Tracking Checklist and updating it at the end of the term.  

The minimum of 36 credits of course work, all of which must be on the graduate level, must be distributed as follows: 

• 3 credits: LIS 3000 Introduction to Doctoral Studies
• 9 credits: 3000-level doctoral seminars offered by SCI
• 3 credits: LIS 3950 Teaching Practicum or FACDEV 2200 Practicum on University Teaching
• 6 credits: Courses in research methodology and statistics
• 6 credits: Courses in cognate field
• 3000-level independent studies or doctoral seminars offered by SCI (maximum of 6 credits)
• Additional 3000-level doctoral seminars offered by SCI
• Additional cognate courses (up to 6 credits)
• Additional research methodology courses
• 2000-level courses in SCI (subject to approval by the students’ advisor)

For full degree requirement details, visit the Library and Information Science course catalog .

Admissions Requirements

• iSchool Connect

PhD in Information Sciences

Join a renowned community of scholars.

The work of our faculty defines the field and puts scholars like you at the forefront of the information society. When you join the iSchool, you'll benefit from the excellence and reputation of the nation's leading school in library and information studies. Our interdisciplinary research program responds to new social and technological opportunities for producing, analyzing, disseminating, and accessing information.

PhD students are guaranteed financial support for five academic years (excluding summers) through research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Our students come from a variety of academic backgrounds and professional experiences, creating a collaborative, innovative, and vibrant community of scholars.

The Information Sciences PhD program is a residency program. Students are required to complete all coursework while located in Champaign-Urbana. Students may choose to complete their research outside of Champaign-Urbana at the discretion of the faculty advisor. Please note that if an international student leaves Champaign-Urbana at any point during their study, this may impact funding opportunities through the iSchool.

• Request information or schedule a visit
• View requirements & start your application

By looking carefully at the interaction of people, information, and technology, we aim to improve our understanding of the world in order to make it better for all. We do this together—PhD students, research staff, and faculty helping each other to learn how to be better researchers. As program director, my role is to help engineer the magic of creativity as we all work to nurture a community devoted to finding things out. Michael Twidale, Professor and PhD Program Director

Our program opens doors, preparing students for successful careers. Recent graduates have obtained faculty positions with numerous universities including Denver, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland-College Park, Michigan, Simmons, South Florida, UNC-Greensboro, Washington & Wayne State. Additionally, recent graduates have secured their first jobs in in a range of settings, including:

• Privacy Researcher, Facebook
• Research Scientist, PatientsLikeMe
• Consultant, Deloitte
• Data Scientist, U.S. Government
• Digital Scholarship Librarian, DePaul University
• Instructional Data Specialist, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Cataloger, Princeton University
• Core Investigator, Veterans Health Administration

Program overview

Work closely with your faculty advisor to create educational experiences both within and outside the classroom to support your professional goals. With only two required courses— History and Foundations in IS (IS 509) and Research Design in IS (IS 519) —you can customize your degree through a broad range of electives. Your program will consist of 48 hours of coursework and 32 hours of dissertation work. Required milestones that will help to build your research expertise include:

• Field exam in a significant sub-area of IS
• Research presentation to demonstrate research competency
• Dissertation culminating in a public presentation, defense, and submission

For a more detailed program overview, please visit Program Overview .

• Plan your program
• Explore our course catalog

Explore your research focus

You want to do important work that makes an impact and to collaborate with leaders in the field. We have the resources and the expertise to help you accomplish just that.

iSchool researchers address key challenges at the intersection of people, information, and technology in highly multidisciplinary ways. Our strategic research vision drives the scope of our research projects and presents a distinct imprint for the substance and impact of our work in areas such as:

• Scientific data and knowledge practices
• Organization of knowledge and information
• Data curation
• Digital humanities
• Digital libraries
• Community informatics
• Youth services and digital youth
• Informetrics
• Human-computer interaction
• Human-centered data science and social computing
• Information privacy, security, and ethics
• Health and bioinformatics
• History of information

What I like best about the iSchool is its inclusive culture and expansive opportunities. The welcoming faculty and staff are always there to offer academic and non-academic support. Because the iSchool's researchers work in very different subfields, PhD students are able to explore a range of research topics and collaborative opportunities across disciplinary boundaries. Wenyi Shang, PhD Candidate

• Meet our distinguished faculty
• Meet our doctoral students

Support for leading-edge research

Flourish at a research university.

The University of Illinois is a preeminent public research university, which means you will have access to exceptional resources beyond those in the iSchool:

• Blue Waters Petascale Supercomputer
• University Library
• Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
• National Center for Supercomputing Applications

Get the support you need

Research Services supports and promotes the research activities of the iSchool, large or small, funded or unfunded. At the iSchool, you'll find supportive staff ready to help you with:

• Project planning and consulting
• Grant proposal development
• Research administration
• Research policies & IRB
• Student grants
• Research infrastructure

PhD Alumni & Student Features

PhD at 75: Jeanie Austin

PhD at 75: LaTesha Velez

Get to know Kainen Bell, PhD student

PhD at 75: Kirstin Phelps

PhD at 75: Peter Organisciak

Questions? I can help.

Library and Information Science, Ph.D.

College of information and communications.

This research-intensive degree prepares doctoral-trained teacher scholars for library and information science faculty and administrative careers at universities, research centers and private businesses.

Our graduates distinguish themselves in advancing the ways people and organizations create and use information. We emphasize the relevance of social justice in the study and practice of library and information science, and we encourage faculty-student mentorship through publishing, grant writing and conference presentations.

Program Highlights

An expert faculty.

Learn from faculty members who combine distinguished academic careers with extensive professional experience.

Cross Disciplines

Learn to foster cross-disciplinary thinking with research and academic expectations.

Funded Research Opportunities

Apply for funding for your research and travel through The Graduate School and the School of Information Science.

Top Program

Study at a school ranked in the Top 20 of all American Library Association-accredited schools (U.S. News & World Report).

What You’ll Study

The program requires 54 credit hours beyond the master’s level, including 12 hours of dissertation preparation, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. You'll take 15 hours of core courses, two research methods courses, 12 hours of electives within your research area (with a goal of producing work for scholarly publication) and a nine-hour cognate.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

Data Analysis

Examining and interpreting information to uncover insights and inform decision making

Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems

Analytical Reasoning

Breaking down complex problems or situations to identify patterns, connections and solutions

Collaboration

Working with others to achieve a common goal or objective

Critical Thinking

Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments

Communication

Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

• Museum Director

Workplace Settings

Advanced degrees.

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

Combination Degree | Master's

Public Administration and Social Work, M.P.A. & M.S.W.

College of Arts and Sciences College of Social Work

Social Work, Ph.D.

College of Social Work

You may also like

Related Degrees

Teaching and Learning, Ph.D.

College of Education

Linguistics, Ph.D.

College of Arts and Sciences

Music Performance: Music, D.M.A.

School of Music

Anthropology, Ph.D.

Sociology, Ph.D.

Educational Practice and Innovation, Ed.D.

Biostatistics, Ph.D.

Arnold School of Public Health

Education Administration, Ph.D.

Information Culture and Data Stewardship

University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information

• Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
• Master of Library and Information Science Online (MLISOnline)

PhD in Library and Information Science

• School Course Schedule
• School Course Descriptions
• University Class Search
• Enrollment Resources
• Partners Program
• Field Experience
• Accreditation

PhD students may begin their studies only in the Fall Term in order to ensure a coherent program of study.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science program prepares students for careers in research, education, and professional practice. The program will give students the opportunity to gain the skills in teaching or research appropriate for careers at major research universities, teaching institutions, and library systems. The candidate must give evidence of superior scholarship and mastery of a specialized field of knowledge and must demonstrate his/her ability to do significant and relevant research.

Doctoral study in this field is a challenging, life-changing experience. You will learn how to conduct independent research through projects that have the potential to change the way people interact with information and to fundamentally impact how society evolves. This program will go far beyond giving you a set of skills… it will teach you to think in a completely different way. Coursework and research programs address cutting edge issues such as evaluating information in terms of being saved for posterity; information literacy in both developed and underdeveloped countries, closing the digital divide; and how social media impacts behavior and services in the Information Age.

Requirements for the PhD degree, a 54-credit program, include a minimum of 36 course and seminar credits beyond the master’s degree and 18 dissertation credits.

The School of Computing and Information invites applications from students interested in the following areas:

• Archives and archival studies
• Data stewardship
• Digital curation
• Digital humanities
• Digital and information literacy
• Ethics of information, data, and technology
• Informatics and libraries
• Information and data interaction
• Information culture and society
• Intellectual property
• Learning paradigms in information environments
• Libraries and information services
• Open science, reproducibility & transparency
• Research data management
• Scholarly communications / digital scholarship
• Social computing and information culture

Statute of Limitations

All requirements for the PhD degree must be completed in not more than 6 calendar years from the time of first registration (or 8 calendar years for part-time students).  Students may, in extenuating circumstances, submit a formal request for extension of their statute of limitations or for a leave of absence from the program.  The request must be submitted to the advisor and then presented to the LIS Committee on Doctoral Studies for a decision.

Alumni of this program have found challenging and successful academic careers at institutions such as the University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, Simmons College, Texas Woman’s University, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Toronto, UPMC, Kuwait University , and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Doctoral Admissions

Financial Assistance

Sample PhD Timeline

PhD Guidelines (University Catalog)

Dissertations

Library Science and How to Become a Librarian

A master's degree in library science or information studies is necessary for most librarian jobs.

How to Become a Librarian

Getty Images

An inquisitive mindset is a beneficial character trait for a future librarian, since the mission of libraries is to encourage intellectual exploration.

Someone who enjoys sharing knowledge with others may like the idea of working in a library, since that is a place where visitors often seek answers to questions.

In those scenarios, librarians become sleuths, using their investigative skills to find whatever is sought after whether a particular fact or an amalgamation of all the credible scholarship on a specific topic.

There are also situations where librarians help people locate one-of-a-kind items such as authenticated historical manuscripts or genuine legal documents. Though it may not be possible to gain direct access to the original versions of rare objects, reliable copies are often available via digital archives. Librarians are skilled at discovering valuable resources in places where others might not think to look.

These information professionals often have a significant amount of authority, since they frequently choose which items are included and excluded within a particular library. Making that decision in an informed and thoughtful way requires encyclopedic knowledge about old and new publications.

Perceptiveness about people is helpful because librarians who understand the needs and wants of their patrons are more likely to provide helpful recommendations.

Why People Choose to Become Librarians

"Although the common perception is that people choose to become librarians because they love books, in reality what we see in our students – who often do love books – is the desire to become a librarian because of a passionate commitment to service, learning and community engagement," wrote Maria Bonn, an associate professor at University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign's School of Information Sciences .

"Librarianship is both a service and a leadership profession, offering many opportunities to both assist the community and its members by meeting information needs and to shape and guide that community," adds Bonn, the program director of her school's Master of Science program in library and information science.

"People who are innately curious about the world find this field deeply satisfying, as they spend their time helping others explore their questions and find answers," Brian W. Sturm, associate dean for academic affairs with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science , wrote in an email. "Students are also attracted to our field from a desire to preserve information for future generations."

Julie Peters, director of the James B. Carey Library in the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations in New Jersey, says librarianship is a timeless and meaningful profession. "Libraries are not going anywhere," she wrote in an email. "There will always be a need to find, evaluate and organize information so that it can be accessed and used by others."

What Library Science Is and How to Study It

Library science is an academic discipline that is sometimes referred to as information studies. This field focuses on how to classify and use data or objects and emphasizes the importance of preserving knowledge and promoting literacy. Contrary to the myth that libraries are old-fashioned, the academic discipline surrounding the thoughtful management of libraries is not stodgy, explains Peters, who has a master's degree in the field.

"Library science is not about card catalogs and rows of dusty books," she explains. "It's a field that is constantly changing and evolving, as technology creates new strategies for sharing, managing and organizing information."

Specializations within library science often concentrate on how to oversee particular types of libraries, such as legal libraries or public libraries, Peters says. However, regardless of what area of library science a student focuses on, he or she will typically study how humans behave when they seek information and which technologies can help people learn, she says.

Bonn notes that graduates of library science programs don't always wind up working in libraries, since they have skills that are valuable in a variety of industries ranging from publishing to music to technology. "They work for the Culinary Institute of America and National Public Radio," she notes. "The skills that support connecting users with information are in high demand in many settings."

Anind Dey, dean of the University of Washington Information School , explains that library and information schools differ from one another, so content that is emphasized in one school's curriculum might not be highlighted at a different academic institution. Courses at his school cover an array of subjects ranging from the future of libraries to misinformation.

Librarian Qualifications and Job Prospects

Most librarian positions require a master's degree in library science, though a bachelor's degree coupled with a teaching certification may be sufficient for some school library jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Master's programs in library science can usually be finished within two years and some can be finished within a single year.

Some library jobs require a degree from a library school that is accredited by the American Library Association, commonly known as the ALA.

Laura Robinson, the university librarian at Clark University in Massachusetts, says an education in library science can lead to an enjoyable career path.

"Librarianship is a great place to help people, to support communities, and to be always learning and growing," Robinson, who has a master's in library and information science, wrote in an email. "It’s a profession that changes all the time due to all the technology and knowledge that evolves so quickly. It is great for those who are flexible, creative, and endlessly curious. As a librarian for over 20 years my day-to-day work changes on a regular basis."

The BLS predicts that the number of librarians and library media specialists employed in 2029 will be 5% higher than it was in 2019, which is slightly above the average predicted job growth rate for all U.S. occupations within that time frame.

However, aspiring librarians should be aware that paychecks within the profession are generally modest. The median annual salary among U.S. librarians and media collections specialists in 2020 was $60,820, according to bureau statistics.

The ALA Allied Professional Association, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the professional interests of librarians and other library workers, supports initiatives to improve salaries in the profession. But because library positions generally aren't high-paying, prospective library science students should investigate all of their financial aid and scholarship options before applying for a degree in the field, experts say.

Another key fact to keep in mind is that academic libraries often provide higher compensation than public libraries, and library jobs in major metropolitan areas tend to pay better than positions in rural areas, according to the ALA.

Libraries targeted toward a particular group of people frequently pay higher salaries than libraries aimed at a general audience, according to library science faculty. "Corporate information officers at places like Google or Amazon often start at six-figure salaries, archivists and academic librarians may start around $70,000, and public librarians may start around $45,000," Sturm explains.

Libraries sometimes concentrate on a single topic such as art, law or theology, and they occasionally serve the needs of a particular institution such as a hospital, museum or prison. These types of libraries are called special libraries. Librarians who cater to a specific clientele may opt to join the Special Libraries Association, a nonprofit professional organization.

Robinson notes that compensation within library science depends a lot on the type of job someone has. "Many positions pay quite well," she notes, adding that university libraries tend to offer generous vacation and tuition remission benefits. "Librarians also enjoy much personal freedom in the workplace, to create projects, to dress as we wish, and to occasionally have flexible work schedules."

One perk of a career as a librarian is that the job often allows someone to complete a variety of assignments rather than sticking to a single routine and becoming bored by repetition.

"I have worked in archives and special collections, book repair and preservation, taught college students on efficient ways to find high quality information in fields ranging from engineering to English, and collaborated with faculty to build instruction programs and promote their faculty research beyond the 'ivory tower,'" Robinson says.

"There are so many exciting ways to be a librarian. The challenge is getting past the stereotype of the 'shusher' and realizing that this profession is so much more."

Searching for a grad school? Access our complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

Grad Degree Jobs With $100K+ Salaries

Tags: libraries , education , students , graduate schools

You May Also Like

Tips for secondary med school essays.

Cole Claybourn May 30, 2024

Ways Women Can Thrive in B-School

Anayat Durrani May 29, 2024

Study Away or Abroad in Law School

Gabriel Kuris May 28, 2024

A Guide to Executive MBA Degrees

Ilana Kowarski and Cole Claybourn May 24, 2024

How to Choose a Civil Rights Law School

Anayat Durrani May 22, 2024

Avoid Procrastinating in Medical School

Kathleen Franco, M.D., M.S. May 21, 2024

Good Law School Recommendation Letters

Gabriel Kuris May 20, 2024

Get Accepted to Multiple Top B-schools

Anayat Durrani May 16, 2024

Premeds and Emerging Medical Research

Zach Grimmett May 14, 2024

How to Get a Perfect Score on the LSAT

Gabriel Kuris May 13, 2024

• Minor in Informatics
• Master’s Programs

PhD Program

• Areas of Focus
• Course List
• Opportunities
• Welcome to iSchool!
• Research Spaces
• Initiatives
• Publications
• Thesis Collection
• Submit News & Events
• Strategic Documentation
• Visiting Professors Program
• Visiting Students Program
• Job Opportunities
• Recruit a Student

UBC School of Information’s Doctor in Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies is a four-year funded program that combines coursework with focused independent study and research. Our students have ready access to faculty members and benefit from unique opportunities at a comprehensive, world-class, research-intensive university.

We designed our PhD program to provide advanced research education for outstanding and highly motivated students who have already obtained a Master of Archival Studies (MAS) degree, a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) or an equivalent related degree.

• Information seeking, retrieval and use
• Human-computer interaction and design
• Critical approaches to information systems and services
• Information appraisal, classification and organization
• Social computing
• Information ethics and information policy
• Personal archives, digital archives, and online communities
• Records and information management
• Data management and natural language processing
• Blockchain technologies, information trust and governance
• Digital cultural heritage and preservation
• Digital humanities

Program highlights

• Advanced education in information and archival studies
• Focus on scholarship and research, with strong support for interdisciplinary approaches
• State-of-the-art research and learning facilities at a world-class university

Identify a potential supervisor

The doctoral program is highly selective. The strongest applicants have research interests aligned with the faculty expertise in the School of Information. Identifying a faculty member who can support your application does not guarantee an offer of admission. Still, it can ensure that your application is read carefully in light of the limited number of positions available each year. The following paragraphs provide suggestions for reaching out to potential supervisors.

• Familiarize yourself with program requirements. You want to learn as much as possible from the information available before reaching out to a faculty member.

Focus your research

• Identify faculty members who are conducting research in your specific area of interest.
• Read up on the faculty members in the program and the research conducted in the department.
• Familiarize yourself with their work, and read their recent publications and past theses/dissertations they supervised. Be sure that their research is indeed what you are hoping to study.

Make a good impression

• Do not send mass emails to everyone in the department hoping for a match.
• Address the faculty members by name. Your contact should be genuine rather than generic.
• Include a brief outline of your academic background, why you are interested in working with the faculty member, and what experience you could bring to the department.
• Highlight your achievements and why you are a top student. Faculty members receive dozens of requests from prospective students, and you may have less than 30 seconds to pique someone's interest.
• Convey the specific ways you are a good fit for the program.
• Convey the specific ways the program/lab/faculty member is a good fit for the research you are interested in/are already conducting.
• Be enthusiastic, but don't overdo it.

Course requirements

Students entering the doctoral program with an approved master’s degree will be required to take a minimum of 24 credits of coursework before achieving candidacy.

Your advisor may recommend additional courses, and you may be required to take courses in the iSchool Master of Library and Information Studies program or the Master of Archival Studies program to provide sufficient background for your research focus.

In addition, we strongly encourage our doctoral students to take graduate-level courses from other UBC departments in their chosen area of research.

Program details

Upon entering the doctoral program, you will be assigned an adviser who will work with you to develop an appropriate coursework schedule relevant to your research plan. You will take advance study in the major and minor areas (LAIS 620 and 621) with your advisor or the faculty member(s) best aligned with your research focus.

The qualifying exams assess your knowledge of the relevant literature, analytic capacity, and skill in developing original written and oral presentations of ideas. Typically, your advisor becomes your dissertation supervisor through the qualifying examinations.

Upon successfully completing the qualifying examinations, you will enter the dissertation stage of the program. Working closely with your supervisor, you will assemble a dissertation committee of no fewer than two additional eligible faculty members; these may be the same faculty who assessed your qualifying exams.

You will develop and defend a dissertation proposal of not less than 30 pages following the guidelines in the Doctoral handbook of policies and procedures . The goal of the proposal is to ascertain your research readiness.

Upon the successful defence of the proposal, you are recommended for candidacy.

You will then undertake the research and writing to prepare the dissertation following the guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS). When the dissertation is completed and successfully defended, you will be recommended for your Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

Qualifying examinations

The qualifying exams for the School of Information PhD consist of coursework (LAIS 620 and LAIS 621) as well as a formal examination with written and oral components. This overview of the qualifying exam process is meant as a guide for students and faculty. While specific details of each student’s exam preparation, writing and defence will vary, there are consistent timelines, objectives and expectations of all doctoral students. This document sets out a process for preparing for, writing, and assessing the qualifying examination as a key milestone in a student’s progress toward degree.

Students receive course credit (and faculty receive teaching credit) for LAIS 620 and LAIS 621. As such, the policies related to student resources, academic concession, academic integrity, academic accommodation, and conflicting responsibilities that apply to all other coursework also apply to the qualifying examination. Students who have needs or concerns related to these policies can negotiate adjustments to the exam procedures with their advisor and the Doctoral Studies Chair. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here.

Upon completion of all other degree coursework requirements (See: degree requirements), a student is enrolled in LAIS 620 (Advanced Study in the Major Area) and LAIS 621 (Advanced Study in the Minor Area) by the Program Assistant. The courses are six credits each, and should be taken over the course of the Winter 1 & 2 terms of the second year of doctoral study. These courses represent the preparation for the qualifying exam (50%) as well as the exam itself (50%). The preparation portion of each course is satisfied through a directed study with the student’s advisor or potential committee member. The advisor may recommend additional coursework for credit course auditing, depending on the student’s background or intended topic of study.

Through the LAIS 620 and 621 coursework, the student provides evidence that they are able to:

• Identify and describe Major and Minor areas of focus that will frame the examination process;
•  Read for both depth and breadth in the areas of focus;
• Curate bibliographies of academic sources that represent key concepts, ideas, theories, or methods in the areas of focus;
• Develop research relevant questions that emerge from the reading;
• Connect the research focus area(s) with the broader discipline;
• Communicate clearly and effectively to academic audiences, in written and oral forms.

Key outputs from the LAIS 620/621 coursework are materials that guide the examination process, specifically:

• An overview document for the Major and Minor areas (length determined by the advisor, however 1500 to 3000 words is typical) that provides a fulsome description of the areas of focus, important concepts and definitions, and key questions that emerge from reading in these areas; and
• A guiding bibliography of 40-50 sources for each of the areas of focus.

The Major and Minor areas of focus are developed with the approval and consultation of the advisor and examination committee. The Major and Minor together should support the development of student thinking, but not encapsulate exhaustively the thinking within a discipline. The level of specificity and scope are important considerations. The Major and Minor areas should be complementary but not overlap. For example, the Major area may be the central focus of a student’s intended inquiry, with the Minor area a complementary theory or method, or a cognate area related to but not a subset of the Major.

The qualifying exam has two overarching objectives: 1) to assess the student’s knowledge of current trends, theories, and methods in the areas of focus; 2) to determine if the doctoral student is sufficiently prepared to design their dissertation project.

• Through the qualifying exam, the student provides evidence that they are able to:
• Identify and critically read relevant literature in the areas of focus;
• Comprehend and evaluate arguments in the areas of focus;
• Integrate and synthesize ideas within the areas of focus;
• Put their research focus area(s) in conversation with the broader discipline;

The student will be expected to demonstrate their knowledge, and critical analysis in the discipline through:

• Knowledge of the main issues or problems in the areas of focus;
• Incisive evaluation of current and past research;
• Rigorous analysis, organization and synthesis of information;
• Clear written, and oral communication of ideas, concepts and arguments.

Students are expected to read carefully and write to issues that are contained within these bibliographies, but cannot be expected to read or write outside them as part of the examination process.

The faculty member who advises a doctoral student through their course work and qualifying exams is known as an adviser. This is usually (but not always) the same person who supervises their work as they write their dissertation, the supervisor.

The student and their adviser will assemble an Examination Committee that will adjudicate the Major and Minor focus areas by setting the exam questions and assessing the answers. The Examination Committee will consist of the adviser and two or three additional faculty members. These are typically faculty who have served as instructors to the student, have supervised reading courses in one or more of the areas of study, or have expertise related to the focus areas. The student's adviser will chair the committee.

The Examination Committee will set the questions for both the Major and Minor area exams. The questions will be based on the Major and Minor focus area descriptions and accompanying bibliographies approved by the committee by the end of January of their second year. After committee approval, the scheduling of the written exam and oral defense can occur.

Structure of the examinations

• The qualifying examination occurs in the Winter 2 term of the student’s second year in the Doctoral Program, and must be completed within 24 months of starting the program, as required by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
• Writing of the Major and Minor areas will occur within a 30-day period, and the overall length of the examination should not exceed two months.
• The format for the written examination is a take-home examination to be completed during a 21-day writing period. The writing period must begin and end on a weekday. The dates can be negotiated, and a one-day extension granted if a statutory holiday, religious holiday or cultural observance falls within the writing period (see UBC policy on conflicting responsibilities).
• The examination is intended to be a sequestered writing period, during which the student should have minimal contact with other students and faculty. Peer editing and reviewing of draft answers is not permissible, nor should the student and advisor or examination committee consult on the questions once they are administered. Students who need accommodations such as an extended exam period or writing support should consult with their advisor and DSC Chair in advance of the examination scheduling.
• The examination will comprise two significant essays, one each for the Major and Minor focus areas. The essay prompts will be formulated by the committee, and reflect the depth and breadth of the Major and Minor. The major area essay prompt should be presented as an opportunity for the student to compose a “state of the field” review related to the student’s area of research focus. The Minor essay prompt should permit the student to focus on a theory, method or cognate area that complements the Major area, without being redundant. In terms of length, approximately 5,000 words (including references) would constitute a minimal answer for each essay, with 7-10,000 words judged more acceptable in most cases.
• An oral examination of not more than three hours will occur not more than two weeks following the completion of the writing period.
• The oral examination committee consists of at least three members of Examination Committee.
• The Chair of the DSC serves as examination chair, and there is no audience present.

Sample Exam Timeline (Actual dates negotiated among student, committee, and DSC Chair):

• Supervisor submits questions vetted and approved by the examining committee to the Program Assistant one week before the exam writing period begins (February 24).
• Student receives exam questions on Friday March 3 at 9am [21-day writing period begins].
• Student submits written answers to Program Assistant on Thursday March 23 at 5pm [Writing period ends].
• Committee has seven days to read and evaluate essays.
• Committee communicates to DSC Chair that oral exam will proceed on Thursday March 30.
• Oral exam occurs Friday March 31.

After a student submits the written qualifying exam essays, the examination committee will have no less than seven days to read and evaluate them prior to the oral examination. The committee should confer prior to the oral examination to confirm that the quality of the written essays is adequate to proceed. If the essays are adequate, the student will proceed to the oral examination. If the essays are deemed inadequate, the committee will recommend either a mark of FAIL, or Adjournment (see below). The committee’s agreement to proceed or not proceed to the oral examination should be a consensus decision sent to the DSC Chair at least one day prior to the oral examination.

The purpose of the oral examination is to allow the student to provide context for their written exam answers, to demonstrate additional depth and breadth of knowledge in the area, and to show their communicative competency. The questions of the oral examination will be related to the questions answered by the student in the written examination of the major and minor areas. Examiners' questions will be based on peripheral or related material that contributes to a complete answer to the questions posed.

The oral examination will be comprised of the following parts:

• Introductions and clarification of procedures by the DSC Chair or designate
• Student presentation (15 minutes maximum – see below)
• Examination of the Major Area: At least one round of questions from each examiner, until all examiners are satisfied.
• Examination of the Minor Area: At least one round of questions from each examiner, until all examiners are satisfied.
• In-camera session: The student is dismissed, and the examiners meet with the Chair to discuss the outcome, feedback, and mark for the examination.
• Feedback: The student returns to the exam session and the Chair or Advisor provide the outcome and next steps.

At the beginning of the oral exam the student may take the opportunity to expand on their answers to the written exam questions, amplifying the answers or outlining the key points. This speaking opportunity must take no longer than 15 minutes, and may be strictly oral or aided only by notes or a visual presentation (i.e., the student is not allowed to read a prepared paper). The student may bring into the oral examination only a copy of the written exam and the notes or software (e.g., PowerPoint) for the 15-minute presentation.

During the in-camera session of the examination, the faculty will evaluate the student’s written and oral performance on each of the Major and Minor areas of focus. The student will be given one of three marks for each the Major and Minor. Faculty will assess the written and oral examination for each area as a combined mark.

• Unconditional PASS : The student’s performance in the written and oral examination meets all the indicators. The examination milestone is considered met and a grade is assigned.
• Conditional PASS : The student’s performance in the written and oral examination meets most of the indicators, but may need additional writing or revision to satisfy the committee. A student who receives the mark of Conditional PASS must complete revisions under the direction of the Advisor within two weeks. The committee will assess the revised responses and either provide the mark of FAIL or Unconditional PASS. Further oral examination is not required.
• FAIL : The student’s performance in the written and oral examination does not meet the exam indicators above. A student who receives the mark of FAIL must withdraw from the program. UBC procedures for appeal of assigned academic standing are detailed in the Academic Regulations section of the UBC Calendar.

A student may receive a split decision for the Major and Minor areas; that is, the mark assigned may be different if the written or oral performance is inadequate in either area. If a student receives a Conditional PASS in either area, the numerical grade will be provided after the revision period. If a student receives a FAIL in either the Major or Minor area, the milestone is not met, and the student must withdraw from the program.

A student receives a grade for each of the Major (620) and Minor (621) area examinations. This grade is a score that reflects their combined written and oral performance. The examination grade constitutes 50% of the grade for the Major or Minor area, the other 50% being the score assigned for the exam preparation. The Advisor should bring the preparation scores to the in-camera session. The grades for preparation and examination are averaged and submitted to the Program Assistant using the grading form provided on the school’s internal website.

A student who receives the mark of Unconditional PASS should receive a grade that is appropriate to their level of achievement, i.e., in the A to A+ range (85-95). A student who shows weaker performance in either the oral or written components, but not to the point where revision is necessary, may receive a lower grade. However, all grades for an Unconditional PASS must be above the B level (74+).

In the event the examination committee is unable to reach consensus on either the mark or numerical grade in the in-camera session, the DSC Chair (or their designate as examination chair) will serve as arbiter.

An adjournment may occur when the examination process needs to be halted for additional preparation, or for personal reasons arising from the student’s situation. There are two conditions under which the exam process may be halted or adjourned.

• Faculty requested adjournment: If one or both examination essays are of an unacceptable quality, but there is confidence they can be improved with additional preparation, the chair of the examination committee may request an adjournment. This request should be made between the submission of the essays and the oral examination. The request should be made to the DSC Chair.
• Student requested adjournment: If the student experiences a personal situation that puts their ability to complete the examination in question (significant illness, unexpected life incident, or emergency), they may request an adjournment. This request should be made during the writing period to the advisor and DSC Chair.

If an adjournment is granted, the student will have six months to complete the examination process. The student may not proceed to the oral examination until the written essays are deemed of sufficient quality. If the student does not produce passable essays on the second try, the student will be given the mark of FAIL and must withdraw from the program. The student must be informed of the committee’s decision in writing, and will have the opportunity to appeal to the DSC Chair. A candidate will be permitted to re-write the examination only once. The student is responsible for scheduling the re-writing.

All students can appeal the examination mark or numerical grade if they feel that the process for administration or assessment was unfair or in error. To appeal, the student must send a written note of appeal, along with any evidence to support their claim, to the DSC Chair within one week of receiving their examination feedback. The Chair will review the written essays and chair report to identify if any redress is appropriate. The outcome of the appeal will be provided to the student in writing no more than 30 days after receipt of the appeal.

Career outcomes

Graduates of the School of Information Doctoral Program have held positions in academia, including tenure track faculty at some of the world's leading universities, the IT industry, and leadership roles in libraries, archives, and other public sector institutions.

Quick links

Have any questions, contact the school of information..

• Make a Gift
• Search Search
• Programs : PhD in Information Studies

PhD in Information Studies

alt="Doctoral PhD students collaborating in the Information eXeprience Lab"

Where Grand Challenges Meet Interdisciplinary Solutions

We live in the Information Age, offering unprecedented opportunities but also unmatched threats and challenges. Information systems and technologies are fundamentally shaping the behaviors of individuals, organizations, and society. To understand the dynamics of our world, and to help shape a future that reflects social values, research at the School of Information crosses disciplinary divides, bridges the arts and the sciences, and applies human insights to technological advances.

Our flexible curriculum and immersive mentorship with  world-class faculty who are experts in their fields prepare students to become high-quality, high-impact researchers, scholars, and teachers. Throughout the doctoral program, students will learn to reason and evaluate ideas and data across disciplines, see beyond current approaches to problems, and cross disciplinary boundaries in search of answers to the grand challenges facing today's modern information society.

Join Our Community of Innovative Scholars

At the School of Information, you will work with faculty who are among the best in the world in their areas of expertise. You will be immersed in an environment that offers the facilities and resources of one of the premier research universities in the US, and live in a city that is both a rapidly growing center for IT research and development and one of the country's most vibrant cities in which to live and work.

Admissions & Funding

Learn about admissions procedures as well as funding available for doctoral students.

Program Overview

Our curriculum offers flexibility to tailor your coursework and explore research interests.

Meet Our Faculty

Over 20 full-time, world-class faculty come from diverse, interdisciplinary backgrounds.

Research at the iSchool

We're tackling the greatest challenges facing today's modern information society — how to understand the extraordinary complexity of information, to discover principles and processes for managing its massive scale, and exploring ways to leverage it to enhance our lives.

PhD Degree Requirements

• Committees & Annual Review
• Coursework & Plan of Study
• Qualifying Procedure
• Proposal & Dissertation Defense

What Do We Look For?

The study of information extends beyond any existing field. Our PhD students come from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, and we welcome applications from interested candidates regardless of the field of study in which you completed your prior degree(s). A master's degree is not required to apply. 

We seek the best and brightest people who thrive on challenges:

People dedicated to creating new forms of information systems that can augment human and organizational capabilities.

People committed to exploring the human and technological principles and processes that underlie information complexity.

People energized by a vision of a diverse society where access to relevant information is not a luxury, but a requirement.

People appreciative of the importance and challenge of preserving and disseminating information on the human cultural record.

If you want to join us in helping to forge a better information society:  Apply to the PhD Program

Our Vision & Values

The School of Information is committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives through excellence in research, teaching, and public engagement. Our core values underpin our efforts to shape the field of information for human and social benefit.

About The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the largest public universities in the US. Beyond our top-ranked international graduate program, UT Austin is one of the world's premier research universities and is located in one of the sunniest and most vibrant cities in which to live and work: Austin, TX.

1616 Guadalupe St, Suite #5.202 Austin, Texas 78701-1213

• News & Events
• Email Lists
• Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
• UT Austin Home
• Emergency Information
• Site Policies
• Web Accessibility Policy
• Web Privacy Policy
• Adobe Reader

Department of Information Science

Search form.

• EagleConnect
• UNT Directory
• Jobs at UNT
• Bachelor of Science in Data Science
• Bachelor of Science in Information Science
• Grad Track Programs
• Master's Programs
• Doctoral Program
• School Librarian Certificate
• Non-Degree Certificates
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Student Resources
• Admissions and Advising
• Course Rotation
• Student Organizations
• Scholarships and Awards
• Assistantships and Fellowships
• Mary Phillips Scholarship
• Research Areas
• Research Centers and Labs
• Faculty Summer Research Grants
• IS Research Meetings
• Student Travel Support
• Adjunct Faculty
• Current PhD Students
• Board of Advisors
• Connect With Us
• A Brief History
• Departmental Guidelines
• Contact Information
• Job Openings
• Professional Organizations
• Program Evaluation
• Scholarships and Financial Aid

You are here

Information science ph.d. program, doctor of philosophy degree.

The Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.  is a research degree. It is awarded in recognition of original scholarship and the generation of new knowledge by immersion in a topic, analysis, synthesis and creativity. When a Ph.D. is awarded, the degree carries and bestows certain rights and responsibilities that relate in large measures to serving society by exploring, shedding light upon, and resolving fundamental problems.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is said to be fundamentally interdisciplinary. All those who pursue the degree, in one sense or another, seek to clarify some portion of our best possible image of the world. Each of those who pursue the Ph.D. seek to provide the most robust understanding and appropriate tools for enabling each member of society to live well, to make the best life decisions—to become most fully human. Doctoral pursuits follow many paths, use different toolsets, invoke different mindsets, and continue testing assumptions by different means. Over the centuries, many of these paths have clustered into discrete departments or schools. An interdisciplinary program attempts to return to an era of broader assumptions, linking paths and cross-fertilizing research. Such an approach provides resources across boundaries.

Each discipline has its foundational notions of what constitutes doctoral studies. Likewise, each institution sets administrative guidelines and constraints for doctoral studies. The goal is to ensure that society is provided with the most capable people and that each person pursuing doctoral studies has every opportunity and resource to flourish.

The University of North Texas Information Science Ph.D. Program, responds to the varied and changing needs of an information age, increasing recognition of the central role of information and information technologies in individual, social, economic, and cultural affairs. Graduates of the program are prepared to contribute to the advancement and evolution of the information society in a variety of roles and settings as administrators, researchers, and educators

UNT IS Ph.D. Program offers

• excellent research faculty across UNT serving as instructors and advisors;
• a variety of course delivery formats, including online and blended;
• a residential experience with a high level of faculty-student interaction;
• a flexible degree plan tailored to individual interests;
• a culturally and ethnically diverse community of faculty and students;
• competitive scholarship, grant, fellowship, and assistantship opportunities;
• extensive research library resources on campus and online. 

Important Note

To receive timely notifications about upcoming deadlines, defenses, teacher-assistant and research-assistant position opportunities, conferences, new courses etc., subscribe to UNT-ISDOC-L mailing list. To subscribe  to the list, please visit the UNT-ISDOC-L listserv website . To unsubscribe or change your options (e.g., switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page . All IS PhD Program students, both continuing and incoming, and applicants strongly are encouraged to subscribe.

Handbook for Doctoral Students

• Graduate School of Education
• Academic Programs
• UB Directory
• Department of Information Science >
• Academics >
• Doctoral Degrees >

Information Science, PhD

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Nov. 9 Event Details Register Now

As human interaction and cultural expression continue to be facilitated digitally, the workings of digital technologies, their impact and their uses need to be understood. Our doctoral degree in information science will provide the opportunity to study these issues in depth. A PhD in information science will give you the opportunity to develop sophisticated quantitative and qualitative research skills to equip you to delve into the complex information problems facing humanity and contemporary organizations.  The information field is changing rapidly, and offering myriad opportunities for future scholars of information science. This program is best suited for those interested in exploring research questions in information science, looking to fill a faculty position in the field, or who are working to enhance leadership experience in libraries.

On this page:

Why information science at ub.

The features of our program include:

• a curriculum that addresses the rapid and ongoing changes in the information science field
• a residency period of one week each year for students to interact directly with their peers, as well as with the faculty
• it is one of only two online information science doctoral programs in North America

Program Overview

Program goals.

• Graduates will have a broad understanding of the theories of information science, as well as theories from cognate disciplines which have been applied in information science.
• Graduates will have a broad understanding of qualitative and quantitative methods, which are commonly applied in information science research.
• Graduates will demonstrate deep and broad knowledge of one or more domain topics within information science.
• Graduates will demonstrate the ability to execute research in their domain area using appropriate methods and theory.

Program Coursework

Master's degree (30-36 credits).

Upon acceptance into the doctoral program, you are allowed to transfer credits from your master's degree program.

Core Courses (14-18 credits)

LIS 601 Qualitative Methods in Information Science LIS 602 Quantitative Methods in Information Science LIS 603 Theoretical Foundations of Information Science LIS 604 Statistics I LIS 605 Statistics II

Electives in Discipline (9 credits)

Specialization will occur through elective courses and, where appropriate, independent study elective courses.

Qualifying Requirements

You will work with your advisor to assemble a dissertation committee conforming to UB graduate guidelines. The committee composition must reflect the intellectual diversity of the Department of Information Science, and must be approved by the director of the PhD program. The committee may include one external member.

You will decide on a research topic and produce a short research proposal (dissertation prospectus) that includes the research questions to be pursued; a short literature review; a description of one or more possible theoretical frameworks that will inform the research; and a summary of the methods expected to be applied. Your research proposal is expected to be approximately 20 pages in length.

You will pass an oral examination on the background knowledge required to conduct the research in your proposal. The committee will provide a written list of topics to be covered in the examination. This requirement must be met no later than the end of the fourth semester in the program (for full-time students). Upon successful completion of the oral examination, you may file for candidacy.

Dissertation (12-18 credits)

The final dissertation will be a refinement and expansion of the your dissertation prospectus. Your final dissertation must be completed by the end of the sixth semester in the program (for full-time students). You will defend your fully publication-ready dissertation at a public defense that will include an oral examination by your PhD committee.

Program Handbook

Doctoral student directory, graduate assistantships.

Assistantships are available in a variety of areas that change from year to year. Compensation for positions ranges from hourly pay only to a stipend to tuition remission plus a stipend. Generally, assistantships require 20 hours of work per week. The application process for assistantships is separate from the program admission process. Assistantship opportunities are posted for the following academic year in mid-January, from offices on campus such as Campus Living, Career Services, Student Engagement, Intercultural and Diversity Center, among others. While assistantships are limited, new opportunities become available throughout summer and into the fall semester.

Application Requirements

In an effort to make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.

You must have a bachelor's and master's degree. 

We have a small program that values strong faculty and student relationships. Before applying, explore our faculty’s research interests by viewing our Research Centers, Institutes and Profiles  and Faculty Directory . Feel free to contact faculty with similar interests to yours to see if they are taking on new students. If you are unsure who to contact, Program Director Dr. Amy VanScoy ( [email protected] ) is happy to discuss your interests and recommend faculty to talk to.

Submit your completed online application, which includes:

• Application fee:  A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
• Contact information for at least three individuals  who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter. You should ask individuals who can assess your achievements and potential as a student and a researcher. If there is no individual who can evaluate your achievements as a student, you may want to enroll in a course, such as LIS 575: Research Methods. The prof for this course could serve as an academic reference for your application.
• Unofficial transcripts  from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
• Sample of academic writing  (e.g., article, essay, thesis)
• Statement of research interest: The statement of research interest should be a concise statement about your academic and research background and future interests. Please be specific in explaining how the course offerings and faculty expertise of this program fit your educational and career objectives. Be sure to include the specific faculty you would like to work with and why. We consider a 1000-word statement as an appropriate length. Finding the right doctoral program requires that doctoral candidates specify and describe their research interests so they can evaluate whether there is a good fit between what they want to study and faculty research expertise. Start by reviewing our faculty directory and faculty web pages and once you are familiar with faculty research areas, read some of the faculty publications that you find most interesting. That will help you determine if there is a good fit between your scholarly interests and what our faculty members are currently researching. Everyone knows that grade point average and letters of reference are important in the decision-making process; however, alignment with faculty research interests and the academic program can often be a determining factor in admission decisions.
• Statement of educational and career goals: The statement of educational and career goals should outline your reasons for applying to this program. Please include a candid analysis of your long- and short-term professional objectives and indicate how this program will help you achieve your objectives. Your statement should be at least one to two pages in length.
• Resume or CV

Faculty Interview:  After applications are submitted and reviewed, qualified candidates will be contacted for an admission interview with the faculty.

Former/Maiden Name:  Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.

Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

In-State Residency Tuition

In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.

If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See  Required Documents for Residency Application  for more information. 

International Applicant Additional Requirements

• Official original proof of your degree
• A copy of your passport biographical page
• TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
• IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
• PTE minimum score is 55 overall
• DET minimum score is 120 overall
• Financial documentation:   International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
• An official bank statement

All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.

Program Faculty

Samuel Dodson

Assistant Professor Information Science

Department of Information Science Graduate School of Education University at Buffalo 524 Baldy Hall (North Campus) Buffalo, NY 14260–1000 Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1488

Email: [email protected]

Africa S. Hands

Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1412

Email: [email protected]

Saguna Shankar

Department of Information Science University at Buffalo 549 Baldy Hall (North Campus) Buffalo, NY 14260–1000 Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1481

Email: [email protected]

Amy VanScoy

Associate Professor Information Science

546 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1487

Email: [email protected]

Jianqiang Wang

528 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-2412

Email: [email protected]

Brenda L. Battleson White

Clinical Associate Professor Information Science

545 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-1486

Email: [email protected]

We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office .

Questions About the Admission Process?

Office of Graduate Admission

Graduate School of Education 366 Baldy Hall, North Campus 716-645-2110 [email protected]

FellowshipBard

Fully Funded PhD in Information and Library Science at University of North Carolina

Join our telegram channel, never miss an opportunity.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, presents an enticing opportunity for prospective students looking to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information and Library Science.

This fully funded doctoral program offers an array of promising prospects in the fields of research, teaching, and leadership across a diverse range of professional environments.

PhD Program Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is a prerequisite. Many successful candidates also hold a master’s degree in library and information science or a related field, although this is not mandatory.

PhD Funding Coverage

The PhD program in Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is fully funded, providing financial support to eligible full-time doctoral students for up to five years of study. Multiple avenues of financial support are available, including:

UNC Graduate School Fellowships: Qualified students may be awarded fellowships by the UNC Graduate School, which typically cover tuition and offer a stipend.

Research and Teaching Assistantships: The program offers research and teaching assistantship positions within the School of Information and Library Science (SILS). These positions provide valuable experience and a stipend.

Small Fellowships: In addition to assistantship stipends, students may be eligible for small fellowships that supplement their financial support, helping to cover additional expenses.

Application Requirement

The admission application package should include the following components:

Online Application: Submit an online application through the University of North Carolina’s graduate school website.

Transcripts: Provide official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities.

Letters of Recommendation: Request three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your academic and research capabilities.

Statement of Purpose: Craft a compelling statement of purpose that outlines your research interests and career aspirations within the field.

Resume/CV: Share a comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae that showcases your academic and professional achievements.

Application Deadline

December 10, 2024

Application Fee

This might interest you

Recently Viewed

Similar Programs

Get 3X More Success with Our Academic CV Templates!

Our Ready-to-Use CV Templates Land You in Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Beyond!

• Dean's Office
• Dean's Welcome
• FIMS Events
• EDID at FIMS
• FIMS Awards

Employment at FIMS

• Accessibility
• Mission & Goals
• Undergraduate Programs
• Graduate Programs
• Certificates & Diplomas
• Legacy Programs
• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Students
• Research News
• Research Spotlight
• Research in Action
• Lecture Series
• Student Research
• Fellowships & Chairs
• Participate in Research
• Research Funding & Support for Faculty
• Writing for The Conversation
• All Faculty
• Full-Time Faculty
• PhD Students
• All Personnel
• Retired Academic Personnel
• Alumni Newsletter
• FIMS Career Central
• Faculty Resources
• Future Students
• Current Students
• PhD Library & Information Science
• MA Media Studies
• Master of Health Information Science (1 Year)
• Master of Health Information Science (2 Year)
• Master of Library & Information Science
• Master of Media in Journalism and Communication
• PhD Health Information Science
• Progression & Milestones
• Exams, Thesis & Proposal
• Thesis Supervision
• The Co-op Program
• Part-Time PhD Program
• Tuition & Finances
• How to Apply
• PhD Media Studies

LIS General Inquiries [email protected]     519-661-4017 FIMS Graduate Student Services 519-661-4017

PhD in Library & Information Science (PhD LIS)

Quality and innovation

A community dedicated to excellence, opportunity and flexibility.

• High-calibre scholarly training
• Optional co-op
• Part-time degree option

Meet our LIS students

Amber Matthews

PhD LIS candidate.

Danica Pawlick Potts

kirstyn seanor

Faculty of Information & Media Studies FIMS & Nursing Building, Room 2050 London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B9 Tel: 519-661-3720 Privacy | Web Standards | Terms of Use | Accessibility

FIMS Graduate Intranet

FIMS Faculty Resources

FIMS Events Calendar

FIMS Facebook Page

PhD Social acceptance of fermented foods from waste streams

The Consumption and Healthy Lifestyle Group at Wageningen University and Research is looking for a curious, ambitious and highly motivated PhD candidate with a background in social sciences or food related disciplines for the NWO funded project ‘Production, Microbial Safety and Social Acceptance of Fermented Foods from Waste Streams (PROSAFE)’. This project contributes to reduction of food waste by exploring how currently wasted edible parts of vegetables can become food products for consumers. In order to understand this process, the project looks at a range of actors in the food system, including vegetable producers, product developers, chefs and consumers. You will investigate what factors influence consumers’ and supply chain actors' decisions about the use of vegetable waste and fermentation techniques. You will employ a range of mostly qualitative methods, including interviews with stakeholders, master classes with chefs, cooking workshops for consumers and consumption diaries. Based on your research, you will develop decision support tools to advance the use of vegetable waste as food. During the project you will collaborate with another PhD student with a background in microbiology who will investigate (in a complementary PhD project) the potential to develop new fermented food products made from bean sprout and mushroom side-streams. The project This project aims to valorise food-grade side-streams into new food products by means of fermentation. The project outcomes and outputs anticipate a reduction of food waste and revalue of food-grade waste to sustainably feed a growing population. To ensure that new fermented foods from side-streams are perceived favourably by consumers (e.g., edible and attractive), their preferences should be incorporated in decisions in the development of prototypes. At the same time, a broader cultural shift is needed, in which side-streams are more easily perceived as food. Therefore, the project gathers insights beyond fermentation of vegetable side-streams, among others on possibilities for increased familiarity with fermentation techniques. These cultural, economic, and social changes will accelerate the transition to a more circular and sustainable food system and support healthy eating patterns which will benefit public health and global sustainability goals. More information about the project can be found here . You will work here You will be supervised by Dr. Hilje van der Horst (WUR), Prof Dr Ir Ine. van der Fels-Klerx (WUR) and Prof Dr Ir Heidy den Besten (WUR). In addition, you will work in a project consortium with various partners, including several vegetable producers, and chef Chris Weij, who is a frontrunner in culinary fermentation, has authored various cookbooks on fermentation and conducts master classes for chefs as well as cooking workshops.

Your qualities

• A completed master’s degree in a social science or food related discipline (Sociology, Anthropology, Human Nutrition, Food Science etc.);
• Excellent writing and presenting skills;
• Experience with or interest in qualitative research methods (interviews, observation);
• Affinity with scientific research in the food domain;
• Motivation to develop as an independent scientific researcher;
• Willingness to be involved in teaching activities.
• Good social skills.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Hilje van der Horst, by email: [email protected] . For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, by email: [email protected] Do you want to apply? You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. This vacancy is open until 17 June. The procedure consists of two rounds of interviews. The first round of interviews is planned on 19, 20 and 21 June. If you are invited for the second round, a week later, we will ask you to prepare a short assignment. Additional information form For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form  which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below: https://forms.office.com/e/2HA3XMTQdm Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process. Equal opportunities Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

• Open Search box
• Master of Science in Business Analytics
• Admissions Overview
• Class Profile
• Prerequisites
• Holistic Career Services
• Constant Industry Infusion
• Student Outcomes & Placement
• Career Services FAQ
• Student Life
• For Companies Overview
• Meet Our Students
• Recruit MSBAs
• Capstone: Applied Analytics Project
• Class of 2018
• Class of 2019
• Class of 2020
• Class of 2021
• Class of 2022
• Class of 2023
• Class of 2024
• Meet Our Team Overview
• Admit Central Home
• Admit Checklist
• Prep Before You Start
• Program Calendar and Fees
• Campus Resources
• Student Health
• Transportation and Parking
• Housing and Utilities
• Career Services
• For International Students
• Meet Our Team

UCLA Anderson Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA)

Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA)

Ranked #1 in the World

by QS World University Rankings, 2023

Become a Master of Business Analytics (MSBA)

About our program, a day in the life of the msba program.

Trailblazing Faculty

Faculty Spotlight

Felipe Caro Faculty Director of the MSBA Program, Professor of Decisions, Operations and Technology Management

Professor Caro, known for helping Zara re-engineer its supply chain to become a “fast fashion” global retailer (and more profitable), is a renowned researcher who is highly published and frequently awarded for his work. His design of the MSBA curriculum is greatly influenced by changing markets and is engineered to produce the critical, analytical thinkers that the organizations of tomorrow need most.

Listen to the Podcast

Professor Decisions, Operations and Technology Management

One of Long 's specialties includes applying quantitative analysis to the ambiguities of the health care industry.

Professor of Behavioral Economics and Strategy

Beyond his award-winning teaching and research, Professor Chen advises companies on topics at the intersection of behavioral economics, business strategy and dynamic pricing. At Uber, he redesigned its dynamic “surge” pricing model.

Distinguished Professor of Marketing, Economics and Statistics

While more recently focusing on consumer targeting and analytic pricing tools, Professor Rossi’s Bayesian hierarchical choice models created the most widely used methods for analysis of choice and conjoint data used today.

Professor of Economics

In her research, Professor Giuliano studies the nexus of culture, economics and political economy. She holds prestigious research positions at the National Bureau of Economic Research (Cambridge), the Centre for Economic Policy Research (London) and the Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn).

Associate Professor Marketing

Consistently awarded the MSBA faculty excellence award, Bodapati ’s Customer Analytics course addresses marketing problems in value creation, value communication, customer acquisition, customer development, customer retention and the assessment of customer response to marketing. 

Assistant Professor Decisions, Operations and Technology Management

A multiple MSBA faculty excellence award winner,  Mišić focuses on decisions in uncertainty, customer choice problems and machine learning-based optimization in his operations analytics course.

Follow the UCLA Anderson MSBA Program

• About UCLA Anderson
• Our Character
• Our Strategic Plan
• Our Leadership
• Our History
• Office of Development Home
• Impact Stories
• The Anderson Fund
• Student Fellowships
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Centers@Anderson
• Faculty Research
• Dean’s Society Leadership Giving
• Reunion Giving
• Anderson Affiliates
• Ways to Give
• Contact Development
• Our Centers Home
• Center for Global Management Home
• For Students Overview
• Specialize In Global Management
• On-Campus and/or Hybrid Global Management Courses
• Global Immersion Courses
• Global Nonprofit Capstone Projects
• MBA Research Assistants
• Career and Personal Development
• UCLA-NUS Executive MBA
• F/EMBA International Exchange
• EMBA International Business Residency
• Global Management Seminars
• International Exchange
• Events and Discussions Overview
• Global Conferences
• Greater China and LatAm Series
• Global Management Speaker Series
• Global Management Lecture Series
• Global Business & Policy Forums
• World Today Discussion Series
• Robertson Lecture Series on Global Business Leadership
• Lunch and Dinner Series
• External Collaborative Partnerships
• Upcoming Events
• Past Center Sponsored Events
• Other UCLA Events
• Faculty & Global Research
• Video Gallery
• Support The Center
• Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports Home
• Events Overview
• Pulse Conference Home
• Entertainment Case Competition
• Game Day Sports Case Competition
• Global Sports Business Forum
• INSIGHTS - Big Data Conference
• Real Madrid Global Sports Leadership
• Research & Insights
• Corporate Partnership
• Student Experience Overview
• Industry Network
• Undergraduate Summer Institute Overview
• Howard University Initiative
• High School Summer Discovery
• About The Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports
• Board of Directors
• Easton Technology Management Center
• Innovation Challenge Home
• Sustainability Track
• Healthcare Track
• Generative AI Track
• Mentors & Advisors
• Competition Details
• Past Events
• Easton Courses
• Specialization
• Innovate Conference
• Tech + Society Conference
• The Embracing AI Summit
• Easton Instructors
• Get Involved
• About The Easton Technology Management Center
• Board of Advisors
• Faculty Advisory Board
• Fink Center for Finance & Investments Home
• Career Impact
• Student Fellowships Overview
• Investment Banking Fellowship
• Kayne Investment Management Fellowship
• Brown Private Equity and Alternatives Fellowship
• Quantitative Finance Fellowship
• News and Events Overview
• Conference on Financial Markets
• Fink Investing Conference Home
• Private Equity Roundtable
• Fink Credit Pitch Competition
• Faculty & Research
• Meet Our Board
• Center for Impact Home
• Academics Overview
• Specializations and Certificates
• Impact Investing
• Social Impact Consulting
• Open For Good Transparency Index
• Environmental Metrics
• Social Metrics
• Governance Metrics
• Our Methodology
• State of Corporate Sustainability Disclosure
• 2023 Report
• 2022 Report
• Sustainability Workshops
• Corporate Partnership Program
• Faculty and Research
• Research and Seminars
• Research in Energy
• Research in Sustainability
• Research in Social Responsibility
• Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability ARCS
• Impact Week
• Morrison Center for Marketing & Data Analytics Home
• Gilbert Symposium
• Research Overview
• Funded Research
• Student Programs Overview
• Affiliated Student Organizations
• Case Competitions
• Ph.D. Students
• Morrison Center Advisory Board
• Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Home
• Fellowships
• Undergraduate Minor in Entrepreneurship
• Student Investment Fund
• For Professionals Overview
• Health Care Executive Program
• Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans
• UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program
• Steinbeck Family Business Seminar
• Management Development for Entrepreneurs
• UCLA Health Care Institute
• Anderson Venture Accelerator Home
• Our Programs
• Our Companies
• Mentors and Advisors
• Showcase 2023
• Showcase 2022
• Showcase 2021
• Showcase 2020
• Knapp Venture Competition
• Entrepreneur Association (EA)
• Past Winners
• Hire an Anderson Intern
• UCLA Anderson Forecast Home
• Research and Reports Overview
• Forecast Direct Podcast
• Projects and Partnerships Overview
• Forecast Fellows Program
• Allen Matkins
• Cathay Bank
• City Human Capital Index
• Los Angeles City Employment
• Engage with Us Overview
• Become A Member
• Become A Sponsor
• Speaking Engagements
• Member Login
• Renew Membership
• Join Email List
• UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate
• Howard and Irene Levine Fellows
• Peter Bren Fellows in Entrepreneurial Real Estate
• Corporate Concierge Recruiting
• Howard and Irene Levine Affordable Housing Development Program
• Alumni (UCLA REAG)
• UCLA Ziman Center Symposium
• Howard J. Levine Distinguished Lecture on Business Ethics & Social Responsibility
• UCLA Distinguished Speaker Series in Affordable Housing
• Faculty & Research Overview
• UCLA Gilbert Program in Real Estate, Finance and Urban Economics
• UCLA Economic Letter
• UCLA Affordable Housing Policy Brief
• Working Papers
• Eviction Moratoria and Other Rental Market COVID-19 Policy Interventions
• Mortgage Default Risk Index (MDRI)
• CRSP/Ziman REIT Data Series
• Conference on Low-Income Housing Supply and Housing Affordability
• Impact on Our Community Overview
• Housing as Health Care Initiative
• Howard and Irene Levine Program in Housing and Social Responsibility
• Board Leadership
• Clubs & Associations Home
• Anderson Student Association (ASA)
• Think in the Next Innovation Challenge
• Innovation & Design Case Competition
• Strategy and Operations Case Competition
• Health Care Business Case Competition
• Challenges in Energy Case Competition
• Professional Clubs
• Association of Veterans at Anderson (AVA)
• Association for Real Estate at Anderson (AREA)
• Energy and Cleantech Association (ECA) Home
• Energy Innovation Conference
• Entertainment Management Association (EMA) Home
• International Film Festival
• Food & Beverage Association (FABA)
• Healthcare Business Association (HBA) Home
• HBA VITALS Conference
• Innovation & Design at Anderson (IDeA) Home
• Innovation and Design Case Competition
• Investment Finance Association (IFA)
• Management Consulting Association (MCA)
• Marketing Association (MA)
• Net Impact (NI) Home
• High Impact Tea
• Retail Business Association (RBA) Home
• Evolve Conference
• Sports Business Association (SBA)
• Strategy & Operations Management Association (SOMA) Home
• Tech Business Association at Anderson (AnderTech) Home
• Unchained: Blockchain Business Forum
• Women’s Business Connection (WBC)
• Identity Clubs
• The Alliance for Latinx Management at Anderson (ALMA)
• Asian Management Student Association (AMSA)
• Black Business Students Association (BBSA) Home
• BHM Events - Better Together
• Christian Student Fellowship (CSF)
• European Business Association (EBA)
• Greater China Business Association (GCBA)
• Japan America Business Association (JABA)
• Jewish Business Students Association (JBSA)
• Joint Ventures (JV)
• Korean Business Student Association (KBSA)
• Latin American Business Association (LABA)
• Middle East & Africa Club
• Muslim Business Student Association (MBSA)
• Out@Anderson (O@A) Home
• LGBTQ Awareness Week
• South Asian Business Association (SABA)
• Southeast Asian Business Association (SEABA)
• Taiwanese Student Business Association (TSBA)
• Institutions Clubs
• Anderson Onboarding Committee (AOC)
• Admissions Ambassador Corps (AAC)
• Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
• Challenge for Charity
• Interest Overview
• A Comedy Club (ACC)
• Adam Smith Society (SmithSoc)
• Craft Beer Club
• Creatives at Anderson (AnderCreative)
• Eats (AnderEats)
• Public Speaking Club at Anderson (PSC)
• Spirits @ Anderson
• Travel and Hospitality Association (THA)
• Wine Club at Anderson (WCA)
• Athletics Overview
• Basketball Club at Anderson (Anderball)
• John Anderson Golf Club
• Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC)
• Soccer Club (SC)
• Tennis Club at Anderson (TCA)
• Wellness Club
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Events and Spotlights
• Embracing Diversity Series
• Hear to Include
• Student EDI Council
• Key EDI Activities
• What You Can Do
• Pathway Guidance Program Overview
• Inclusive Ethics Initiative
• Asian@Anderson
• Black@Anderson
• Latinx@Anderson
• LGBTQ@Anderson
• Veterans@Anderson
• Women@Anderson
• Information & Technology Home
• New Faculty Information
• New PhD Information
• New Student Information
• Anderson Computing & Information Services (Intranet Portal)
• Rosenfeld Library Home
• Databases Overview
• Business Databases by Name
• Business Databases by Category Overview
• Analyst Reports
• Company Information
• Industry Information
• International Information
• Market Research
• Taxation & Accounting
• Books & Other Sources
• Anderson Proxy Server / Off-Campus Access
• Database Alerts (Under Revision)
• Discipline eSources Overview
• Decisions, Operations and Technology Management
• Global Economics and Management
• Information Systems
• Management and Organizations
• Working Papers, Cases
• Business Topics
• Government Information
• Search & Find
• Electronic Journals at UCLA
• New "Management" Titles at Rosenfeld and Other UCLA Libraries
• Citation Linker for Articles in (or Not in) UCLA-Licensed Online Content
• Career Management
• Company Ratios
• Industry Ratios
• Internet Search
• Special Collections
• UCLA Library Catalog
• Melvyl (UC Libraries)
• Citing Business Sources
• Assessing Global Issues
• Career Research in the Rosenfeld Library
• Competitive Intelligence
• Research Toolkit
• Services Overview
• Faculty Course Support
• Media & Technology Industry Information
• Ph.D. Research Support
• Consult a Business Research Librarian
• Borrowing Privileges
• Document Delivery
• Field Study Research Support: AMR/BCO/GAP/SMR/UCLA-NUS EMBA
• Course Reserves Overview
• Find Reserve Items
• Info for Faculty
• Hours of Operation
• Conduct in the UCLA Libraries
• External (Non-Anderson) Users of Rosenfeld Library
• New "Management" Titles RSS Feed
• UCLA Library
• User Rights and Responsibilities
• Facility Use
• Rental Spaces
• Vendor Contacts
• Maps & Directions
• Parking Information
• Degrees Home
• Full-Time MBA Home
• Admissions Home
• Request Information
• Requirements
• Admissions Events
• International Applicants
• Concurrent Degrees
• Admission Policies
• Consortium Candidates
• Academics Home
• Customizable Schedule
• Flexibility & Specializations
• Capstone Project
• Business Creation Program
• Anderson Student Asset Management (ASAM) Home
• Annual Report
• Fund Strategies and Resources
• Academic Centers
• Global Options
• Academic Calendar
• Consulting Career Path
• Marketing Career Path
• Entertainment Career Path
• Technology Career Path
• Finance Career Path
• Social Impact Career Path
• Health Care Career Path
• Entrepreneurship Career Path
• Real Estate Career Path
• Operations Career Path
• Energy Career Path
• Retail Career Path
• Sports Career Path
• Living in L.A.
• Family Life
• Clubs & Associations
• Embracing Diversity
• Financing Overview
• Financing Opportunities
• Financing Requirements
• Connect With Our Students
• Getting Here
• Admit Central
• Why UCLA Anderson
• Timeline & Email Archive
• Student Life Home
• Clubs & Extracurriculars
• Getting Settled Home
• International Students Home
• Student Visas
• Your Academic Experience
• Your Career Considerations
• International Students Onboarding Sessions
• Tips for International Students
• Anderson Onboarding Home
• Anderson Onboarding FAQ
• Curriculum & Academics Home
• Course Schedule
• Academic Preparation
• Career Services Home
• Career Preparation
• Industry Camps
• Paying for School
• Financing Your MBA Home
• Meet the Team Home
• Fully Employed MBA Home
• Assistant Dean's Advice
• Connect with a Student
• UC Transfers
• Exam Waiver
• Military and Veterans
• Admissions Policies
• Specializations
• Global Experience
• Flexible Options
• Drive Time Podcast
• Student Perspectives
• Costs & Financing
• Meet our Team
• Why UCLA Anderson?
• Accepting Admission
• Important Items & Official Onboarding
• Build Your Network
• Executive MBA Home
• Requirements and Deadlines
• Connect with an EMBAssador
• U.S. Military, Reservist, & Veterans
• Flexible Schedules
• Electives & Specializations
• Capstone Overview
• For Companies
• Culture Overview
• Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
• Conferences and Special Events
• Clubs and Associations
• Meet the Team Overview
• EMBA Admit Central Home
• Finalizing Admission
• Pre-EMBA Academic Preparation
• Important Dates and Events
• Cost and Financing
• Directions and Accommodations
• Ph.D. Program Home
• Admissions FAQ
• Areas of Study Home
• Accounting Overview
• Meet the Students
• Courses and Seminars
• Behavioral Decision Making Overview
• Decisions, Operations and Technology Management Overview
• Finance Overview
• Global Economics and Management Overview
• Management and Organizations Overview
• Marketing Overview
• Strategy Overview
• Current Job Market Candidates
• Curriculum & Schedule
• Admissions Requirements
• UCLA NUS Alumni Connect
• Fees and Financing
• Meet the Team
• Visit UCLA-NUS Full Site
• Master of Financial Engineering
• Admissions Ambassadors
• Career Impact Overview
• Career Paths Overview
• Quant Trading and Sales Trading
• Data Science
• Quantitative Research and Analysis
• Strats and Modeling
• Portfolio Management
• Risk Management
• Consulting and Valuation
• Employment Report
• Alumni Coaches
• Advisory Board
• Recruit An MFE
• Meet our Team Overview
• MFE Admit Central Home
• Career Support
• Curriculum and Academics
• Executive Education Home
• Open Enrollment Overview
• Executive Program
• Corporate Governance
• Women's Leadership Institute
• Women In Governance Overview
• Board Ready Candidates
• Inclusive Leadership Program
• Strategic HR Program
• Leading High Performing Teams
• Customized Solutions
• Partner Programs Overview
• Accounting Minor Program Home
• Accounting Minor Admissions Requirements
• Enrolling In Classes
• Courses Overview
• Management 195
• Course Syllabus
• Useful Links
• Graduating Seniors
• Leaders in Sustainability Certificate Program
• Riordan Programs Home
• Riordan Scholars Program Overview
• Saturday Business Institute
• Riordan MBA Fellows Program Overview
• Riordan College to Career Program Overview
• Alumni Association
• Our Purpose
• Get Involved Overview
• Donor Honor Roll
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Spark Campaign
• Who We Are Overview
• Volunteers and Mentors
• Riordan Podcast
• Media Entertainment & Sports Summer Institute
• Venture Accelerator at UCLA Anderson Home
• HealthCare@Anderson
• Health Care and Behavioral Economics
• Women and Healthcare
• Research and Development
• Health Care Operations
• Healthcare Pricing and Financing
• Other Research
• Sector-Focused Programs for Professionals
• Faculty and Research Home
• Accounting Home
• Seminars and Events
• Ph.D. Program
• Behavioral Decision Making Home
• Decisions, Operations & Technology Management Home
• Meet The Ph.D. Students
• DOTM Supply Chain Blog
• Finance Home
• Global Economics and Management Home
• Meet the Ph.D. Students
• University of California GEM-BPP Research Workshop
• Management And Organizations Home
• Anderson Behavioral Lab
• HARRT at UCLA
• Marketing Home
• Strategy Home
• Information Systems Research Program Home
• Connections
• IS History Home
• Faculty Directory
• Faculty Awards
• Faculty Expertise Guide
• Open Positions
• Emeriti Faculty
• For Companies Home
• Hire an MBA
• Hire an MFE
• Hire an MSBA
• Engage a Student Consulting Team
• Applied Management Research Program Home
• Requirements & Schedule
• Benefits To Companies
• Application
• Student Experience
• Faculty Advisors
• Global Access Program Home
• Global Partner Network
• Meet the Advisors
• Past GAP Companies
• Executive Portal Home
• Key Dates and Schedules
• Event Registration
• Hotels and Directions
• Visa Information
• Explore Los Angeles
• Post-GAP Consulting Providers
• Strategic Management Research Program
• Applied Finance Project
• Applied Analytics Project
• Early-Stage Investment Fund
• Field Experiments in Strategy
• Management Practicum
• News and Events Home
• News Archive
• News Archive 2022-2023
• News Archive 2018-2021
• Virtual Events Archive
• Signature Events Overview
• Gerald Loeb Awards Home
• 2024 Loeb Awards Open Call For Entries
• Banquet and Ceremony
• Submit Entry
• Competition Categories
• Historical Winners
• Career Achievement Categories
• Eligibility and Rules Home
• Administration of Awards
• Final Judges
• Embracing Diversity Week
• Commencement Overview
• MBA, EMBA, FEMBA, Ph.D. Commencement Overview
• Commencement Speaker
• FAQ Students
• UCLA-NUS Commencement
• MFE Commencement Overview
• Parking & Directions
• MSBA Commencement Overview
• Hotel Information
• Video Archives
• John Wooden Global Leadership Awards Overview
• Fellowship Application
• John Wooden
• Anderson Speaker Series
• Dean's Distinguished Speaker Series
• Velocity Women's Summit
• 'Palooza
• Anderson Student Kickoff
• Alumni Home
• Alumni Directory
• All Chapters and Groups
• International
• Worldwide Welcome Weeks 2023
• Alumni Weekend 2024
• Friday Faculty Chats
• Alumni Weekend
• Alumni Weekend 2022
• Alumni Weekend 2021
• Alumni Weekend 2019
• Alumni Weekend 2018
• Worldwide Welcome Weeks 2022
• Worldwide Welcome Weeks 2021
• Worldwide Welcome Weeks 2018
• Worldwide Welcome Weeks 2017
• Career Re-LAUNCH
• UCLA Campus
• Career Services Overview
• Career Resources
• Stay Connected Overview
• Alumni Community
• Email Lists
• Class Notes
• News@Anderson
• Alumni Awards
• Board of Directors Overview
• Letter from the President

Statistics and Actuarial Science

Information for new graduate students in actuarial science, data science and statistics at the university of iowa..

Welcome New Graduate Students!

Information for NEW graduate students in Actuarial Science, Data Science and Statistics at the University of Iowa. 

Last Updated, May 31, 2024.                                   Additional  updates will be sent this summer!

Important Information for International Students

The Office of International Students and Scholars does an incredible job helping you settle into Iowa City and the University of Iowa.  They have webinars to help with:  

1. Getting Started and Making Travel Arrangements

2. Achieving Success: On-campus Involvement and Cultural Adjustment (undergraduate students)

3. Graduate Student Professionalization and Support

4. Understanding Orientation Expectations, Responsibilities, and Placement Tests (graduate students)

5. On-campus Housing Assignments and Move-in Tips (undergraduate students)

6. Student Employment

7. Money Matters - University Billing

Do you need to take the SPEC (Spoken Proficiency of English for the Classroom)?

All students for whom English is not a first language (as self-reported on their admissions application) and who have first-time appointments as graduate teaching assistants (TAs) are required to go through a testing process to assess their effectiveness in speaking English before they are assigned assistantship responsibilities. Beginning in Fall 2024, there will be a new test to assess communication in English in a classroom context called SPEC (Spoken Proficiency of English in the Classroom).  This is replacing ESPA and ELPT.  Details will be coming soon.

Any graduate student who is included in the following categories needs to have their oral English proficiency tested by the TAPE Program:

• Students whose first language is not English (i.e., learned another language first) as self-reported on their admissions application, and
• Have been appointed as a Teaching Assistant

Exemptions (may change):

• Students with an official valid (within the last two years) iBT Listening score of 25 and an iBT Speaking score of 26.
• Undergraduate degrees and/or     
• Continuous attendance of English-language schools since the age of 12 (or younger)
• Students who served as teaching assistants at other institutions of higher learning in which the language of instruction is English, if they were listed as the instructor of record for a course or led a discussion section in English for at least one year, with a year defined as either two academic semesters or three academic quarters.
• Requests for exceptions regarding the SPEC  can be submitted for evaluation to a committee consisting of the Director of ESL Programs, the Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs in the Graduate College, and a representative from University Human Resources.

Requests for exemption and exceptions must come from the department by the deadline, not the student.   Deadlines to register students for the SPEC are:

• March 1  

NOT Exemptions:

• Students who come from a country where English is one of the official languages.
• Students who are U.S. permanent residents or U.S. citizens whose first language is not English.

Testing Procedures & Results

 To be announced soon!

Graduate/Professional International Students Important Dates

July 12, 2024:  Earliest date you may enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status. August 11, 2024:  Latest date by which you should arrive in Iowa City August 12 - 16, 2024: International Student Orientation August 26, 2024:  Classes begin.

Housing Information for All Students

The department has a housing webpage, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. If you are looking for a roommate, please let us know and we can update this web page!

Looking for housing options ?

All US citizens that are financially supported (TA, RA) need to be here on August 21.

All students will register for classes the week before classes start.  International students must complete the required Orientation Program before  they can register for classes.    

____________________

Fall Classes Advising will be August 19-23

All NEW UI students must meet with their advisor prior to registration.  There is no worry about getting into any of the classes we teach.  

• IF you are an Actuarial Science MS or PhD student you will need to meet with Professor Shyamalkumar.  Email him after August 12 at [email protected] to set a time to meet to discuss what classes to take, it may be on Zoom or in his office (233 Schaeffer Hall).
• IF you are a Data Science MS, Statistics MS, or PhD student you will need to meet with Professor Boxiang Wang.  Email him after August 12 at [email protected]  to set a time to meet to discuss what classes to take, it may be on Zoom or in his office (261 Schaeffer Hall).

New Graduate College Welcome and Orientation, August 21

The Graduate College Fall 2024 Graduate Student Orientation event will take place on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.  A registration form will be sent to your UI email sometime this early summer from the Graduate College. All new doctoral and master’s students are invited to attend.  

New Teaching Assistant Orientation, August 22- required for all new supported students

Sponsored by the Center for Teaching

This event will introduce participants to the role of teaching assistant at the University of Iowa and prepare them for the first week of classes and beyond. 

Participants will discuss evidence-based teaching strategies for lesson planning, inclusive teaching, and more with Center for Teaching staff. Participants will also choose two workshops of interest to them out of several options; these will be facilitated synchronously by experienced TAs.  This is a virtual event for 9-noon.

• Sign up before August 21!

New Student Department Orientation, August 23 at 9 a.m., Room to be determined.

• All New Student Orientation —Group Introductions and General Policy Procedures.

New Supported Graduate Assistants Orientation, August 23 at 1 p.m., Room to be determined.

• Our Director of Graduate Studies will have a department review of expectations and your specific roles in our department. Teaching and grading assignments will be explained, as well as preparation, teaching tips, problems and questions, quizzes and exams, weekly meetings, grading, appropriate office use and the Sexual Harassment Prevention Education

Mailbox in 241 Schaeffer Hall 

All graduate students will have a mailbox in our main office.  The faculty do as well.  Please check your mailbox at least once a week!

Office Desk Assignment

Nearly all supported students will have a desk in one of our offices.  The assignment priority (in this order) includes Ph.D. and Fellowship candidates, research assistants, half-time teaching assistants, quarter-time teaching assistants and lastly graders.  Having a desk is a privilege and should be used only for university business.  Office assignments will be given to students on, August 23.  Keys are checked out ONLY after that time.  Please remember to keep the rooms clean and take out all trash to the large bins in the main hallways.

Set-up your University of Iowa Email

All University of Iowa students are required to activate their assigned uiowa.edu email address, as all official communication from university offices are now sent via email, rather than hard copy. This address usually follows the pattern [email protected]   (However, often a number is also attached.) 

To activate the account:

• Log on to  MyUI
• Click on My UIowa / My Email / Request Email Account
• Complete the specified steps.

Students who prefer to maintain only their work or home email addresses can do so by routing the uiowa.edu email to a work or home account. To do so, follow these steps:

• Click on My UIowa / My Email / Update Email Routing Address

Important Notes:

• If your uiowa.edu email address is routed to a different account, you will  not  need to change your address in ICON, as your messages will already forward to your routed address.
• Log on to MYUI.
• Click on My UIowa / My Email / Email Account Filter bulk mail.
• Make sure that none of the categories are checked.

Required Graduate Assistants Teaching Courses:

• ONLINE CLASS Requirement: Sexual Harassment Prevention Edu.  Use your HawkID and password to log into Employee Self Service. Click the Personal tab, next (under Learning and Development) click on Sexual Harassment Prevention Edu., follow instructions.
• ONLINE CLASS Requirement:  Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Use your HawkID and password to log into Employee Self Service. Click the Personal tab, next (under Learning and Development) next click on Available Online Icon Courses, next FERPA Training, then click on View Details twice and the last click will be to Enroll in this ICON Course Session.
• A six-hour orientation program will be required of all students who are certified at level A or B and are teaching for the first time.  This orientation helps new teaching assistants understand the culture of the U.S. classroom and treats topics such as student expectations, teacher-student relationships, and understanding and answering student questions. Discussion focuses on suggestions for maximizing comprehensibility in spoken English. This course meets twice for 3 hours early in the semester. Both meetings are held in the evening.

Administrative Department Staff:

Professor aixin tan (until july 1, 2024).

Director of Graduate Studies, Statistics and Data Science Graduate Advisor: [email protected]   (319) 335-0821.

Professor Boxiang Wang (beginning July 1, 2024)

Director of Graduate Studies, Statistics and Data Science Graduate Advisor: [email protected] (319) 335-2294.

Professor N.D. Shyamalkumar

Actuarial Science Graduate Advisor:  [email protected]    (319) 335-1980

Margie Ebert

Academic Services Coordinator ,  [email protected]  (319) 335-2082

Heather Roth

Administrative Services Coordinator  [email protected]   (319) 335-0712

Tammy Siegel

Department Administrator ,  [email protected] , (319) 335-0706