PhD Program Overview

From GSLISWiki

This page contains the Ph.D. Program Requirements and Phases, and was created as a reference for the new students in 2005.

The main PhD program page

http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/phd/

The Official version of the Program Phases can be found at

http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/phd/phd-phases.html

Please be aware that what is listed on the website above is the official version, and anything on this page is likely to be incomplete and out of date!

1 Phase I: The Foundation: Coursework
2 Annual Review
3 Phase II: The Field Exam
4 Phase III: The Dissertation
5 An Older Program Overview
6 Related Links

[edit] Phase I: The Foundation: Coursework

3 required courses
- a history and foundation of LIS seminar Ã¢Â€Â“ LIS 590HF (Fall 2005)
  - http://leep.lis.uiuc.edu/cgi/mainclass_fall05.pl?classname=LIS590HF
- two research methods courses - LIS 590DRM (Spring 2006) and another of your choice
  - http://leep.lis.uiuc.edu/cgi/mainclass_spring05.pl?classname=LIS590DRM
course electives

[edit] Annual Review

Annual reviews happen at the end of each year

http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/phd/reporting.html

[edit] Phase II: The Field Exam

Samples/examples of reading lists in Doc Study and on the wiki

http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/phd/field-exam.html
- written portion
- oral portion

[edit] Phase III: The Dissertation

http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/phd/phd-phases.html#phase3
- defense of a dissertation proposal
- research
- writing
- final defense and submission of a dissertation

Due dates and course content are periodically updated. Check back frequently to the school's website for changes.

[edit] An Older Program Overview

It is important to realize that all PhD students must complete an Annual Review at the end of each school year (end of the Spring semester). It is a requirement for graduation at GSLIS.

Here is a summary of what's on the webpage:

Phase I: The Foundation: Coursework
- Two mandatory courses:
  - Fall: 590HF History and Foundations of Library and Information Science
  - Spring: 590DRM Doctoral Research Methods
- One elective methods course
- 32 more hours of courses (for a total of 48 hours of courses/12 units/classes) for people who have a Masters degree in LIS, or a related field.
  - What constitutes a related field is not defined. It is up to the DSC to decide (upon admissions?) whether any degree held is relevant.
- PhD students without a relevant Masters degree have to take 32 additional hours of courses (8 units/classes).
Phase II: The Field Exam
- Two week written exam, 1 day oral exam
Before the Dissertation, one public presentation must be made
- This requirement is normally satisfied by a presentation at a conference.
Phase III: The Dissertation (32 hours, equal to 8 classes/units)