School of Information Resources and Library Science

SIRLS Doctoral Program

9/1/05

Goal

The goal of the doctoral program is to prepare future intellectual leaders in the area of information. Specifically, the program is geared toward intensive study of the organization, evaluation, and use of information. Each doctoral student will be expected to articulate his or her own goals within these general areas.

Degree

The School of Information Resources and Library Science is authorized to offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree, a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Information Resources and Library Science. A student must minor in a second area, determined in consultation with the faculty advisor and approved by the SIRLS Ph.D. Studies Committee.

Admission - General Information

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive and based on both the applicant's abilities and faculty interest and expertise in the student's proposed area of study. The School may deny entry to an otherwise qualified applicant if there is insufficient faculty interest in working with that applicant.

• Admission to the doctoral program is possible with or without a master's degree.


• All applicants must possess an undergraduate degree that is comparable to an undergraduate degree offered by the University of Arizona.

Admission to any graduate program at the University of Arizona is the responsibility of the Graduate College. The School and other units with graduate programs make recommendations to the Graduate College. Please note that most units, including the School, prefer to set a standard for admission that is higher than the absolute minimum levels for admission to the Graduate College (noted in the Graduate Catalog.)

The following are guidelines. The faculty consider the overall package when making candidate evaluations:

• An undergraduate or graduate academic record that is indicative of significant achievement. This is normally a GPA of a minimum of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.


• GRE scores that are indicative of significant promise. This is normally a minimum of the 80th percentile or higher on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical portions of the test. [There is no need to take or submit a specialized test other than noted above.]


• A minimum of three letters of recommendation that clearly speak to the applicant's promise as a graduate student and as a doctoral student.


• A resume indicating both employment and educational experience to date.


• A statement of intent from the applicant clearly laying out why he or she is applying to this particular program and what he or she considers the outcome of doctoral study will be. Applicants need not, at this point, indicate potential dissertation topics, but an indication of the area(s) in which they propose to study would be very helpful to the faculty.


• A completed set of application forms for the Graduate College and for the School.


• An interview, on campus or by phone, with selected members of the faculty.

Funding

SIRLS sees as a priority funding for Ph.D. students in their first three years of study. Opportunities exist within SIRLS and on campus for graduate assistantships, scholarships, and other forms of support.

Admission - Process

• Admission to the doctoral program normally occurs in the fall semester.


• The deadline for fall admission is 1 February.


• The Ph.D. studies committee makes recommendations to the faculty. Then admission is by faculty vote with a simple majority sufficient for admission or rejection. Faculty expertise and interest in the student's area of study are major factors in the admission decision.

Requirements

There are two parallel sets of requirements for the Ph.D.

• One set is the Graduate College requirements, as found in the Graduate Catalog.


• The second set contains the requirements of the School.

Graduate College Requirements

The following is a summary of the Graduate College requirements. For the full text of the requirements, see the Graduate Catalog.

• The equivalent of at least six semesters of essentially full-time study is required.


• Minimum residency requirement is two regular semesters (not counting summer session) of essentially full-time work in actual residence at the University of Arizona.


• Minimum of 30 units of course work completed at the University of Arizona.


• Registration for a minimum of 18 units of dissertation work. With prior approval, the dissertation may be done in absentia.


• All requirements for the degree must be completed within 5 years of passing the Comprehensive Exam.


• At least 36 units of course work, exclusive of the dissertation, must be in the major area.


• Minimum of one-half of the courses presented for the degree must be courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned.


• Comprehensive written and oral examination


• Dissertation


• Dissertation defense

School of Information Resources & Library Science Requirements

• Annual review of student's progress.


• A minimum of 36 units in the major, inclusive of work done for the master's, but exclusive of the dissertation.


• Minor chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor (normally 9 units but at the discretion and control of the minor unit).


• Dissertation proposal defense


• 18 units of dissertation and successful completion of dissertation

SIRLS expects all requirements for the doctoral degree to be completed in three to six years. Please see the Chronology of the SIRLS Doctoral Program for more information.