The Secret Life of a Doctoral Student
Bibliofile: How long have you been in the Ph.D. program here at Pitt?
Laila: This is my second semester.
Bibliofile: What is your educational background?
Laila: I got my B.A. in Computer Science and my masters degree in Library and Information Science in Kuwait.
Bibliofile: Why did you choose to do your work at Pitt?
Laila: I visited Pitt before choosing to come here, and I found the city to be comfortable for my family. I also found Dr. Griffiths, who has many of the same research interests as I do, to be my advisor.
Bibliofile: Can you explain the program requirements?
Laila: You are required to take 36 credits of coursework beyond the masters degree, plus an additional 18 credits of dissertation work. You can take the dissertation credits after or at the same time as the coursework credits.
Bibliofile: Why have you chosen to go for your Ph.D.?
Laila: I love teaching and want to become a professor. I also love research.
Bibliofile: Is that what you want to do when you have earned your doctorate, teach?
Laila: Yes. I plan to go back to Kuwait and teach. There are many private universities opening up where I could find a position.
Bibliofile: What qualities make up a good doctoral student?
Laila: You need good analytical skills. You need to know how to really read. All of the classes are discussion classes, after all. You also need good writing skills. Curiosity is vital. You need to want to know what problems are out there and what problem you want to focus on.
Bibliofile: How is work different between Ph.D. and MLIS classes?
Laila: There are four required seminars for the Ph.D. In addition, you may take three classes at the master levels, but you need to complete Ph.D. level work in those classes. Then you need to take six additional classes. All of your classes must focus on the end work, the dissertation. You can't take a class just for your interest, like you may at the masters level. This is because you have a preliminary exam before you begin work on your dissertation. At this point you need to prove that all the coursework done so far has moved you towards your goal of the dissertation.
Bibliofile: Tell me about your dissertation. Did you come in to the program with an idea for the dissertation or have you developed it along the way?
Laila: You always come in to the program with an idea. But you also develop that idea as you go along. All students take an introductory seminar when they first come in. At the end of the class you write a mini proposal and need to defend it. This process lets you add extra ideas to the proposal and refine it. I had an idea of what I wanted to work on when I came in, but now I have a name to put to it: Knowledge Management. Part of the process is being able to put a name to your ideas.
Bibliofile: How important is it to have an advisor?
Laila: The advisor is critical. Maybe not so much at first, but later on, the advisor is very important. This becomes especially so when you need to form a committee for your dissertation. Your advisor must have similar research interests as you do. You also need to be aware of an advisor's availability. Perhaps the professor you would like to work with is not available to take on a doctoral student. You have to look at the professors you would be working with when you begin to look at schools.
Bibliofile: Do you have recommendations for the MLIS student who is considering a Ph.D. program?
Laila: It depends on your interests. If you are interested in the real-world and in getting a position in a library, stop with the MLIS. If your interests are research and teaching, the Ph.D. is worth it. Above all else, a Ph.D. is manageable. You should not hesitate to go for it.
Bibliofile thanks Laila for agreeing to be interviewed. It was a pleasure talking with her.
Publication of the Department of Library &
Information Science
University of Pittsburgh
135 N. Bellefield Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Last updated January 31, 2003