3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The following are requirements for admission
to graduate study at the post-masters level:
- a master's degree from an accredited university,
a recognized international program, or the
equivalent. Students must submit official transcripts
as
evidence.
- attainment in graduate work of
a minimum quality point average (QPA) of
3.3 (on a
scale with an "A" having
a value of 4 points per credit). An international
student's QPA will be calculated on the
basis of equivalency from universities
that use
a different scale.
- submission of scores
from a predictor test such as the Graduate
Record Examination
(GRE) or equivalent
examination. Scores on all three sections
(verbal, quantitative, and analytical)
of the GRE General
Test should be submitted.
- at least three
references from persons in the professional
and academic communities.
The Ph.D.
Admissions Committee may, on occasion,
require additional references.
- submission
of an application fee of $50.
- as evidence of the ability to
undertake doctoral work, an essay (not to
exceed 1,000 words) indicating,
as specifically as possible, the
student's academic and professional goals
in
relation to the Department
of Information Science and Telecommunications
(DIST) doctoral program and identifying potential
areas and/or topics in which the
student expects to pursue dissertation
research. This essay is
a critical component of the admissions
process, and will be used in assigning
the student's initial
program advisor.
- evidence of academic
completion of:
- structured programming language (preferably
C),
- statistics,
- cognitive science (e.g.,
Introduction to Psychology), and
- mathematical
literacy as met by any of the following:
- satisfactory completion of INFSCI
2030 (Mathematical Foundations for
Information Science
- college level course
work in any two of the following
areas: differential
calculus, integral calculus, linear
algebra, modern algebra, matrix algebra,
or mathematical logic;
- successful
completion of an examination arranged
with the Mathematics Department
In addition, a candidate may elect to include
the following optional material:
- a complete curriculum vitae that provides
an overview of education, work, publication,
and other professional activities.
- an example
of published writing.
- a description of any
published or unpublished research, contributions
to the professional
or scholarly literature, and other professional
or academic experience relevant to an assessment
of his or her capacity to pursue doctoral
study successfully.
The completed application and supporting documents
should be submitted to:
Admissions Coordinator
University of Pittsburgh
Information Science Programs
505 SIS Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Applications
from all individuals, regardless of citizenship,
who have a degree from a non-U.S. institution
must be reviewed by the University Office of
International Services (OIS) prior to their review
by the Admissions and Review Committee of the
DIST Committee on Doctoral Studies.
For application materials, contact by mail or
by email.
International students must submit evidence
of competence in the English language. The status
of English in the country or origin may constitute
such evidence. A minimum score of 550 on the
TOEFL or a minimum score of 86 on the Michigan
Test is required for international students.
In addition, University policy requires that
all international students be retested on English
language abilities upon arrival at the University
of Pittsburgh. (See Appendix
A.)
Credentials of prospective students are reviewed
and voted upon by the entire graduate faculty.
Students whose complete credentials are not
available for full admission may register as
special students until the completed credentials
are received (up to a maximum of 12 credits),
provided all other requirements have been satisfied.
Prerequisite courses should be completed within
the first two terms and must be completed before
graduation is approved.
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