4. MATRICULATION

4.1. Academic Advising and Plan of Studies A program advisor will be assigned to the student upon entrance to the program. The advisor will assist the student in determining a plan of study and fulfilling the requirements of the degree program.

4.2 Program Advisor

Students are free to change their program advisor as their interests become more focused. The Ph.D. student should seek a faculty program advisor who is knowledgeable in the student's major area of study. The advisor must be a member of the graduate faculty in the Department of Information Science and Telecommunications who is able to spend the time and effort necessary for the advising role, will be available for examinations, and with whom a productive and comfortable working relationship can be established. The advisor selected by the student for the period prior to the dissertation stage of the program is the program advisor. The program advisor and the dissertation advisor may be the same person, or the student may select a different advisor for the dissertation. A list of graduate faculty and their respective research interests is available from the secretary to the DIST Ph.D. Committee.

Upon agreement of the faculty member to act as the student's advisor, the signed agreement is placed in the student's folder. Any subsequent change of program advisor should be submitted in writing to the Chair of the DIST Ph.D. Committee and placed on record in the student's folder.

Doctoral students are ultimately responsible for their own direction and progress through the program and are encouraged to seek advice from any member of the SIS faculty or other University faculty in this endeavor. The program advisor, however, is the one primarily responsible for providing guidance, insight, advice, information, explanation of University and School policies, and general assistance in the pursuit of the Ph.D. degree. The program advisor will also approve those actions requiring a faculty signature. All course work and dissertation credits must be approved by the advisor.

The program advisor assists the student in 1) developing a plan for the program of studies and 2) arranging for the preliminary and the comprehensive examinations. The program advisor and the student jointly submit a progress report to the Ph.D. Committee annually, or more frequently if required.

4.3. Plan of Studies

A candidate for the Ph.D. should have broad knowledge of information science as a profession as well as a specialization in the area of major interest. Every candidate should have, in addition, a strong background in the foundations of information science and in research methodologies.

A plan of study should be designed by the advisor and student as early as possible after admission. A copy of the plan of study must be on file in the student's folder and should be consulted during each registration.

In the doctoral program courses are normally taken at the 3000-level. At least 18 credits must be 3000-level courses and seminars. Courses in the 2000 series are also appropriate for doctoral study. The student usually takes at least nine credits at the 2000 level and must also take the Ph.D. orientation session before taking the preliminary examination. Courses numbered below 2000 do not meet the minimum requirements for doctoral study although they may be taken to supplement a particular program of study (Regulations, p. 36).