7. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

The preliminary examination, according to Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh, is held:

. . . to assess the breadth of the student's knowledge of the discipline, the student's achievement during the first year of graduate study, and the potential to apply research methods independently. . . . The evaluation is used to identify those students who may be expected to complete a doctoral program successfully and also to reveal areas of weakness in the student's preparation.

7.1. Eligibility

To be admitted to the preliminary examination a student must:

• be admitted to full graduate status (i.e., all provisional admission requirements must be completed);
• have completed all preliminary course work with a B or better and the Ph.D. orientation session;
• be registered in the term in which the preliminary examination is taken; and
• apply in writing to the secretary of the Ph.D. Committee by the announced deadline.

Students (whether full-time or part-time) are encouraged to take the preliminary examination, with the advice of the faculty advisor, within one year of matriculation but must take it within two calendar years of matriculation. Traditional preparation for the preliminary examination includes course work and familiarity with a faculty prepared reading list of books and articles. In addition, doctoral students should become familiar with the proceedings of the relevant professional societies of the field and copies of recent preliminary examinations available in the SIS Library or from the secretary to the Ph.D. Committee. The masters degree in information science is considered to be a significant step in preparation for this examination.

7.2. Content and Format

The preliminary examination has both a written and oral component. The closed book written component (usually offered in September and January) consists of one six-hour exam, focusing on material typically covered in masters level courses. The exam contains twelve questions: three each in foundations and cognitive science, and six in systems and technology; these questions are at the level of final examinations in the relevant courses. The student must answer six of these questions, including at least one each in foundations and cognitive science, and two in systems and technology. A one-hour lunch break will be provided during the examination. A student will either pass or fail this examination; in the latter event, the student will be required to retake the examination the next time it is offered. No more than two attempts at the examination are allowed.

Students may use word processors (provided by the department), or write longhand during the written examination. Calculators are permitted, but no personal files are allowed in the examination room.

Upon passing the written examination, the student will be required to take the 1 1/2-hour oral examination, normally within three weeks following the written examination. Three days before the examination is scheduled the student will be given two questions. The student will choose one of these for research and study. The questions will focus on integration of information and viewpoints from several aspects of information science; in relation to the topic of each question. The student is not expected t o solve the problem fully, but rather to develop a sound approach to the solution. The purpose of this examination is to assess how a student approaches a complex problem, what resources he or she can bring to bear on the problem, and what approaches the student deems potentially fruitful. The examining committee will consist of three members of the graduate faculty in information science. The examination itself will consist of an approximately one hour oral presentation and discussion of each of the questions with the examining committee. For this presentation the student may use such audiovisual aids as he or she deems appropriate. The student will have two opportunities to pass this phase of the preliminary examination. Refereed research publications o r patents may be used as the basis for a petition to waive the oral portion of the preliminary examination.

7.3. Admission to Doctoral Study

With the successful completion of the preliminary examination, the student is fully admitted to doctoral study in DIST. The Department Chair will notify the student, in writing, of admission to doctoral study.

After admission to doctoral study, the student must complete the remaining course work including doctoral level seminars, the research methodology and conceptual framework requirements, and the residency requirement.