• Graduate Programs in Information Science
• Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) Program
• Certificate of Advanced Study in Information Science
• Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science (PhD/IS) Program

Overview

The Graduate Information Science and Technology Program offers a Master of Science and a PhD in Information Science. In addition, we offer the Certificate of Advanced Study in Information Science to post-master's-level students who wish to continue their education along the lines of their special interests.

The School of Information Sciences also offers a Master of Science in Telecommunications, s Certificate of Advanced Study in Telecommunications and a PhD in Information Science with a telecommunications concentration.

It is recommended that students interested in research, particularly at the PhD level, contact individual faculty members for more information.

General Admission Requirements For Graduate Information Science And Technology Program

Applicants for admission to study in the Graduate Information Science and Technology Program must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Students pursuing pursuing formal graduate programs in other schools and departments of the University may also be accepted, although such admission is granted only to very exceptional students, with the approval of both program faculties and their respective deans.

There are general admission requirements expected of all students admitted to SIS for graduate study. Specific admission requirements for each graduate program are stated in the appropriate sections. Admission requirements for graduate study in Information Science and Technology divided into three categories:

• Academic Qualifications An applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college or university, with a scholastic average of B, or a minimum quality point average of 3.0 (on a scale with A having a value of four points per credit). Preference will be given to candidates with better than a B average. The scholastic average of the final 50 percent if a student's undergraduate course work, as well as of graduate courses that may have been taken, shall be examined in determining achievement of this requirement. Students unable to meet the QPA requirement may use Graduate Record Examination scores as evidence of ability to do graduate-level word in seeking a waiver of the requirement.
• Personal Qualifications Personal qualifications are determined by the student's statement of reasons for wishing to enter the program and the profession, letters of recommendation, and a personal interview if it is considered desirable by the Graduate Admissions Committee.
• Educational Prerequisites Each degree program has specific educational prerequisites, and these are detailed under each program. Those having met these educational requirements as well as academic and personal qualifications are given preferred admission. Those not having the required background may be accepted provisionally pending completion of the requirements. Credits for prerequisite courses are not counted toward completion of requirements for the master's or PhD degree.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Test Scores

All MSIS and MST applicants are required to submit a recent score (within three years of the date of application) on the Graduate Record Examination as part of their admission credentials. Scores on all three sections (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) of the General Section should be submitted.

Categories Of Admission

Upon admission to SIS, students are classified as having full status or provisional status. Students are assigned full status when all matriculation requirements are fulfilled; students are assigned provisional status when certain matriculation requirements remain to be satisfied. Such conditions must be completed no later than the first two terms of graduate study in SIS. Time spent removing deficiencies after a provisional admission is included in the four-year statute of limitations. Any coursework used to meet provisional requirements cannot be applied to the course requirements for the Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) degree.

Transfer Of Credits

A maximum of six graduate credits earned with a grade of B or better may be transferred toward either the master's or PhD degree from institutions fully accredited for graduate study, provided:

1. these credits have not been applied to any other degree or certificate;
2. they are applicable to the study of information science or telecommunications;
3. they are not older than the statute of limitations for the degree.

Credit By Examination

No credit by examination will be granted toward the master's degree, nor credit for work completed in extension courses or in off-campus centers of another institution unless those credit are approved for graduate degrees at that institution.

Residence Requirements

Full time study on campus is considered most beneficial to the student, but SIS recognizes that many students hold jobs or have other off-campus responsibilities that make full time study impossible. Degree requirements, therefore, can be met by full- or part-time study or a combination of both. While SIS endeavors to offer a wide variety of courses (day and evening), it cannot offer as full and rich a program of studies to those who are constrained by personal obligations.

To maintain active student status, students must register for at least three credits during one of the terms of the calendar year. It is recommended, however, that part-time students register for at least six credits during two of the three terms of the academic year to maintain reasonable progress through the program.

Financial Assistance

A limited number of graduate student assistantships and research assistantships are available. Some graduate student assistants support faculty members in the courses they teach and the research in which they are involved; others staff the SIS labs. Awards are made primarily on the basis of the applicant's academic background and ability to function in one or more of these assignments. Some of these awards are reserved to fulfill Affirmative Action commitments. The Financial Aid Policy Statement is available and distributed with applications for financial aid. Copies are also available in the Offices of the Program Chair, the Chair of the Financial Aid Committee, and the School.

Financial aid is awarded each term. Decisions are contingent upon availability of funds and satisfactory academic performance and job performance during completed terms. Satisfactory academic and job performance is defined in the Financial Aid Policy Statement. Student assistantships are available only to full-time students. Full time is defined as a minimum of nine credits and a maximum of fifteen credits per term.

Applications are accepted for each term and should be submitted before the deadline stated in the Financial Aid Policy Statement. Announcements of assistantships are generally made within thirty days of the closing of applications for the specified term. As the budget permits, aid awards are made until the beginning of the term.

Academic Advising/Plan Of Studies

Each student is assigned at academic advisor at the time of admission to graduate study. These assignments are made primarily on the basis of the student's background and interests as shown in the application. The student may at any time elect to change advisors any such change requires the consent of the new advisor and must be reported to the Program. Forms for changing advisors are available in the Program office.

At the time of initial registration or before the completion of the first term, the student, in consultation with the advisor, must complete a Plan of Studies. Plan of Studies forms are available from faculty advisors and must completed within the framework established by the faculty. A Plan of Studies is a series of courses designed to meet the minimum exit competencies judged by the faculty to be necessary for employment as an information professional. Students coming into the program without prior course work or work experience in the areas covered by the Plan of Studies should adhere fairly closely to the suggested plan. If there has been course work or experience in one or more of the content areas of the program, students are permitted to substitute and take courses in an area in which additional background is needed.

All Plans of Study must have the approval of the advisor. The completed form is placed in the student's folder and is available to the student and advisor at each registration. Each student must insure that the Plan of Studies meets all the program requirements for graduation. At the completion of the program, the advisor will sign the Plan of Studies signifying recommendation of the student for graduation. If the courses completed on the student's transcript do not correspond with the Plan of Studies as filed, there may be a delay in approval for graduation.

Overview

The Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) program is designed to prepare students to assume professional responsibilities as system analysts and designers, database developers and managers, software engineers, interactive systems designers, expert system designers, artificial intelligence specialists, information retrieval specialists, and other information-related specialists. It is a 36-credit program that can be completed in one year of full-time or two years of part-time study. A typical plan of study includes two courses in the foundations of information science, two electives courses, two courses in cognitive science, and six technically oriented courses chosen from a varied and extensive list, e.g., data structures, systems analysis and design, telecommunications and networks, operating systems, interactive graphics, database management, software engineering, and design of artificial languages.

MSIS Admission Requirements

An applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a minimum quality point average of 3.0 (on a scale with A having four points per credit). All students admitted to the Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) program are required to have completed the following course work at the undergraduate level or higher with a grade of B or better:

1. one three-credit course in statistics;
2. one three-credit course in a structured computer language (C or C++ recommended);
3. one three-credit course in mathematics.

Courses taken as remedial work or at the college preparatory level to meet baccalaureate admissions standards are not acceptable in meeting the prerequisites, which are considered minimum levels of preparation. For maximum benefit from the courses offered at the graduate level, additional preparation in these areas is recommended.

MSIS Academic Advising/plan Of Studies

Each student is assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission to the MSIS program. These assignments are made primarily on the basis of the student's background and interests as shown on the application. The student may at any time elect to change advisors. Any such change requires the consent of the new advisor and must be reported to the Department. Forms for changing advisors are available in the Department office.

The Master of Science in Information Science requires a minimum of 36 credits. Thirty credits must be in regular course work; an additional six may be selected from a combination of a thesis, practicum (a structured, supervised employment situation), an independent study or additional course work. A thesis is directed by a committee of a faculty advisor and two other faculty members. This option is recommended for students who wish to establish a research record or pursue a PhD degree.

Course work for the MSIS is divided into four curricular areas: 1) mathematical and formal foundations, 2) cognitive science, 3) cognitive systems, and 4) systems and technology. The program of studies leading to a graduate degree in information science is determined in conference with an academic advisor. Descriptions, specific requirements, and sample programs are given in the following sections.

Courses offered by other departments in the University, at Carnegie Mellon, or at other area colleges may be substituted for courses offered in the SIS upon the advice and consent of a faculty advisor.

MSIS Requirements

Basic course requirements are:

1. a minimum of six credits of course work in the foundations area (INFSCI 2000 required unless exempted by advisor);
2. a minimum of 18 credits of course work in the systems and technology areas (either INFSCI 2500 or INFSCI 2592 required);
3. a minimum of six credits of course work in the cognitive science area;
4. courses in the cognitive systems area fulfill either requirement 2 or 3 above.

MSIS Degree Requirements

All students who are candidates for master's degrees are governed by the regulations of the University Council on Graduate Study, which establishes minimum standards for graduate work throughout the University, as well as those regulations established by the SIS faculty. Additional standards and regulations have been mondated by the Graduate Program in Information Science and Technology.

The Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) degree is conferred upon students who have:

1. acquired proficiency in a specialized area of information science;
2. obtained a substantial understanding of the larger problems, particularly the use, nonuse, and misuse of information, and the function of information in a global society;
3. completed a minimum of 36 credits that may include a practicum or thesis;
4. satisfied the general University requirements relating to graduate degrees.

With the possible exception of six credits of advanced standing, all course work must be completed in residence in the Graduate Information and Technology Program (i.e., registering with an INFSCI program code) at the University of Pittsburgh. SIS may approve courses taken at other member institutions in the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE); students need approval of their advisors before cross registering. Courses taken at other schools or departments of the University or through PCHE cross registration are considered in residence provided the registration is with an INFSCI.

At most, six credits of upper-division undergraduate course work may be applied toward a graduate degree in information science. All other credits (including the practicum or thesis) must be at the graduate level (2000 or 3000 course numbers). No University of Pittsburgh courses numbered below 1000 may be applied toward master's degree requirements. Specific courses for each student will be determined in consultation and with the approval of a faculty advisor.

Grading Policy

All students must, in consultation with their advisors, draw up and record a formal Plan of Studies. Graduation with a master's degree in information science requires maintenance of a B average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) for all credits. Grades of C- or lower are unacceptable for graduation credit, and, if earned in a required course (e.g., INFSCI 2000), the course must be repeated. Students are permitted to earn at most six credit hours with the grading option S as part of the 36 required credits for graduation. Audits (N grades) do not count as credit towards graduation. An S grade is equated with a grade of B, B+, A-, A or A+. Course performance equivalent to a B- or lower will result in the assignment of an audit (N grade) and will not count towards graduation. A grade of satisfactory (S) has no quality points associated with it and is not used in computing the QPA (quality point average). Students must decide by no later than one week after the end of the add/drop period which grading system they propose to use for each of their courses. This decision may not be changed, nor may a grade of one kind received for a course be changed to a grade of the other kind.

MSIS Statute Of Limitations

The normal full-time course load is nine to 12 credits per term; thus a full time student will complete the program in three or four terms. Those needing to complete the degree program in one academic year (three terms) must be available for both day and evening courses. The normal part-time course load is six credits per term, which permits part-time students to complete the program in six terms.

To maintain active student status, a student must register for at least three credits during one of the terms of a calendar year. It is recommended, however, that part-time students register for at least six credits during two of the three terms of an academic year to maintain reasonable progress toward the degree.

The MSIS degree program must be completed within four years of the first term in which courses were taken after admission.

Exceptions to the four-year limit due to extenuating circumstances must be approved by the SIS faculty via a student petition.

Overview

The program for the Certificate of Advanced Study in Information Science is designed to provide interested persons with a structured, personalized program of studies beyond the master's degree. It is intended for those with a masters degree in the discipline who wish to continue their studies in a special field of interest or to pursue a program to update their skills and competencies. The program for the Certificate of Advanced Study is specifically designed for those who do not wish to pursue the PhD degree, but wish to continue their education along the lines of their special interests. This flexible program provides options that vary from working closely with a faculty member in a particular research area to taking a range of course work.

CAS/IS Admission Requirements

Applicants to the CAS/IS program must meet the following requirements:

1. possess the MSIS or MST degree from the School of Information Sciences or a master's degree with equivalent competencies from an accredited university;
2. have attained a quality point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 point scale) or its equivalent from the institution awarding the degree;
3. give evidence and/or letters of recommendation that attest to the applicant's aptitude and motivation to pursue studies at a level beyond the master's degree.

A personal interview is recommended for all applicants.

CAS/IS Academic Advising

Each student is assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission to the CAS/IS program. These assignments are made primarily on the basis of the student's background and interests as shown in the application. The student may at any time elect to change advisors. Any such change requires the consent of the new advisor and must be reported to the program. Forms for changing advisors are available in the program office.

In consultation with an advisor, students project a Plan of Studies to meet their specific interests or needs. These plans may change as the program proceeds, and students may change advisors when this is desirable or necessary. At completion of the program, it is the responsibility of advisors to certify that students have met the requirements for the Certificate of Advanced Study.

Students in the CAS/INFSCI program are admitted to graduate courses and seminars. In addition, they may select graduate-level courses in other departments within the University as well as at PCHE-cooperating institutions. Admission to all courses is contingent upon meeting course prerequisites and is subject to the advisor's approval.

CAS/IS Certificate Requirements

Candidates for the CAS/IS certificate must complete the following requirements:

1. a total of 24 credits in graduate-level courses acceptable to the advisor and passed with a quality point average of at least B (3.00 on a 4.00 scale);
2. 15 of the 24 credits must be taken within the school from among the approved courses for the MSIS or MST degree programs.
3. All MST required courses, or their equivalent

CAS/IS Statute Of Limitations

Course work must be completed within a period of four calendar years from the student's initial registration in the CAS/IS program.

Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in the Graduate Information Science and Technology Program provides research-oriented graduate study and professional specialization in the science of information. The candidate must give evidence of superior scholarship, mastery of a specialized field of knowledge, and demonstration of ability to do significant and relevant research. Students interested in telecommunications may pursue a concentration in telecommunications as part of the PhD in information science degree. Students interested in the PhD degree should consult the document, PhD Program in Information Science, which is available from the program.

PhD/IS Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study in the MSIS (or the Master of Science in Telecommunications program for students who plan to pursue the telecommunications concentration), applicants for admission to the PhD program should have a quality point average (QPA) of 3.30 or better for any graduate studies they have pursued. They must also demonstrate mathematical literacy as follows:

1. satisfactory completion of graduate-level course work in any two of the following: differential calculus, integral calculus, linear algebra, modern algebra, matrix algebra, or mathematical logic; or
2. successful completion of an examination arranged with the mathematics department.

Qualified students who have not completed all of these prerequisites may be admitted on a provisional basis. Prerequisite courses should be completed within the first two terms of study. With successful completion of all prerequisites, the student is granted full graduate status.

PhD/IS Academic Advising/Plan Of Studies

Each student is assigned an academic advisor at the time of admission to the PhD/IS program. These assignments are made primarily on the basis of the student's background and interests as shown in the application. The student may at any time elect to change advisors. Any such change requires the consent of the new advisor and must be reported to the department. Forms for changing advisors are available in the program office. All course work and dissertation credits must be approved by the advisor.

The candidate for the PhD/IS program should have a broad knowledge of information science as a profession as well as a specialization in the field 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 Studies should be designed by the advisor and student as early as possible after admission.

In the doctoral program, at least 18 credits must be 3000-level courses and seminars. The student will usually take at least nine credits at the 2000 level and must take INFSCI 2000 (unless previously taken) as well as the PhD 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 doctoral program.

PhD/IS Degree Requirements

All students who are candidates for doctoral degrees are governed by the regulations of the University Council on Graduate Study which establishes minimum standards for graduate work throughout the University as well as by those regulations established by the SIS faculty.

Students pursuing the PhD degree are first admitted to graduate study in information science. During the first term of study and in preparation for the Preliminary Examination all students, who have not taken INFSCI 2000 should do so.

A minimum of 66 credits beyond the masters degree will normally be required for the PhD degree. Minimum credits are distributed as follows: 36 credits of course work of which 18 must be doctoral and research seminars and nine must be in statistics/research design; six credits outside of the department in a conceptual cluster; and 18 dissertation research credits. Graduation depends upon meeting the minimum credit requirements and all other requirements. Graduate degrees are conferred only on those students who have completed all courses required for the degree with at least a 3.3 QPA.

Residence Requirement

Full-time study on campus is considered most beneficial to students but it is recognized that students may have off-campus responsibilities as well. The PhD degree therefore can be completed by a combination of full-time and part-time study. Three terms of full-time study are required two of which must be consecutive and must be taken after successful completion of the Preliminary Examination. Full-time study is defined as nine or more graduate credits per term. All three terms must be completed before the Comprehensive Examination. All students whether on campus or away must maintain active status by registering according to the requirements stated below.

Registration Requirement

All graduate students not admitted to candidacy, whether or not they are using University facilities or faculty time, must be registered for a minimum of three credits in one of three consecutive terms to continue as active students. Doctoral candidates in residence are required to register for a least three credits per term or such greater amount as the department deems appropriate. Doctoral candidates not in residence must be registered for at least one credit per three terms. Students must be registered in the term in which the Preliminary and Comprehensive Examinations are taken and in which dissertation defense and graduation take place.

Doctoral students who have completed all credit requirements for the PhD degree including minimum dissertation credit requirements and are working full time on their dissertations should register for a fixed-fee registration of $500 per term for both Pennsylvania residents and nonresidents. Enrollment in this course fulfills the University requirements for registration in the term of graduation and for three credits in the year of graduation.

Preliminary Examination Requirement

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."

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

The Comprehensive Examination has both a written and an oral component. For the written component the student must prepare a written state-of-the-art paper and a written research plan (usually an experimental design) for a problem related to that state-of-the-art paper. The two-hour oral examination is directed at the state-of-the-art paper, the research plan and the various relationships among the components of information science.

Candidacy and Dissertation Requirements

After the successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination, the student shall select a dissertation advisor who may or may not be the student's current academic advisor. The student, in consultation with the dissertation advisor, selects a dissertation committee of at least five people. A majority of the committee must be members of the SIS Graduate Faculty; one of the members must hold a primary faculty appointment outside the department. Upon successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination and approval of the dissertation proposal, the student is admitted to doctoral candidacy. The doctoral committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic and research plan before the student may be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree. Approval of the proposal does not imply either the acceptance of a dissertation prepared in accord with the proposal or the restriction of the dissertation to this original proposal.

Meetings of the doctoral candidate and his or her dissertation committee must occur at least annually from the time the student gains Admission to Doctoral Candidacy. During these meetings the committee should assess the student s progress toward the degree and discuss objectives for the following year and a timetable for completing degree requirements.

PhD/IS Statute Of Limitations

All requirements for the PhD degree must be completed in not more than six calendar years from the time of first registration. Students may in extenuating circumstances submit a formal request for extension of their statute of limitation or for a leave of absence from the program The request must be submitted to the advisor and then presented to the Graduate Information Science and Technology Program's Committee on Doctoral Studies for a decision.

Telecommunications Concentration

Requirements for the PhD/IS with a concentration in telecommunications differ from the requirements stated in the preceding section in the following areas:

1. The degree requires a minimum of 84 graduate course and seminar credits beyond the bachelors degree and at least 18 dissertation credits. These credits include:
   1. the required courses (or their equivalents) for the MST degree at the University of Pittsburgh,
   2. six credits in graduate-level statistics or probability,
   3. three credits in graduate-level research design,
   4. nine credits in graduate-level information science courses excluding those courses normally taken for the MST degree, and
   5. nine credits in doctoral-level seminars in information science or telecommunications.
2. During the first or second term of study and in preparation for the Preliminary Examination, students must take and pass with a grade of B or better the Telecommunications Research Project course unless they submit an acceptable master's thesis.
3. For the written component of the Preliminary Examination, the student selects three of the four areas for a total of three three-hour exams: systems, foundations of transmission, performance analysis, and management policy.
4. To be admitted to the Comprehensive Examination, a student must have completed the minimum of 84 credits of graduate course and seminar work beyond the undergraduate degree.
5. A majority of the dissertation committee must be members of the information science/telecommunications graduate faculty.