Print this

Ph.D. Program Phases

This document outlines the requirements and phases of the Ph.D. degree from the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, which conform to the requirements of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The program is research-oriented and interdisciplinary. Students are encouraged to pursue interests in other departments as well as within GSLIS, and program requirements reflect and enable this.

There is an expectation for students joining the program in 2004 or later to complete in degree in 4 years. Students beginning the program without the Master's degree can expect to add an additional year to the program, and involvement in a special project might add another year; therefore 6 years would be considered the maximum amount of time for the degree. Leave for personal/medical matters is granted according to university policy.

Doctoral candidates proceed through the program by passing through the following set of milestones that are tied to three phases of intellectual development:

• Phase I: The Foundation: Coursework (Years 1 and 2)
  • 3 required courses
  • a history and foundation of LIS seminar
  • two research methods courses
  • one fundamental LIS research methods course
  • one elective course in special research method
  • course electives
  • research presentation (Year 2 or 3)
• Phase II: The Field Exam (Year 3, Fall semester)
  • written exam
  • oral exam
• Phase III: The Dissertation
  • Defense of a dissertation proposal (Year 3, Spring semester (preferred), or Year 4, early in Fall semester)
    • The proposal will include a timeline for completion of the dissertation
  • Research
  • Writing
  • Final defense and submission of a dissertation
  • The dissertation defense is expected to take place at a date in line with the timeline formulated explicitly in the dissertation proposal, and in keeping with GSLIS policy on scheduling defenses

GSLIS guidelines recommend that students entering with an already completed master's degree defend their Dissertation Proposal in Spring of the student’s third year of doctoral work. While students may make every effort to meet this timeline, it is not unexpected that the work entailed, and arranging a date for the defense with the four members of the committee, may not make it possible for all students to defend formally in the Spring. It is GSLIS policy not to schedule defenses for either Proposals or Dissertations during the summer months (May 16 to August 15). Students unable to defend in the Spring will be accommodated in the early Fall of the same calendar year, and will be considered to have made good progress toward their degree. Exceptions to defending in the summer months may be made at the discretion of the dissertation committee as a whole.

NOTE: Progress for students who started before 2004 will be evaluated in comparison to these milestones, with similar expectations of progress through the program from here on. Those students who have taken the core exam in academic year 2004-2005 or earlier have been grandfathered into the former doctoral program and therefore should follow these linked instructions for completing their specialty exam.

The following table is a simplified guide intended to give an "at-a-glance" overview of program requirements. In actuality, there is a great deal of overlap across phases and milestones in a doctoral student's life. The sections following the table offer more detail about advisory support and individual phase components of the program.

Elective Courses, Transfer Credit, and Independent Study

Students will choose, but are not limited to, 36 hours of elective courses to provide the intellectual breadth and depth required for a solid LIS foundation.

Courses inside and outside GSLIS: At least 20 elective hours must be taken within the School, and up to 16 hours of electives may be transferred in from other departments at UIUC with the approval of the Major Advisor and the Dean. Courses or independent studies taken outside of GSLIS will not automatically count towards the degree. Prior to taking the transfer course, the student must petition for the course to be recognized as part of his or her degree program.

Independent study courses: Courses of independent study may be taken for credit of 2 to 4 graduate hours. Of the 36 hours of elective courses, students may take up to 16 hours of independent study. The student's Major Advisor and the Dean must approve course proposals for independent study courses. Requirements for earning independent study credit are jointly agreed upon by the faculty member and student. For full details on independent studies, see the course catalog listing for LIS592: Independent Study.

The Dissertation Clarified

The activities in Phase I and Phase II lay an intellectual foundation for this third phase in which the student develops and carries out an independent research project. This project formally begins with a public presentation and defense of a dissertation proposal and culminates in the public presentation, defense, and submission of the dissertation itself. The activities and procedures are outlined in more detail below.

Many aspects of the earlier phases are specific to GSLIS (i.e., the number of research methods courses required). In contrast, the activities and milestones of Phase III are largely governed by the University of Illinois and generally reflect conventions adhered to by other U.S. academic institutions. A separate section below lists rules that must be followed and forms that must be filled out for each step in the Phase III process.

Dissertation Proposal

After the field exam is completed and passed, students write and defend a proposal of their dissertation research. The form and content of the dissertation proposal are negotiated with the Preliminary Examination Committee (for the composition of this committee see Establishing the Preliminary Examination Committee, below). Typically, the proposal includes a definition or statement of the problem to be addressed, a comprehensive review of the literature, and an outline of the methodology to be used. This document forms a blueprint for the dissertation itself and provides the student with an important opportunity to try out ideas and identify potential problems. For these reasons, doctoral students are strongly advised to work with their committee on drafts of the document, allowing sufficient time for reading and revising prior to the formal defense.

When both the student and his or her Preliminary Examination Committee believe the proposal is ready to be defended, a formal application for the Preliminary Examination must be made to the Graduate College. The defense is a public oral examination open to all members of the GSLIS and UIUC community, and a copy of the proposal is made publicly available. The examination consists of the following parts:

• an oral presentation by the student, summarizing the problem and proposed methodology
• questions and comments from members of the committee
• questions and comments from other attendees (where time permits)

The chair conducts the examination, and recognizes members of the committee and attendees for questions. At the conclusion of the defense, the student and all observers are asked to leave the room while the committee determines the outcome of the examination. When the committee has come to agreement, the student returns to the room and is informed of the committee's decision by the chair (details in "rules" section).

Establishing the Preliminary Examination Committee

Students establish a Preliminary Examination Committee in consultation with their Major Advisor. The committee is responsible for advising on the construction of the proposal as well as evaluating the final product. Committee members are chosen for their expertise in the research area, but may also be chosen to provide diversity of viewpoint, expertise in methodology, or coverage of an academic discipline. The committee must be constituted in accordance with the rules of the Graduate College. A minimum of four voting members is needed. At least three members must be members of the UIUC Graduate Faculty and at least two members must be tenured. One faculty member from a department other than GSLIS is strongly recommended.

There are two official positions for committee members on the Preliminary Examination Committee: the chair of the committee and the director of dissertation research. These are often the same person, and it is likely that the Major Advisor will fill one--if not both--of these positions. The chair is responsible for paperwork associated with the student's progress toward completion of the dissertation and for scheduling and chairing the oral defense. The research director is responsible for guiding the actual research process.

The Dissertation Document

Dissertations vary in methodology, length, and presentation according to the problem to be investigated. These details are decided in consultation with the Dissertation Committee members. However, the content of the dissertation is expected to follow the proposal defended and approved by the Preliminary Examination Committee. The proposal can be thought of as a contract for the work of the dissertation. Exceptions to this (i.e., a significant change in research topic, area, or method) must be discussed and approved by the Dissertation Committee.

When both the student and his or her Dissertation Committee believe the dissertation is ready to be defended, a formal application for the Final Examination must be made to the Graduate College. The dissertation defense is a public oral exam open to all members of the GSLIS and UIUC community. Attendance by GSLIS doctoral students at these defenses is encouraged. The examination has the following parts:

• An oral presentation by the student, summarizing the problem, methodology, and major findings of the research
• Questions and comments from members of the committee
• Questions and comments from other attendees (where time permits)

The chair of the committee conducts the examination and recognizes members of the committee and attendees for questions.

In the same manner as for the Preliminary Examination, at the conclusion of the defense, the student and all observers leave the room while the committee determines the outcome of the examination. When the committee has come to agreement, the student returns to the room and is informed of the committee's decision by the chair (details in "rules" section).

GSLIS doctoral dissertations must follow the requirements established by the Graduate College. Information about this can be found in the Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors and in the Handbook for Graduate Students Preparing to Deposit. The student is responsible for making sure that the dissertation meets the requirements of the Graduate College.

Establishing the Dissertation Committee

The Dissertation Committee is usually, but not necessarily, composed of the same members as the Preliminary Examination Committee. The Dissertation Committee guides the student's work toward completion of the dissertation. This committee has a minimum of four members. At least three members of the committee must be members of the Graduate College; two members of the committee must be tenured. The Dissertation Committee is appointed as early as possible after the successful completion of the proposal defense. There is no time limit on the duration of service of the Dissertation Committee, other than the length of time the student is allowed to complete the degree.

Members of the committee include a chair of the committee and a director of dissertation research, who may or may not be the same person. Emeritus faculty who have been awarded continuing membership on the Graduate Faculty may serve on or chair committees.

Advisory Support

The doctoral program gives students many choices and opportunities. Students are encouraged to discuss their plans and seek advice from faculty members and other graduate students as they make decisions. While students may consult anyone on questions of curriculum, research methods, and other program aspects, they will establish a more formal relationship with their Major Advisor and Advisory Committee.

New students are assigned a faculty member who will serve as their Major Advisor when they are admitted to the program. Students are free to change their Major Advisor as they progress through the program and their research interests become more clearly defined. Students consult with their Major Advisor in order to develop a program of study. All courses, for example, are chosen in consultation with the Major Advisor. The GSLIS office and the Doctoral Studies Committee (DSC) must be notified of changes of advisors.

In the first year of study, students select faculty members who will constitute their Advisory Committee. This committee usually consists of at least three faculty members and may include UIUC faculty outside of GSLIS. At least half of the members must be GSLIS faculty. The membership of this committee may change as the student's interests change. The composition of the committee and any changes in it must be communicated to the GSLIS office and the DSC.

The student's Advisory Committee monitors student progress. Each Spring, students submit an Annual Report to an Advisory Committee that is chaired by their Major Advisor. This committee determines if they are making satisfactory progress and offers guidance in planning for the next academic year. More extensive information can be found in our Ph.D. Annual Reporting Policy.

For the dissertation proposal defense and the final dissertation defense, special committees are constituted according to UIUC Graduate College rules. These committees are called the Preliminary Examination Committee and the Dissertation Committee, respectively. The membership of these committees, however, is usually similar and may be identical to that of their Advisory Committee.

Annual Reporting Policy

Each Spring, students submit an Annual Report to an Advisory Committee that is chaired by their Major Advisor. This committee determines if they are making satisfactory progress and offers guidance in planning for the next academic year. More extensive information can be found in our Ph.D. Annual Reporting Policy.

Rules and Procedures

This section lists rules that must be followed and forms that must be filed. They are not negotiable and complying with these rules and filing the forms is the student's responsibility.

Entering without a Master's

Requirements for the Doctorate

Students may be accepted into this program with or without a relevant master's degree as determined by the DSC. Students with a master's degree complete 48 hours of doctoral-level course work, plus 32 hours of dissertation work. Doctoral students without a master's degree must complete 32 additional hours of graduate-level (master's or doctoral) course work to satisfy the requirements of the doctoral program. Courses are selected in consultation with the student's Major Advisor and, once constituted, the Advisory Committee. Given the strong interdisciplinary focus of GSLIS, doctoral students are strongly encouraged also to include elective courses related to their programs of study in other units of the University.

Petitioning for an M. S. of Library and Information Science

Students enrolled in the doctoral program may, with permission of the Doctoral Studies Committee, petition for a master's degree in Library and Information Science. This applies to students admitted without a master's degree as well as to those who hold a master's in another discipline and now seek a master's degree in LIS. In order to receive this degree, they must have the approval of their Major Advisor and the DSC. They must also satisfy the following requirements:

• They must complete 40 hours of course work that meet the GSLIS requirements for the master's degree. Of these 40 hours, 6 or 8 hours must include the required core courses LIS 501 (4 hours) and 502 (2 or 4 hours).
• They must meet any and all other master's degree requirements.

Detailed information for the master's degree can be found on the GSLIS master's program web pages. Hours counted towards the master's degree cannot also be counted toward the doctorate. The 40 hours allotted to the master's degree must be completed in addition to the 80 hours of courses and dissertation work required for the Ph.D. program.

Other Notes

Residency Requirement

Doctoral students in GSLIS are required to be in residence for two full years of the program. In addition to taking classes and carrying out individual research projects, all students are expected to attend talks, meet with international visitors, and participate in GSLIS-sponsored events.

Teaching Practicum (Optional)

The teaching practicum provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in teaching. Students may earn 2 hours credit for this practicum (course 450 TP) but this credit does not count toward the credit required for the Ph.D. program. Where teaching experience is a pre-requisite for teaching in GSLIS, the Teaching Practicum will be accepted as experience. It usually involves some aspect of the design and teaching of a particular course, the details of which are worked out by the student and a faculty member.