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Doctorate in Information Science

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Degree Requirements

  1. Programs
  2. Ph.D.
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  4. Degree Requirements

To be awarded a Ph.D. in Information Science from the UW Information School, you must meet the following requirements:

  • 18 graded credits in courses at the 500 level and above
  • 60 credits taken prior to general exam
  • 27 dissertation credits (INSC 800)
  • 90 total credits, 60 of which must be from UW

In addition to meeting the minimum course and credit requirements outlined above, you must also successfully:

  • Pass a preliminary review in the quarter following the completion of 20 quarter hours of study as well as pass 2nd year review. (See the Student Review Policy and Procedure.)
  • Pass a general examination after achieving 60 credits and completing required coursework by the end of the second quarter third year of study to attain formal candidacy for the Ph.D. program (Candidate’s Certificate)
  • Successfully defend a dissertation proposal before a supervisory committee by the end of the second quarter of the fourth year of study
  • Successfully defend a dissertation before a supervisory committee (Final Examination) by the end of the fifth year of study or before 10 years from the date of admission have passed
  • Satisfy the UW Graduate School doctoral degree requirements

Expected time for program completion

Full-Time Study

The iSchool strongly recommends full-time study for the Ph.D. in Information Science. Estimated time to degree completion is 5 to 6 years.

The standard program for full-time study is two years for the coursework and practica component followed by a general exam to determine candidacy. You will then normally complete another two to four years of full-time study. These two to four years generally involve six months to one year of preparation for the defense of the dissertation proposal followed by the completion and defense of the dissertation.

Part-Time Study

Some Ph.D. students cannot afford full-time study and would prefer to study for their doctorate part-time. The iSchool acknowledges this preference but also recognizes how important it is to establish and foster the collegiality, intellectual community and relationships that are essential to active participation in a research culture. This reality necessitates that candidates enroll as full-time students for the first year of study. If you then choose to complete your PhD part-time, completion of the degree will normally take longer than the time estimated above for full-time study.

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News

Yim Register

Ph.D. alum Yim Register, '25, wins global dissertation award

Friday, July 11, 2025
Ph.D. ‘25 alum Yim Register is one of two recipients of this year’s iSchools Doctoral Dissertation Award. Register became the second University of Washington Information School student to receive the recognition. “I am...
Read more
Alexis Hiniker and Lindah Kotut

iSchool funds studies on smartphone habits, Indigenous guidance

Thursday, July 10, 2025
Two faculty-led research projects recently received grants from the iSchool to help them further their work and create lasting impact with the help of the Strategic Research Fund (SRF). The SRF is a funding opportunity that supports...
Read more

Events

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UW Law Librarianship Reunion

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7:00-7:45PM

iSchool Read-Alongs Series: August

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