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University of Washington Information School

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Doctorate in Information Science

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Ph.D. Academics

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The Ph.D. in Information Science is composed of coursework, practica, and dissertation components. The aim of the coursework component is to prepare you to think like an information scientist and to lay the foundations for developing a dissertation in this field. See a list of completed dissertations. 

Students are introduced to the origins, scope, key concepts and variables, issues, methods, theoretical frameworks, and assumptions that define the discipline of information science. You will debate the merits of contradictory perspectives, read the empirical and conceptual literature of the discipline and critique the work of key theorists and researchers. You will design, implement, and critique information systems.

Students complete the following required INSC courses:

  • INSC 500 Faculty Seminar (Autumn)
  • INSC 501 Theoretical Foundations for Information Science (Winter)
  • INSC 570 Research Design (Autumn)
  • INSC 571 Quantitative Methods in Information Science (Winter)
  • INSC 572 Qualitative Methods in Information Science (Spring)
  • INSC 573 Design Inquiry and Methods in Information Science (Spring)*

Required Practica

  • INSC 565 Teaching Practicum I
  • INSC 566 Teaching Practicum II
  • INSC 575 Research Practicum I
  • INSC 576 Research Practicum II
  • Course descriptions can be found in the UW Course Catalog.

In consultation with a faculty advisor, you will also select additional elective coursework. Elective courses offered by the iSchool vary, reflecting faculty research expertise and diversity, and are intended to broaden the doctoral student academic experience. You are encouraged to pursue your intellectual and academic interests by taking courses offered by the iSchool as well as those offered by other academic units on the UW campus.

*INSC 573 is a required course for Ph.D. students who enter the program in Autumn 2017 and later.

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News

Two women work on a project.

Summit brings online MSIM students to campus

Monday, March 20, 2023
Journalist and author Mónica Guzman’s advice for Master of Science in Information Management students: “Where you can, welcome disagreement.” She shared those words with dozens of online students March 17 at the opening keynote...
Read more

World struggles to make progress on meaningful access to information

Thursday, March 16, 2023
Information access is a fundamental driver of many of the goals in the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, yet many countries are struggling to make progress. A new analysis has found that statistical indicators of...
Read more

Events

Mar 24
 
9:00-10:00AM

MLIS Law Librarianship Information Session

Virtual / Zoom
Mar 28
 
4:00-5:00PM

Informatics Last Chance Admissions Q&A Session

Zoom / Online
Mar 29
 
3:30-4:30PM

Informatics Program Overview for Future UW Seattle Freshman and Current High School Students

Zoom / Online
Apr 1
 
9:00-2:30PM

WE Rise Annual Conference

Husky Union Building
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Box 352840 - Mary Gates Hall, Ste. 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840
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