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University of Washington Information School

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Doctorate in Information Science

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Degree Planning

  1. Programs
  2. Ph.D.
  3. Academics
  4. Degree Planning

First Year

  • The student, with the assistance of their advisor, constitutes an advisory committee during their second quarter (winter quarter). Use the Advisory Committee Form to create an advisory committee.
  • The student takes required courses and electives as selected in consultation with their advisor.
  • Students, in consultation with the advisory committee, must satisfy the preliminary review in the quarter following the completion of 20 quarter hours of Ph.D. coursework. For a full-time student, this typically occurs during the 3rd quarter of enrollment, spring quarter.
  • The advisory committee reports the outcome of the preliminary review using the Ph.D. Student Review Form.

Second Year

  • Student continues to take coursework and maintains satisfactory progress. 
  • Student must satisfy the 2nd year review during spring quarter of the student’s second year of enrollment. The outcome of the 2nd year review is reported using the Ph.D. Student Review Form.
  • Student begins preparing for general exam by forming supervisory committee and enrolling in INSC 600.

Third Year

  • At the completion of 60 credits, the student is eligible to submit an application to the Graduate School to take the general exam to achieve Ph.D. candidacy.
  • The general expectation is that the general exam is completed by the end of winter quarter of the the third year.
  • Students scheduled to take the general exam, apply for the Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS) in the same quarter.
  • Students who have not completed their general exam participate in a 3rd year review by the end of spring quarter.

Fourth Year and Onward

  • Once the general exam is passed, students register for INSC 800 and begin work on their dissertation.
  • Most students are expected to have a successful dissertation proposal defense by the end of the winter quarter of their fourth year.
  • Once the student passes their dissertation proposal defense, he/she focuses on completing his/her dissertation and preparing for the final exam.
  • It is generally expected that students successfully defend their dissertation by the end of spring quarter in their fifth year.
  • Students must complete all Ph.D. requirements within 10 years of first admission.

More Information

  • iSchool Student Review Policy and Procedure
  • UW Graduate School Doctoral Degree Policies
  • Important Ph.D. Program Forms

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News

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iSchool research helps neurodivergent people succeed on the job

Monday, November 27, 2023
Sock wrangler Chelsie Fonseca does a little of everything at John’s Crazy Socks, an online retailer and social enterprise that features thousands of pairs of quirky socks. She packs the Happiness Gift Boxes and does the gift wrapping....
Read more

iSchool's Chirag Shah honored for information behavior research

Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Information School Professor Chirag Shah is the recipient of this year’s ASIS&T SIG USE Outstanding Contributions to Information Behavior Research Award, which recognizes one scholar each year for their body of work in the...
Read more

Events

Nov 29
 
11:30-12:30PM

Musings Speaker Series presents Andrea Arenas, MUS '11

Nov 30
 
5:30-6:30PM

General MSIM Program Overview

Zoom / Online
Dec 1
 
11:30-1:15PM

Faculty Meeting

Bloedel 070
Dec 1
 
2:00-3:00PM

Informatics Program Overview for Current UW Seattle Students

Zoom / Online
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Box 352840 - Mary Gates Hall, Ste. 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840
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