Curriculum
The Professional Doctorate curriculum involves coursework, comprehensive examinations, and thesis research. The 51-credit program consists of:
- Six, 1-credit intensive seminars (residencies)
- One, 3-credit summer doctoral gateway course
- 12 credits of methods courses
- 9 credits of doctoral level courses
- 6 other credits (600 level or higher)
- 15 thesis credits
Students in the program begin
each academic year in May with IST 880 Intensive Seminar at Syracuse University (or another location as dictated by the geographical distribution of students). The short, campus-based "boot camp" residency introduces the students to the program's coursework and technology. To learn more about the required technologies download the
Professional Doctorate Technology Orientation Checklist here.
This is followed by an online summer doctoral gateway course to introduce the incoming cohort to research across the information fields.
Students will take one or more courses online every semester, and will be required to do periodic residencies during the remainder of the program. These residencies encourage interaction among students in the cohort and ensure a supportive and intellectually stimulating academic culture.
Professional Doctorate Sample Curriculum (Course scheduling subject to change)
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Summer Semester |
Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
|
Year 1
(19 credits)
|
IST 880 May Residency
(1 credit)
Methods Proseminar (1 credit)
IST 801 Gateway Course
(3 credits)
Program Starts;
Initial Advisor Assigned
|
IST 880 September Residency
(1 credit)
Methods Proseminar
(1 credit)
IST 778 Methods Course
(3 credits)
Elective Course
(3 credits)
|
Elective Course
(3 credits)
IST 777 Methods Course
(3 credits)
January Online Mini-Residency;
Initial Thesis Topic Discussion
|
|
Year 2
(18 credits)
|
IST 880 May Residency
(1 credit)
Methods Proseminar
(1 credit)
Elective Course
(3 credits)
Thesis Advisor Selected
|
IST 880 September Residency
(1 credit)
Methods
Proseminar
(1 credit optional)
IST 800a Methods Course
(3 credits)
Elective Course
(3 credits)
|
Elective Course
(3 credits)
Thesis Work (3 credits)
January Online Mini-Residency;
Thesis Committee Selected;
Thesis Proposal Preparation
|
|
Year 3
(14 credits)
|
IST 880 May Residency (1 credit)
Thesis Work (3 credits)
End of coursework;
Comprehensive Examination
|
IST 880 September Residency
(1 credit)
Thesis Work
(6 credits)
Proposal Defense
|
Thesis Work (3 credits)
January Online Mini-Residency;
Final Thesis Defense;
University Graduation
|