Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I get any financial support during my Ph.D. study?
Yes. Almost all of our admitted Ph.D. students are offered financial support for four years by the school if their performance is satisfactory. Longer financial support is possible but not guaranteed. Finanical support usually include a nationally competitive stipend, fringe benefit (such as health insurance), and tuition. Some financial aid is service based; the students are required to work up to 20 hours per week on research or teaching related tasks. Some financial aid is awarded through special grants and may not require service at all. We also have admitted students who were Fulbright scholars with certain level of Fulbright funding and we covered the rest of the financial need. We have admitted a few applicants who met our criteria and had external fundings (such as from their government or other agencies).

How long does it take to finish the Ph.D.?
The goal is four with a possibility of five years. The actual length depends upon the individual student. Those who enter with a master's degree usually finish sooner than those who have only a bachelor's degree. In general, most of our full-time students complete their coursework and defend the proposal for their dissertation in about three to four years. How long it takes to finish the dissertation depends on too many factors to include here, but it can take from as little as a few months to as long as several years after the proposal defense.

What are my prospects for a job after graduation?
Our graduates have a good record of finding jobs, generally. We do have a good number of students who have received job offers before they completed their dissertations.

Will my previous degree (or courses) count toward the Ph.D.?
As part of the University's requirement of 60 credits of coursework (after the bachelor's degree), we accept up to 30 credits of relevant graduate-level coursework completed at an accredited university or college with a grade of B or higher. However, the total number of credits accumulated (at Syracuse or elsewhere) is not a major consideration in a student's progress through the program. Instead, what matters is the student's mastery of the subject matter and skills needed to become an independent researcher. Thus, relevant coursework completed elsewhere will decrease the number of credits that must be earned at Syracuse. But, whether that decreases the length of one's program depends upon the student's working mastery of the content of those courses.

Where do our students come from?
In terms of geographic location, Ph.D. students have come from all over the United States and from many other countries. Academically, the Ph.D. students reflect our interdisciplinary nature. We have admitted students with only bachelor's degrees as well as students who have earned a master's degree. Students have majored in a variety of disciplines, including philosophy, linguistics, library science, law, english, computer science, engineering, business administration, economics, history, mathematics, journalism, and art. Where students come from (geographically or academically) is not as important as their ability to use that background productively in our program.

Can I do the program part-time?
No. The Ph.D. program is a full-time, in-residence program. Part-time studies are not possible. This Ph.D. program is designed as more than a sequence of courses. We strive to maintain an interactive research environment in which students can work with other students or members of the faculty on a regular informal basis as well as in scheduled classes and meetings. In our experience, part-time students miss this important component of the program, and their education and progress suffer as a consequence. 

We do offer a part-time, distance-learning mode, and applied Doctorate of Professional Studies in Information Management, which is targeted toward mid-career executive level IT professionals.

Are there any particular problems international students face?
We welcome international students and strongly encourage them to apply. Many are in the program, many have graduated from it, and we are eager to work with more. There are a few cautions that should be noted. Most important is the need for a good working knowledge of English. Although there are technical and mathematical courses in our curriculum, many of the courses require the ability to reason carefully in English and actively participate in classroom discussion. Secondly, international students need to be aware of the difference between Ph.D. programs in this country (especialy ours) and Ph.D. programs based on a European model. In our program, Ph.D. students spend the first two years taking coursework before beginning their own dissertation research. It is not expected that incoming students will have already identified a thesis project.

Can I combine my interest in information studies with other areas?
Yes. The doctoral program is interdisciplinary. We encourage all students to take courses outside our school and work with faculty members from other schools. Ph.D. students can take courses in a variety of related areas, including but not limited to linguistics, computer science, psychology, management, communications, and public administration.

Can I choose my own research topic?
Yes. The faculty members are usually supportive of any viable research topic that falls in the area of information studies. In particular, the topic should be able to get intellectual support from the faculty in the school.

How many students are enrolled in the program?
Since the inception of the Ph.D. program in 1969, about 100 students were awarded their Ph.D. degrees. Each year, we typically admit four to six new Ph.D. students. In 2011, there are 46 students at the school working on coursework or their dissertation research.

Are Ph.D. students involved in the school?
Yes, very much so! All Ph.D. students get involved in teaching through the teaching practica, and some teach courses independently. All students work closely with different members of the faculty on research projects. Ph.D. students have formal representatives serving on the school's committees, and thus, are an important part of the school's life and governance.

Do students fail to finish the program? If so, why?
The Ph.D. program is the most expensive academic program for a school to operate. Not only is there the expense of supporting students financially, there is also the very large investment of faculty time.

For these reasons, we are never pleased when a student fails to complete the program. But it does happen. It happens sometimes because of inadequate performance by the student. But more often, the reason is the student's interests or career goals do not match the objectives of the program. One of the reasons we require a personal interview before admission is to assess the degree of fit between the applicant's objectives and the program's goal.

Is a foreign language required?
No. The primary objective of this program is to train future researchers. The tools needed for the type of research in which we engage do not require mastery of a foreign language. Instead, our students need to know how to design, conduct, and analyze research investigations. These tools are taught as part of the program, and all students are expected to demonstrate competence in these areas.

What kinds of courses are required or recommended?
Officially, the only program course requirement is that each student must complete four research and four teaching practica during his or her first two years. In addition, we expect each student to have knowledge and competence in research methods and in their area of study. The student, in consultation with his or her advisor, decides which particular courses to take.

Do I have to have a master's degree to be admitted?
No. The admissions criteria do not require a master's degree. On the other hand, most of our applicants come to the program with a degree beyond the bachelor's. Exceptionally qualified applicants who have not earned a master's are encouraged to apply, but should note that additional coursework will be required.

How does Ph.D. work differ from a master's or undergraduate program?
The biggest difference is in our expectations of the student. Ph.D. students are training to become researchers. Researchers need to be able to recognize an important problem, carry out the proper procedure to investigate that problem, interpret the results, and communicate those findings to one's colleagues and community in large. As Ph.D. students progress through their programs, we expect to see a greater degree of competence and initiative in all of these areas. Advanced Ph.D. students should be making major contributions to ongoing research projects and working more independently.