Library and Information Science (PhD)
Description
Through a combination of required and elective courses, independent study, workshops, and guided experiences, the Ph.D. in Library and Information Science prepares students for lifelong activity in research, scholarship, teaching, and service. Students work closely with faculty, academic advisors, and the Committee on Doctoral Studies as they progress through their degree program. Reviews of progress as evidenced by coursework taken, research outputs, teaching and service activities, are conducted annually. The SLIS Ph.D. program is an outstanding program consisting of students who form a cohesive and collaborative cohort, and who are nurtured from the start of their course enrollment through the completion of their dissertation and the degree.
Our flexible program allows you to take classes fully online, at our Boston campus, or a combination of both. Core courses are offered in synchronous and asynchronous online formats with electives that may be taken either online or face-to-face.
Program Attributes
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The program prepares students to excel in areas of scholarship, teaching, and service.
- Students emerge from the degree program with scholarly publications, teaching experience, and a professional service activity record.
- Simmons has excellent bibliographical and technological resources and can draw on a robust local library and information community.
- There are rich opportunities for synergy between the doctoral students and project led by SLIS faculty. Collaborative research and group work enrich the learning experience and fosters a stimulating intellectual environment.
- SLIS has an established reputation for producing leaders in professional service at local, national, and international levels. Interaction with the SLIS alumni community (and the New England LIS community) enriches the doctoral student’s research and professional experience.
Areas of Study
Doctoral studies can be conducted at various intersections of setting, audience, and activity. Some examples of study areas which build on strengths among SLIS faculty include information organization, user and data services, social informatics and social justice, archives and preservation, scholarly communication, information literacy frameworks, information behavior, mis- and dis-information, collaborative learning, usability and user experience research, and more.
Learning Outcomes
A graduate of the Simmons SLIS Ph.D. program:
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Demonstrates in-depth familiarity with scholarship in the field of library, archival, and information science;
- Articulates prominent theories in the field of library, archival, and information science;
- Identifies researchable problems and applies relevant research studies, research designs, and methodologies to tasks requiring problem solving and critical thinking;
- Analyzes and presents information, including research proposals and findings, clearly and accurately in a variety of formats;
- Conducts qualitative, quantitative or mixed method research studies by engaging in reflective inquiry, performing data collection and analysis, composing research reports, and producing publications and a dissertation;
- Engages in teaching activities, develops appropriate unit- or course-level student learning outcomes, and plans and implements learning experiences that assist students to achieve those outcomes; and
- Leads service activities for local, national, or international professional associations and communities.
Admission Requirements
All applicants for admission to the doctoral program must hold a master's degree from an ALA-accredited program in library and information science or a master's degree from a recognized institution in a related area.
Applicants are expected to submit a completed application file that includes the following:
- Completed online application
- Non-refundable application fee of $65
- Comprehensive and updated curriculum vitae
- Statement of purpose (1,500-2,000 words)
- Writing sample of prior research work is strongly recommended (not to exceed 20 pages)
- Official transcript(s) of all academic work
- Three professional and/or academic references
- Current (within the last 5 years) results of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)- The Simmons GRE code is 3761, and the Area of Interest code for Library Science is 470 (GRE scores are optional for Fall 2023).
- Current (within the past 2 years) results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), if English is not the native language of the applicant
After all admissions materials have been received, exceptional candidates will be selected for interviews with the Committee of Doctoral Studies and/or program faculty and staff. For further information on the interview process please see the application form. Admissions decisions are based on a composite of all documentation in the application file.
Degree requirements
Students are required to complete 36 credit hours to achieve the Ph.D. degree. Of these 36 credit hours, 15 are devoted to required coursework and three are devoted to the dissertation. The remaining 18 credits are elective courses. Students often take independent study courses for their research projects or research-related courses at the masters' level or at the doctoral level of other disciplines.
One of the following:
Below is a listing of the required courses:
| LIS 620 | History, Concepts, and Research Opportunities | 3 |
| LIS 621 | Conducting Research | 3 |
| LIS 642 | Applied Statistics for Library & Information Science | 3 |
| HPED 531 | Teaching Methodologies, Course Design, and Assessment | 3 |
| LIS 699 | Supervised Field Research | 3 |