PhD program requirements

The Ph.D. program provides an opportunity to study interdisciplinary research topics within the field of library and information studies at the doctoral level.

Course Requirements

All PhD in Information Studies students are required to take the following courses:

  • INFS 702 Seminar in Information Studies 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • INFS 703 Research Paradigms in IS 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • INFS 704 Research Design in IS 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • INFS 705 Readings in IS 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

    - Exploration of the literature specifically relevant to the proposed area of research.
    • Note: Students may be required to take additional courses to prepare them for their research.

Comprehensive Examination

The PhD Comprehensive Examination is normally taken during the second year. Students must register for INFS 701 - Comprehensive Examination . Refer to thePDF icon PhD Comprehensive Exam documentation for details on the requirements and the process.

Dissertation Proposal

The PhD dissertation proposal is normally done during the second year, after successful completion of the comprehensive examination. The advisory committee must approve the proposal. Refer to the PDF icon PhD Proposal Guidelines for details.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain, and must comply with the McGill thesis guidelines.

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