School of Information Sciences

The School of Information Sciences is one of the nation's pioneering schools in the education of information professionals, with a history that reaches back more than 100 years. Throughout that century, the School has built and maintained a tradition of excellence and innovation in the Information Sciences. As one example, our Master of Library and Information Science degree program is ranked tenth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This School, with a national and international reputation for quality, will prepare students for careers in the information, telecommunications, archival and library professions.

The School of Information Sciences offers programs of study leading to Master's and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates of advanced study (post-Master's). The School is comprised of the Information Science and Technology Program, the Library and Information Science Program, and the Telecommunications and Networking Program. Degrees and certificates offered by each are outlined under the individual program headings. The school faculty, staff, students and programs—uniquely interdisciplinary, multicultural, and international by design—are dedicated to the building of a global society and an informed citizenship based upon access to reliable and useful information.

Mission of the School

The Mission of the School of Information Sciences is to support and advance the broader education, research, and service mission of the University by educating students, furthering knowledge, and contributing our expertise to advance humankind's progress through information.

This mission is achieved through specific actions:

• Offering superior graduate programs in Library and Information Science, Information Science, and Telecommunications
• Engaging in research and scholarly activities that advance learning through the extension of the frontiers of knowledge and creative endeavor
• Cooperating with industry and government to transfer knowledge
• Extending our expertise to local communities and public agencies to contribute to social, intellectual, and economic development in Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. In addition, the School works with industry, government, and local communities to provide unique opportunities for students and to advance the fields within the Information Sciences.

Goals of the School

The goals of the School of Information Sciences are to:

Major And Degree Options

The School of Information Sciences offers the following graduate degrees:

The school also has a joint agreement with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), allowing students to complete the MSIS degree and one of three degrees in GSPIA simultaneously. The course of study for the MSIS degree under the joint agreement consists of a minimum of 30 credits in graduate Information Science and Technology courses, plus an additional 30–39 credits at GSPIA depending on the selected area of study. To be admitted fully into the joint program, students must be accepted by both GSPIA and the Master of Information Science Program. More information is available at www.ischool.pitt.edu/ist/degrees/joint-degree-programs.php

Contact Information

School of Information Sciences

135 North Bellefield Avenue

412-624-3988 or 800-672-9435

Fax: 412-624-5231

E-mail: sisinq@sis.pitt.edu

www.ischool.pitt.edu

Admissions Information

The School of Information Sciences seeks students with diverse interests and abilities for its graduate degree and certification programs. All applicants will be judged on their own merits. For recent graduates from an accredited program, admission will be based primarily on the undergraduate academic record. Applicants for Master's study must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better; the doctoral programs have more stringent requirements. For those who have been in the workforce, admission will be based upon academic achievement, area of study, career orientation, and work experience. Each program has specific prerequisites for admission—see links below for details specific to each degree program.

Graduate students must possess sufficient knowledge of English to study without being hindered by language problems, to understand lectures, and to participate successfully in class discussion. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be taken if the applicant's native language is not English. The institution code for the University of Pittsburgh is 2927 and the department code is 90.

Please note that there may be different language requirements for specific programs. The general requirements are as follows: a minimum score of 550 (paper-based), or 80 (Internet-based) on the TOEFL is required for admission to graduate study in this program. The requirement to take the TOEFL may be waived if the applicant has received a degree from an accredited institution in the United States.

Upon arrival, students with TOEFL scores less than 600 (paper), or 100 (Internet-based) will be given the on-campus administered English Language Proficiency Test (the Michigan Test). If remedial courses in English as a second language are recommended, the student must complete the remedial course during the first two terms of study.

Students may choose to take the International English Language Testing System exam (IELTS) in place of the TOEFL. Students must receive a score of Band 6.5. Students who do not achieve a score of Band 7.0 score or better will be given the on-campus administered English Language Proficiency Test. If remedial courses in English as a second language are recommended, the student must complete the remedial course during the first two terms of study. Other admission requirements vary depending upon the chosen degree program.

Application Fee

Submission of an application fee as determined by the School of Information Sciences. This fee is non-refundable and required of all applicants.

Financial Assistance

The School of Information Sciences provides a limited amount of financial assistance to highly qualified, full-time graduate students. Applicants interested in being considered for financial assistance including teaching and research assistantships should visit this Financial Aid Web site for more details and applications. All applications for financial assistance for Fall Term and Summer Session should be received by January 15 and applications for Spring Term should be received by September 15.

Financial aid opportunities include:

1. Graduate student assistantships awarded to highly-qualified master's-level or doctoral-level students.
2. Teaching assistantships and teaching fellowships awarded to exceptionally well-prepared doctoral students in return for assistance in laboratories, recitation sections, and other instructional duties.
3. Research assistantships awarded to students for assistance on funded research programs.
4. Fellowships and scholarships awarded to students of outstanding ability, usually as an unrestricted grant.

Financial aid is awarded each term. Student assistantships are available only for full-time students (full-time is defined as a minimum of 9 credits and a maximum of 15 credits per term). Decisions are contingent upon availability of funds and satisfactory academic performance during completed terms.

Financial-aid priority is given to U.S. citizens in evaluating financial-aid applications. All international students are expected to come fully funded for their entire degree program and any advanced study they may do in a certificate program or in a second degree program. International students may be granted financial aid in such exceptional circumstances as the awarding of a Graduate Student Research Assistantship for a funded project.

Academic Standards

The following section details school-specific academic rules and regulations. These are in addition to the University-wide rules detailed under General Academic Regulations.

Academic Integrity

A student has an obligation to exhibit honesty, and to respect the ethical standards of the information professions in carrying out his or her academic assignments. All students are responsible for adhering to policies on academic integrity, which are available on this site. The School's academic integrity guidelines follow the University's guidelines with several procedural changes. Please see guidelines for details.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of 6 graduate credits earned with a grade of B or better may be transferred toward either the Master's or PhD degree from institutions fully accredited for graduate study, provided that these credits have not been applied to any other degree or certificate, that they are applicable to the students' program of study, and that they are not older than the statute of limitations for the degree.

Satisfactory/No-Credit (S/NC) Grading System (formerly the S/N option)

In addition to the standard University letter grade system, the Satisfactory/No-Credit (S/NC) option (formerly the S/N option) is offered at the master's level for a limited number of courses. Under this option, a student who does satisfactory work receives the grade of S. If the student's work is unsatisfactory, an NC is assigned. Courses for which an S is received are counted toward graduation but are not utilized in computing the GPA. A limit of 6 credits of Satisfactory (S) grades may be applied at the Master's level.

Advising

Academic advising provides the foundation upon which students plan their studies. It is the policy of the School for each student to have an official advisor whose responsibilities include providing guidance in developing the student's career goals and academic programs, approving course selections, and advising as needed on issues affecting the student's academic and professional careers. The goal of academic advising is to develop a consistent academic program coordinated to meet general program requirements and specific needs of individual students. Ideally, the student and faculty advisor function as a team working toward the objective of career preparation by means of the strongest possible academic experiences for the student. Students are matched with an advisor upon admission; they may, however, change advisors at any time. Students should meet each term with their advisors to ensure timely process through the program.

Special Academic Opportunities/Programs

In addition to the degree programs, the School of Information Sciences offers other academic opportunities and programs for its students:

Colloquia

Colloquia constitute a major enrichment of the educational programs. Most weeks throughout the fall and spring terms, nationally and internationally known speakers from the information professions present research colloquia open to all faculty and students in the School.

Student Organizations

The School encourages students to become members of—and to participate actively in—the student chapters of several professional associations: Student Chapter of the American Library Association (SCALA), American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), Special Libraries Association (SLA), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The school cooperates with local chapters and special divisions of these organizations and other professional associations, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA), in promoting meaningful programs of interaction with practicing professionals.

Alumni Association

The alumni of the School meet each year at professional associations, assist with recruitment efforts and offer career/skill development opportunities. For more infromation, please visit www.ischool.pitt.edu/alumni.

Beta Phi Mu

Graduates who achieve a grade point average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in their work for the MLIS, MSIS, MST, or PhD degree and are nominated by a member of the faculty are eligible for election to membership.

Information Science and Technology Program  

Library and Information Science Program

Telecommunications and Networking Program