School of Information Sciences

The School of Information Sciences (SIS) is the largest school of its kind in North America and among the most diversified. The student body is a blending of students representing nearly 30 countries and a variety of academic disciplines. SIS offers programs of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including master's and doctoral degrees, certificates of advanced study, and continuing education programs. Its graduates are prepared to accept a variety of positions in the library, archival, information, and telecommunications professions. The School of Information Sciences, an independent unit in the University, is composed of the Department of Information Science and Telecommunications (DIST) and the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS). Programs offered by each department are detailed below under the individual department headings. SIS, with an international reputation for quality, is ranked consistently as a top school that prepares students for careers in the information, telecommunications, archival, and library professions. The SIS faculty, programs, and students have attained a strong record of excellence.

Mission of the School

The vision of the School of Information Sciences is to lead in integrating people, knowledge, and technology for problem solving, decision making, and learning. The SIS 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 the foundation of knowledge made possible only through access to reliable and useful information.

SIS pursues excellence in teaching, research, and service to ensure that the information needs of society can be met because access to information enhances the quality of life for all people and organizations. SIS educates high quality information professionals and builds knowledge in the information professions. SIS develops resources and tools to create, organize, find, transmit, preserve, integrate, and use information.

Goals of the School

The goals of the School of Information Sciences are as follows:

Contact Information

School of Information Sciences

135 North Bellefield Avenue

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: (412) 624-5230

Fax: (412) 624-5231

E-mail: inquiry@sis.pitt.edu

Web site: http://www.sis.pitt.edu/

Admission

Admission to the graduate programs of the two departments of the School of Information Sciences is open to qualified graduates of accredited colleges and universities. Applicants for the degree programs are evaluated according to academic and personal qualifications. The basis of evaluation may include any or all of the following: previous scholastic record, scores achieved on the Graduate Record Exam, letters of recommendation, evidence of work/life experience, personal interviews, and statement of career goals. SIS seeks students with various interests and abilities who desire preparation for careers in the information professions. Scholastic achievement at the undergraduate level should have prepared the candidate to meet the rigorous demands of graduate study; this is not, however, the ultimate criterion. All means of evaluation will be considered in the final decision on admission, and when appropriate, provisional acceptance may be granted where deficiencies exist in a student's background.

SIS admission policies support the University's goal of affirmative action. This means more than the absence of discrimination. SIS actively encourages applications from men and women, racial and ethnic minorities, and students of other countries.

Students applying for admission to the graduate programs should:

1. Contact the following for application forms and descriptive material:

   Admissions Coordinator

   School of Information Sciences

   University of Pittsburgh

   Pittsburgh, PA 15260

   Phone: (412) 624-5146

   E-mail: nk@sis.pitt.edu

   Web site: http://www.sis.pitt.edu/

2. Return the completed forms to the above address. Enclose a check or money order for $40 payable to the University of Pittsburgh. This nonrefundable application fee is required of all applicants.
3. Request that official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools be sent directly to the above address, as well as letters of recommendation from persons capable of evaluating academic capabilities and achievements. (Two letters are required for the MSIS and MST programs; three letters are required for the PhD IS, MLIS, and PhD LIS programs.)

Early application is advised; applications received later than 30 days before the beginning of a term may not be processed in time for admission for that term. The Graduate Admissions Committee of each department will review the application for admission only after receiving the completed application form, the application fee, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores as required for specific programs. See the relevant department descriptions for information about more specific requirements.

A student may be admitted on provisional status pending completion of unmet entrance requirements. Registration is permitted only when admission has been granted.

The School of Information Sciences welcomes applications from international students. The following steps must be completed by international students in applying to graduate programs in the school:

1. Complete and submit the appropriate SIS application and the $40 application fee. The application must be completed in English. There are different applications for the departments of Library and Information Science and Information Science and Telecommunications.
2. Submit original or certified copies of original academic records. Academic records from institutions that do not routinely issue academic records in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations made by applicants are not acceptable.

   In cases where the original academic records do not state that a degree has been awarded, a certified copy of the original diploma or certificate awarding the degree must be submitted.

3. Submit letters of recommendation from people capable of evaluating the stdent's academic capabilities and achievements. (See step 3 above for the number of letters required by each program.)
4. Submit a Goals Statement.
5. Complete and submit the "Supplemental Application for International Graduate Students" and the "Education Summary Sheet" included in Information and Supplemental Application Materials for International Graduate Applicants.
6. Applicants whose native language is not English must have the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) sent directly to the University of Pittsburgh from the Educational Testing Service. Each program sets a minimum score for the TOEFL examination. The required score for the MLIS, MSIS, MST, and PhD IS programs is 550; the required score for the PhD LIS program is 575.

Financial Assistance

A limited number of graduate student assistantships and research assistantships are available. Some graduate student assistants support faculty members in the courses they teach and the research in which they are involved; others staff the SIS labs. Awards are made primarily on the basis of the applicant's academic background and ability to function in one or more of these assignments. The Financial Aid Policy Statement is available and distributed with applications for financial aid.

Financial aid is awarded each term. Decisions are contingent upon availability of funds and satisfactory academic performance and job performance during completed terms. Satisfactory academic and job performance is defined in the Financial Aid Policy Statement. Student assistantships are available only to full-time students. Full time is defined as a minimum of nine credits and a maximum of fifteen credits per term.

For more information on financial aid, see the section on Financial Aid.

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.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of six 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/Audit (S/N) Grading System

In addition to the standard University letter grade system, the Satisfactory/Audit (S/N) option is offered. This system encourages students to explore new and potentially difficult subjects without fear of failure. Under this option, a student who does satisfactory work receives the grade of S. If the student's work is unsatisfactory, an N is assigned. Courses for which an S is received are counted toward graduation but are not utilized in computing the QPA. A limit of six credits of Satisfactory (S) grades may be applied at the master's level. For further details on grades, see Grading and Records.

Advising and Placement

Academic advising provides the foundation upon which students plan their studies. The policy of SIS requires 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 assigned an advisor upon admission; they may, however, change advisors at any time. Students meet each term with their advisors to register for classes.

Each department offers placement services for students and alumni. Students also use the University's Placement Service. See Placement Service.

Major And Degree Options

The School of Information Sciences offers the following graduate degrees:

The Department of Information Science and Telecommunications (DIST) 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 two degrees in GSPIA (the MPA or the MPIA) simultaneously. The course of study for the MSIS degree under the joint agreement consists of a minimum of 30 credits in DIST, 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 DIST.

Special Academic Opportunities/Programs

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

Colloquia

Sponsored by funding from the Alumni Association and SIS, colloquia constitute a major enrichment of the educational programs. Almost each week throughout the Fall and Spring Terms, nationally and internationally known speakers from the information professions present research findings and give colloquia.

Continuing Education

The school offers an extensive continuing education program for alumni and other professionals. Special workshops and institutes are offered in various formats during the Summer Term and throughout the academic year. Professional development activities are often co-sponsored with other institutions and organizations.

Student Organizations

There are six graduate social and professional organizations for students:

SIS encourages students to become members of and to participate actively in the SIS student chapters of several professional associations of librarians and information specialists: Student Chapter of the American Library Association (SCALA), American Society for Information Science (ASIS), 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. Students are encouraged to become student members of professional associations.

Alumni Association

The alumni of SIS meet each year at the annual conferences of the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Society for Information Science (ASIS), as well as at various state and regional meetings.

Beta Phi Mu

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

Department of Information Science and Telecommunications 

Department of Library and Information Science 

School of Information Sciences Faculty