School of Information Sciences
The School of Information Sciences (SIS) 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. The Master
of Library Sciences and Information degree, accredited by the American
Library Association, is ranked third in the nation by U.S.
News & World Report. SIS, 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 masters and doctoral degrees, certificates of advanced study,
and continuing education programs. The School is comprised of the
Department of Information Science and Telecommunications (DIST)
and the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS): programs
offered by each are outlined under the individual department headings.
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 access to reliable and useful information.
Mission of the School
The mission of SIS is to connect people, information, and technology.
SIS offers superior graduate programs in Library and Information
Science, Information Science, and Telecommunications. The faculty
engages in research, scholarly and professional activities that
advance learning through the extension of the frontiers of knowledge
and creative endeavor. 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 as follows:
Promote excellence in professional education at the master's
and doctoral level in the information sciences.
Advance knowledge in the information sciences as an internationally-recognized
center for high-quality, innovative, and leading edge research
Provide strong professional, technical, and policy leadership
by the SIS faculty at the local, state, national and international
levels.
Promote recognition of the School of Information Sciences for
its production of seminal research, curricular leadership, superior
professional and PHD students, and service to the professional
and regional communities.
Foster intellectual vitality in the SIS community.
Major And Degree Options
The School of Information Sciences offers the following graduate
degrees:
Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS)
Master of Science in Telecommunications (MST)
Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
- On-campus program
- FastTrack MLIS (web-based)
Doctor of Philosophy, with majors in:
- Information Science
- Information Science with a Focus in Telecommunications
- Library and Information Science
Certificates of Advanced Study in Information Science, Library
and Information Science, and Telecommunications
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 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 information science and telecommunications 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 Department of Information
Science and Telecommunications.
Contact Information
- Terrance Kizina, Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Financial
Aid
- School of Information Sciences
- 135 North Bellefield Avenue
- 412-624-5230
- Fax: 412-624-5231
- E-mail: tkizina@mail.sis.pitt.edu
- www.sis.pitt.edu
The School of Information Sciences seeks students with diverse
interests and abilities. 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 graduate 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. 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
more details for 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 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 650 (paper) or 280
(computer) will be given the on-campus administered Michigan Test
of English Proficiency, which is given by the Office
of International Services. If remedial courses in English as
a foreign language are recommended as an outcome of the Michigan
Test of English Proficiency, the student must complete the remedial
course during the first two terms of study.
The School of Information Science 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 the
SIS website (http://www.sis.pitt.edu/~dlis/academics/financial_aid.html)
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:
- Teaching assistantships and teaching fellowships awarded to
exceptionally well-prepared doctoral students in return for assistance
in laboratories, recitation sections, and other instructional
duties.
- Research assistantships awarded to students for assistance
on funded research programs.
- 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 and job performance
during completed terms. Satisfactory academic and job performance
is defined in the Financial Aid Policy Statement.
For more information on financial aid, see the section on Financial
Aid in the Financial Issues section of this document.
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 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 limied 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 N 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. For further details
on grades, see Grading and Records.
Advising
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 matched an advisor upon admission;
they may, however, change advisors at any time. Students meet each
term with their advisors to register for classes.
Special Academic Opportunities/Programs
In addition to the degree programs, the School of Information
Sciences offers a variety of 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 findings and give colloquia.
Continuing Education
The school offers continuing education program for alumni and
other professionals. Special workshops and institutes may be offered
in various formats during the summer term and throughout the academic
year. Professional development activities are often cosponsored
with other institutions and organizations.
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 and Technology (ASIST), 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 professional associations,
assist with recruitment efforts and offer career/skill development
opportunities.
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 recommended by the SIS faculty are eligible for election
to membership.
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