Admissions Information - Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Information Studies

All items for Fall 2008 PhD applications must be received or postmarked by December 15, 2007.

Application for admission must be made in compliance with procedures established by the UCLA Graduate Division. They are provided by the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission. See also Admissions - Steps for Applying.

Admission to a graduate program requires that applicants hold a baccalaureate university degree and, in addition, have at the minimum achieved a “B” (3.0 grade point average) or its equivalent in the last 60 semester units or last 90-quarter units of undergraduate work.

Applicants must submit two copies of official transcripts from all academic institutions attended beyond secondary school, a statement of purpose, a résumé, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants will be contacted if the admissions committee wishes to arrange an interview.

Applicants whose native language is not English must certify their proficiency in English by submitting scores from The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE) [University code: 4837, Department code: 90] or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum established score on the TOEFL, according to Graduate Division, is the paper and pencil result of 560 or higher or a computer-based test of 220 or higher. On the IELTS an Overall Band score of at least 7.0 is the minimum required. Only those applicants who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree from a university in a country where the official language is English and in which English is the spoken tongue and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution will be exempted.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from within the last five years are required of all applicants. The one exception is for those MLIS applicants who hold the PhD degree. Be sure to schedule the examination and to have the scores forwarded to the Department by the application deadline. Computerized testing, now available at numerous locations throughout the U.S., is offered year-round, three days a week. See GRE: Graduate Record Examinations Information [University code: 4837, Department code: 4701].

IS Vision Statement

The Department of Information Studies defines, studies, and evaluates interactions among people, information and information technology in a pluralistic society. The Department values and promotes equity, diversity, accountability and intellectual openness.

The Department integrates wide-ranging scholarly, professional, technological and institutional perspectives in its teaching, research and public service. Across each of these activities, the Department engages with and is driven by real world information issues and community and institutional needs. The Department also promotes the essential role played by information institutions such as libraries and archives as social, cultural, educational, and intellectual centers in our society.

In particular, we examine and encourage:

The design of information systems and services for individuals, communities, cultures, disciplines and literacies;
The creation, preservation, documentation and curation of information in all media and settings;
Access to information, in all its manifestations, that empowers and enfranchises individuals and communities in and over time; and
The framing of ongoing policy and institutional dialogue related to the social and intellectual implications of a global information society.

PhD Requirements

The name of the PhD program is Information Studies. The degree code for the doctoral program is 54A.

Students are admitted to the program only during the fall quarter. Applicants must also hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of recognized standing. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, taken within the last five years, are required for all doctoral applicants. There is no minimum for the GRE, but high scores are regarded favorably. Admitted students typically score above the 75th percentile in all areas: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical.

Of the three letters of recommendation required, submit at least one, and preferably two, from individuals who hold the Ph.D., have conducted research, and have published in library and information science or a related field. In most cases, letters from faculty, rather than supervisors or co-workers, provide the most useful assessment of your intellectual abilities and potential for research and writing.

Evidence of research and writing is also required in the form of a master's thesis or two other written works, such as publications, conference presentations, or course papers written solely by the applicant. Submission must be in English.

Write the statement of purpose carefully. The statement should describe one or more proposed areas of specialization, reasons for interest in these areas, and qualifications for pursuing them. Suggesting topics for your own future research is a welcome sign; identification of specific courses is usually not helpful, unless such courses relate to research goals. The statement of purpose is also used to determine whether the specializations provided by the doctoral program are appropriate to the applicant's needs. The applicant is encouraged to identify IS faculty whose areas of research are of special interest. A standard résumé or vita should also be included.

The Department has identified one entrance requirement, which should be completed by the time students begin the Ph.D. program:

A statistics requirement, satisfied by completing a college-level course (three semester units or four quarter units) taken within the last five years, with a minimum grade of “C”.

There is no specific programming requirement for doctoral students. Applicants should have general knowledge about and basic experience using computers (e.g., for word processing, statistics, online searches, spreadsheets, graphics, or Web browsing). However, the Department requires that admitted students attend a MIT Lab Orientation Session to familiarize them with Department, School-wide, and UCLA platforms and applications.

PhD Application Submission Checklist - printable checklist (pdf)

We prefer that the following be sent in one package to the Student Affairs Office, Information Studies, 102B GSE&IS Bldg., Box 951520, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1520:

Two copies of official transcripts from academic institutions you have attended beyond secondary school. Must be sent in sealed envelopes either directly or with the rest of the materials.
Supplementary information, if applicable. The form is available under Supplementary Forms at the OnLine Graduate Admission site.
Statement of purpose - use form (on the UCLA application site under supplementary forms). You may word process this form. Your statement may be longer than the space allowed.
Résumé/CV
Three letters of recommendation - use forms provided on the UCLA application online application under supplementary forms. Recommenders often write own letterhead and attach to the form. Letters may be sent directly to the department or collected in sealed envelopes and sent with the rest of the application materials.
Cross reference sheet (on the UCLA application site under supplementary application) if applicable.
Fellowship application (at the online UCLA application site).
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for all applicants. You are responsible for arranging to take this examination and having official scores sent to the department. Scores from tests taken more than five years ago are not acceptable.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English (TWE) scores. The TOEFL/TWE are required of all applicants whose native language is not English; note exception stated above under MLIS degree. You are responsible for arranging to take these examinations and having official scores sent to IS.
For PhD applicants only, evidence of research and writing (published work, master's thesis or two research papers written in English).
International applicants must submit a Confidential Financial Statement with other required items.
Evidence of completion of entrance requirements when complete. It is the applicants responsibility to make sure the prerequisite requirements are met.

Application Procedures and Deadlines

Note: Applicants not meeting the required grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) may be recommended for provisional admission to the Graduate Division in exceptional cases if GRE scores, letters of recommendation, work experience, or other factors indicate unusual promise.

The Graduate Division honors the IS deadlines indicated below. Only admitted applicants are considered for University fellowships.

ALL ITEMS FOR 2007–08 APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED BY THE DATES NOTED BELOW.

Entering Term/Program: FALL 2008	Deadline for submission of Application Packages	Test Date Deadline*
PhD	December 15, 2007 (admissions and fellowships)	December 1, 2007 (GRE); November 2007 (TOEFL/TWE)
MLIS	December 15, 2007 (admissions and fellowships)	December 1, 2007 (GRE); November 2007 (TOEFL/TWE)
Post-Master’s	October 1, 2007 (winter 2008) December 31, 2007 (spring 2008) January 15, 2008 (fall 2008)	If appropriate

Graduate Admissions, 1255 Murphy Hall, Box 951428, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1428, only accepts electronic applications. Applicants can apply electronically by accessing the UCLA Graduate Division website. Supplementary forms are available at that same site for the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and ordering official transcripts.

Information and program descriptions are available in the Department of Information Studies Student Handbook.

Updated: 2/21/08