PhD: Information Science
The PhDin Information Science at 鶹ѰBoulder is for students who want tonot only imagine what today’s technology makes possible,but to invent new things society can do with technology.
Whether conducting empirical investigations of existing technologies and culturesor designing and building new systems and approaches,students will work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment toaddress real problems and create an impact on our society.
Our research program is exceptionally strong in human-computer interaction, data science, and social and collaborative computing, and our faculty expertise covers a broad range of areas including interaction design, recommender systems, technology ethics, health informatics, education and learning, marginalization and identity, and more!
Diverse Students
Information Science is a broad discipline, and our students come from a range of backgrounds. Some have computer science degrees, and come prepared to take on information science with a toolkit of computational and data science methods. Some have little to no experience in computing, but have backgrounds in social science or qualitative research. Some come to us with a rich knowledge of domains (e.g., public health, education, or journalism) to which information science research and techniques can be applied. Some come straight out of undergraduate programs, others have already completed graduate degrees, and others have years of professional experience.
Our program is designed to help Ph.D. students tailor their education towards their own research interests and skill sets while developing a shared body of knowledge around methods, computational techniques, theoretical frameworks, and design practices.
Student Voices: Why CU?
“As a second career PhD student, the Information Science Program at 鶹Ѱhas empowered me to grow in both personal and professional ways. The faculty I have been able to work with are empathetic and brilliant. They push me to be a more effective scholar and give me the freedom to shape my impact on the field.”
"I looked for a long time to find a graduate program that was the right fit to combine my interest in how science communities collaborate around information. The students and faculty herebringtogether diverse ways of knowing and expertise. This has been a productive and supportive place for me to learn and grow as researcher. It is also exciting to be in a place that I can apply what I learn so rapidly to my research."
As an international PhD student, I was drawn to the INFO department because of its unique interdisciplinary approach. My work sits at the intersection of technology, social impact, and community empowerment, and INFOfelt like a place where my ideas could truly take shape.
Working in the PIRL Lab with Amy Voida has been a highlight of my experience. It’s given me the space to pursue questions I’ve been deeply curious about, particularly how nonprofits and resource-constrained organizations can make technology work for them, even when time, funding, and technical expertise are limited. What stands out most is INFO's commitment to research in advancing knowledge and creating tangible impact in the communities we serve.
"The Information Science PhD program at 鶹ѰBoulder has given me the space to explore my research interests across disciplinary boundaries. I am continually challenged to consider problems from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives, and this program has cemented my identity as an interdisciplinary scholar. The students and faculty in this department are incredibly supportive, and working with the department's Graduate Student Association has given me the opportunity to build our sense of community even further."
PhD Requirements
The PhD in Information Science is for studentswho want to engage in empirical investigations of interdisciplinary problems. Students in the PhD program will learn a diversity of methods, theoretical frameworks, design practicesand computational techniques. A PhD student's scholarly practice will includecollaborative research on grant-driven projects.
The scholarly skills required of PhDs in information science are fundamentally analytical, creative, interdisciplinaryand in constant interaction with information that is generated, manipulatedand transformed within and across domains. The PhD aligns culturally with the grant-driven, collaborative “lab model”of research that characterizes the natural and engineering sciences, but is nevertheless deeply integrative of the social sciences and humanities in its scholarly pursuit and intellectual contributions.
The PhD program in information science requiresa minimum of 30 course credit hours and 30 thesis credit hours. Students are encouraged to take courses outside of the department beyond any departmental foundation courses pending approval by their advisor and the graduate committee. After a written andoral preliminary exam, students go on to specialize in a dissertation area in consultation with their committees. Completion of the PhD will take approximately five years.
We will be hosting a PhD information session over zoom on Fri, Oct 31 at 10am MT.
Contact the Department of Information Science
CMDI Department of Information Science (INFO)
1045 18th Street, UCB 315
Boulder, CO 80309
303-735-7581