Bachelor of Arts in Business Technology Administration Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Combined Bachelor of Science / Master of Science Decision Making Support Certificate (DMSC) Network Administration Certificate (NETC) Web Development Certificate (WEBC) Management Science Certificate Auditing for Information Systems Certificate MBA Preparatory Studies Program Study Abroad in Ireland Course Listing Undergraduate Catalog Academic Honors
Master of Science in Information Systems Master of Science in Human-Centered Computing (HCC) Online Master in Information Systems Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems Doctor of Philosophy in Human-Centered Computing (HCC) Course Listing
Undergraduate Programs Graduate Programs

University of Maryland Baltimore County

The Department of Information Systems

Resources & Information

Quick Links

Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems

The Ph.D. program offered by the Department of Information Systems is a research degree program. Prospective applicants interested in the doctoral program who already have a masters degree are encouraged to apply. The program, however, is designed to accommodate students who do not have a Master's degree. The doctoral program is intended for serious students who desire to make significant scientific research contributions to the field of Information Systems. Students are admitted to the Ph.D. degree program in the Fall and Spring semesters.

While course work is required, it is important to understand that satisfactorily completing course work is not the goal of a doctoral program. A doctoral candidate is required to produce a publishable doctoral dissertation based upon the candidate's original research. The dissertation must necessarily advance the body of scientific knowledge that underlies the discipline of Information Systems.

Consequently, it is essential for doctoral candidates to develop a rapport and mutual interests with a member of the faculty. It is expected that doctoral students develop their own research agenda or become intensely involved with a faculty member's research. The latter may include assisting a professor in planning and conducting research as well as analyzing the results.

A critical component of a doctoral candidate's development is the dissemination of scientific information. Doctoral candidates are routinely expected to author by themselves or co-author with their professors and fellow students scholarly papers for submission to scientific journals and conference proceedings. Doctoral candidates should also be prepared to present these research results at various national and international conferences.

In addition to Graduate School time limits for entering candidacy and completing the degree, the Information Systems Department requires that all PhD students complete the course requirements* and comprehensive review by the end of their sixth semester in the PhD program. Normal progress, as illustrated below, would result in both the course requirements and comprehensive review being completed during the fifth semester of study. In the case of medical or other unexpected situations, students may petition the Graduate Committee of the Information Systems Department for an extension that would allow the completion of these requirements to be delayed beyond the sixth semester.

* Course Requirements: Gateway Seminar, 2 methodology classes, 5 classes covering three areas as described elsewhere, and 4 independent studies."

The deadlines for the Ph.D. Program are February 15 for Fall and September 15 for Spring. All application materials must be on file in the IS department for expeditious review - incomplete files will be kept open for the following semester admission decisions.

To apply online: (Only degree-seeking applications are available on-line.)

Complete the UMBC on-line Application.

The department has a number of fellowships to offer as part of the GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) program. The fellowships offer an attractive stipend and health benefits, tuition, books and fees, conference travel, and computers and other equipment for research. Domestic (US citizens and permanent residents) students who are already in the PhD program, and individuals applying to the PhD program in IS are encouraged to apply. Please contact Dr. Aryya Gangopadhyay (gangopad@umbc.edu) or Ms. Barbara Morris (bmorris@umbc.edu) for more information.

Academic Admission Requirements:

  1. The majority of successful applicants have an undergraduate GPA well above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  2. All applicants must submit GRE Aptitude Test or GMAT scores.
  3. All applicants are expected to read, speak, write, and understand the English language fluently. Those whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum acceptable combined TOEFL score is 550 (written) or 79 (Internet based). Students who have received post-secondary degrees from an U.S. institution and whose native language is not English may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English. (The TOEFL code for UMBC is 5835. The Information Systems Department does not have a designated code.)

The IS PhD program builds on an understanding of the design, development, analysis, and use of computer-based information systems. Successful applicants will have demonstrated aptitude and/or interest in one or more of these areas. In addition, applicants should have or be willing to acquire the necessary competence in statistical analysis, experimental design, programming, databases, and computer networks in order to conduct sophisticated research at the doctoral level.

Program Requirements:

An admitted doctoral student is strongly encouraged to identify a mentor by the end of the first semester in the program. All doctoral students must have a mentor and a tentative committee by the end of their second semester in the program. During the student's first year of doctoral work, if they have not already identified a mentor, all course scheduling must be approved by the Director of the Graduate Program to ensure compliance with the program. The Director of the Graduate Program will function as an advisor to first year doctoral students unless they have already designated a faculty mentor.

Doctoral students must participate in one introductory three credit seminar during their first year in the program. This seminar is a gateway to the field and will provide the doctoral student with a well-rounded orientation to information systems theory and practice.

Doctoral students are also expected to attend all research seminars, doctoral proposals and dissertation defenses, and any colloquia with guest speakers as part of their learning experience.

Doctoral students must complete the required two (2) methodology courses during their first year of study. All doctoral students must take four (4) Independent Studies during their second year of course work. The student's mentor must approve each independent study. In addition, doctoral students must take courses in three (3) areas of concentration, called "course areas." Two courses must be taken from two areas and one course must be taken from a third area (5 courses total). In two of the three course areas, at least one of the courses taken must be at the 700 or 800 level.

Doctoral students with previously earned masters degrees may be excused from a maximum of six (6) courses, but must complete at least two courses at the 700/800 level at IS. The student's mentor must approve the course waivers.

At the end of the doctoral student's first year, a dossier must be prepared which includes all significant work/papers written that year, a statement of learning specific to the program of doctoral study, and a statement of areas needing more course work. The dossier will be evaluated by the Graduate Committee. The purpose of the review is to assess the student's progress in the program, and to determine if the student should proceed into the second year of doctoral study. The student will be informed in writing if their progress is satisfactory, not satisfactory and needs specific improvement, or is not satisfactory to continue.

After completing the course requirements, the student must prepare a comprehensive dossier that includes all papers written to satisfy course requirements, including the independent study courses and all papers published in conference proceedings and scholarly journals. In addition, the student must prepare a statement that details the student's intellectual and scholarly growth as well the student's research directions and intentions. The student must make an oral presentation, based upon this dossier, to the student's committee. The committee evaluates the student's dossier and overall progress, and determines whether the student should continue toward the doctorate. Ph.D. students who have successfully completed 30 credits are awarded a MS degree.

New Comprehensive Exam Policy

Comprehensive Review Reading List

Course Areas:

Methodology and Analysis:

  1. Any relevant IS 800 level class may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.
  2. Any relevant non-IS 600/700/800 level courses may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.

Information Systems Organization and Policy:

  1. Any relevant IS 800 level class may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.
  2. Any relevant non-IS 600/700/800 level courses may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.

Systems Design and Analysis:

  1. Any relevant IS 800 level class may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.
  2. Any relevant non-IS 600/700/800 level courses may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.

Human-Centered Computing:

  1. Any relevant IS 800 level class may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.
  2. Any relevant non-IS 600/700/800 level courses may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.

Decision and Knowledge Systems:

  1. Any relevant IS 800 level class may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.
  2. Any relevant non-IS 600/700/800 level courses may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.

Health Informatics:

  1. Any relevant IS 800 level class may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.
  2. Any relevant non-IS 600/700/800 level courses may be taken with the approval of the student's mentor or the Graduate Program Director.

Notes:

  1. Doctoral students must maintain a B average, (i.e., 3.0 GPA).
  2. Graduate students may be recommended for dismissal after earning 3 Cs, 1 D or 1 F in any graduate level course.
  3. Doctoral students may not count courses that are audited as part of the Ph.D. program and may not take courses under the Pass/Fail option.
  4. All graduate students should also consult the University Graduate School Catalog which contains the University's regulations and procedures for earning degrees.
  5. Doctoral students should especially note the Graduate School's regulations on University residency requirements.
  6. IS 613, 650, and 652 are not to be taken for credit in the Ph.D. Program.
  7. A PhD dissertation must be pre-approved by the mentor and submitted to the dissertation committee at least one month prior to the proposal or final defense.

A typical doctoral program might appear as follows:

  Fall Spring
     
Year 1 Gateway Seminar Methodology Course
  Methodology Course Area 1
  Area 1 Area 2
     
First Year Dossier Review
     
Year 2 Area 2 Area 3
  IS 801 IS 801
  IS 801 IS 801
     
Comprehensive Dossier Review
     
Year 3 IS 899 IS 899
     
Year 4 IS 899 IS 899

If you need any further information, please contact Shannon Keegan (keegan@umbc.edu).