College of Computing and Information

• Introduction
• Department of Computer Science
• Master of Science in Computer Science Degree
• Combined Baccalaureate-Master's Degree Program
• Doctoral Program in Computer Science
• Courses in Computer Science
• Faculty of the Department of Computer Science
• Department of Information Studies
• Master of Science in Information Science Degree (M.S.I.S.)
• Master of Arts/Master of Science in Information Science Dual Degree (M.A./M.S.I.S.)
• Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Information Science
• Combined Baccalaureate-Master's Degree Program
• Courses in Information Studies
• Faculty of the Department of Information Studies
• Department of Informatics
• Doctoral Program in Information Science
• Courses in Information Science
• Faculty of the Department of Informatics

The College of Computing and Information is committed to supporting world-class, discipline-based research and educational programs related to computing and information.

Department of Computer Science

Program Leading to the Master of Science Degree

The Master of Science program provides a solid foundation in computer science theory and practice that gives preparation for a career in computing or for further graduate study and research leading to a doctoral degree. Students should refer to the departmental graduate handbook and to their faculty advisor to plan a program of study according to their interests.

Program of Study and Research

The master's degree requires a minimum of 32 credits, of which at least 26 must be taken from the Computer Science Department at the University at Albany, SUNY. The M.S. program, excluding undergraduate deficiency subjects, typically takes two full years.

1. A proficiency examination in Discrete Mathematics is given at the beginning of the first semester of graduate study. Students who fail this examination are required to pass a departmentally approved remedial program.
2. Computer Science core (11 credits): CSI 500, CSI 503, and CSI 518. A 3.0 average must be attained in these three courses. Full-time students are expected to complete these courses in the first year, or as soon as possible if undergraduate deficiencies are being made up.
3. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive examination based on the core computer science subjects. This examination should be taken as soon as possible after completing the core courses.
4. Computer Science breadth: At least 9 credits from departmentally approved areas of specialization including at least 3 credits from systems, 3 credits from theory, and 3 credits from applications.
5. Elective subjects (6-9 credits): Computer Science courses or courses in other academic departments as approved by the department. Approval of non-departmental electives is based on the individual student's overall academic program and preparation.
6. Master's project or thesis (3-6 credits): Satisfactory completion of any Master's Project course (CSI 68X). The project includes the design and implementation of a computer program of significant scope, unless this is waived by the project faculty supervisor for a student who has sufficient programming experience. The project must include a written report. CSI 699 may be submitted in lieu of CSI 68X with departmental approval.

Admission to Formal Candidacy for Master's Degree

The student is admitted to formal candidacy for the master's degree upon a) the completion of the three core computer science courses with at least a 3.0 average, b) the removal of all undergraduate deficiencies, and c) the satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination. The academic status of students who do not achieve candidacy by the third semester of full time study will be reviewed. Failure in the proficiency examination in Discrete Mathematics is considered to be an undergraduate deficiency that must be removed before admission to candidacy.

Requirements for Admission

Open to students holding a baccalaureate degree with at least a minor or its equivalent in computer science or mathematics or a combination thereof. Full-time admission is ordinarily valid only for the fall semester.

Students whose preparation in undergraduate mathematics or computer science is deficient are required to take undergraduate courses during the first year of graduate study as specified by the department.

Scores from the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination are required from all applicants.

Combined B.S.-M.S. Program

Qualified undergraduates may apply for admission to the M.S. program and, if accepted, simultaneously work toward completion of the requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. See Combined Baccalaureate- Master's Degree Programs for details.

Program Leading to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The purpose of the program is to prepare the student for a career as a productive research scholar in computer science. The program is intended for students with career interests in universities, industrial research and development, or government research agencies.

The program is designed to develop the student's ability to recognize and formulate significant research problems, to express them using appropriate abstract models, to apply theoretical and/or experimental techniques for their solution, and to transmit the results to the scientific community. The program develops a broad understanding of computer science, a deep understanding of the major field of interest, mastery of the research methods appropriate for this major field, and the versatility to enter new fields as they emerge.

The program of study and research requires at least three academic years of full-time study and research or the equivalent over a longer period beyond the baccalaureate and, typically, may involve four years.

Requirements for Admission

An applicant must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A bachelor's degree in computer science or mathematics is desirable, but not necessary. Deficiencies in computer science or mathematics, as determined by the departmental faculty, must be made up during the first year of graduate study. Applicants are ordinarily admitted in the fall semester but those with unusually good qualifications may be admitted at any time. Applicants are required to submit scores for the verbal, quantitative, and analytic portions of the Graduate Record Examination. The submission of an Advanced Test score in computer science or mathematics is encouraged.

Program of Study and Research

(60 credits, minimum)

1. The course of study for each student is planned with a departmental advisor who considers the student's previous preparation, area of specialization, and professional objectives. The student must complete a minimum of 60 credits of graduate courses (which may include seminars, independent study, and research) and at least one additional year of research leading to an acceptable dissertation. These credits must include:
1. Core Computer Science (14 credits): CSI 500, CSI 503, CSI 509, and CSI 518. A 3.0 average must be attained in these four courses. Full-time students are expected to complete these courses in the first year, or as soon as possible if undergraduate deficiencies are being made up;
2. Computer Science breadth: At least 9 credits from departmentally approved areas of specialization including at least 3 credits from systems, 3 credits from theory, and 3 credits from applications;
3. A minor of at least 9 credits in approved courses offered by other departments. The minor may be waived or reduced in scope for students with an advanced degree in a suitable field.
2. Each student must complete a programming project of significant scope. This requirement can be satisfied by programming involved in dissertation research, by any project-oriented course numbered CSI 68X, or by programming involved in master's thesis research.
3. After completing their first year of study, all doctoral students are expected to participate routinely in research seminars.

The student must submit an acceptable dissertation which represents a significant and original research contribution to computer science.

The student must select a dissertation advisor who is willing to assume primary responsibility for supervising the student's research. The dissertation topic is selected in consultation with the student's dissertation advisor, and then a dissertation committee for the student is formed. The committee will decide on review procedures, such as design reviews or oral presentations, appropriate to the topic.

Departmental Examinations

1. A proficiency examination in Discrete Mathematics is given at the beginning of the first semester of graduate study. Doctoral students who fail this exam are required to pass a departmentally approved remedial program.
2. The student must pass a written preliminary examination consisting of two parts. The two parts need not be taken during the same semester. The preliminary examination would typically be completed by the end of the second year of graduate study.
1. The first part is a comprehensive examination based on the core computer science subjects. This part of the examination should be taken as soon as possible after completing the computer science core courses, and may be waived for students with an advanced degree in computer science.
2. The second part is an analytic examination that tests analytic ability and knowledge of formal models relevant to computer science. All full-time doctoral students are required to take the comprehensive exam by the end of their third semester of study. They are also required to take the analytic exam by the end of their fourth semester of study.
3. All full-time doctoral students are required to take the comprehensive exam by the end of their third semester of study. They are also required to take the analytic exam by the end of their fourth semester of study.
4. The student must pass an oral doctoral qualifying examination in the field of the student's research interest. This examination should be completed before the student begins work on the dissertation, and should be completed no later than the sixth semester of graduate study.
5. The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation.

The student must demonstrate proficiency in a research skill appropriate to the student's field of research. Examples of approved research skills include a foreign language (French, German, or Russian), mathematical logic, queueing models, statistics, and electronics.

Full Time Study in Residence

Each student in a doctoral program must engage in full-time study beyond the master's degree or equivalent at the University in at least two sessions after admission to the advanced program. This requirement is designed to insure for each doctoral student a sustained period of intensive intellectual growth. For this purpose, a student will enroll in full-time study (12 credits) taken in each of two sessions, or in a regular session and a summer session, not necessarily consecutive, which must be completed satisfactorily, except as indicated here:

1. Students authorized to register for work on a dissertation may meet this 12 credit per session requirement by satisfactorily completing a minimum of 8 earned course credits and registering for work on the dissertation for load credits that will bring the total to 12 credits for each of two sessions.
2. Graduate assistants holding a full assistantship may meet the residency requirement by completing one academic year in such a position, including the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 15 registered credits during the year plus satisfactory completion of assigned duties.

A student is admitted to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy upon the following:

1. Achievement of a satisfactory record in course and seminar study;
2. Satisfactory completion of the research tool requirement;
3. Completion of the University residence requirements;
4. Satisfactory completion of the qualifying examination.

Department of Information Studies

Program Leading to the Master of Science in Information Science (M.S.I.S) Degree

The graduate program in information science is accredited by the American Library Association and prepares students for careers in public, academic, and other public sector libraries; government agencies; archives and records management centers; private sector information centers; producers of bibliographic, abstracting and indexing, and other online databases; information management and systems in a wide range of government, library, corporate and nonprofit organizations.

Program of Study (42 Credits)

A. Required courses: (21 Credits)

1. Core courses: IST 601, 602, and 614 (replaced by 676 for LIS/School media students) (9 credits)
2. Technology core: IST 523 and one course from the following (IST 535, 538, 561, 658, 659. 611 if student is not in IST concentration. 673 required for LIS/School media students) (6 credits)
3. Research and statistics competency: IST 608 (3 credits)
4. Internship: IST 668 (3 credits)

B. Concentration courses: (6-18 credits)

1. Archives and Records Administration
   Required courses: IST546, 547, 654, 656. (12 credits)
2. Library and Information Services
   Required courses: IST603, 605. (6 credits)
3. Library and Information Services/School Library Media Specialist
   Required courses: IST 571, 578, 603, 605, 675, 676 and an additional internship. (21 credits)
4. Information Management and Policy
   Required courses: IST 560, 615, 636. (9 credits)
5. Information Systems and Technology
   Required courses: IST 533, 611, 636. (9 credits)

C. Supporting courses as advised (3-15 credits)

Program Leading to the Master of Arts/Master of Science in Information Science Dual Degree (M.A./M.S.I.S.)

The College offers two degree programs combining the M.S. in Information Science and the M.A. in either English or History. By applying six credits in Information Science to the English or History degree program and seven credits from English or History to the Information Science program, a student can reduce the total number of credits needed for both degrees to 59. However, faculty responsible for concentrations in both programs may require additional course work. Students may be admitted to a dual master's degree program at the beginning of their graduate studies, but not later than after completing 20 graduate credits applicable to a dual master's degree program. Work done for an awarded master's or doctoral degree may not be used for this program. Students may leave a dual program before completion of both degrees. If the requirements for one degree have been fulfilled, that degree may be awarded. You must be admitted to graduate study in both the M.A. and M.S.I.S. degree programs for the dual degree program.

Program of Study - English and Information Science - (59 credits)

A. English (32 credits)

1. English (12 credits, minimum)
1. Textual Practices IA - ENG 500 (4);
2. One course numbered 600 or above (4);
3. ENG 699 Master's Thesis (4); or ENG 698 Master's Research Tutorial (4) and Examination
2. Supporting courses (16 credits): Selected subjects in English or other academic fields as advised. Up to 8 credits may be taken in other fields (Information Studies), but this coursework must be approved by the MA Director.

B. Information Science (42 credits minimum)

1. Required core courses: IST 601, 602, 603, 605, 614, IST 523 for 6 credits (21 credits);
2. Required internship IST 668 or independent study IST 669 (3 credits);
3. Required research methods and statistics course: IST 608 (3 credits);
4. Supporting courses as advised: (15 credits). A maximum of nine credit hours may be taken in other professional and academic fields as advised. Seven credit hours of approved course work in English must be part of the supporting courses sequence.

Program of Study - History and Information Science and Policy - (57 credits)

A. History (30 credits minimum)

1. History (21 credits minimum):
1. Courses as advised, including at least one research seminar in the appropriate major field and one reading seminar;
2. With departmental approval a thesis in history for 4-6 credits may be presented in place of or in addition to the seminar;
2. Supporting courses (0-9 credits): Courses in the social sciences and other fields as advised (6 credits from Information Science);
3. Satisfactory completion of a major field examination in one concentration chosen from Group A or one concentration chosen from Group B:

B. Information Science and Policy (42 credits minimum)

1. Required core courses: IST 601, 602, 603, 605, 614, IST 523 for 6 credits (21 credits);
2. Required internship IST 668 or independent study IST 669 (3 credits);
3. Required research methods and statistics course: IST 608 (3 credits);
4. Supporting courses as advised: (15 credits). A maximum of nine credit hours may be taken in other professional and academic fields as advised. Seven credit hours of approved course work in History must be part of the supporting courses sequence.

Program Leading to the Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Information Science

Program of Study

The program leading to the Certificate of Advanced Study includes a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate study beyond the master's degree. Within the requirements of the specialty selected and through individualized advisement, a program will be designed for the student utilizing a substantial number of courses within the College and from other relevant departments and schools of the University. The following schools and departments provide supportive courses: School of Business, School of Education, Graduate School of Public Affairs, and the College of Arts and Sciences.

The program consists of 30 semester credits, divided into three parts:

1. General requirements of all students (12-18 credits):
1. INF 701 ProSeminar (3 credits);
2. INF 702 Directed Readings in Information Science and Policy (subfield specified) (3 credits);
3. INF 768 Internship (3 credits);
4. INF 780 Major Research Seminar (3-6 credits);
2. Specialization courses (6-12 credits). Examples of possible specialization:
1. Information systems development;
2. Information resources management for public sector decision making;
3. Reference and information services;
4. School media information program administration;
5. Records and archives management;
6. Services for special groups;
7. Indexing and abstracting;
8. Government information resource management;
3. Supporting courses (6 credits): As advised from other academic or professional programs.
4. Comprehensive Examination: Students must pass a comprehensive examination that assesses: a) mastery of their chosen specialization; b) knowledge of major trends and issues in the field; and c) familiarity with research methodologies and priorities.

Program Leading to the Combined Baccalaureate-Master's Degree Program

Qualified undergraduates may apply for admission to the M.S. in Information Science program and, if accepted, simultaneously work toward completion of the requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. B.A./M.S. or B.S./M.S. students complete a minor in information science with the following requirements: CSI 101 or 201 or ITM 215; IST 523; IST 601, IST 602, and two additional IST courses at 500 level or above. B.A./M.S. or B.S./M.S. students then complete their M.S. degree with thirty credits of graduate level work in additional core, concentration and elective courses as advised.

Department of Informatics

Doctoral Program in Information Science

The interdisciplinary doctoral program in Information Science is designed for persons interested in advanced study and applied research in the nature of information as a phenomenon, and in the character of the information transfer process, including the creation of new knowledge, the utilization of what is known, and the dissemination of knowledge in both conventional and electronic formats.

Information Science draws upon and integrates theory and application from several diverse disciplines. The Information Science Ph.D. program is a collaborative activity drawn from across the university. Research faculties from several other disciplines also participate.

Emphasizing research, teaching and the application of research findings to professional practice, the program is built on the model of the scientist-practitioner. It prepares graduates for both academic and research careers in Information Science or in a related discipline, and for higher-level management and policy positions in private and public sector organizations.

Admission

Applicants must satisfy the general University requirements for admission to doctoral study described earlier in this Bulletin. Admission to this program is highly selective and is based on judgments of the applicant's potential to make a major contribution to theory and practice in Information Science.

Normally, new doctoral students are admitted in the Fall semester. Candidates should have a substantial background of previous academic work, preferably at the graduate level, in a discipline concerned with perception, evaluation and manipulation of information and should possess appropriate analytic skills. Successful international applicants generally possess a prior degree from a U.S. university.

The doctoral admissions committee seeks evidence of energy and commitment to interdisciplinary study, academic achievement and interest in scholarly inquiry necessary for success at the doctoral level, strong oral and written communication skills and an adequate level of technical ability.

While the program is open to those who hold the baccalaureate degree, preference is given to candidates who have completed a master's degree in a comparable or related field.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The program requires a minimum of 60 credits beyond the baccalaureate, plus at least one additional year devoted to researching and writing a dissertation. Applicants who have completed graduate courses or programs may be admitted with advanced standing and be allowed a maximum of thirty credits for courses applicable to the Ph.D.

Course and research requirements are designed to provide the successful candidate with a firm grounding in the social and technical impacts of information creation, use, dissemination and storage. Development of an appreciation and understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of information research is also emphasized.

I. Program of Study

Prerequisite: Computer and Information Technology Competencies. All INF Ph.D. students are required to show competency in four areas of computer and information technologies: networking, web applications, programming languages and databases. Students are required to take one to four modules of INF 523 Fundamentals of Information Technology to meet this requirement. An examination of papers can also be used to waive out of this requirement.

A. Core Courses
The five 2-credit, quarter courses are intended to expose INF Ph.D. students to a variety of issues related to information in various contexts. Students are required to take all five courses.

1. INF 720 Managing Information and Technology in Organizations (2 credits)
   This course will introduce information systems research paradigms grounded in organization theory and provide a framework for applying theoretical concepts and empirical tools to the management of information and technology in organizations.
   
   
2. INF 721 Information and Society (2 credits)
   Relationships between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and social action, how social and organizational factors influence information processes and systems, and how the use of ICTs influences our (changing) understanding and experience of dealing with information.
   
   
3. INF 722 Information Organization (2 credits)
   Text analysis for information extraction, organization of information for knowledge sharing, and visualization of information to support users' diverse cognitive styles.
   
   
4. INF 723 Information and Computing (2 credits)
   Development of theories and concepts that underlie the operation of information processing and retrieval systems; consequences derived from these theories that should be considered in designing such systems; theoretical foundations of information and computation; technologies and application areas.




5. INF 724 Information Policy (2 credits)
   National and international information policy development trends, processes, and conflicts; policy, law, and culture; information economics, industries, and trade; policies of information commodities (e.g. intellectual property, privacy).

B. Research Methods
This research sequence is intended to expose INF Ph.D. students to core Information Science research through becoming familiar with Information Science literature, developing a research plan, actively participating in research with faculty member(s), presenting research through poster session(s) and presentation(s), and developing research method and analysis skills. It consists of two major components: 11-12 credits of coursework and attendance at and participation in an annual INF Research Conference.

1. Research Seminar Sequence
   A four-semester sequence of 1-credit research seminars (INF 711, INF 712, INF 713, INF 714) will facilitate an understanding of information science literature and research and development of students' research agendas. Taken for the first four semesters in sequence, students will interact with faculty while learning about their current research; begin to use and evaluate information science literature; learn research techniques, such as writing a literature review, maintaining a bibliographic database, presenting a poster session and presenting current research at a conference; and develop research relationships with faculty and other students.

2. Annual INF Research Conference
   All INF Ph.D. students are required to attend the annual INF Research Conference. First year students plan and coordinate the conference, while also presenting at the poster session. Second year students present their current research with a faculty member. Third year and later students are encouraged to present their current research. This INF Research Conference develops a research community while offering opportunities for students to learn about research being done by other faculty and students in Informatics, and to hone their own research and presentation skills.
3. INF 710: Research Design in Information Science
   All INF Ph.D. students are required to take a 4-credit INF research methods course. Students will examine research issues in information science at an advanced level, focusing on appropriate research design, data gathering techniques and analysis relating to data collection and measurement. Students will explore the research design process from both qualitative and quantitative points of view.
4. Additional Research Tool Requirement
   Students will take at least one statistics/analysis course at the doctoral level, working with their Ph.D. advisor to find the best fit. This course may be chosen from those offered throughout the university, selected to be specific to their field of concentration. Although the requirement is for a quantitative course, students are strongly urged to take additional quantitative and qualitative courses to round out their research analysis skills.

C. Specializations
The Information Science Ph.D. program currently offers primary and secondary specializations in Business Information and Decision Systems; Decision and Policy Sciences; Geographic Information Systems; Information Assurance; Information, Government, and Democratic Society; Information in Organizational Environments; and Knowledge Organization and Management. All INF Ph.D. students normally select one primary and one secondary specialization. Primary specializations generally consist of six to seven courses, plus necessary prerequisites and include a comprehensive field examination. Normally, a secondary specialization consists of three courses and does not require a comprehensive examination. Self-designed secondary specializations require approval of the INF faculty.

1. Business Information and Decision Systems (BIDS)
   The BIDS specialization focuses on topics pertaining to the management of information technology and the development of solutions for business problems. There are two tracks: (1) Decision Systems Modeling and (2) Empirical Research on Information Technology. Decision Systems Modeling involves analyzing complex business systems and network architectures to solve complex, unstructured business problems relating to data and system security, information quality, and management decision-making. The second track, Empirical Research in Information Technology, entails building analytical and operational models for a variety of IT issues (e.g., IT Implementation, Knowledge Management, and Supply Chain Management) using empirical data. Specifically, it focuses on the use of causal models to propose and develop theory that explicates the relationships among relevant constructs.
   
   
2. Decision and Policy Sciences (DAPS)
   The Decision and Policy Sciences specialization is concerned with the appropriate use of information and quantitative and substantive analyses to support judgment and decision-making on issues of importance to policy, administration, and management. Methods emphasized within the field include multivariate statistics, judgment and decision analysis, systems modeling, evaluation, operations research, and economic analysis.
   
   
3. Geographic Information Science (GIS)
   The advanced specialization in Geographic Information Science focuses on the theoretical foundation of spatial data representation, analysis, and visualization and its broad spectrum of applications.
   
   
4. Information Assurance (IA)
   Born in the context of the development of secure operating systems, IA has blossomed into a truly interdisciplinary area of study that deals with providing assurance that all aspects of information systems maintain the essential criteria of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Today, the field of Information Assurance extends to a wide array of topics including secure operating systems, protection of assets, preventive/detective/protective/deterrent/corrective measures relating to incidents on computer networks, disaster planning, information protection, computer & network forensics and auditing, cryptography, Steganography, and intrusion detection.
   
   
5. Information, Government, and Democratic Society (IGDS)
   This concentration focuses on the role, use, influence and consequences of information and information communication technologies in government and democratic society. Researchers in this area study how people interact with government, public institutions, political organizations, and other citizens through communication technologies, focusing on the social and political impacts of technology-enabled discourse.
   
   
6. Information in Organizational Environments (IOE)
   Contemporary organizations are built as webs of information exchange and flow. The study of information in these organizational environments requires a multidisciplinary approach. This approach draws its knowledge, theories, and methods from a host of social sciences including information and communication studies, sociology, psychology; and business, education, and public administration.
   
   
7. Knowledge Organization and Management (KOM)
   All aspects of knowledge representation, organization, management and retrieval for information/knowledge in all formats and their use. Substantive areas include classification and categorization structures to represent knowledge, models of indexing and classification systems to aid in the construction of dictionaries and thesauri, models to facilitate visualization and retrieval of information.

II. Qualifying Requirements
In lieu of a qualifying examination, the Information Science doctoral program requires each student to meet a series of qualifying requirements by the end of the second semester. The qualifying requirements include:

a. a formal review of academic achievement during the first two semesters by the student's program chair, concentrating on both the quality of performance in classes and the timeliness of this performance,

b. a formal agreement (Program of Study form) about the scope and content of the student's proposed academic program, including the student's primary and secondary areas of specialization, submitted at the end of the second semester, and

c. a formal sign-off by the student's program chair and committee attesting to the student's progress in his or her doctoral program, submitted at intervals between the end of the second semester and the end of coursework, determined by the student's program chair and the student.

Normally, qualifying requirements are met when a student submits the formal Program of Study form at the end of the second semester and at intervals to be determined by the student's program chair and the student, and signed by the student's program committee and the Director of the Information Science Ph.D. Program.

III. Comprehensive Examinations
The general comprehensive exam will be administered after the core courses are completed and will consist of two sections:

• The first section will be a question selected from one of three prepared in advance by the faculty.
  
• The second section will be a literature review on a topic of the student's own choosing.
  

The primary specialization comprehensive exams will continue to be the responsibility of the specialization committees. Normally, each specialization will require one paper of publishable quality as part of the exam. In order to meet the publication requirement, the student would:

• Get a peer-reviewed paper published, OR
  
• Present a paper at a peer-reviewed national or international conference.

IV. Full-Time Study in Residence
Each student in a doctoral program must engage in full-time study beyond the master's degree or equivalent at the University in at least two sessions after admission to the advanced program. This requirement is designed to insure for each doctoral student a sustained period of intensive intellectual growth. For this purpose a student will enroll in full-time study (12 credits) taken in each of two sessions, or in a regular session and a summer session, not necessarily consecutive, which must be completed satisfactorily. Graduate assistants holding a full assistantship may meet the full-time study in residence requirement by completing one academic year in such a position, including the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 9 registered credits per semester plus satisfactory completion of assigned duties. Students already working in a university-based teaching position or in employment involving significant research may petition the faculty for a waiver of this requirement.

V. Apprentice Teaching Option
The proposed INF Ph.D. Program offers an apprentice teaching option in order to teach in the Information Science Undergraduate Program. The sequence is as follows:

• Student—successfully take/waive INF 523 Fundamentals of Information Technology
  
• Apprentice Teacher—normally fulfilled by being a TA under direct guidance and supervision of a master teacher for an undergraduate course
• Journeyman Teacher—normally fulfilled by being an instructor for an undergraduate course with own section under the guidance and supervision of a master teacher.

VI. Admission to Degree Candidacy
Formal admission to degree candidacy occurs after successful completion of all prerequisite, core and research courses with at least a B (3.0) average, research tool requirements, qualifying requirements, and both parts of the comprehensive examination process, assuming that full-time study in residence requirements have been met. The student is recommended for admission to degree candidacy by the program faculty on recommendation of his or her program guidance committee. Admission to degree candidacy occurs only with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies acting on recommendations of the Graduate Academic Council, the program director and program faculty.

VII. Dissertation
Upon admission to degree candidacy, the student begins formal work on the dissertation. Students should obtain the detailed statement on the doctoral dissertation from the program director.