I saw the editorial in SLJ this month about the great distance PhD program at the University of North Texas and was encouraged because I have been trying to find a way to earn my doctorate without giving up the security and joy of my full time teaching job. I looked into the UNT program and from what I can find they are now only pursuing a traditional face-to-face doctorate program. I have looked into San Jose State's Gateway program and may end up going that route but I have had problems getting simple questions answered about the program and worry that there are too many middle men, no real leaders and it is not the quality of program that I want (yet).....
So my question is for the experienced librarians, have any of you persued your PhD? How did you do it? Did you give up your day job? Was it worth it? What programs are out there now? Am I missing a doctorate program that might be better? I appreciate any and all advice and input!
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I am a PhD student in Educational Leadership Research and Counseling with a focus in Educational Technology. I love it and am currently working as a high school librarian. It is a little difficult but I take face to face classes after work two days a week and am finishing up my course work and studying for general exams while working on my dissertation. It is quite a load because I am also married and have two children under the age of four. I thought about an online program but realized it wasn't the way to go for me. I needed some visual instructor contact. If there was a hybrid program, it may have been better for me. However, I am nearing the end and I am very happy it almost over.
I was at the booth for San Jose State's program at the SLA conference in Seattle. Possibly the reason we don't see more online doctoral programs in library science is that they only want to confer a limited number of degrees; also, online is also cheaper (less tuition). Make sure that the program is accredited. Since several universities have changed library school names to School of Information and Communication, etc. one may get a Phd in social media, information science, etc. and still do research in library science; why not? there is so much overlap in the fields. Can you perceive doing research in some aspect of social media and its impact on libraries, cataloging and tagging, or using web analytics to analyze trends in digital readership. We, as librarians, can chart our own course by thinking more broadly of our field. We impact every discipline. I suggest we look at the current research going on at these universities in several related fields; don't be surprised if it speaks "library science."
This is a really interesting conversation. I am currently working as a children's librarian, but would like to go back to the schools. I was thinking of doing some online continuing ed. Has anyone done any? I was thinking of UNT. It's inexpensive, and looks like a nice brush up course for me. I'm not quite ready to go for my PHD, but I was wondering about online professional development that people have done.
My mentor sent me this and I thought I would share.
Dominican University establishes doctoral LIS program
In a bold recession-bucking move, Dominican University in River Forest , Illinois , has launched the first PhD program in library and information science in its 108-year history. The Doctorate of Philosophy in Library and Information Science, to be administered through the university’s accredited Graduate School of Library and Information Science, has accepted its first cohort of eight students for the fall 2009 semester....
American Libraries Online, Oct. 12
I immediately sent them e-mail looking for more information. I will update you when I have more information. I also looked EXTENSIVELY into NOVA's PhD in Computing Technology in Education which 'appears' to be a great program but I have well founded reservations, especially for school librarians who could not take all 4 Fridays (or more depending on your travel time) off during the school year. Please contact me if you want more details.
I am hopeful that more schools will move in this direction SOON! Please let me know if you know of any (even that are in the beginning stages, I need hope!). I really do not want to give up my school and students to become a full time PhD student but it is looking like those are the only choices! Help!
I am interested in know more. I am just finishing my master's degree, but am considering getting my PhD in library and information sciences. Please keep us posted.
No. I am personally applying to Dominican University (which is NOT online, just weekends) and NOVA (which is online PLUS weekends). I think that more and more schools will move in this direction, the question is: can you wait that long?
Good luck!
I asked Drexel if there was any possibility of this in the future and their reply:
Unfortunately, there aren't any plans to offer the PhD in Information Studies online. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Replies
Hope this helps.
I have also looked around for an online PhD program for library science. Haven't found anything yet.
Dominican University establishes doctoral LIS program
In a bold recession-bucking move, Dominican University in River Forest , Illinois , has launched the first PhD program in library and information science in its 108-year history. The Doctorate of Philosophy in Library and Information Science, to be administered through the university’s accredited Graduate School of Library and Information Science, has accepted its first cohort of eight students for the fall 2009 semester....
American Libraries Online, Oct. 12
I immediately sent them e-mail looking for more information. I will update you when I have more information. I also looked EXTENSIVELY into NOVA's PhD in Computing Technology in Education which 'appears' to be a great program but I have well founded reservations, especially for school librarians who could not take all 4 Fridays (or more depending on your travel time) off during the school year. Please contact me if you want more details.
I am hopeful that more schools will move in this direction SOON! Please let me know if you know of any (even that are in the beginning stages, I need hope!). I really do not want to give up my school and students to become a full time PhD student but it is looking like those are the only choices! Help!
Good luck!
Unfortunately, there aren't any plans to offer the PhD in Information Studies online. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
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