Introduction
Information is a key resource for individual, organizational, national and international development. It must therefore be generated, processed, stored, and disseminated in a timely manner. However, because it is a non-dynamic resource, the above activities cannot happen by themselves. Therefore, there must exist a body of information professionals with theory (knowledge) and training (competence and skills) in order to effectively manage this information, most especially at a time where the use of Information and Communication Technology is associated with a variety of complexities in the library and information science discipline.
Information Science (LIS) is a discipline that aims at training information professionals to serve different stakeholders for development. In Uganda, Library and Information Science training training started in 1963 when the East African School of Librarianship (EASL) now East African School of Library and Information Science (EASLIS) was established at Makerere University. Since that time, the School has been a leader in Library and Information Science training at various levels including certificate, diploma, bachelors, masters and Phd. The School has trained library and information professionals to undertake various information management tasks locally and globally. The Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science was introduced in 2004 to enhance learners’ capacity for advanced research in information science and knowledge transfer partnerships. The Programme was revised in 2010 and has produced a number of graduates since then.
The Doctoral programme is offered by Coursework and Dissertation. The School also offers a Doctor of Philosophy by research only. The Directorate of Research and Graduate Training provides details about this.
Programme Description
The revised program is theoretically and research-oriented with emphasis on the creation, advancement and dissemination of new knowledge in information science. The program enhances learners’ capacity for advanced research in information science and knowledge transfer partnerships. Learners acquire knowledge for advanced scholarship and contribution towards managerial and policy formulation at organizations strategic levels.
The programme has been running without a breakdown structure for year two and three but this has been structured into one Research seminar per semester during the second and third years.
It is a three-year program comprising six semesters and offered by coursework and research. The learner will attain 48 CUs. The title of the dissertation shall appear on the transcript. The revised program also comprises four audit courses, which learners will attend whenever offered or when advised by their supervisors/academic advisors. Credits will not be awarded for audit courses.
Program Purpose
The overarching goal is to produce information science PhD holders equipped with advanced knowledge for scientific investigation and providing solutions to complex information science problems.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this Programme, graduates should:
i. Be able to conduct advanced quality research in information science
ii. Be able to initiate international collaborations for interdisciplinary research, teaching, innovations and projects in information science.
iii. Possess the competencies necessary for Information Science staffing in universities, public, private and international organizations.
Tuition
PhD students from East Africa will pay tuition fees of eight million five hundred thousand Uganda shillings (8,500,000/=) per year, while international students will pay tuition fees of sixteen million Uganda shillings (16,000,000/=) per year.
Target Group
The PhD programme targets persons who wish to attain a qualification for:
i. Advanced research and knowledge transfer partnerships in information science field
ii. Managerial and leadership responsibilities in library and information institutions.
iii. Academic career in library and information science education.
iv. Other positions, which place high demands on information science competence.
Programme Objectives
The objectives of the Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science Programme are to:
i. Build capacity for advanced quality research and practice in information science
ii. Build capacity for local and international collaborations in interdisciplinary research, teaching, innovations and projects in information science.
iii. Produce graduates with a qualification sufficient to cater for the staffing needs of universities, public and private organizations internationally
Entry Requirements
To qualify for admission under PhD Information Science Programme, the candidate must:
i. Meet the minimum entry requirements for a PhD Programme at Makerere University, and;
ii. Hold a Bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognized university;
iii. Hold a Master’s degree in any of the following disciplines: Information Science, Records and Archives Management, Library Science, Publishing Science, Information Systems or Knowledge Management.
Programme Structure
|
SEMESTER 1 |
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
|
CORE COURSES |
PLS 9108 |
Philosophy and Theory of Information Science |
4 |
60 |
00 |
60 |
|
PLS 9109 |
Advanced Information Science Research |
4 |
30 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
PLS 9110 |
Trends in Information Science |
4 |
45 |
30 |
60 |
|
|
PLS 9111 |
Information Science Policy Studies |
4 |
45 |
30 |
60 |
|
|
ELECTIVES |
None |
|||||
|
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS |
16 |
|||||
|
SEMESTER 2 |
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
|
CORE COURSES |
PLS 9208 |
Seminar: Concept Paper |
2 |
00 |
60 |
30 |
|
PLS 9209 |
Bibliometrics |
4 |
30 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
PLS 9210 |
Scholarly Publishing and Communication |
4 |
30 |
60 |
60 |
|
|
PLS 9211 |
Information Ethics |
3 |
30 |
30 |
45 |
|
|
PLS 9212 |
Information User Studies |
30 |
30 |
45 |
||
|
ELECTIVES |
None |
|||||
|
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS |
16 |
|||||
YEAR TWO
|
SEMESTER 1 |
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
|
CORE COURSES |
PLS9301 |
Research Seminar I |
2 |
00 |
60 |
30 |
|
ELECTIVES |
None |
|||||
|
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS |
02 |
|||||
|
SEMESTER 2 |
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
|
CORE COURSES |
PLS9401 |
Research Seminar II |
2 |
00 |
60 |
30 |
|
ELECTIVES |
None |
|||||
|
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS |
02 |
|||||
YEAR THREE
|
SEMESTER 1 |
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
|
CORE COURSES |
PLS9501 |
Research Seminar III |
2 |
00 |
60 |
30 |
|
ELECTIVES |
None |
|||||
|
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS |
02 |
|||||
|
SEMESTER 2 |
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
|
CORE COURSES |
PLS9601 |
Dissertation |
10 |
00 |
300 |
150 |
|
ELECTIVES |
None |
|||||
|
TOTAL CREDIT UNITS |
10 |
|||||
Total minimum CU requirements
|
Year1, Sem1 CU |
Year1, Sem2 CU |
Year2, Sem1 CU |
Year2, Sem1 CU |
Year3, Sem1 CU |
Year3, Sem1 CU |
Total CU |
|
16 |
16 |
02 |
02 |
02 |
10 |
48 |
During the second and third years of study, the candidate will be required to submit a progress report to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training every after six months.
AUDIT COURSES: SEMESTER 1 or 2
|
CODE |
COURSE NAME |
CU |
LH |
PH |
CH |
REMARK |
|
ART9102 |
Philosophy of Methods |
4 |
30 |
30 |
– |
|
|
ISE 9106 |
Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis |
4 |
45 |
30 |
– |
|
|
SOC9107 |
Qualitative Research methodology and Data Analysis |
4 |
45 |
30 |
– |