Did You Know?
Our Dual MAS/MLIS degree is unique in all of North America.
Doctor of Philosophy in
Library, Archival and Information Studies Degree
The Ph.D. program is designed to provide advanced research education for outstanding students who have already obtained a Master of Archival Studies (MAS) degree or a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS), or an equivalent, related degree.
Program Requirements
Students entering the doctoral program with an approved master's degree will be required to take four six-credit (2-term) courses. In most cases, courses additional to these four courses will be recommended to students. In consultation with the student’s adviser, the student may be required to take courses in the SLAIS Master of Library Studies program or the Master of Archival Studies program to enhance the knowledge acquired in the student's master's degree and to provide sufficient background for the doctoral courses. Doctoral students will be strongly encouraged to take graduate level courses from other UBC departments that will increase their knowledge in their chosen area of research. These courses are chosen in consultation with the student's adviser, and are additional to those required for ARST 621 or LIBR 621.
The five required courses for students in the Archival stream are:- ARST 600 Advanced Research Methods
- ARST 610 Theoretical and Research Foundations of Archival Studies
- ARST 620 Advanced Study in Major Area. Directed studies course normally taught by the student's research adviser
- ARST 621 Advanced Study in Minor Area. Each student must take six credits in a minor area. These credits may be taken outside of SLAIS.
- ARST 699 Dissertation
The five required courses for students in the Library and Information Science stream are:
- LIBR 600 Advanced Research Methods
- LIBR 610 Theoretical and Research Foundations of Library and Information Science
- LIBR 620 Advanced Study in Major Area. Directed studies course normally taught by the student's research adviser
- LIBR 621 Advanced Study in Minor Area. Each student must take six credits in a minor area. These credits may be taken outside of SLAIS.
- LIBR 699 Dissertation
Overview of Doctoral Program
Upon entering the doctoral program, a student will be assigned an adviser who will work with the student to develop an appropriate set of courses relevant to the student's research plan. All incoming students will take the advanced research methods course, thus facilitating the development of collegiality within the doctoral group and promoting the sharing of research interests. Advance study in the major area will normally be taken with the faculty member most interested in the student's research topic. In many cases this faculty member will become the thesis supervisor at a later stage. The Courses in the minor area may be directed studies courses, courses from other departments at the university, or master's level courses at SLAIS, depending on the research interests of individual students. Additional courses may be required as appropriate.
Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, the student will enter the thesis stage of the program. A thesis supervisor will be appointed by the Doctoral Studies Committee at the request of the student and with the agreement of the faculty member. The thesis supervisor, after discussion with the student and other faculty members, will suggest other members of the thesis committee to be approved by the doctoral studies committee. The student, working with the thesis supervisor and other members of the thesis committee, will prepare a thesis proposal to be presented to the Doctoral Studies Committee for approval. When the thesis proposal has been approved, the student enters the thesis stage of the program. The thesis will be prepared following the Guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. When the thesis is completed and successfully defended, the student will be recommended for the Ph.D. degree.
Application Procedures: Use "Admissions" link above
