Information Systems & Technology, PhD

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The doctoral program prepares students to participate in the academic, information systems and technology research community. Doctoral graduates are prepared to conduct rigorous and relevant research and to apply learning and skills to teaching, consulting, and other activities.

Degree Requirements

Coursework. A total of 76 units are required for the degree.

Transfer Credit. Credit may be given for coursework taken at other institutions and other courses may be transferred per the University’s policy on transfer credit .

Qualifying Exam. Students beginning the doctoral program in Summer 2014 and later are required to take the Qualifying Exam within 18 months after starting the program. To be eligible to take the exam, students must have completed the specific courses covered by the exam and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5, with no grade of less than B on the student’s transcript. Students who do not pass the exam on the first attempt are permitted only one additional attempt, to be taken within one year of failing the first attempt.

IST 500 - Introduction to IS&T Research
IST 503 - Qualitative Research
IST 504 - Advanced Quantitative Research
IST 505 - Design Research

Students admitted to the doctoral program no earlier than Spring 2013 or who have completed less than 24 units in the program may petition to take the Qualifying Exam and are responsible for the all material covered by the exam.

Qualifying Portfolio. The program requires students to develop a qualifying portfolio.

Dissertation. Requirements and processes for the dissertation are established by University policy. Refer to Doctoral Degrees section of the Bulletin as well as to the registrar’s website.

Grade point average. Students must comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress policies of the University. The doctoral program in Information Systems & Technology requires students to maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

University Policies. University policies detailed in the Academic Policies section of the Bulletin apply.

Competency Courses

The competency courses do not count towards the 76 units required for the doctoral degree. Students are either admitted with equivalent courses or may enroll in the courses at CGU, understanding that the units do not count toward degree requirements.

Programming, Organization of IS&T and MGT 306 or another graduate-level Statistics/Qualitative Methods course is required.

Master’s Level Core Courses - 20 units

The Master’s level courses represent the five topics covered by the Doctoral Screening Exam.

IST 302 - Database Concepts
IST 303 - Software Development
IST 304 - Communications & Networking
IST 305 - Management of IS&T
IST 321 - Delivering Business Value through IS&T Leadership

Specialization/Concentration - 16 units

Five concentration courses, equivalent to the elective courses permitted for the master’s degree, are required. Under the direction of a faculty advisor, students design a customized program or select from the specialization areas below, depending upon individual desire to develop expertise in one or more sub-fields.

Data Science and Analytics (DS&A)
Cybersecurity & Networking C&N)
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Health Informatics (HI)
IT Strategy and Innovation (S&I)

Additional information is available on the department website.

Doctoral Research Seminars - 20 units

Five courses or 20 units are required. Of the courses listed below, IST 500, 501, and 502 are required.

Electives - 20 units

Students must enroll in five courses non-Information Systems & Technology courses.

Four courses in fields such as management, philosophy, psychology, religion, etc.
One transdisciplinary course.