Cara Schatz
P : 703.647.4917
cara@sla.org
Syracuse iSchool Offers SLA Members Easier Access to Doctorate Program for Executives
Professional Experience and SLA Membership Provide Doctoral Candidates with Head Start on Distance-Learning Professional Study in
Information Management
Alexandria, Virginia, November 5, 2008 - Special Libraries Association (SLA) has entered into a partnership with the School of Information Studies (iSchool) at Syracuse University (Syracuse), which recently launched a part-time executive doctoral program for highly qualified middle level managers looking to boost their careers. SLA members with at least five years of professional experience in corporate, government, or academic libraries who apply to the doctoral program will be able to waive the standard GRE requirement.
"This program is a perfect fit for information managers looking to take the next step toward a higher level executive position," said SLA CEO Janice R. Lachance. "I am so pleased that Syracuse is working with SLA to provide our members with this opportunity to expand their skills and take their professional development to a new level."
"This is a part-time program, and is conducted in distance learning format, so it will be accessible to almost any SLA member with five years of experience. I am thrilled that we are able to provide this opportunity and hope that many members will take advantage of it," Lachance added.
The Doctorate of Professional Studies in Information Management from Syracuse is a three-year program with fall (starting in August), spring (starting in January), and summer (starting in May) terms, which is offered in a limited residency, distance learning format. The 51-credit-hour program involves 16 courses on methods, research, and practice topics (36 credits total), plus 15 credits for thesis work. Syracuse will also accept up to 15 credits of prior doctoral-level work from any qualified U.S. doctoral program in library science or a related field. This can reduce the tuition for by approximately 40 percent in the first and second year of study for an SLA member student who has already accomplished some part- or full-time doctoral work in another program.
"The program"s applied approach complements the research focus of the iSchool"s existing residential Ph.D. in information science and technology," said Syracuse Associate Dean for Research and Doctoral Studies Jeffrey Stanton. "The professional doctorate program also fits with Syracuse University"s commitment to life-long learning and meeting the evolving needs of students at various stages of their professional careers."
While, at this time, Syracuse will not lower the cost per credit hour, the new distance based Doctor of Professional Studies degree requires fewer credit hours each year than a standard Ph.D. program. That translates to an annual tuition of US $18,173, compared to US $25,656 for the standard doctoral program.
Beyond this doctorate program, as part of SLA"s ongoing relationship with the university, Syracuse is offering discounted tuition to SLA members who wish to take a graduate-level course for credit (10 percent off regular tuition) or audit a course (50 percent off regular tuition). Full details on all the tuition discounts available from Syracuse are available online.
To take advantage of this partnership program, applicants must indicate their affiliation with SLA and the extent of their professional experience in the application essay. SLA members who wish to apply to the program for matriculation in August 2009 should submit their application materials to the Syracuse iSchool online system no later than January 7, 2009.
About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than approximately 11,000 members in 75 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic, and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org.
RSS
Feedback form
