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Graduate Field of Information Science

Technical & practical skills to build tech solutions for a better world .

The field of Information Science looks at the interactions between people and technology, how technology is shaping individual lives and social groups, as well as how the ways that people use technology can shape new developments.

Cornell Information Science in partnership with the College of Agriculture and Life Science offers M.S., MPS and Ph.D. programs that examine information systems in their social, cultural, economic, historical, legal, and political contexts.

Studying technology and the ways in which technology is used is essential to the field.

Information Science examines information systems in their social, cultural, economic, historical, legal, and political contexts. Studying technology and the ways in which technology is used is essential to the field.

Master of Science (M.S.)

Information Science's three masters programs prepare the next generation of innovators for careers of impact, equipping student-leaders with technical and practical skills to build tech solutions for a better world.

Connective Media

Connective Media is a dual master's degree in Information Systems and Applied Information Science offered through the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute. Based at the Cornell Tech campus in New York City, Connective Media is for human-centric tech professionals, scholars, and entrepreneurs who are passionate about the ways in which we use and interact with digital tools as well as the human and social impacts of their use. 

• Learn more about the Connective Media M.S.

Health Tech

Health Tech is a dual master's degree in Information Systems and Applied Information Science offered through the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute. Based at the Cornell Tech campus in New York City, the dual master's degrees in Health Tech is intended for students hyper-focused on transforming healthcare through new digital technologies. 

• Learn more about the Health Tech M.S.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 

The focus of the Information Science Ph.D. program is on technological systems and their use - the ways that people use technology and how that use affects us.

At Cornell, graduate work is organized as fields, each with a Director of Graduate Studies. The field of Information Science studies the design and use of information systems in a social context: it studies the creation, representation, organization, application, and analysis of information in digital form. The Field of Information Science spans both the Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses, with faculty and students in both locations. 

• Learn more about the Ph.D. in Information Science

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Information Science

Held exclusively on Cornell's Ithaca campus, our MPS in Information Science is a one-year program that prepares students for work in industry. It is an  interdisciplinary ,  one-year program  that prepares students for successful careers in information science. Capstone projects involve students working with client companies to find solutions to real world problems, providing experiences that can apply directly to jobs after graduation.  

Cornell's Information Science MPS allows each student to  individually tailor  a unique skill set for their career goals, such as user experience design, data science, interactive technology, and networks, crowds, and markets. With no core courses, the program's  flexible   curriculum  allows students to develop strong technical skills and an in-depth understanding of the social and behavioral aspects of information technology. No Cornell course is off limits – students can choose from all University course offerings during the program. 

• Learn more about the program

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Graduate Program

Introduction.

Established in 1991, Cornell’s Department and Graduate Field of Science & Technology Studies were formed from two previously independent Programs: “Science, Technology and Society” (STS) and “History and Philosophy of Science and Technology” (HPST). The department and graduate field brought together a group of scholars with convergent interests committed to the rigorous academic advancement of this new and exciting field.

Our aim is to bring together faculty and students with diverse backgrounds and interests in a shared effort to study science and technology with special tools for exploring distinctive questions. At the same time, these tools and questions are designed to facilitate conversations with colleagues in traditional disciplines. Our approach throughout is both descriptive (aimed at understanding how science and technology are done) and normative (for example, showing where actual practices and professed norms are in conflict).

Possible topics of investigation range from transformations in early-modern natural philosophy to the dynamics of contemporary environmental, biological, and technological change. The field transcends the boundaries of pre-existing disciplinary specialties. Such categories as “historian” or “sociologist,” are still relevant for guiding research design, but they fail increasingly to capture the transdisciplinary character of S&TS investigations.

Ph.D. Requirements

Special committees .

The Cornell graduate system requires students to assemble individually-tailored “special committees” to direct their programs of study. Graduate students must select at least two members of their three- (exceptionally four-) member committee from the S&TS field. The Chairperson must be a faculty member of the S&TS graduate field. The remaining members are chosen from Cornell’s graduate faculty as a whole. This system allows students to include faculty members from outside the field of S&TS on their committees, and thus introduces a degree of flexibility in the design of each student’s specific training and research program.

In addition, faculty members in the S&TS graduate field provide ties to other departments and programs through their own wider affiliations. Cemented through joint appointments and graduate field memberships, these include History, Communication, Philosophy, Government, Sociology, Anthropology, Information Science, Environmental Engineering, Peace Studies, Women’s Studies, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Human Development and Family Studies, and other areas of the social and natural sciences. Members of the field thus provide students with a considerable range of disciplinary expertise and perspectives.  

The core faculty members of the graduate field are particularly noted for their work in the following areas: history and historiography of science and technology; technology and society; social study of contemporary science and technology; engineering, environmental, and biomedical ethics; women in science; gender and technology; philosophy of science; politics of science and technology; and communication and popularization of science. Much of this work necessarily is historical, sociological, and political in the broadest sense, and it draws on the well-established traditions of expertise in such studies possessed by individual faculty members. 

In consultation with their faculty advisers, graduate students in S&TS take active responsibility for the development of their own academic programs within the overall disciplinary context of S&TS. Students are assigned a temporary chairperson, which is chosen by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) when they enter the S&TS graduate program. Before the end of the Fall semester of his or her first year, the student must form a temporary committee, consisting of a temporary advisor and two other members of the S&TS Field. The student will meet with this preliminary committee at the end of their first year, in an end-of-year progress meeting. After that meeting the student may reconstitute their committee, but must do so by the end of their third semester.

Course Requirements

Course requirements provide a foundation for students in S&TS, covering key questions and relevant research methods: 

Each student must successfully complete, prior to their A-exams, a one semester seminar, S&TS 7111, intended as an introduction to the field as a whole. Each student also must complete a one-semester seminar on methods, and at least four additional S&TS courses that broadly cover the field. A total of at least four of the courses taken during a student's first year should be designated as S&TS. 

All students will be expected to achieve a level of competence in one foreign language sufficient for reading the literature in the student's research area. It will be up to the special committee to decide how this competence should be demonstrated. Additional languages may be required at the discretion of the special committee.

Second Year Project

A central goal of the S&TS graduate curriculum is to prepare students for independent research. To achieve this goal, each student selects a topic related to some field of specialization within S&TS and explores it under the guidance of a faculty committee. This “Second Year Project” creates a context for students to increase their familiarity with research techniques and strategies such as ethnographic fieldwork, or primary source and archival work. Students are expected to present the results of their research in a departmental seminar and/or professional journal or meeting.

Admission to Ph.D. candidacy occurs after the student has 1) passed the A-exam (written and oral examinations in specific subject areas), 2) received committee approval of a dissertation proposal, and 3) completed any additional work required by the committee. The A-exam should be taken, at the latest, by the beginning of the seventh semester of study. Scheduling of A-exams also requires that no incomplete or failed courses appear on the student’s graduate transcript.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Applications for admission to the Graduate Field of Science & Technology Studies should be submitted on-line through the  Graduate School .

The following supporting documentation is required:

• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended (admitted students are required to submit official transcripts prior to matriculation)
• Statement of purpose (for guidelines, see: https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/prepare/statements-of-purpose/ )
• Writing sample (term paper or similar scope)

All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. International students demonstrate proficiency by submitting official IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam scores. Scores must be sent electronically (e-delivery) to the Cornell University Graduate Admissions, Caldwell Hall e-download account. E-delivery may also be referred to as an e-TRF by your test center. A list of English language exemptions can be found on the Graduate School website .

The deadline for applications and materials is December 15. All supporting documentation can be attached to the online application. All applicants will be informed of admission decisions by early April, at the latest.

Applications to the field have a variety of backgrounds, including the basic sciences, engineering, anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, and politics. Familiarity with science and technology studies is desirable. Prospective students are welcome to visit Cornell.

Extensive financial resources are available to help defray the cost of graduate study at Cornell. The majority of our graduate students receive financial assistance, either from Cornell or from outside sources each year. Support in the field of Science & Technology Studies usually comes from a combination of fellowships and teaching assistantships. Among potential funding sources are: the Sage Graduate Fellowship; external fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the Javits Foundation; fellowships for minority students; and S&TS teaching assistantships.

Resources and Activities

The most important resource available to graduate students in S&TS is Cornell University itself. Home to dozens of laboratories and research institutes, Cornell is both a public and a private institution grappling with the turbulent politics of science and technology in a rapidly changing world. At the same time, the university is home to a world-class library system that encourages and fosters historical inquiry.

In addition to superb collections in the humanities and in the natural and social sciences, the system boasts a number of specialist libraries of interest to S&TS.  Mann Library  is at the forefront of efforts to improve information management and retrieval, especially in agriculture and the life sciences.  Kroch Library’s  holdings in the history of science and technology are among the most important collections of primary-source materials on science and medicine in the United States, with claims to History of Science being the largest in number of volumes. These range from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century, and are augmented by collections of more recent scientific literature in the dedicated subject libraries, which include engineering, law, industrial and labor relations, veterinary science, physical sciences and biological sciences. Archival resources cover the full range of sciences and engineering, and are explicitly oriented toward S&TS research. Of special interest are the unique archival collections on  science writing , the  cold fusion controversy ,  DNA testing in the law  (informally known as the “O.J. archive”),  public perceptions of the Y2K episode , and the  Voting Technology Archive  (a special archival collection on the technological issues raised by the year 2000 US presidential election).  

Additional activities hosted or oriented specifically towards S&TS include Professor Suman Seth's co-editorship of the History of Science Society's journal Osiris . There is an invited lecture series; the Nordlander Lecture on Science and Public Policy (given by such notable scholars as Yaron Ezrahi, David Hollinger, David Holloway, Albert Teich, Shirley Malcom, Thomas Hughes, Khotso Mokhele, Caldwell Esselstyn, Freeman Dyson, Kathy Hudson, David Healy , and Allison Macfarlane ); lectures by postdoctoral fellows in S&TS; and weekly informal lunchtime seminars for faculty and graduate students at which local scholars, including the S&TS graduate students, may present their work.  The S&TS Department is part of a  vibrant international community  of STS programs.

STS Graduate Field Handbook

The first point of reference for students to understand the requirements for successfully completing a doctoral degree in Science and Technology Studies at Cornell is the Graduate Field Handbook. The Graduate Field Handbook is a regularly updated document designed to help graduate students in Science and Technology Studies:

• Find essential information about core requirements for their degree completion,
• Differentiate among and understand requirements of the Graduate School, the field, and the Special Committee chair and committee,
• Understand the normative timeline for completing field and Graduate School milestones
• Identify academic and professional development opportunities to support students at different stages in the program

Click here to access the STS Graduate Field Handbook

Contacts and Field Faculty

Director of Graduate Studies: Stephen Hilgartner , Frederic J. Whiton Professor of Science & Technology Studies,  [email protected]

Graduate Field Faculty Click here to browse profiles of members of our graduate field.

In the College of Arts and Sciences   .

Course Offerings  

W. Arms, S. Barocas,  L. Blume, C. Cardie, T. Choudhury, D. Cosley, C. Danescu-Niculescu-Mizil, N. Dell, D. Easley, S. Fussell, G. Gay, A. Ghosh, P. Ginsparg, C. Gomes,  F. Guimbretiere, H. Hirsh, S. Jackson, T. Joachims, M. Jung,  J. Kleinberg, L. Lee, G. Leshed, K. Levy, M. Macy, D. Mimno, S. Mohlke, M. Naaman, H. Nissenbaum, T. Parikh, M. Pollack, J. Rzeszotarski, P. Sengers, E. Tardos, D. Williamson

Information Science (IS) is an interdisciplinary department that explores the design and use of information systems in a social context: the field studies the creation, representation, organization, application, and analysis of information in digital form. The focus of Information Science is on systems and their use rather than on the computing and communication technologies that underlie and sustain them. Moreover, Information Science examines the social, cultural, economic, historical, legal, and political contexts in which information systems are employed, both to inform the design of such systems and to understand their impact on individuals, social groups, and institutions.

Major Requirements for Students who Matriculate as Cornell Freshman or Transfers after July 1, 2015

Majors are required to take core courses that introduce them to the variety of theories and methods of study within the discipline. Students will specialize in a particular area of interest in Information Science by choosing courses from one concentration that will provide in-depth study in that area. Courses under each concentration come from within and outside the department. In addition to the courses in their chosen concentration, students are required to complete three elective classes that will contribute to their studies in either breadth or depth.

Students that matriculated prior to July 1, 2015 have the option to follow the old requirements found in the AY 2014-2015 Courses of Study or follow the new requirement rules.

Overview of Major Requirements:

• Students must complete the five core courses; INFO 1200   , INFO 1300   , INFO 2040   , INFO 2450   , INFO 2950   .
• Students must take  CS 1110    and one Calculus and one Statistics course.
• Students must complete AT LEAST one Concentration from the options listed below. 
• Students must complete three electives. See the Elective requirements guidelines.

All courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade. Affiliated students must earn a C- or better in all courses used for the major.

Requirements:

Introductory course:.

Core (5 courses)

• INFO 1200 - Information Ethics, Law, and Policy (crosslisted)
• INFO 1300 - Introductory Design and Programming for the Web (crosslisted)
• INFO 2040 - Networks (crosslisted)
• INFO 2450 - Communication and Technology (crosslisted)
• INFO 2950 - Introduction to Data Science

PROGRAMMING AND MATH REQUIREMENTS

Programming courses.

• CS 1110 - Introduction to Computing Using Python

MATH COURSES

Choose one.

• MATH 1110 - Calculus I
• MATH 1106 - Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences
• MATH 1910 - Calculus for Engineers

STATISTICS COURSES

• AEM 2100 - Introductory Statistics
• BTRY 3010 - Biological Statistics I (crosslisted)
• CEE 3040 - Uncertainty Analysis in Engineering
• ECON 3130 - Statistics and Probability
• ENGRD 2700 - Basic Engineering Probability and Statistics
• ILRST 2100 - Introductory Statistics (crosslisted)
• MATH 1710 - Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World
• PAM 2100 - Introduction to Statistics
• PSYCH 3500 - Statistics and Research Design
• SOC 3010 - Statistics for Sociological Research
• STSCI 2100 - Introductory Statistics (crosslisted)

*AP credit may be used to fulfill the CS 1110    and calculus requirements.

CONCENTRATIONS

Each of the introductory Information Science courses is the beginning of a path of in-depth study. We call these paths Concentrations. Each one is described in further detail below.

SELECT ONE:

Behavioral science.

This concentration provides students with an in-depth understanding of the behavioral and social aspects of interacting with and through information technology.

A. UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: CHOOSE TWO COURSES

• INFO 3460 - [Crowds, Communities, and Technology] (crosslisted)
• INFO 3400 - Personal Relationships and Technology (crosslisted)
• INFO 4430 - Teams and Technology
• INFO 4450 - Computer-Mediated Communication (crosslisted)
• INFO 4500 - [Language and Technology] (crosslisted)
• INFO 4550 - Deception in the Networked Age (crosslisted)
• PSYCH 3800 - Social Cognition

B. SOCIAL DATA ANALYTICS: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• INFO 3300 - Data-Driven Web Applications (crosslisted)
• CS 4740 - Natural Language Processing (crosslisted)
• INFO 4300 - Language and Information (crosslisted)
• CS 4780 - Machine Learning for Intelligent Systems

CHOOSE ONE COURSE FROM SECTION C

*Please note that you will choose one course from one of the Context sections: either Sociological, Network or Design. NOT one from each.

C1. BEHAVIOR IN SOCIOLOGICAL CONTEXT:

• INFO 3200 - New Media and Society (crosslisted)
• INFO 3561 - Computing Cultures (crosslisted)
• INFO 4650 - [Mobile Communication in Public Life] (crosslisted)
• COMM 4410 - [Communicating Self in Social Media]

C2. BEHAVIOR IN NETWORK CONTEXT:

• SOC 4390 - [Social Dynamics and Computational Methods]
• INFO 4360 - Communication Networks and Social Capital (crosslisted)

C3: BEHAVIOR IN DESIGN CONTEXT:

• INFO 4240 - Designing Technology for Social Impact (crosslisted)
• INFO 3450 - Human-Computer Interaction Design (crosslisted)
• INFO 4400 - Advanced Human-Computer Interaction Design (crosslisted)

DATA SCIENCE

This concentration will equip students to learn about the world through data analytics.

A. DATA ANALYSIS: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• ORIE 3120 - Industrial Data and Systems Analysis
• ORIE 4740 - Statistical Data Mining I
• STSCI 4740 - Data Mining and Machine Learning
• CS 4786 - Machine Learning for Data Science

B. DOMAIN EXPERTISE: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• INFO 2770 - Excursions in Computational Sustainability (crosslisted)
• INFO 4120 - Ubiquitous Computing
• INFO 4130 - [Health and Computation]

C. BIG DATA ETHICS, POLICY AND SOCIETY: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• INFO 4200 - [Information Policy: Research, Analysis, and Design] (crosslisted)
• INFO 4561 - Stars, Scores, and Rankings: Evaluation and Society (crosslisted)

D. DATA COMMUNICATION: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• COMM 4200 - [Public Opinion and Social Processes]
• COMM 4860 - [Risk Communication]
• COMM 3189 - [Taking America’s Pulse: Creating and Conducting a National Opinion Poll] (crosslisted)

DIGITAL CULTURE AND PRODUCTION

This concentration explores computing as a cultural phenomenon. It equips students to analyze technology’s role in society and culture, to understand it historically, and to produce media artifacts.

This concentration can be completed by following either of the two options below:

• One course each from A, B, and C; an additional course from A or C.
• One course each from A and B; 2 additional courses from A or C.

For the Media, Art, Design component : Any ARCH elective course or option studio at the 3000 level or higher that addresses IT as a significant component can work for this portion. Elective courses can be found on AAPs website .

A. DIGITAL CULTURE AND HISTORY: CHOOSE ONE COURSE*

• INFO 2921 - Inventing an Information Society (crosslisted)

B. DIGITAL PRODUCTION: CHOOSE ONE COURSE*

• INFO 3152 - Introduction to Computer Game Design
• INFO 2300 - Intermediate Design and Programming for the Web (crosslisted)
• CS 3758 - [Autonomous Mobile Robots] (crosslisted)
• INFO 4320 - Introduction to Rapid Prototyping and Physical Computing
• CS 4620 - Introduction to Computer Graphics

C. MEDIA, ART, DESIGN: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• HIST 2293 - [Digital History] (crosslisted)
• INFO 2750 - Ethical Issues in Intelligent Autonomous Systems (crosslisted)
• INFO 3660 - [History and Theory of Digital Art] (crosslisted)
• ART 3705 - Digital Media: Art in the Age of Networks
• ARTH 4151 - [Topics in Media Arts] (crosslisted)
• INFO 4152 - Advanced Topics in Computer Game Design
• ARTH 4154 - [Feminism, Post-Feminism, and Cyberfeminism] (crosslisted)
• INFO 4420 - Human Computer Interaction Studio

INFORMATION ETHICS, LAW, AND POLICY

This concentration provides training and insight into the ethical, legal, and policy dimensions of contemporary information technology.

A. FRAMEWORKS AND INSTITUTIONS: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• INFO 4250 - Surveillance and Privacy
• HADM 4890 - The Law of the Internet and E-Commerce
• INFO 4301 - Ethics in New Media, Technology, and Communication (crosslisted)
• STS 2761 - [Governing Everyday Life] (crosslisted)

B. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• PAM 2300 - Introduction to Policy Analysis
• CRP 3210 - Introduction to Quantitative Methods for the Analysis of Public Policy
• GOVT 3071 - Introduction to Public Policy

C. CASES/TOPICS: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

D. tools and technical domains: choose one course.

Students may petition the Director of Undergraduate Studies to allow any upper-level (3000 or above) technical IS course relevant to their work in ELP to satisfy this requirement.

INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

This concentration provides students with the analytical and technical skills they need to design and build functional technical systems.

REQUIRED COURSE

• CS 2110 - Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures (crosslisted)

A. BUILDING (WITH HARDWARE): CHOOSE ONE COURSE

B. working with data/software: choose one course.

• CS 5150 - Software Engineering

C. CONTEXT/APPLICATION DOMAINS: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• INFO 4410 - [Human Robot Interaction - Research and Design] (crosslisted)
• CS 4752 - [Robotic Manipulation] (crosslisted)
• CS 4154 - Analytics-driven Game Design (crosslisted)

NETWORKS, CROWDS, AND MARKETS

This concentration helps students to understand formal models, data and policy issues surrounding networked systems.

A. MODELS: CHOOSE TWO COURSES

• INFO 4220 - Networks II: Market Design (crosslisted)
• ECON 4020 - Game Theory
• ORIE 4350 - Introduction to Game Theory
• ECON 3810 - [Decision Theory I]
• ECON 4660 - [Behavioral Economics]
• COMM 3150 - Organizational Communication: Theory and Practice

B. DATA: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• ECON 3120 - Applied Econometrics
• ECON 3140 - Econometrics

C. POLICY/VALUES: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

Ux (user experience).

This concentration is designed to help students gain a better understanding of user experience design through studies in design and user perception.

A. CORE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

B. design in context: choose one course, c. knowing the user: choose one course.

• PSYCH 3420 - Human Perception: Application to Computer Graphics, Art, and Visual Display (crosslisted)

D. KNOWING THE TECHNOLOGY: CHOOSE ONE COURSE

• INFO 4154 - Analytics-driven Game Design (crosslisted)

All students are required to complete three electives that are chosen from the following classes; INFO 2300   , CS 2110   , CS 3110   ,  CS 3410    and any INFO 3000+ or higher course including INFO 4900   . These courses must be taken for a letter grade, each must earn three or more credit hours, and all must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.

A minor in Information Science is available to undergraduate students in all colleges. The minor has been designed to ensure that students have substantial grounding in all three tracks: Human-Centered Systems, Information Systems, and Social Systems. Detailed information about the minor can be found in the CIS section   of Courses of Study as well as at:  www.infosci.cornell.edu/academics/undergraduate/undergraduate-minor-information-science .

To qualify for departmental honors, students must apply by the end of their seventh semester and meet the GPA requirement:

A cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.5

A cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.0 in addition to contributions to the Information Science Program through research or other means, as detailed in their application.

Students intending to pursue honors must complete the following course work in addition to their IS major courses:

• Three additional credit hours of IS course work at or above the 5000-level; (graded courses only; no seminars or 2-credit project courses) • Six credit hours of INFO 4900 - Independent Reading and Research   with one or more IS faculty members, spread over at least two semesters and with grades of A– or better; it is expected that the INFO 4900 research will result in a project report.

Latin designations (appended to the degree) are based on final cumulative GPA, as follows:

• cum laude , 3.50 or above • magna cum laude , 3.75 or above • summa cum laude , 4.00 or above

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="phd information science cornell"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Information science ph.d. (ithaca), field of study.

Information Science

Program Description

Information Science is an interdisciplinary program within the Faculty of Computing and Information Science. It brings together faculty, researchers and students who share an interest in studying digital information.

Information Science examines information systems in their social, cultural, economic, historical, legal, and political contexts. Computer science is an important part of the program, but the emphasis is on systems and their use, rather than on the technologies that underlie them.

Information Systems draws from Computer Science and Operations Research; Human Computer Interaction from Communication, Psychology, and Cognitive Studies; Social Studies of Computing from Science & Technology Studies, Law, and Economics, with many others.

The Ph.D. program has been approved by the Education Department in the State of New York.

The Information Science program is home to several large research groups, including the Human-Computer Interaction group, digital libraries research, and the ePrint arXiv.

Contact Information

522 Rhodes Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY  14853

Concentrations by Subject

• human computer interaction
• information science
• information systems
• social aspects of information

Visit the Graduate School's Tuition Rates page.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Fall: Dec. 1

Spring: No admission

Requirements Summary:

• All Graduate School requirements
• Letters of recommendation (three for the PhD program)
• Personal Statement
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• GRE scores are not accepted
• English Language Proficiency Requirement  for all applicants
• Resume and writing samples are not required but may be submitted if you feel this will enhance your application

Learning Outcomes

Make an original and substantial contribution to the discipline

• Think originally and independently to develop concepts and methodologies
• Identify new research opportunities within one's field

Demonstrate advanced research skills

• Synthesize existing knowledge, identifying and accessing appropriate resources and other sources of relevant information and critically analyzing and evaluating one's own findings and those of others
• Master application of existing research methodologies, techniques, and technical skills
• Communicate in a style appropriate to the discipline

Demonstrate commitment to advancing the values of scholarship

• Keep abreast of current advances within one's field and related areas
• Show commitment to personal professional development through – engagement in professional societies, publication, and other knowledge transfer modes
• Show a commitment to creating an environment that supports learning through teaching, collaborative inquiry, mentoring, or demonstration

Demonstrate professional skills

• Adhere to ethical standards in the discipline
• Listen, give, and receive feedback effectively

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Computer Science Ph.D. Program

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The Cornell Ph.D. program in computer science is consistently ranked among the top six departments in the country, with world-class research covering all of computer science. Our computer science program is distinguished by the excellence of the faculty, by a long tradition of pioneering research, and by the breadth of its Ph.D. program. Faculty and Ph.D. students are located both in Ithaca and in New York City at the Cornell Tech campus . The Field of Computer Science also includes faculty members from other departments (Electrical Engineering, Information Science, Applied Math, Mathematics, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computational Biology, and Architecture) who can supervise a student's Ph.D. thesis research in computer science.

Over the past years we've increased our strength in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, systems, security, machine learning, and digital libraries, while maintaining our depth in traditional areas such as theory, programming languages and scientific computing.  You can find out more about our research here . 

The department provides an exceptionally open and friendly atmosphere that encourages the sharing of ideas across all areas. 

Cornell is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. This beautiful area provides many opportunities for recreational activities such as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, both downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, rock climbing, hiking, camping, and brewery/cider/wine-tasting. In fact, Cornell offers courses in all of these activities.

The Cornell Tech campus in New York City is located on Roosevelt Island.  Cornell Tech  is a graduate school conceived and implemented expressly to integrate the study of technology with business, law, and design. There are now over a half-dozen masters programs on offer as well as doctoral studies.

FAQ with more information about the two campuses .

Ph.D. Program Structure

Each year, about 30-40 new Ph.D. students join the department. During the first two semesters, students become familiar with the faculty members and their areas of research by taking graduate courses, attending research seminars, and participating in research projects. By the end of the first year, each student selects a specific area and forms a committee based on the student's research interests. This “Special Committee” of three or more faculty members will guide the student through to a Ph.D. dissertation. Ph.D. students that decide to work with a faculty member based at Cornell Tech typically move to New York City after a year in Ithaca.

The Field believes that certain areas are so fundamental to Computer Science that all students should be competent in them. Ph.D. candidates are expected to demonstrate competency in four areas of computer science at the high undergraduate level: theory, programming languages, systems, and artificial intelligence.

Each student then focuses on a specific topic of research and begins a preliminary investigation of that topic. The initial results are presented during a comprehensive oral evaluation, which is administered by the members of the student's Special Committee. The objective of this examination, usually taken in the third year, is to evaluate a student's ability to undertake original research at the Ph.D. level.

The final oral examination, a public defense of the dissertation, is taken before the Special Committee.

To encourage students to explore areas other than Computer Science, the department requires that students complete an outside minor. Cornell offers almost 90 fields from which a minor can be chosen. Some students elect to minor in related fields such as Applied Mathematics, Information Science, Electrical Engineering, or Operations Research. Others use this opportunity to pursue interests as diverse as Music, Theater, Psychology, Women's Studies, Philosophy, and Finance.

The computer science Ph.D. program complies with the requirements of the Cornell Graduate School , which include requirements on residency, minimum grades, examinations, and dissertation.

The Department also administers a very small 2-year Master of Science program (with thesis). Students in this program serve as teaching assistants and receive full tuition plus a stipend for their services.

Departments

• Computer Science

Information Science

• Statistics and Data Science

Information science explores technology and the way people use it. The discipline examines information systems in their social, cultural, economic, historical, legal, and political contexts. 

B.s. in information science from the college of agriculture and life sciences.

The BS in Information Science (IS) allows students to study the design and use of information systems in a social context. The field studies the creation, representation, organization, application, and analysis of information in digital form. The focus of Information Science is on technological systems and their use, approached through an interdisciplinary approach with a variety of methodologies. The Information Science major organizes its courses into three area-based tracks: human-centered systems, information systems and social systems.

B.A. IN INFORMATION SCIENCE FROM THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

The BA in Information Science (IS) allows students to study the design and use of information systems in a social context. The field studies the creation, representation, organization, application, and analysis of information in digital form. The focus of Information Science is on technological systems and their use, approached through an interdisciplinary approach with a variety of methodologies. The Information Science major organizes its courses into three area-based tracks: human-centered systems, information systems and social systems.

Learn more about all the majors and minors offered in Cornell Bowers CIS , including the  Information Science, Systems, and Technology (ISST) major. 

Ideal for students interested in:

The human-centered aspects of computing and information, such as algorithmic fairness; ethics, law, and policy; digital humanities; human-computer and human-robot interaction; machine learning; natural language processing; network analysis; market and mechanism design, science and technology studies; and user-experience and design.

Degree paths

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (CALS) and College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) students can major in Information Science (IS). CALS students earn a BS degree; A&S students earn a B.A. 

Are there any key differences in degree?

The B.A. and B.S. in IS share the same requirements and elective course options. 

Where should I apply?

Students should apply to the admitting college that best fits their overall academic interests and strengths. Students applying to CALS should indicate they are applying as an Information Science major.

For more information about the major, please contact Information Science by phone, 607.255.9837,  email , visit the undergraduate program office located in 520 Rhodes Hall, or visit https://infosci.cornell.edu/undergraduate .

• Message from the Chair
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The focus of the Information Science Ph.D. program is on technological systems and their use - the ways that people use technology and how that use affects us.

Digital technologies have become pervasive in culture, economy, law, government, and research, dramatically changing the way people work and live. The proliferation and significance of these complex technological systems of information demand a new focus in academic scholarship - one committed to cross-disciplinary study, astute about both the technical and the social, and devoted to integrating theory, investigation, design, and practice.

At Cornell, graduate work is organized as fields, each with a Director of Graduate Studies. The field of Information Science studies the design and use of information systems in a social context: it studies the creation, representation, organization, application, and analysis of information in digital form. The Field of Information Science spans both the Ithaca and Cornell Tech campuses, with faculty and students in both locations. 

The focus of the Information Science Ph.D. program is on systems and their use as well as the computing and communication technologies that underlie and sustain them. Moreover, Information Science examines the social, cultural, economic, historical, legal, and political contexts in which information systems are employed, both to inform the design of such systems and to understand their impact on individuals, social groups, and institutions. The field's interdisciplinary research combines multiple methodologies, including mathematical analysis, computer modeling, hardware and software system design, experimental studies, and critical social evaluations, from such traditional disciplines as computer science, cognitive psychology, social science, cultural studies, and history.

You can also direct questions to Assistant Director of the PhD program, Barbara Woske, by  email . 

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COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Class of 2024.

Weill Cornell Medicine honors the Class of 2024 and the outstanding education students have received at the medical college and graduate school. This dedicated landing page features all of our graduation activities, including a live stream of the Commencement 2024 ceremony from Carnegie Hall on May 16, stories, videos and photos of graduating students in New York and Qatar.

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May 15, 2024 - 10:00am to 12:00pm

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WCGS graduates and their families are invited.

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May 15, 2024 - 1:00pm to 2:30pm

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May 15, 2024 - 5:00pm to 6:15pm

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Attendance is limited to invited student awardees and their guests.

May 16, 2024 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm

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Join the Celebration on Social Media! Use hashtag #WCM2024

Bachelor of Arts in Information Science & eSociety

Bachelor of arts in information science & esociety, shape the future of digital social networks, content and culture..

Find out how the BA IS&ES is the right program for you:

This AI-generated image showcases what's possible. At the iSchool, you can learn how to analyze, manage and lead our transition into an AI-fueled future.

Bachelor's in Information Technology Degree Program BachelorsDegreeCenter.com

Next Application Deadline

Average Salary*

Offered on campus and online, the University of Arizona’s Bachelor of Arts in Information Science and eSociety (BA IS&ES) prepares you for a transformative future at the intersection of technology and society.

* Average salary for information science and eSociety bachelor's graduates according to PayScale, January 2024.

The BA in Information Science and eSociety through Arizona Online allows you to take your education to the next level from anywhere. With a 100% online learning environment, the online BA offers flexibility, convenience and access to the same high-quality courses and world-class faculty as the on-campus program.

The BA in Information Science and eSociety offered on campus in Tucson, Arizona allows you to experience all that the UArizona campus has to offer while immersing yourself in our robust and rewarding curriculum through face-to-face interaction with faculty and fellow students.

Whether online or on campus, in the BA IS&ES you’ll be immersed in an interdisciplinary curriculum that enables you to explore digital media, media theory, digital engagement and storytelling, online behavior, internet studies, social media and social networks, digital life and its impact on human behavior, content creation and more.

Information science and eSociety is an expanding field of study that reflects on issues related to privacy, ethics, information manipulation, digital marketing and the impact of social media and online behavior on daily life— setting you up for a fascinating career at the intersection of social networks and information technology .

"As an aspiring digital content producer, my Information Science and eSociety courses were crucial in providing the tools for a career where creativity meets communication." Brittney Deo, BA in Information Science and eSociety '24 (Online)

Offered on campus and online, the BA IS&ES is a four-year undergraduate degree requiring 120 units.

Example Courses

• Hacking and Open-Source Culture
• Collaborating in Online Communities
• Social Media Strategies Across Professions
• Digital Storytelling and Culture
• Digital Discourse and Identity
• Theories of New Media
• Digital Commerce
• Disruptive Technologies
• Ethical Issues in Information
• User Interface and Website Design
• Digital Engagement

Career Outlook

In the UArizona BA IS&ES, students are prepared for a wide variety of dynamic, in-demand jobs across industries, including business insights and analytics manager, content developer/producer, digital marketing specialist, digital media specialist, engagement manager, librarian, marketing analyst, information systems specialist, social media specialist, strategy manager, technology consultant and web designer/producer.  

Learn More About the BA IS&ES

Are you ready to shape the future of digital social networks and culture?

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Information Science and eSociety by contacting us at [email protected] or begin your application today:

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