Nova Southeastern University

Ph.D. in Information Systems (DISS)
Optional Concentration in Information Security
Optional Concentration in Information Science

This program offers a course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Information Systems or the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Science or the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security. Its cluster format combines traditional and online instruction to provide information technology professionals the opportunity to pursue graduate study while continuing to work in their current positions. The program is especially well suited to professionals working in areas such as information system planning, information security, systems analysis and design, project management, information system administration, information science, or software engineering. It provides information technology professionals with the knowledge and ability to develop creative solutions to substantive real-world problems in information systems. Each student must complete eight core courses, two research project courses, and a dissertation.

The concentration in information security is recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) based on its certification of the school’s curriculum for compliance with the requirements of NSA national training standards NSTISSI No. 4011 (Information Systems Security Professionals) and CNSSI No. 4013 (System Administrators). Students who complete the concentration may also request a graduate certificate.

A graduate with a Ph.D. in Information Systems will have the ability to: (1) acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of the field of information systems; (2) communicate professionally and ethically about information systems research issues; (3) identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature related to information systems; and (4) generate new knowledge through research/scholarship and disseminate that knowledge to others by demonstrating the necessary technical and intellectual skills to produce a written document that makes an original contribution to the field of information systems.

Ph.D. in Computer Science (CISD)

This program offers a course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science. Its cluster format combines traditional and online instruction to provide professionals the opportunity to pursue graduate study while continuing to work in their current positions. The program is especially well suited to those in industry, education, or government who are involved with one of the many areas of computer science and information technology. It provides research-oriented professionals with knowledge in the major areas of computer science the ability to develop creative solutions to substantive real-world problems. Each student must complete eight core courses, two research courses, and a dissertation.

A graduate with a Ph.D. in Computer Science will have the ability to: (1) acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of the field of computer science; (2) communicate professionally and ethically about computer science research issues; (3) identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature related to the field of computer science; and (4) generate new knowledge through research/scholarship and disseminate that knowledge to others by demonstrating the necessary technical and intellectual skills to produce a written document that makes an original contribution to the field of computer science.

Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems (DCIS)
Optional Concentration in Information Security

This program offers a course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Information Systems or the Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security. Its cluster format combines traditional and online instruction to provide professionals the opportunity to pursue graduate study while continuing to work in their current positions. The program is especially well suited to information technology professionals in business, government, industry, or education who are involved with research, design, implementation, management, evaluation, utilization, or teaching of computer information systems. It provides information technology professionals with the knowledge and ability to develop creative solutions to substantive real-world problems. Each student must complete eight core courses, two research courses, and a dissertation.

The concentration in information security is recognized by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) based on its certification of the school’s curriculum for compliance with the requirements of NSA national training standards NSTISSI No. 4011 (Information Systems Security Professionals) and CNSSI No. 4013 (System Administrators). Students who complete the concentration may also request a graduate certificate.

A graduate with a Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems will have the ability to: (1) acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of the field of computer information systems; (2) communicate professionally and ethically about computer information systems research issues; (3) identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature related to computer information systems; and (4) generate new knowledge through research/scholarship and disseminate that knowledge to others by demonstrating the necessary technical and intellectual skills to produce a written document that makes an original contribution to the field of computer information systems.

Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education (DCTE)

This program offers a course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computing Technology in Education. Its cluster format combines on-campus and online instruction to provide professionals the opportunity to pursue graduate study while continuing to work in their current positions. The program addresses (1) the use of information technology to improve cognition; (2) the development, management, and evaluation of computing systems that support the educational process; and (3) the role of computing and other advanced technology in education and training. The program is especially well suited to educational administrators, college faculty members, directors of academic computing, teachers of all grades, district and building technology administrators, industry and armed forces trainers, and instructional system designers and developers. It provides information technology professionals with the knowledge and ability to develop creative solutions to substantive real-world problems.

Each student must complete eight core courses, two research courses, and a dissertation. Many of the courses in the program have been approved for teacher certification in computer science (grades K–12) or recertification by Florida’s Bureau of Teacher Certification. They may be taken as part of the degree program or independently. After students complete the course requirements they may apply for the educational specialist (Ed.S.) degree.

Graduates with the Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education will: (1) possess advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of the field of computing technology in education; (2) communicate professionally and ethically about computing technology in education research issues; (3) identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature related to the field of computing technology in education; and (4) generate new knowledge through research/scholarship and disseminate that knowledge to others using the necessary technical and intellectual skills to produce a written document that makes an original contribution to the field of computing technology in education.

Orientation and Advisement

New Ph.D. students must attend an orientation day on the main campus in Fort Lauderdale at their first cluster. The orientation includes introductions to the program office staff, computer requirements, online access, software tools that enhance the educational process, library services, financial aid, and academic integrity. The school’s website provides an extensive online “help” system including downloadable software and documents. Students are offered dissertation counseling throughout the program. Advisement is provided by the program office and the faculty.

Program Formats and Term Dates

Students, while taking courses, attend four cluster sessions per year, held quarterly over an extended weekend (Friday, Saturday, and half-day Sunday) at the university. These weekends bring together students and faculty for participation in classes, seminars, and dissertation counseling, and provides ample opportunity for student-faculty and student-student interaction. Students are required to attend all of their scheduled class sessions. Between sessions, students work on course assignments and research, and participate in online activities that facilitate frequent interaction with the faculty and with other students. There are two 16-week terms a year. The fall term starts in August and the winter term starts in January.

The student enters doctoral candidacy upon completion of course requirements with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Immediately following candidacy, the student registers for the dissertation at 12 credits per term for two terms. Students who have not completed the dissertation after registrations for Dissertation I and Dissertation II must register for Continuing Dissertation until they have satisfied the dissertation requirement. Students are strongly encouraged to register for each term following the one in which they enter candidacy until the dissertation has been completed. Doctoral residence is defined as continuous enrollment for two consecutive terms at a minimum 12 credit hours per term.

The online component involves use of the web to access course materials, announcements, email, distance library services, subscription library databases, and for interaction with faculty and fellow students. Online, interactive learning methods are based on the use of Blackboard as a course management system which includes threaded discussion boards, white boards, chat rooms, email, and multimedia presentations. In addition, Blackboard enables students to submit assignments online in multimedia formats and to receive their professors’ reviews of assignments online in the same formats. Students are provided NSU computer accounts but must obtain their own Internet service providers and use their own computer systems.

Attendance Policy

Ph.D. students are required to be present at each on-campus meeting of their classes. Failure to attend may result in withdrawal from courses and suspension or dismissal from the Ph.D. program. Exceptions to this policy regarding individual class meetings may be made in the case of illness and possibly in other hardship situations. Such absences must be approved first by the course professor(s) and then by the program director, and must be made in advance of any anticipated absences. Participation requirements regarding the online components of doctoral courses will be covered in the syllabus of each course.

The Dissertation

Students will be permitted to register for the dissertation after they have completed their required course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25. Both Dissertation I and Dissertation II are required. They are usually taken over two consecutive terms. The dissertation is the most important requirement for the Ph.D. Each student is expected, with the approval of a faculty advisor, to select an appropriate topic of sufficient scope to satisfy the requirements for the dissertation. Although registration for dissertation credits cannot occur until after course requirements have been met, students are encouraged to learn about the dissertation process as early as possible and to begin talking with faculty members about potential research topics early in the program. The dissertation must be an original work and must represent a significant extrapolation from a base of solid experience or knowledge in the student’s area of concentration. Dissertation results must, in a significant way, advance knowledge, improve professional practice, or contribute to understanding in the field of study. Results must be of sufficient strength to distill from the work a paper worthy of publication in a major journal. Although publication is not a requirement for completing the Ph.D., students are encouraged to submit their dissertation research for publication. Ph.D. students must follow the policies, procedures, and formatting requirements contained in the Dissertation Guide. The student will be required to present an oral defense of the dissertation.