DSCIT Questions – Proposed New Doctoral Degree Programs
1.
How will the new doctoral degree meet statewide, regional, local, and USG needs?
The program was designed specifically to be unique and innovative in its curriculum
offering. While the faculty members designing the program referred to other programs
in the country renowned for their academic excellence, the focus of the program as to
create an applied doctorate serving the needs of regional and state constituents, while
not directly competing with the programs of existing state institutions. The resulting
curriculum represent the cutting edge in curriculum design, allowing the student to
custom tailor a number of aspects of their degree program to their desired end-state, a
professional career in the public or private sectors, as a technology developer,
research, manager or instructor.
The existing doctoral programs in Georgia grant PhD degrees and are pure researchoriented. Our proposal is for a doctoral program for working professionals who need a
higher degree but not necessarily the traditional pure research-oriented PhD degree. It
will also be attractive to teachers who want to become university teachers/ professors.
The doctoral program will be sufficiently broad enough to include the base support of all
graduate programs that currently exist not only in the CSIS department but other
programs in the College of Science and Mathematics.
The demand for terminally qualified individuals in computing areas has grown
dramatically in the past ten years, especially since the Internet revolution. Graduate
curriculum report issued by ACM, IEEE, AIS, and AITP (2006) indicate that “graduate
education in computing is crucial to preparing the managers of the future.” The number
of doctoral degrees in computing has decreased over the past five years, while the
demand for doctoral students in industry has increased.
There is a significant need for the Doctorate in Computing and Information Technology
program based upon industry need and there is currently no program of this type in the
state of Georgia, only traditional PhD programs. There are many more students
applying for and seeking doctorate degrees in the state of Georgia. Data collected from
Georgia Tech provided in the Full proposal highlights that of the three related doctoral
degrees (Computer Science, Human-Centered Computing and Management), on
average 20 percent of applicants are accepted, with approximately half of those actually
enrolling. This situation is replicated at other institutions in the state, resulting in literally
thousands of individuals interested in degree programs in the state, but unable to attend
at these particular institutions for whatever reason.
This provides a unique opportunity to work with other PhD providing universities in
Georgia to attract students that are seeking a doctorate with an industry focus. Based
upon this data, we believe that there is a significant market.
2.
How many students will the proposed new doctoral degree accommodate? How
many of these students will be new students to the institution?
At steady-state, the program should be able to accommodate 30-40 students at various
stages of their program – foundational courses, advanced courses and dissertation
work. Some of these students will be new to the university, while others will enter the
program directly from one of the existing CSIS master’s programs (MSACS, MSIS).
3.
How much will the proposed new doctoral degree program cost to operate?
We are proposing the doctoral program as a premium priced program with all expenses
for operation coming from premium-priced tuition dollars. We do not anticipate any
additional state allocation needed to manage the program. The total tuition costs per
student are $54,450. If students elect to choose a full-time doctorate over 9 semesters
(9 credit hours per semester) or a part-time doctorate over 12 semesters (6 credit hours
per semester), the overall costs are the same.
Start-up costs include ($14,150) to be covered by the College of Science and
Mathematics and CSIS operating budget:
 Advertising costs - $5,000
 Giveaways - $1,800
 Printed materials and brochures - $950
 Advanced purchases of student equipment - $6,400
Steady-state program costs: ($54,450 for overall cost of program)
• Full-time students: 25, number of semesters: 9
• Part-time students: 10, number of semesters: 12
• Total students: 35
Teaching reductions for faculty will be offset by doctoral student teaching assignments
that will be paid from the premium tuition. Doctoral students will be given the option in
the program for teaching scholarships and, of course, for research scholarships. Faculty
must be teaching in the doctoral program and chair three doctoral dissertations to
qualify for a course release.
We do not believe that the proposed new doctoral degree will require additional
technology support. Faculty and students in the College of Science and Mathematics
use the most up-to-date technology to enhance instruction. Every faculty member has
the newest technology because of the need for innovation in the fields of computer
science and information systems. Faculty in the CSIS department use Tegrity and ePop
to record lectures, provide hybrid classroom formats, and involve students in classroom
discussions and lectures. We are building out a CSIS lab building over the next 6-18
months that will be able to support the doctoral program. In the lab building, we will
have two classrooms for doctorate work and 12 labs in the areas of software
engineering, networking, enterprise systems, project management, security, data
mining, grid computing and vendor-supported technology like IBM and Oracle
4.
Given the probability that new state funding for new doctoral degrees will be
limited, and that when it is available, it will be directed primarily toward new
doctoral degree programs that help meet statewide rather than regional or local
needs, what are the specific funding sources and totals for the proposed new
doctoral degree; that is, will funding come from state, community,
industrial/corporate, alumni, foundation, student, or other sources, and how much
will come from each source? (Commentary must be specific as to funding source
and to whether funding is on-hand, pledged, in-kind, or other.)
See the answer to question 3… no additional funding is requested.
5. What is the level of faculty, staff, student, alumni, local, regional and statewide
support for the proposed doctoral degree, and for the change in sector that the
proposed degree may bring with it? How has that support been gauged (i.e., via
surveys, focus groups, meetings, etc.)?
The methodology used to assess demand included:
• Input from a committee with members who have extensive experience in doctoral
programs
• Review of the program by external scholars from UGA, Georgia State, and
Georgia Tech reviewed the concept of the doctoral program in computing
• Collection of information was collected from universities that have doctoral
programs in computer science and information systems
• Input from organizations utilizing computing doctorates in different industries
• Input from prospective students and discussion with students in the MSACS and
MSIS programs
• Discussion with the CSIS Advisory Board
• Input from CSIS business faculty
After talking to 12 organizations in Atlanta, including IBM, Delta, Coca-Cola, SunTrust,
and Georgia Pacific these organizations state the need for hiring students that will have
the doctoral capacity and expertise for needs in organization. Organizations, such as
IBM Research in Raleigh, North Carolina and IBM in Armonk, New York have indicated
the need for hiring employees with doctorate degrees that have the power to work on
advanced computing projects in their divisions.
Development of the program has benefitted from interaction with faculty from institutions
within the Georgia system to include:
 Dr Rick T. Watson, J. Rex Fuqua Distinguished Chair for Internet Strategy and
Director of CISL, Department of Management Information Systems, University of
Georgia.
 Dr. Ephraim McLean, Regents’ Professor, George E. Smith Eminent Scholar’s
Chair in Information Systems, Chairman, Department of Computer Information
Systems, Georgia State University.

6.
Dr. Seymour E. Goodman, Professor of International Affairs and Computing,
jointly at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the College of
Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Is there significant opposition to the proposed new doctoral degree, and to the
change in sector that may accompany it? If so, please identify the opposition and
explain it.
While every department has faculty members with dissenting opinions on any given
subject, the CSIS department voted unanimously on two separate occasions to pursue
the DSCIT. As mentioned in the previous question, support has been offered from
faculty at each of the three premier Georgia institutions. Each of these individuals
expressed opinions that the degree is complementary rather than competitive with their
existing doctoral programs.
7.
What is the ability of the current faculty and staff to deliver the proposed new
doctoral degree? How will differences between current abilities and required
abilities be addressed?
The college and department have a long-standing tradition of success in both
undergraduate and graduate degrees. Literally hundreds of students have matriculated
from the multiple degrees offered through the Computer Science and Information
Systems Department:
Semester
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Computer
Science
373
287
308
313
340
405
Information
Systems
444
367
297
257
315
251
Information
Security &
Assurance
18
35
59
89
95
120
MSIS
89
94
82
99
47
74
MSACS
37
42
42
45
23
41
CSIS
Dept.
Total
961
825
788
803
820
891
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
Fall
The department has been home to thousands of majors over the years, and has
continually shown itself to be a source of high-quality curriculum and instruction. The
addition of the DS-CIT will continue this long-standing tradition well into the future.
Even with the drop in employment in the IT field earlier in this decade, the department
maintained consistent, stable, and effective enrollments, even when other programs in
the country and state faltered.
There are several well-qualified faculty members with graduate teaching experience
who are interested in teaching in the new program. The unique design of the program
relies on the diverse experiences of the faculty to provide the variety of subjects
contained within the DSCIT.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Faculty Name
Rank and Position
Amoroso, Donald
Chair and Professor
Bandyopadhyay,
Tridib
Clincy,
Victor
Highest
Degree / Field
PhD – IS
FT
PhD – IS
Assistant Professor
Professor, Director
MSACS Program
Gayler,
Richard
Assistant Professor,
Coordinator IS
Program
Associate Professor
and Assistant Chair
Professor,
Coordinator CS
program
Guimaraes, Mario
Associate Professor
Dembla,
Pamila
Garrido,
José
FT/
PT
FT
Haddad, Hisham
Professor
Hoganson,
Ken
Professor
Murray, Meg
Associate Professor
Negash, Solomon
Pérez, Jorge
Associate Professor
Associate Professor,
Assistant to the
President
Setzer, Bennett
Shaw, Alan
Professor
Assistant Professor
Shi, Yong
Assistant Professor
Sneha, Sweta
Assistant Professor
Whitman, Michael
Professor, ISA
program coordinator
Woszczynski, Amy
Associate Professor
Xu, Chong-wei
Professor
Xie, Ying
Assistant Professor
Research Areas
Applications in Mobile Devices,
Internet Utilization
Information Security investment,
Interdependent IS security, Cyber
Insurance
Networking
Work
load
1/0
3/3
FT
PhD –CS
FT
PhD – IS
FT
PhD –CS
FT
PhD –CS
Programming (ABET Accreditation
for the BSCS program)
3/3
FT
PhD –CS
3/3
FT
PhD –CS
Databases, Database Security,
Instructional Software, Videogames
Software Engineering, Software
Reuse and Component-Based
Development, Programming
Languages, OO Tech, and
Undergraduate CS Education.
Gaming, grid computing
FT
PhD –CS
FT
PhD – IS
FT
PhD – IS
FT
PhD – IS
FT
FT
FT
PhD –
Mathematics
PhD – Media
Arts & Sciences
PhD –CS
PhD – IS
FT
PhD -MIS
FT
FT
PhD – IS
Industrial Mgmt
PhD – CS
FT
PhD – CS
FT
Internet adoption, culture, and
diversity in information systems
(ABET Accreditation for the BSIS
program)
Operating systems, simulation
Emerging information technologies,
Web Services [SOA], Database
technology, Defining IT literacy
e-Learning, ICT for development,
mobile technology
IT literacy, curriculum, online and
blended learning
Distributed computing & curriculum
design
Social benefits of community based
computer networks
Data Mining
Health Informatics, Business Value
of Information Systmes, Adoption
and IT Organizational Change
Information Security Policy, Risk
Management, Computer Use Ethics
Diversity in IT, Distance learning,
Culture
Internet technology, Gaming, Grid
computing
Data Mining, Bioinformatics,
Informa- tion Retrieval, Pattern
Recognition, Computational
Intelligence
2/1
2/2
2/2
3/3
3/3
3/3
3/3
1/0
4/4
3/3
3/3
3/3
2/3
2/2
3/3
3/3
8.
What are the qualifications of the current faculty and staff to deliver new activities
required by the proposed new doctoral degree and by the possible change in
sector?
How will differences between current qualifications and required
qualifications be addressed?
This question was answered in the response to the previous question.
9.
What impact will the proposed new doctoral degree have on the percentage and
number of full-time faculty?
No additional full-time faculty members are requested specifically for this program.
Teaching reductions for faculty will be offset by doctoral student teaching assignments
that will be paid from the premium tuition. Doctoral students will be given the option in
the program for teaching scholarships and, of course, for research scholarships. Faculty
must be teaching in the doctoral program and chair three doctoral dissertations to
qualify for a course release.
10. To what extent will current library holdings support the proposed new doctoral
degree, as well as any other activities required by the proposed new doctoral
degree and possible change in sector? How will differences between current
abilities and required abilities be addressed?
The current library holdings are more than sufficient to support this new doctoral degree
program. The CIO/VP-IT Dr. Hinds has a long-standing commitment to acquiring
needed resources to support CSIS Department research needs. We anticipate all
needs will be easily met by the KSU library.
11. To what extent can current facilities support the proposed new doctoral degree, as
well as any other activities required by the proposed new doctoral degree and
possible change in sector? How will any differences between current abilities and
required abilities be addressed?
With the plan to cross-list certain foundation course with existing MSACS and MSIS
courses, the need for additional facilities will be easily handled by the existing
infrastructure. In addition, the department is currently exploring the acquisition of
research teaching lab space for the department’s faculty. Any such space will only
improve the department’s ability to support the new degree program. Even without the
new space, the department can easily support the new program.
12. To what extent can current technology support the proposed new doctoral degree,
as well as any other activities required by the proposed new doctoral degree and
possible change in sector? How will any differences between current abilities and
required abilities be addressed?
We do not believe that the proposed new doctoral degree will require additional
technology support. Faculty and students in the College of Science and Mathematics
use the most up-to-date technology to enhance instruction. Every faculty member has
the newest technology because of the need for innovation in the fields of computer
science and information systems. Faculty in the CSIS department use Tegrity and ePop
to record lectures, provide hybrid classroom formats, and involve students in classroom
discussions and lectures. We are building out a CSIS lab building over the next 6-18
months that will be able to support the doctoral program. In the lab building, we will
have two classrooms for doctorate work and 12 labs in the areas of software
engineering, networking, enterprise systems, project management, security, data
mining, grid computing and vendor-supported technology like IBM and Oracle
13. To what extent can other institutional infrastructure support the proposed new
doctoral degree, as well as any other activities required by the proposed new
doctoral degree and possible change in sector? How will any differences between
current abilities and required abilities be addressed?
All other institutional infrastructure and services are sufficient to support the number of
students the program expects to handle at steady-state (30-40).
14. What impact will the proposed new doctoral degree and possible change in sector
have on the institution’s ability to meet current institutional missions and
responsibilities?
The inclusion of the new degree program will increase the reputation and recognition of
the institution. The doctoral program initiative in the CSIS department will support the
mission of the institution by complementing higher academic quality in existing
undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, the doctoral program is a great
boost towards the trend to involve faculty in more research-oriented activities. This
doctoral program will provide more research opportunities for students and faculty,
including opportunities to apply for grants that are only open to doctoral programs (or
equivalent degree) granting institutions. This program supports the KSU institutional
mission and complements its current doctorate offerings in Education, Nursing, and
Business.
Specifically, KSU StrategicGoal 1: To enhance and expand academic programs and
delivery and Action Step 2: Add degree programs that are strategically important to the
local community to Georgia, and to the nation at both the undergraduate and graduate
levels.
The program meets the BOR strategic plan – Strategic Goal 3: Increase the System’s
participation in research and economic development to benefit a global Georgia.
Enhance and encourage the creation of new knowledge and basic research across all
disciplines. This proposal joins the BOR effort as indicated in an article entitled, “Board
of Regents to Expand Colleges’ Program to Meet State Need,” May 16, 2008; where it
indicates that the BOR has been giving approval to a number of state institutions for
doctoral programs.
15. What impact will the proposed new doctoral degree and possible change in sector
have on other USG institutions? Do other USG state, regional, and research
institutions support, oppose, or exhibit indifference toward the proposed new
doctoral degree and possible change in sector?
As answered in previous questions, letters of support have already been obtained from
highly regarded representatives from Georgia State, Georgia Tech and The University
of Georgia, who all identify the proposed program as complimentary rather than
competitive.
16. How will the institution meet the general and program-specific accreditation
requirements of any new degree program?
The university has already established its ability to meet SACS accreditation with the
addition of new doctoral programs. There are no program-specific accreditation
requirements that warrant any special consideration.