Communication and information technologies are transforming society, impacting on a cross section of human activity far greater than any innovation since the printing press. Leaders in this nexus of technology and society require interdisciplinary expertise, transcending the individual disciplines from which the underlying technologies and their applications arose.

The Communication and Information Sciences (CIS) PhD program at the University of Hawaii was established in 1986 to meet this need. At that time, it was one of the first interdisciplinary programs of its nature, predating the recent trend in the establishment of interdisciplinary information schools nationwide. It transitioned from provisional to permanent in 1994. The CIS PhD Program is sponsored by four units: The Department of Information and Computer Sciences and the Library and Information Science Program in the College of Natural Sciences, the School of Communications in the College of Social Sciences, and the Department of Information Technology Management in the Shidler College of Business. The program is unique at UH Manoa, crossing three colleges.

The CIS PhD program participates in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). This program allows students from participating states to received reduced tuition rates at the University of Hawaii. More information is available from WRGP and UH Graduate Division.

The CIS Program Office, staffed by Cindy Scheopner, is located in the basement of Hamilton Library (002C) inside the Library and Information Science administrative area. It is open 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday. Please call (808.956.5813) or email (cis-chair@lists.hawaii.edu) before you visit to be sure Cindy is available. The office is closed when Hamilton Library is closed.

The CIS Chair is Rich Gazan; his contact information and office hours are here.

The deadline for all applicants is February 1, 2014 for fall admission.