Information Technology (Ph.D.)
Prepare to pursue a career in academic or industrial research with a Ph.D. in Information Technology at Illinois Institute of Technology. Become a master in several areas of information technology such as software development, cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, system technologies, business development, and management. Complete the program by making a significant original contribution to research in the field of information technology.
Research, design, and deliver optimal technical and policy technology solutions for the problems of business, industry, government, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. Learn the essential skills to lead, manage, and work with teams in an enterprise environment to collaboratively arrive at optimal technology solutions.
Take advantage of strong industry and academic connections with faculty who are actively involved in the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Information Technology Education (ACM SIGITE), ABET, and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education. Deep connections with the United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of State, and the National Security Agency, as well as companies such as Motorola Solutions, Accenture, J. P. Morgan Chase, and Zurich, provide a variety of research opportunities.
Learn more about ongoing and past research projects and the program’s associated centers.
Program Overview
To receive a Ph.D., coursework requirements must be met and qualifying exams, including a comprehensive exam, passed. A thesis defense is required. Graduates of this degree should be able to demonstrate mastery of one or more core areas of information technology though original research, and publish documentation of such research.
Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive and applicants must have high grade-point averages, GRE scores, and (if required) TOEFL scores. Students may enter the program directly after completing only a bachelor’s degree in information technology or after completing a master’s degree in information technology or a related field. Preferred research areas and preferred Ph.D. advisers should be clearly mentioned in the cover letter.
Program Directors
Research Areas and Featured Faculty
Cybersecurity
Data Science and AI
Web Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Recommender Systems, Information Retrieval
Information Systems and Socio-Technical Systems
National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
The United States Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency have designated Illinois Institute of Technology as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
The Bachelor of Information Technology and Management degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
North American Defense and Security Academic Alliance
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) North American Defense and Security Academic Alliance (NADSAA) exists as a collaborative information-based enterprise dedicated to strengthening and normalizing relationships between the two commands and academic institutions. That relationship stimulates and develops new thinking, examines cross-organizational solutions, and helps cultivate future generations of defense and security practitioners.
