New doctoral field exam in Socio-technical Data Analytics (SODA) approved

Back row, l-r: Caryn Anderson, Jinlong Guo, Cathy Blake, Ana Lucic, Jinseok Kim. Front row, l-r: Shubhanshu Mishra, Henry Gabb, Jooho Lee, Jana Diesner

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GSLIS will offer a new doctoral field exam in Socio-technical Data Analytics (SODA) beginning in the Fall 2014 semester. GSLIS introduced the SODA specialization in the 2012-13 academic year, but this is the first time that a reading list and field exam specifically designed for doctoral students pursuing SODA research will be available.

"It is exciting to see doctoral students make their way through the program as they become independent researchers," said Blake, who serves as the principal investigator on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant that supports the program. "The SODA reading list and questions reflect the field's dual emphasis on both the social and technological factors that influence data analytics."

The exam emphasizes socio-technical systems, decision theory, text mining, studies of science, scientometrics, social network analysis, and information retrieval. PhD student Ana Lucic will be the first to sit for the exam this fall. She will be followed by Henry A. Gabb, Jinseok Kim, and Shubhanshu Mishra who plan to take the exam in Spring 2015.

The SODA exam is one of eight doctoral field exams offered by GSLIS. For questions about the program contact Ana Lucic or Catherine Blake.

 

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