信息技术与社会的研究本质上是多学科的。在这一领域工作的大多数学者都是以家庭学科和方法论为基础进行研究和主张的，但是他们发现自己也有必要探索其他学科的文献和范式。在某些情况下，充分理解问题所必需的工具分散在各个学科中，而在另一些情况下，许多学者已经从不同的方向对同一现象进行了检验。对于准备从事学位论文工作以及正在研究信息技术和社会的博士论文的博士生来说，从其家庭部门外部系统地介绍与他们的兴趣相关的范式和文献对于获得最新的奖学金至关重要。博士课程的重点是提供了解决这些较广泛知识领域的课程。
The study of information technology and society is inherently multi-disciplinary. Most scholars working in this area ground their investigations and claims in a home discipline and methodology, but find themselves of necessity exploring literatures and paradigms from other disciplines as well. In some cases, the tools necessary for understanding problems fully are spread across disciplines, and in others it is simply the case that many scholars have arrived at an examination of the same phenomenon from different directions. For doctoral students preparing for dissertation work and in progress on dissertations dealing with information technology and society, a systematic introduction to the paradigms and literature relevant to their interests from outside their home department is vital to cutting-edge scholarship. A doctoral emphasis provides the curriculum for approaching these broader intellectual terrains.