Degree Courses

Core

IMT 500 The Information Management Framework (1)
Overview of the major concepts in the MSIM curriculum. Includes an introduction to the concept of information as well as its relation to organizational management, technology, and design and culture.
IMT 510 Human Aspects of Information Systems (4)
Social, organizational, cognitive, behavioral, and contextual aspects of information, including basic concepts in human information behavior, conceptual and practical frameworks used to study human-information interaction, and social responses to information technology. User-based and work-based evaluation and design of information systems. Exposure to experimental and interview methodologies.
IMT 520 Information Services and Resources (4)
Concepts, processes, and skills of information involving creation, production, distribution, selection, collection, and services to facilitate access. Analysis of the information mediation process, including determining information needs; searching for, evaluation and presentation of appropriate results; and modalities for delivery of services.
IMT 530 Organization of Information & Resources (4)
Introduction to issues in organization of information and information objects including: analysis of intellectual and physical characteristics of information objects; use of metadata and metadata standards for information systems; theory of classification, including semantic relationships and facet analysis; creation of controlled vocabularies; and display and arrangement.
IMT 540 Design Methods for Interaction and Systems (4)
Introduction to the theory and practice of user-centered design. Examines design methods for identifying and describing user needs, specifying and prototyping new systems, and evaluating the usability of systems. Examines design methodologies such as contextual design and value-sensitive design, giving specific emphasis to human-information interaction. Prerequisite: instructor permission.
IMT 550 Policy, Law and Ethics in Information Management (3)
Select concepts, processes, and issues related to the organizational contexts within which information professionals practice. Topics include information as public/private good, intellectual property, privacy, confidentiality, information liability, and information policy. Focus on contemporary issues affecting the role of the information manager.
IMT 580 Management of Information Organizations (4)
Information technology context, planning and decision-making, unit organization, CIO leadership, and unit controls related to managing information resources to achieve organizational goals. Topics include information technology management challenges, operational and strategic planning and decision-making, unit infrastructure, CIO competence, and aligning information technology initiatives with organizational objectives. There are no prerequisites for this course.
IMT 581 Information and the Management of Change (3)
Practical application of the critical roles and aspects of information and information processes in the management of organizational change. Topics include organization learning, knowledge management as a process, business process change, change project management, business/competitive intelligence, benchmarking, and best practices. Prerequisites: IMT 580.
IMT 590 Fieldwork in Information Management (Day Program only: 4, max. 12)
Supervised fieldwork. May be taken in as many as six consecutive quarters. Prerequisite: enrollment in the MSIM program, completion of IMT core courses 500 through 581.
IMT 595 Stakeholders, Information, and Technology (3-5, max. 5)
Capstone experience. Addresses system integration and the increasing demand to apply a broad range of technologies to the information needs of diverse user groups during the implementation of comprehensive information systems across an organization. Student-organized individual/team projects are encouraged. Prerequisite: completion of IMT core courses 500 through 581.
INFX 542 Information Systems and Modeling Using XML (4)
Principles of information systems including the representation and organization of content, creation of access structures and navigation, and information collection and rendering. Course uses XML and commercial taxonomy management tools as a basis for instruction. Prepares students for further work in information architecture, information organization, advanced Web site creation and information systems architecture.
INFX 543 Conceptual Database Design (4)
Introduction to relational database theory and technology from an information science perspective. Focuses on traditional transactional database theory, architecture and implementation in a user-centered systems context. Introduces set and graph theory, relational algebra, and data warehouses.
INFX 544 Information Retrieval Systems (4)
Covers theories and models in information retrieval (IR) and reviews user-centered and system-centered approaches. Issues involved in the design, development and evaluation of IR systems are examined including: methods and tools for document analysis, retrieval techniques, search engines, interfaces, usability, evaluation.

Electives

IMT 525 Information Management and Technology in Sports (3)
The information perspective—including the role and use of information, information management, and information technologies—applied to the sports context. Modern and emerging information management and technology systems and their design and use in administering intercollegiate athletic functions.
IMT 531 Metadata Design and Interoperability (3)
Design principles of metadata schemas and application profiles—implementation of interoperable application profiles using XML technology. The major focus of this class is to achieve syntactic and semantic interoperability among diverse metadata schemas and application profiles. Prerequisites IMT530/INFO430/LIS530 & INFX542/INFO340/LIS540, or instructor’s permission.
IMT 532 Ontology Design and Interoperability (3)
Studies semantic interoperability among different metadata schemas and ontologies. Elaborates on concepts and technology related to Topic Maps, RDF Schema, and Web Ontology Language (OWL) to achieve advanced and semantic data modeling of complex data that exist in the real world. Prerequisite IMT531 or instructor’s permission.
IMT 542 Principles of Information Retrieval Systems (3)
Introduction to information systems for the storage and retrieval of unstructured information. Examines information retrieval architectures, processes, retrieval models, query languages, and methods of system evaluation. Gives emphasis to Internet-based services for storing and accessing information to be used in integrated application development. Prerequisite: IMT 541.
IMT 546 Data Communications and Networking (4)
Local and wide area computer networking including network topologies and hardware, packet switching, client/server architectures, network protocols, and network servers and applications. Addresses server operating systems, management, security, authentication, and policy issues associated with distributed networks. Prerequisite: IMT 510.
IMT 548 Information System Design (5)
Theoretical and practical examination of information systems analysis and design processes as they apply in the workplace. Explores techniques for assessing the need for technology, defining specifications, and involving users in the design process. Design methods include social impact statements, future scenarios, mock-ups, rapid prototyping, and field-testing. Prerequisite: IMT 540.
IMT 551 Foundations of Organizational Information Assurance (3)
Concepts, elements, strategies, skills related to the life cycle of information assurance—involving policies, practices, mechanisms, dissemination and validation—that ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and information systems. Analysis of the information assurance planning process, including determination and analysis of information assurance organization goals, the threat spectrum, risk, and legal and ethical issues.
IMT 552 Information Assurance Risk Assessment and Management (3)
Concepts, processes and skills related to risk management in information assurance involving risk assessment, risk analysis and mitigation planning. Analysis of the risk management process through several structured approaches that facilitate information assurance decision-making. This course builds on the information assurance foundation established in IMT 551.
IMT 553 Establishing and Managing Information Assurance Strategies (3-5)
Information Assurance integrative course requiring that students apply and combine concepts, processes and skills gained in IMT 551 and IMT 552. Students will solve three case studies developed from practitioner experiences and explore the role of policy in creating a successful information assurance program.
IMT 582 Strategic Planning and Evaluation (4)
Studies and applies strategic information initiatives within an organization, including: readiness assessment, organizational mandates, information inventories, content management, information audits, and information architecture initiatives. Focuses on building business cases for and leading information initiatives in organizations. Prerequisite: IMT 581.
IMT 583 Finance and Accounting for Information Professionals (3)
Introduction to financial accounting, including the principles of double-entry accounting, balance sheets, income, and cash flow statements. Covers key financial ratios and their use for various analytical purposes, along with the elements of a financial plan or budget. Prerequisite: IMT 510; IMT 580.
IMT 584 Marketing for Information Professionals (3)
Introduction to the principles of marketing. Looks at how to assess an environment from a marketing perspective, consumer and business behavior, market segmentation, product/service strategies, new product development processes, pricing, channels, retail/wholesale, marketing communication, and direct selling. Prerequisite: IMT 510; IMT 580.
IMT 585 Human Resource Management for Information Professionals (3)
Introduction to human resource management for information professionals. Covers the principles of job analysis, employee selection, interviewing, training, and appraisal. Prerequisite: IMT 510; IMT 580.
IMT 586 Information Dynamics I (4)
Introduction to the concepts and methods of information feedback, systems thinking, soft systems methodology (SSM), and "soft operations research," as well as the quantitative modeling of complex dynamic systems by means of differential and integral equations (system dynamics).
IMT 587 Information Dynamics II (4)
Advanced concepts and methods of information feedback, systems thinking, soft systems methodology (SSM), and "soft operations research," as well as the quantitative modeling of complex dynamic systems by means of differential and integral equations (system dynamics), including model building, testing, and validating. Prerequisite: IMT 586.
IMT 588 Project Management in Information Organizations (4)
Roles, responsibilities, and methods of planning, and controlling projects. Analysis of critical issues such as the relationship between project management and: organizational culture, structure, and processes; cross-functional and globally distributed teams; project governance, metrics, and risk and performance management; communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution; organizational learning, change and knowledge management.
IMT 589 Special Topics in Information Management (1-4, max. 12)
Special study and research in topics of current concern to faculty and students.
IMT 598 Emerging Trends in Information Management and Technology (3)
Focus on emerging trends in information management and information technology. Attention given to their impact on the functions of the chief information officer and others managing the acquisition, retention, use and disposition of information and the enabling technologies. Exploration of methods and resources for trend discovery and tracking. Prerequisite: IMT 510.
IMT 600 Independent Study or Research in Information Management (1-4, max. 12)
Supervised independent study or research. May be taken in as many as six consecutive quarters. Prerequisite: enrollment in the MSIM program.
INFX 546 Networking and Network System Administration (4)
Local and wide area computer networking including network topologies and hardware, packet switching, client/server architectures, network protocols, and network servers and applications. Covers aspects of network setup and management including system configuration, security, and Internet connectivity. Hands-on experience with network applications and operating systems.

Pre-Core

INFX 501 Concepts in Algorithmic Thinking for Information Professionals (1)
Introduction to the algorithmic manipulation of information objects, the mindset and methods of computer programming and application development; presents fundamental programming concepts in the context of information science; explores the concepts of the algorithm, data storage, expressions, syntax, logic, objects, commands, and events. (Prepares students for all info tech courses)
INFX 502 Database Concepts for Information Professionals (1) 
Introduction to the terminology and concepts of working with relational database management systems. Emphasis given to working with tables and extracting information from data using Structured Query Language (SQL) commands and tools. Prepares students for database design courses, web design, and programming courses. (Prepares students for INFX 543 and INFX 544)
INFX 503 Website Design Concepts for Information Professionals (1)
Introduction to the context and construction of websites presenting an integrated understanding of web design principles, information behavior, and technical skills. Emphasis is given to the roll of markup in information display and organization, the development of large sites, web strategy, and site construction. Prepares students for advanced web design courses. (Prepares students for INFX 542)
INFX 504 Networking and Network Applications for Information Professionals (1) 
Introduction to the concepts, terminology and technologies of digital networks, including how networks operate and the influence networks have on the workplace and society. Prepares students to think critically about the impacts of networking technologies on organizations, work groups and information systems. Prepares students for advanced studies in database technologies, web design and information assurance. (Prepares students for INFX 546)