Two Pathways to a Degree
For professionals who have been working in an information field for three or more years, the Information School offers the Mid-Career MSIM program, which is tailored to meet the needs of busy working professionals. Core classes are held Friday evenings and during the day on Saturdays, electives on weekday evenings; all courses use work-centered projects to allow students to bring their new-found knowledge immediately into the workplace. Students in the Mid-Career MSIM program come from a variety of organizations, including Boeing, Microsoft, the Seattle Times, AOL, Washington State Department of Transportation, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Starbucks, among many others.
Mid-Career MSIM Curriculum Plan.
The full-time MSIM program complements a bachelor’s degree in business, arts, or sciences by opening new doors for career possibilities. Classes are offered during the traditional Monday through Friday schedule. Additional electives and an internship are required for completion of this program to provide in-depth knowledge in areas of student interest. Enrollment in the program is open to national and international applicants, and applicants to this program need not have prior experience in an information field. Full-Time MSIM Curriculum Plan.
Curriculum
Technology Pre-Core Courses
The background you need to succeed in our technology core classes.
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Presents programming concepts in the context of information science including the concepts of the algorithm, data storage, expressions, syntax, logic, objects, commands, and events. Introduces the algorithmic manipulation of information objects, and the mindset and methods of computer programming and application development.
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Introduces the terminology and concepts of working with relational database management systems. Emphasizes working with tables and extracting information from data using Structures Query Language (SQL) commands and tools.
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Introduces the context and construction of websites presenting an integrated understanding of we design principles, information behavior, and technical skills. Emphasizes the roll of markup in information display and organization, the development of large sites web strategy, and site construction.
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Introduces the concepts, terminology and technologies of digital networks, including how networks operate and the influence networks have on the workplace and society. Includes preparation to think critically about the impacts of networking technologies on organizations, work groups and information systems.
Information Core Courses
The information perspective and the skills you need to analyze and organize information.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Technology Core Courses
Background and skills in the use of technology necessary to harness information in organizations.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Management Core Courses
Background and skills in using information as a management tool in organizations.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Integrating Courses
Courses designed to help bring the strands together.
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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
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Supervised internship experience for Day MSIM students, that allow for practical application of classroom concepts in the field.
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Analysis amd preliminary design of an approved individual or group research or implementation project demonstrating professional-level knowledge and skills. 589 is a first of two Capstone courses, and 589 is devoted to project planning through problem analysis and the preliminary design and presentation of a plan for appropriate problem solutions
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The second quarter course focuses on project implementation, assessment and final presentation of the results.
Elective Courses
Elective Courses allow students to concentrate in areas of information management specifically related to their own interests. These range from advanced courses offered by the Information School in each of the four areas of Information Organization, Information Security, Information Technology and Information Management, to any of hundreds of courses offered by other schools and departments throughout the University related to this area.
For a visual representation of the pre-core, core, and elective courses, please refer to the course map.
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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.
It Literacy Requirements
Upon matriculation, MSIM students are expect to possess minimum technology skills to succeed in the program. For details on required technology skills, please visit: https://www.ischool.washington.edu/mlis/literacyreqs.aspx.