The following is a comparison of degree programs offered at the iSchool and elsewhere at the University of Washington.
(Jump to information about the HCDE, MSIS and MSDS programs.)
| Degree earned | Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) | Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) | Master of Human-Computer Interaction + Design (MHCI+D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career impact | |||
| Career possibilities | • Information Architect • User Experience Designer • Data Visualization Specialist • Systems Analyst • Data Scientist • Software Design Engineer • Risk Consultant • Web Computing Specialist • Network Administrator • Database Developer • Cybersecurity Professional • Project Manager | • Reference Librarian | • User Experience Researcher • User Experience Designer • Usability Researcher • Interaction Designer • Product Designer • Developer • Prototyper • Project or Program Manager • User Experience Manager |
| Focus | • Information and information technologies management | • Core areas of strength in digital youth, knowledge organization, information services, data science, information architecture, and user experience • Choice of on-campus or online learning • Law Librarianship program for students with a JD | • Usability and user research • Design of interactive computing technologies • Prototyping interactive digital systems |
| Capstone or thesis project | • Capstone project • Team-based project offers opportunity to work with outside sponsors • Student-directed • Research or design oriented project | • Capstone project • Team-based project offers opportunity to work with outside sponsors • Student-directed | • Team-based project offers opportunity to work with outside sponsors • Project forms the spine of studio work for first 3 quarters • Culminates in a full time studio during final summer quarter |
| Internship | • Full-time: Recommended • Mid-career: Recommended | • Elective | NA |
| Courses | MSIM | MLIS | MHCI+D |
| Curriculum | • Core courses plus specializations in:
| • Core courses are foundational and theory-based • Electives focus on areas of interest • Culminates in Capstone project | • Prescribed sequence of core courses • Electives from sponsoring departments and UW • Culminates in a Capstone project |
| Instructional style | • Lectures and project-based courses | • Lectures and project-based courses | • Design studio, lectures, individual, and group projects • Tightly integrated, project-based curriculum • Sequenced schedule |
| Number of credits by course type | • Full-time Core: 15 • Full-time Electives: 50 • Mid-career Core: 11 • Mid-career Electives: 36 | • Residential and Online:
| • Core: 30 • Electives: 7 • Capstone Project: 9 |
| Course scheduling | • Full-time Core: Day; Electives: Day, Evening, Saturday morning • Mid-career Core: Evening; Electives: Evenings and Saturday mornings | • Primarily daytime and online | • Primarily daytime |
| UW affiliation | MSIM | MLIS | MHCI+D |
| College / school / department / division | • Information School (iSchool) | • Information School (iSchool) | • Graduate School interdisciplinary program • Jointly sponsored by Colleges of Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and the Information School |
| Faculty | • Dedicated iSchool faculty plus external industry lecturers | • Dedicated iSchool faculty plus external industry lecturers | • Interdisciplinary faculty from CSE, HCDE, iSchool, division of Design, plus external industry lecturers |
| Facilities | • iSchool classrooms • Shared computing labs • Group work spaces | • iSchool classrooms • Shared computing labs • Group work spaces | • Dedicated design studio for the cohort |
| Contacts | • Sean McGann, MSIM Program Chair • Stephanie White, MSIM Academic Adviser • Kari Brothers, iSchool Admissions Counselor • iask@uw.edu • Program website | • Jinha Lee, MLIS Program Chair | • Michael Smith, Program Director • Matt Bartels, Graduate Academic Adviser & Career Advisor • mhcid@uw.edu • Program website |
| Time and money | MSIM | MLIS | MHCI+D |
| Duration | • Full-time: 2 years • Mid-career: 2 years (Fri./Sat. courses) | • Residential: 2 years • Online: 2.5-3 years • Law: 1 year | • 1 year (4 quarters), full-time, immersive experience • Students are members of a cohort of peers |
| Option for full-time work while in school | • Full-time: No • Mid-career: Yes | • Residential: No • Online: Yes • Law: No | • No |
| Application deadline | • Full-time MSIM: January 17 All offers of admission are for Autumn quarter only. | • Early decision: December 1 All offers of admission are for Autumn quarter only. | • January 12 All offers of admission are for Autumn quarter only. |
| Number of students enrolled annually | • Full-time: 70 • Mid-career: 35 | • Residential and Law: 70-75 • Online: 75-80 | • 30 |
| Required number of credits | • Full-time: 65 • Mid-career: 47 | • Residential: 63 • Online: 63 • Law: 43 | • 46 |
| Approximate total tuition (subject to change and total credits taken) | • Full-time: $51,025 • Mid-career: $36,895 • $785/credit (both programs) | • Residential and Online: $49,455 • Law: $33,755 • $785 / credit | • $46,690 • $1,015/credit |
| Financial aid, Funding and Assistantships | • All applicants are eligible to receive a limited number of iSchool merit-based scholarships. • U.S. citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA in order to receive federal loans. • The iSchool typically hires 2-3 graduate assistants (GAs) each year. • Occasionally tuition may be reduced through fellowships and teaching/research assistantships, which are offered by individual departments based on merit. | • All applicants are eligible to receive a limited number of iSchool merit-based scholarships. • U.S. citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA in order to receive federal loans. • The iSchool typically hires 2-3 graduate assistants (GAs) each year. • Occasionally tuition may be reduced through fellowships and teaching/research assistantships, which are offered by individual departments based on merit. | • Occasionally tuition may be reduced through fellowships and teaching/research assistantships, which are offered by individual departments based on merit. |
| Degree earned | Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) | Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) | Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career impact | |||
| Career possibilities | • User Experience Designer • User Researcher • Information Architect • Interaction Designer • Product Designer • Product Manager • User Interface Developer • Web Developer • Business Analyst | • IT Project Manager | • Business Analyst • Data Analyst • Data Architect • Data Engineer • Data Scientist • Marketing Analyst • Quantitative Analyst • Researcher • Statistician |
| Focus | • User-centered research and design • Use of communication, design, and visualization methods • Design and prototyping of interactive products, services, platforms, and systems • Applies to all domains, including technology and engineering | • Management of information technologies to solve complex business problems and take advantage of new business opportunities | • Interdiscriplinary approach to manipulating large data sets, analyzing data, and communicating the results to a variety of stakeholders. |
| Capstone or thesis project | • Capstone project • Team-based project offers opportunity to work with outside sponsors • Student-driven format and topic • 1 credit planning course followed by a 4 credit studio course | NA | • Team-based project offers opportunity to work with outside sponsors • Student-directed • Research or design oriented, with a technical emphasis |
| Internship | • Elective | NA | NA |
| Courses | HCDE | MSIS | MSDS |
| Curriculum | • Individualized program • Select core courses and electives in three specialized content areas:
| • Lockstep curriculum • Topics include data analysis, information security, data mining, and IT project management | • Core courses, partially sequenced • Culminates in a capstone project |
| Instructional style | • Project-based, lecture, and studio courses • Core courses in sequenced format • Flexible elective schedule | • Lecture, case study, and project based classes | • World-class interdisciplinary expertise from 6 UW departments • Team-based and individual projects and assignments building on technically rigorous material |
| Number of credits by course type | • Core: 22 • Electives: 26 | • Core: 40 • Electives: 4 | • Core: 40 • Capstone: 5 |
| Course scheduling | • Primarily evening • Each course meets one night/week • Full-time or part-time students studying in the evening | • Monday and Wednesday evening and Saturday daytime | • Evenings |
| UW affiliation | HCDE | MSIS | MSDS |
| College / school / department / division | • College of Engineering • Department of Human-Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE) • Students earn Engineering degree | • Foster School of Business | • Graduate School interdisciplinary program • Departments of Applied Mathematics, Biostatistics, Computer Science & Engineering, Human Centered Design & Engineering, Statistics, and the Information School, in partnership with the eScience Institute |
| Faculty | • Interdisciplinary tenure track HCDE faculty plus outside industry lecturers | • Dedicated Business School faculty plus external industry lecturers | • Interdisciplinary tenure track faculty |
| Facilities | • Design Lab with shared access for all HCDE students • UW campus classrooms | • Foster Business Library • Group work spaces | • UW campus classrooms |
| Contacts | • Kathleen Rascon, Graduate Advisor, khorenst@uw.edu • Program website | • Allison Shults, Admissions and Recruitment Specialist • msis@uw.edu • Program website | • Gary Winchester, Assistant Director of Student Services • datasciencemasters@uw.edu • Program website |
| Time and money | HCDE | MSIS | MSDS |
| Duration | • Self-paced, 2-3 academic years • Full-time and part-time students; many are working professionals | • 12 months | • Full-time: 18 months (5 quarters)
|
| Option for full-time work while in school | • Yes | • Yes | • Yes |
| Application deadline | • January 15 | • February 1 | • January 19 |
| Number of students enrolled annually | • 100 | • Up to 90 | • 40-45 |
| Required number of credits | • 48 | • 44 | • 45 |
| Approximate total tuition (subject to change and total credits taken) | • $37,104 • $773/credit | • $38,000 • Quarterly Tuition: $9,500 | • $46,125 • $1025/credit |
| Financial aid, Funding and Assistantships | • Occasionally tuition may be reduced through fellowships and teaching/research assistantships, which are offered by individual departments based on merit. | • Occasionally tuition may be reduced through fellowships and teaching/research assistantships, which are offered by individual departments based on merit.
| • Financial aid is not provided through this program, but UW Graduate Funding Information Service can help find funding. |