The Information Architecture specialization helps you design and improve how information is structured for organizations and systems. With a user-centered and applied focus, you will learn to create clearer information structures that support access and governance. 

This specialization is frequently paired with Business Intelligence, Data Science or User Experience.

Availability: Residential, daytime classes only

Skills you will develop

• Design, implement and critically evaluate information structures, including taxonomies, ontologies and metadata schemas for a variety of contexts.
• Learn to apply user-centered design principles to information architecture, focusing on understanding user needs, behaviors and preferences.
• Learn to apply information governance, information modeling and information lifecycle management.

Elective courses in the Information Architecture specialization

This specialization consists of three courses that will help you master the theoretical and practical foundations of information architecture and hone your technical and systems-thinking skills.

Learn more about the core, elective and Capstone/practicum courses in the UW MSIM curriculum. 

• IMT 530 Organization of Information Resources (4 credits) 
  Discover issues related to information organization including analysis of intellectual and physical characteristics of information objects, use of metadata and metadata standards, theory of classification, creation of controlled vocabularies, and display and arrangement.
• IMT 535 Introduction to Information Architecture (4 credits) 
  Learn concepts and methods of front- and back-end information architecture. The course covers topics including data and content modeling, taxonomy, controlled vocabulary, and search engine optimization (SEO). Front-end topics include design-thinking, design process, design patterns, navigation and workflow.
• IMT 542 Portable Information Structures (4 credits) 
  Focus on concepts and methods used to analyze, store, manage and present information. Topics include information analysis and organizational methods as well as XML, JSON and metadata concepts and application.

Career outcomes

Students who specialize in information architecture frequently find roles with titles including information architect, data architect, senior SEO manager, enterprise taxonomist and metadata strategy program manager.