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MIS Degree Requirements

MIS Degree Checklist

The SLIS MIS program helps to educate a distinctive information professional, one whose expertise includes understanding the human side of information and information technologies and applying this understanding to practical problems. There is some flexibility in the sequencing. Check in with your faculty advisor, or the MIS Program Director, with questions.

The curriculum has been designed to provide a sound conceptual foundation for developing leadership-oriented careers and enabling students to develop expertise in one or more specific areas.

All students who enter the MIS program from Fall 2007 will complete the following set of required courses following the order below as closely as possible. Students who enter in the Spring or Summer II semesters and part-time students will be advised by Howard Rosenbaum MIS Program Director. Current SLIS students may select this curriculum option. The MIS is available only on the Bloomington campus.

Master of Information Science
(42 credit hours)

REQUIREMENTS (21 hours):

*plus Technology Literacy Requirement

Fall semester

Spring semester

Summer semester

  • Electives

Second Fall semester

ELECTIVES (21 hours):

Flexible, creative, rich electives are offered. Your choices include:

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Technology Literacy Requirement

The School of Library and Information Science expects entering Master of Information Science students will have a basic level of computer literacy, meaning a familiarity with basic applications that will be used throughout the coursework. S401 - Computer Based Information Tools, provides this preparation. MIS students in the new Fall 2007 curriculum are not required to take this course, but are responsible for the knowledge and skills taught in S401. These include:

  • The ability to use applications including spreadsheets, databases, online searching tools and electronic mail and the ability to integrate the use of these tools.
  • An understanding of and proficiency in the use of Internet-based tools (SSH, SFTP, and the World Wide Web), and Internet information resources.
  • The ability to use the Unix, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows computer platforms to create and manipulate documents, and to transfer documents from one platform to the other.
  • Familiarity with the basic concepts of online searching and retrieval, including controlled vocabulary, Boolean logic, indexing, search languages, and common bibliographic and full-text databases.
  • The ability to use computer tools to communicate and share documents, using tools such as electronic mail, e-mail attachments, HTML and LISTSERV

It is important that all SLIS students have the knowledge and skills described above. Students who cannot demonstrate the required skills, will be advised to take S401 in the second semester.

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MIS Programming Requirement

The 3 credit hour open ended programming requirement can be fulfilled with a variety of programming courses in SLIS or waived if a student has programming experience.

Programming skills and languages are important tools for the study of information science and enable information professionals to:

  • Design and implement data structures and algorithms for the storage and retrieval of information
  • Manipulate, analyze, and display information
  • Develop interfaces for visualizing and interacting with information

Additionally, programming concepts such as object-oriented design and model-view-controller (MVC) paradigms contribute to an understanding of information design, workflow, and processing.

Options to meet this requirement:

  1. Take a SLIS programming course(s): S517 , S656 or two S603 1.5 credit programming workshops (PHP, Perl CGI, or other workshops - with approval in writing by the MIS Program Director.) Please bring copies of the approval (email or memo) to the SLIS Office for your student file.
  2. Take a graduate level programming course in another IU Department - and complete an "Outside Course Approval Form". MIS students can take up to six credit hours of coursework outside of SLIS.
  3. Waive the requirement by completing a "Course Waiver Form", and having the form approved by the MIS Program Director. This will waive the requirement, and would substitute another 3 credit hours of electives.

Core Course Grade Requirement
(effective Fall 2010)

No course in which a student receives a grade lower than C (2.0) will be counted toward requirements for any SLIS degree. Any required course on which a grade lower than B- is received must be repeated; an elective course in which an unacceptable grade is earned need not be repeated, but it may be repeated or another course must be taken in its place. Repeating a course in which the student received an unacceptable grade or taking another in its place does not remove the credit points for that course from a student’s cumulative grade point average. All grades achieved in SLIS courses will be counted in the SLIS and IU GPA. Because a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B) is required for graduation, any grade below B must be balanced by another sufficiently above B to keep the GPA at the 3.0 level.

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Goals and Objectives of the MIS Program

The Master of Information Science (MIS) program prepares students to become reflective practitioners in careers involved in designing, managing, and consulting about information technologies and services in public, corporate, and nonprofit organizations.

Upon completion of the MIS program, graduates are prepared to:

Demonstrate understanding of research necessary for careers as information professionals
  • Apply appropriate strategies, tools, and technologies to represent, organize, and manage data and information
  • Apply appropriate theories and empirical evidence for effective leadership, management, and collaboration
  • Use critical thinking to evaluate information, technology, and services problems and challenges
  • Synthesize and interpret relevant research findings for use in ICT project management
Adopt socio-technical and user-centered approaches to studying and working with information and communication technologies (ICT)
  • Understand the management and organizational structures of information organizations
  • Utilize effectively the theoretical and practical bases of information organization, architecture, storage, retrieval, and delivery systems
  • Apply techniques from human-computer interaction, systems analysis, programming and database design, to analyze user needs and information systems in social and organizational settings
  • Develop innovative solutions to address information, technology, and services problems and challenges
Work effectively within and across a variety of information settings and contexts
  • Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with a variety of audiences
  • Identify information and technical resources that will support an organization's activities
  • Analyze, evaluate, and manage ICT to support organizational activities and work practices
  • Demonstrate knowledge of relevant concepts and theories of organizational behavior for managing people, information, and technology in public and private sector organizations
Participate successfully and responsibly in the information professions
  • Explain socio-economic, cultural, policy, and ethical issues involved in the design, development, management, and use of ICT
  • Engage in life-long learning, making effective use of the range of information resources (research and popular writings, professional organizations) that support information work
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