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Indiana University Bloomington
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Degrees

Master of Information Science Curriculum

Please note: The MIS Degree has been updated effective Fall 2007. Current Students may select either curriculum option. MIS Curriculum - "New" for Fall 2007

MIS Degree Checklist
(pdf, with news S (SLIS) course numbers)

MIS = 42 credit hours + S401

PREREQUISITE: must be fulfilled before completion of 9 credit hours
RS01   Computer-Based Information Tools (3 credit hours)

FOUNDATION: (12 Hours)

Introduction to Information Science: (3 hours) - must be taken within the first nine hours.

Choose one course from each cross-cutting area:

SPECIALIZATION (3 hours):

Select one specialization area course:
Specialization courses are designed to help students develop a career path. Elective courses will fill out a specialization track, but with great flexibility. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser to help with course and career decisions.

ELECTIVES (27 hours):

Flexible, creative, rich electives are offered. Choose from:

  • a wide variety of interdisciplinary SLIS Courses—including any of the courses listed above (beyond the requirements)
  • Internships for S605 (L596) course credit (2-6 hours)
  • six hours taken in other IU departments with an Outside Course Approval Form
  • Computer Science A538 "Network Technologies and Administration" is a SLIS cross-listed course. It can count as a SLIS elective—not as an outside course.
  • S601 (L600) - Directed Readings or S602 (L594) - Directed Research Courses with SLIS faculty for (1-6 hours)—course approval forms are required.
  • SLIS Workshops—1 or 1.5 credit workshops are offered under the SLIS S603 (L595) course number. MIS students may take up to 6 credits of S603 (L595). Workshops focus on current trends and skills (e.g., XML, UNIX, Virtual Project Management).
  • SLIS Topics Courses—using the course numbers S604 (L597) and S635 (new course, developed from L697), SLIS offers a changing selection of topics courses on professional issues (e.g., Computer-Mediated Communication, Ethnography and Fieldwork, The Semantic Web).
  • Specialization Areas: All elective options are available to fill out specialization areas. Students must take at least one Specialization Area course, but may take more than one.

Information Architecture and Design

"Information architecture involves the design of organization, labeling, navigation, and indexing systems to support both browsing and searching. It plays a central role in determining whether users can easily find the information they need" - Argus Associates

It is the user-centered approach to Information Science at Indiana University that makes IU and Information Architecture such a good fit. While taking courses from within this area, you will investigate information architecture as a social and technological phenomenon, focusing on the ways in which organizations are making use of electronic information networking, and the impacts that networking is having on communication activities, productivity, and information seeking behavior.

S515 (L540) - Information Architecture - Sample Elective Options

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Human Computer Interaction and Communication

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the design, development and implementation of information technology that is compatible with the needs of users and organizations. In the MIS program, you will study the process of interaction in order to inform the theory and practice of user-centered systems design. The goal of the field is to shape new media and tools that will support human use, augment human learning, enhance communication and lead to more acceptable technological developments at the individual and the social levels.

S516 (L542) - Human-Computer Interaction - Sample Elective Options

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Strategic Information Management and Leadership

Information resources include an organization's capital information assets, its network capabilities, and materials held in information centers and archives. Organizational information assets also include human and structural intellectual capital. Social intelligence expands the study of strategic management into new contexts, to cover the processes whereby a society, organization or individual acquires information in the widest sense, processes and evaluates it, stores and uses it for action. The MIS program's focus on strategic information management and leadership will prepare you to integrate internal information and external intelligence in support of organizational goals and objectives.

S518 (L574) - Communication in Electronic Environments - Sample Elective Options

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Information Retrieval Systems Design

Information Retrieval Systems Design concentrates on understanding any information system from an information science perspective; that is, as a whole constituted of data, procedures, equipment, and system users. You will learn principles and methodologies for information systems design, with a special emphasis on user-centric planning, project management, system maintenance, and lifecycle issues. Additionally, you will learn about broader societal and organizational factors that influence design and can ultimately influence the effectiveness of information systems.

S517 (L548) - Web Programming - Sample Elective Options

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Revisions

The MIS curriculum was revised in Fall 2001, and is now only available on the Bloomington campus. Research facilities and technology support for the MIS program are strong at IU Bloomington. All courses must be taken on the Bloomington campus with the exception that up to six graduate credit hours may be transferred with approval. (Pre-2001 MIS Curriculum)

Goals and Objectives: The MIS degree program offers an interdisciplinary professional curriculum designed to prepare students for lifelong careers in designing, managing, or consulting about information technologies and services, in public, corporate, and nonprofit organizations. The MIS program couples best practices training in the design and use of information technologies with the essential career development skills of communication, team building, analysis, and critical thinking that are necessary for assuming management positions in business, industry, nonprofit, academic, and government organizations. Understanding the complex issues of technology, information, and human systems will directly increase the value of MIS graduates to their future employers.

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