Goals and Objectives of the M.I.S. Program

The Master of Information Science (MIS) program is an interdisciplinary professional program designed to prepare students for lifelong careers in designing, managing, and consulting about information and communication technologies (ICT) and services in public, corporate, and nonprofit settings. The program couples best-practices training in the management and use of ICT with exposure to current information management and systems research; there is a strong emphasis on essential career development skills including written and oral communication, team building, analysis, and critical thinking that are necessary for assuming management positions in business, nonprofit, academic, and government organizations.

SLIS has identified the following primary goals and objectives for the MIS program. Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared to:

1. Understand the role of research in leadership-oriented careers (S510, S513)

• Use reflection, critical thinking, and research to make sound decisions regarding information, technology, and social behavior in organizational and social contexts.
• Understand concepts of organization theory and organization behavior as a critical foundation for managing information, people, and ICTs in rapidly changing organizations and organizational environment.

2. Use a combined socio-technical and user-centered approach to studying and working with ICT (S510, S516, S556)

• Apply their knowledge of theoretical and practical bases of information architecture, information organization, and human computer interaction in their work.
• Evaluate and apply relevant information science concepts, principles, analytic tools, and practices to address a variety of practical challenges involving ICT in organizational and other settings.

3. Work effectively within and across a variety of organizational structures (S510, S513, 556, Electives)

• Communicate effectively, orally, and in writing.
• Manage and/or participate in project teams.
• Understand organizational dynamics.

4. Demonstrate technical expertise with ICT (S511, S515, S516, S556, Programming requirement)

• Be effective participants in the design, evaluation, and management of ICT (web sites, databases, digital collections) commonly used in public, private and non-profit organizations to support effective organizational activities, work and social practices, and usability.

5. Understand the responsibilities of an information professional (S510, S513, Electives)

• Understand the implications of the social, political, strategic, and ethical aspects of information creation, access, ownership, and use in the information professions.
  Access and use the range of relevant information resources (research and popular writings, professional organizations) that will support them in their work
  Appreciate the value of continuing education in their chosen professions.

M.I.S. Degree Requirements

The SLIS M.I.S. 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. 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. A candidate for the Master of Information Science degree must complete 42 credit hours of graduate course work; at least 36 credit hours must be taken in the IU School of Library and Information Science. 

A maximum of 6 graduate credit hours from outside the IU School of Library and Information Science may, in certain circumstances and with approval (using the "Outside Course Approval Form"), be applied to the M.I.S. degree. These 6 credit hours may be taken at Indiana University, or at another university. Outside courses are warranted only when they are [delete: more] relevant to the student's career objectives and will contribute more to the enrichment of their programs than would additional SLIS courses. Ordinarily, permission for such outside course work must be obtained before enrolling in the course. The course must be completed with a grade of B or higher, must not be applied to another degree (except in the case of a recognized dual-degree program), and must be taken within the five-year time frame allowed for completion of the degree.

M.I.S. Requirements:
(21 credit hours)

Suggested sequence:

Fall Semester

• S510 Introduction to Information Science (3 cr.)
• S511 Database Design (3 cr.)
• S515 Information Architecture (3 cr.)

Spring Semester

• S513 Organizational Informatics (3 cr.)
• S516 Human Computer Interaction (3 cr.)
• Programming Requirement (3 cr.)

Summer Semester

• Electives

Second Fall Semester

• S556 Systems Analysis and Design (3 cr.)
• Electives

M.I.S. Elective Courses: (21 credit hours) In addition to the 21 credit hours of M.I.S. requirements, students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours of elective courses to reach the 42 credit hours required for the M.I.S. degree. Any SLIS course may be taken as an elective. Students should consult with their faculty advisors about course selection, and care must be taken to ensure that prerequisites have been satisfied before registering for any course. No more than 6 credit hours of the technical workshops (S603) may be applied to the degree.

M.I.S. Programming Requirement

• Take a SLIS programming course(s): S517, another approved 3 credit SLIS programming course, or two S603 (programming) workshops.
• Take a graduate level programming course in another IU Department as part of the six credit hours of allowed outside course work.
• Waive the requirement by completing a course waiver form and having the form approved by the M.I.S. Program Director. If the course is waived, the student will have an additional 3 cr. of electives.

(If the course is waived, then a student would have an additional 3 credit hours of electives).

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. M.I.S. students 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, OnCourse, and podcasting and to integrate the use of these tools.
• An understanding of and proficiency in the use of Internet-based tools (SSH, SFTP), 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 compute tools to communicate and share documents, using tools such as electronic mail, e-mail attachments, LISTSERV, XHTML, and CSS.

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 their second semester.