MIS Degree Requirements
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
Second Fall semester
ELECTIVES (21 hours):
Flexible, creative, rich electives are offered. Your choices include:
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.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
SLIS Definitions of Letter Grades
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)
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- 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
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- 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
