Students with specific interests or career objectives may want to specialize their course of study in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Click on the titles below to see recommended courses for various specializations. Printable course grids can also be found in pdf form by expanding the section beneath the titles.
Specializations can be divided into two broad categories:
- Data Governance = Data Analysis, Database Design and Development, Information Retrieval, or Special Libraries and Knowledge Management.
- User Experience, User Interface Design, Human Computer Interaction (UX, UI, HCI) = Digital Humanities, Digital Libraries, Human-Computer Interaction Design, Information System Design and Development, Organization of Information and Materials.
Please note, with the exception of the ARM Concentration, these are informal course plans designed to help guide students; completing them will not result in an endorsement on a student's transcript.
MSIS required courses regardless of specialization:
161 Tools for Information Literacy or successful completion of the Technology Competency Test
500 Human Information Interactions
509 Information Retrieval
520 Organization of Information
523 Database Systems I
560 Programming
581 Research Methods Overview
582 Systems Analysis and Design
585 Management for Information Professionals
781 Proposal Preparation and Presentation (1.5 credits)
992 Master's Paper
Archives and Records Management (ARM) Concentration
Printable Course Grid
Data Analysis
Highly Recommended Courses
623 Database Systems II: Intermediate Databases
624 Policy-Based Data Management
625 Information Analytics
626 Introduction to Big Data and NoSQL
641 Visual Analytics
789 Big Data, Algorithms, and Society
Additional Recommended Courses
512 Applications of Natural Language Processing
541 Information Visualization
613 Text Mining
723 Database Systems III: Advanced Databases
756 Data Curation and Management
760 Web Databases
767 Information Assurance
COMP 410 Data structures
COMP 562 Introduction to Machine Learning
Database Design and Development
Highly Recommended Courses
572 Web Development I (1.5)
573 Mobile Web Development (1.5)
623 Database Systems II
626 Introduction to Big Data and NoSQL (1.5)
672 Web Development II
720 Metadata Architectures and Applications
723 Database Systems III
760 Web Databases
789 Big Data, Algorithms, and Society
Additional Recommended Courses
512 Applications of Natural Language Processing
613 Text Mining
720 Metadata Architectures and Applications
795 Professional Field Experience
Application Areas
(Students may choose to select one or more relevant courses from target environments of interest)
706 Biomedical Informatics Research Review (1.5)
708 Law Libraries and Legal Information
740 Digital Libraries
747 Special Libraries and Knowledge Management
748 Health Sciences Environment
841 Seminar in Academic Libraries
Environmental Informatics
Highly Recommended Courses
539 Going the Last Mile: Information Services for Underserved Populations
541 Information Visualization
584 Information Ethics
624 Policy-Based Data Management
625 Information Analytics
641 Visual Analytics
690: Project Management: Strategies and Applications
718 User Interface Design
720 Metadata
795 Professional Field Experience
Additional Recommended Courses
572 Web Development 1 (1.5)
573 Mobile Web Development (1.5)
623 Database II
626 Introduction to Big Data and NoSQL (1.5)
672 Web Development II
723 Database III
818 Seminar in Human-Computer Interaction
Courses outside of SILS:
MEJO 581 User Design & Usability
GEOG 477 Introduction to Remote Sensing of Environment
GEOG 491 Introduction to GIS
GEOG 591 Applied Issues in GIS
Information Retrieval
Highly Recommended Courses
512 Applications of Natural Language Processing
523 Database Systems I
740 Digital Libraries: Principles and Applications
Additional Recommended Courses
525 Electronic Records Management
556 Archives and Records Management
623 Database Systems II
718 User Interface Design
720 Metadata Architectures and Applications
723 Database III
760 Web Databases
Special Libraries and Knowledge Management
Highly Recommended Courses
501 Information Resources and Services
513 Resource Selection and Evaluation
572 Web Development I (1.5)
573 Mobile Web Development (1.5)
582 Systems Analysis
584 Information Ethics
747 Special Libraries and Knowledge Management
782 Library Assessment
786 Marketing of Information Services
795 Professional Field Experience
Additional Recommended Courses
525 Electronic Records Management
539 Going the Last Mile: Information Access for Underserved Populations
613 Text Mining
623 Database II
701 Information Retrieval Search Strategies
718 User Interface Design
723 Database III
760 Web Databases
785 Human Resources Management
Choose from one or two:
705 Health Science Information
707 Government Information
708 Law Libraries and Legal Information
740 Digital Libraries: Principles and Applications
Digital Humanities
Highly Recommended
541 Information Visualization
572 Web Development I
613 Text Mining
623 Databases II
718 User Interface Design
720 Metadata
740 Digital Libraries
Additional Recommended Courses
512 Natural Language Processing
672 Web Development II
728 Knowledge Organization
760 Web Databases
Digital Libraries
Highly Recommended Courses
490-161 Building a Personal Digital Library
501 Information Resources and Services
513 Resource Selection and Evaluation
582 Systems Analysis and Design
623 Database Systems II
624 Policy-based Data Management
723 Database III
740 Digital Libraries: Principles and Applications
760 Web Databases
Additional Recommended Courses
512 Applications of NaturalLanguage Processing
566 Information Assurance
572 Web Development I
576 Distributed Systems and Administration
672 Web Development II
690-161 Digital Library Policies
701 Information Retrieval Search Strategies
718 User Interface Design
720 Metadata Architectures and Applications
721 Cataloging Theory and Practice
754 Access, Outreach, and Public Service in Cultural Heritage Repositories
795 Professional Field Experience
Human-Computer Interaction Design
Highly Recommended Courses
418 Human Factors in System Design
572 Web Development (1.5)
573 Mobile Web Development (1.5)
672 Web Development II
718 User Interface Design
719 Usability Evaluation and Testing
818 Seminar in Human-Computer Interaction
Additional Recommended Courses
523 Database Systems I
623 Database Systems II
739 Information Services for Specific Populations
760 Web Databases
MEJO 484 Information Graphics
MEJO 581 User Design and Usability
MEJO 721 Usability and Multimedia Design
PYSC 530 Design and Interpretation of Psychological Research
Information System Design and Development
This specialization prepares students to work as systems analysts and designers in a wide variety of settings including IT departments, non-profit organizations, universities, government agencies, software consulting companies, and entrepreneurial enterprises. Common job titles include Business Analyst, Software Engineer, Application Designer/Architect, Solutions Manager, Project Manager, and Systems Consultant. The specialization focuses on communication and project management skills, as well as an understanding of information technology.
Highly Recommended Courses
572 Web Development (1.5)
584 Information Ethics
623 Database II
626 Introduction to Big Data and NoSQL
690 Project Management: Strategies and Applications
718 User Interface Design
767 Information Assurance
795 Professional Field Experience
Additional Recommended Courses
512 Applications of Natural Language Processing
541 Information Visualization
621 Personal Information Management
672 Web Development II
720 Metadata Architecture and Applications
723 Database Systems III
786 Marketing of Information Services
818 Seminar in Human Information Interaction
Organization of Information and Materials
Highly Recommended Courses
523 Database Systems I
613 Text Mining
623 Database Systems II
720 Metadata Architectures and Applications
795 Professional Field Experience
Additional Recommended Courses
512 Applications of Natural Language Processing
723 Database Systems III
757 Principles and Practices of Archival Description
760 Web Databases
Application Areas
Students may choose to select one or more relevant courses from target environments of interest
706 Biomedical Informatics Research Review
708 Law Libraries and Legal Information
740 Digital Libraries: Principles and Applications
747 Special Libraries and Knowledge Management
748 Health Sciences Environment
841 Seminar in Academic Libraries
