University of Michigan, School of Information, Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan's School of Information is one of the first modern information schools, within one of the world's best research universities. They create and share knowledge so individuals will use technology and information together to make the world a better place. UM school of information is made up of a plethora of dedicated teachers, scholars, professional staff, and students that are all committed to excellence as well as a desire to make a difference in the lives of many people. The research that is done in the institution answers extraordinary and vital questions regarding the effects of digital technology on cultural, social, commercial, and political life. The school is also designing new systems and technologies that will improve lives—like safe online communities that will support and motivate diabetes patients, and mobile phone technology that will improve the distribution of food in regions that are impoverished.
Teachers will prepare their students for roles as leaders within businesses as well as nonprofits, research, public service, and education in this time that can be considered one of the most dynamic and promising transformations that the world will see with technology. The faculty is made up of some of the best of the best from fields like computer science, psychology, history, economics, statistics, library sciences, management, and communication. Their notoriety precede them, as the faculty comes from digital archiving, information literacy education around the world, social networking, and reputation and recommender systems. Graduates go on to become experts in their fields and will go on to teach future generations.
Master of Science in Information, Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Specialization
The Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) specialization will prepare students for their time to address the needs of humans regarding technology, by determining any useful system functionality and also by designing usable interfaces—this means considering what the context of the individual or organization is. The main principles of HCI will apply to those individuals that are designing technologies for work, entertainment, education, and even social interaction. The SI coursework will combine theories of social and cognitive psychology, design, and computer science with good old practical experience. The most recent UMSI graduates that specialized in HCI have seen themselves find a diverse array of positions like user experience designer, data scientist, software developer, program analyst, and PhD students.
Students that enroll with the HCI specialization are expected to complete 48 credit hours that include foundation courses, practical engagement, distribution, cognates, and electives. Included in this are requirements for statistics as well as programming. Upon completion of the program, students may expect to enter industry areas like consumer goods, advertising, information collection, government agencies, research, and web development. Those who graduate this program and specialization are many times recruited into engineering and marketing departments. These roles will ensure positive consumer experiences or work to improve an organization's brand. Regarding the engineering portion, this role is in place to make sure that a product will work properly for consumers. This can be confirmed with the name of the program—humans and computers interacting—and it will not be perfect every time until it is fixed by a professional.
Master of Science in Information, Library and Information Science Specialization
Librarians do more than manage collections of books. They are responsible for evaluating, analyzing, organizing, packaging, and presenting information and training people to use it. This LIS specialization will introduce students to theories, research, and approaches in addition to practices of library and information science. These students will develop the knowledge of information organization and representation, information architecture, content, collections, information technology, and information needs and uses. The Master of Science degree itself is ALA accredited, and those students with an LIS specialization are growing to be part of a new group of librarians that lead their field as it continually anticipates and responds to challenges that re seen in the age of information.
Students that enter the program are required to meet the degree requirements of the 48 credit program for MSI—this includes foundations, practical engagement, distributions, cognates, and electives. The LIS specialization is required to complete 15 credits from a defined list and will form a strong foundation for this diverse field. Those who graduate from the program can expect to find a career in places like a public library, university library, public schools, government agencies, cultural institutions, nonprofits, service corporations, and information collection. Students will gain valuable experience in their internships, and have done so in settings like the New York Public Library, Library of Congress, and University of Michigan Library. MSI-LIS graduates have gone on to be employed by CNN, the CIA, the Library of Congress, New York Public Library and many university libraries.
