University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh is a well-known state-related research university. It was founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, and now it is a member of the Association of American Universities which only has 62 of the best preeminent doctorate-granting institutions for research in North America. The faculty is made up of over 4,500 full time professors, while the student to faculty ratio is 14 to 1. There are over 300,000 living alumni and over 25,000 full time undergraduates. Pitt is one of the world's most respected research universities, as the students learn from and work with world renowned faculty members.
It can be said that the campus is the best thing about the university. It sits on 132 acres and is located in the city's neighborhood of Oakland. Students can balance their studies with fun as well as internships and other opportunities that span beyond the classroom that will enhance their life and job opportunities in the future. Students will enjoy the urban campus, as it is surrounded by parks and sits in a city that is filled with shops, restaurants, entertainment, museums, theaters, and a lively social scene. The school's sports teams and hundreds of student organizations provide every student with multiple ways to not only entertain themselves, but to make important social connections and most importantly have fun during their educational experiences. Health and safety are at top priority of the campus, and there are many opportunities to expand all cultural and intellectual horizons to make new friends and network.
Master of Science in Information Science
This program is put together to connect people with information and technology because these 3 things are at the center of all research and academic programs at the University of Pittsburgh iSchool. The MSIS degree builds upon this by preparing students for their careers as information professionals. The program consists of 36 credit hours that can be completed full time in 3 semesters, depending on the course schedule. Alternatively, it can be completed as a part time program in as many as 4 years but no more. The program offers a demanding course study that is flexible so that the individual needs of all students can be met. The school allows students to design their own course study with the direction of their adviser. Many students have opted to use this to sample various areas of the curriculum while other students may choose to focus on a specific specialization. The specializations available are big data analytics, human-centered computing, database and web systems, information assurance and security, geoinformatics, and telecommunications and distributed systems. They have been created to meet specific needs of the academic and industry sectors while still being able to provide the necessary foundation for the knowledge needed for the program of study.
Those who have graduated from this program have found employment at establishments such as IBM, Citigroup, Apple, United States Steel Corporation, Siemens Global, Exxon Mobile Corp, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, FedEx, Westinghouse Electric Company, UPMC Hospital, and Eli Lilly and Company. This degree helps to foster real relationships with these companies.
