The MSI is a 48-credit degree program, which takes 2 years to complete on a full-time basis and 3-4 years if completed part-time. The MSI degree includes several components that ensure a substantial academic program yet allow for flexibility. Some requirements offer a waiver option. *Waivers do not reduce the 48-credits required for the degree but enable you to choose another course of interest. See below for further details.

Foundations

As an MSI student you must complete two core courses, which will provide an understanding of the theories and concepts important for all information professionals and hands-on practice in evaluating and meeting information needs in a project setting. These courses are:

SI 500: Information in Social Systems: Collections, Flows, and Processing
 (3 credits)
SI 501: Contextual Inquiry and Project Management (3 credits)

A third foundations course provides grounding in the network and computing technology central to the information professions:

SI 502: Networked Computing: Storage, Communication, and Processing (3 credits)
(Note: SI 502 may be *waived based on results of a competency test. View the SI 502 place-out policy.)

Management and research methods distributions

Complete 3 credits from approved course lists, or request *waivers based on previous coursework (upper level undergraduate or graduate level) taken in the past 5 years with a grade of B or better. With approval you may substitute a relevant UM cognate course with a grade of B- or better.

If you seek a *waiver of the Management and/or Methods Distribution Requirement, send your request to si.registrar@umich.edu in the first two weeks of the term or during the two-week pre-registration advising period. Include a course description (syllabus if available) and transcript with your request.

Management Distribution Requirement (3 credits)
The goal of this requirement is to prepare students for managerial aspects of their future roles, such as planning, leading, organizing, and controlling. Approved courses focus on learning about and applying management strategies related to getting things done through people or other organizational resources (e.g., financial, technological).

Courses approved to fulfill the management distribution: 

SI 523: Special Topics: Information and Control (3 credits)

SI 530: Principles in Management (3 credits)

SI 534: Theories of Social Influence (3 credits)

SI 617: Choice Architecture (3 credits)

SI 626: Management of Nonprofit Libraries and Information Services (3 credits)

SI 627: Managing the Information Technology Organization (3 credits)

SI 638: School Library Media Management (3 credits)

SI 663: Entrepreneurship in the Information Industry (3 credits)

SI 680: Incentive-Centered Design: Contracting and Signaling (1.5 credits)


Research Methods Distribution Requirement (3 credits)
The goal of this requirement is to prepare students to carry out activities of collecting and analyzing information in order to produce or validate new knowledge, such as training in field research, program evaluation, computer simulation, or statistical or economic analysis.

Courses approved to fulfill the research methods distribution:
SI 544: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
(3 credits)
SI 562 Microeconomics (1.5 credits)

SI 563 Game Theory (1.5 credits)
SI 601 Data Manipulation (1.5 credits)
SI 618 Exploratory Data Analysis sequence (1.5 credits)

SI 622 Evaluation of Systems and Services
(3 credits)
SI 623 Outcome-based Evaluation of Programs and Services
(3 credits)
SI 840 Research Methods (3 credits)

Specialization(s)

Each specialization includes 12-18 credits of required and optional coursework. You may complete one or two specializations; courses on two specialization course lists may count for both. See MSI Specializations for additional details.

Practical engagement

Eight of your 48 MSI credits must also meet the requirements of the Practical Engagement Program (PEP). You fulfill the PEP requirement through credit-based internships or through experiential learning within select SI courses. Visit the PEP page for additional details.

Cognate

You must complete a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 cognate credits (graduate level coursework outside of SI or cross-listed with another department as long as SI is NOT the home department) with a grade of B- or better. Learn more and see a list of SI student recommended cognate courses.

Electives

Each student must accrue 48 credits for the MSI degree. Some students have more focused interests and choose to take additional credits in their area of specialization, while others select electives to diversify their skills and knowledge. If you complete two specializations your second area will likely cover your available electives.