University of Michigan School of Information
Mastery courses
As the capstone of the MSI program, these courses require a high level of independence from students to demonstrate synthesis of the major theories, methods and approaches to inquiry and/or schools of practice necessary for entry into a particular career in the information professions. Instructors assume the role of mentor, facilitator or advisor, and the courses are driven by problem analysis, information gathering and sharing, demonstrating solutions or a combination of these elements.
“Mastery” is defined as a student’s ability to do a task, solve a problem, produce an outcome, design a product, deliver a service, etc. at the level comparable to or exceeding a competent junior practitioner in a field, profession or discipline.
Master of Science in Information students are required to complete one mastery course (with the exception of students who are accepted into the the Master’s Thesis Option Program (MTOP)).
Mastery Pathway Topics
UX Research and Design
(Sections xx1 - Offered Fall & Winter Terms)
UX Research and Design practitioners select and apply a range of methods to understand user needs, envision solutions, produce prototypes, and evaluate the user experience of existing and potential products. In the UX Research and Design mastery course, students synthesize their skills and knowledge by completing a semester-long project to design a product to address a well-defined user need, applying appropriate research and design methods along the way. Specific project themes vary from one offering to the next. Example themes from previous semesters include accessibility, museum exhibits, and supporting economic development.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with C- or better):
SI 520: Graphic Design and Visual Communications
SI 539: Web Design: Responsiveness & Accessibility
SI 582: Introduction to Interaction Design
SI 588: Fundamentals of Human Behavior
SI 622: Needs Assessment and Usability Evaluation
User-Centered Agile Development
(Sections xx3 - Winter Term Only)
User-Centered Agile Development is a mastery course for students interested in pursuing a career in software product development with a UX focus. Students work in groups of 4-6 on a semester-long project with an external client, integrating UX research and design methods with agile software development, with the goal of producing and alpha testing a Minimally Viable Prototype by the end of the course.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with C- or better):
SI 504: Servers, The Shell, and Git
SI 539: Web Design: Responsiveness & Accessibility
SI 579: Building Interactive Applications
SI 582: Introduction to Interaction Design
SI 588: Fundamentals of Human Behavior
SI 622: Needs Assessment and Usability Evaluation
At least one of:
SI 664: Database Application Design
SI 669: Developing Mobile Experiences
Big Data Analytics
(Sections xx5 - Offered Fall & Winter Terms)
The Big Data Analytics mastery course requires students to demonstrate mastery of data collection, processing, analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Students work on semester-long projects that deal with industry-scale data sets and address real-world problems, often using real-world data. Students gain experience working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, while demonstrating independence and leadership. Course projects culminate in the production of professional-quality research reports that are suitable for delivery to industry partners.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with C- or better):
SI 504: Servers, The Shell, and Git
SI 507: Intermediate Programming
SI 544: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
SI 568: Intro to Applied Data Science
SI 602: Math Foundations
SI 618: Data Manipulation and Analysis
At least one of:
SI 670: Applied Machine Learning
SI 671: Data Mining
Libraries, Archives, and Knowledge Environments in Society (LAKES)
(Sections XX7 - Winter Term Only)
The LAKES (Libraries, Archives, and Knowledge Environments in Society) mastery course allows students to develop and demonstrate critical knowledge and skills in librarianship, archival practice, digital curation and preservation and/or other collections-focused work. This pathway is structured around the concept of “knowledge environments” to respond to the radical transition toward digitally-enabled scholarship made possible through digitization, collection building, data aggregation and emerging digital knowledge infrastructures.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with a C- or better):
SI 510: Information Ethics
SI 580: Understanding Records and Archives
SI 647: Information Resources and Services
SI 666: Organization of Information
At least one of:
SI 667: Foundations of Digital Curation
SI 547: Engaging with Communities