School of Information University of Michigan

University of Michigan's Top-Ranking School of Information

The University of Michigan's School of Information is dedicated to studying information and all of its functions: from how it is created and collected to how it is preserved and accessed. Currently, there are approximately 390 master's degree students and 50 doctoral students enrolled. The program accepts those just embarking on careers in information science as well as seasoned scholars looking to enhance their research skills. There is a strong interdisciplinary emphasis at the school, and students come from as many as 100 different majors.

The program emphasizes an academic knowledge base and research methods that train students to use information to effect positive changes. "US News and World Report" consistently ranks the University of Michigan's School of Information among the top 10 in archival and preservation programs, digital librarianship, and information systems.

Cutting-Edge Information Research Institutions

The research centers associated with the University of Michigan's School of Information have helped the school earn national prominence. These centers include the Collaboratory for Research on Electronic Work, the Community Information Corps, and the Socio-Technical Infrastructure for Electronic Transactions. These centers attract researchers from the university and other institutions dedicated to creating new information processes and scholarly work.

Students work side by side with faculty members researching and creating new ways of implementing information in society, education, and the marketplace. Currently, many active research faculty grants include the study of relevant technological advances and their relationship to information processing. One recent project examines the use of scientific research in healthcare and the communication between patients and physicians.

Master of Science in Information Curriculum

The University of Michigan's School of Information prepares students for careers in the field of information, including library systems, IT organizations, consulting firms, archives and records managements, government, and museums.

To obtain the Master of Science in Information (MSI) degree, students complete 48 credits in information management, research methods, cognate classes, and practical engagement courses. All students must take 2 core foundation courses: SI 500: Information in Social Systems: Collections, Flows, and Processing; and SI 501: Contextual Inquiry and Project Management. Students are also required to take a third core technology course, though it may be waived in lieu of other project work.

MSI Specialization Options

Students may choose to specialize their degrees in one of ten different areas, including preservation of information, social computing, and human-computer interaction. Students may also elect a tailored specialization, according to their interests and career paths. Each specialization generally requires an additional 12 credits of focused coursework.

PhD in Information Program

Doctoral students in the School of Information are trained for academic careers focused on innovative information processes and technologies that affect classrooms, business, and society as a whole. Coursework for the doctoral degree in information includes pre-candidacy research projects, a field preliminary exam, teaching requirements, and a successful defense of the student's final dissertation.

Doctoral program students complete 36 hours of study in residence at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus. Students must maintain a full-time status and must complete their coursework in 7 years, although most students graduate in 4 or 5 years.

Dual Degree Programs

The University of Michigan has developed six different programs that grant dual degrees in conjunction with the Master of Science in Information. The MSI can be paired with an MBA from the business school, an MPP from the School of Public Policy, a JD from the law school, an MSW from the School of Social Work, or an MSN from the School of Nursing.

Degree requirements and length of study varies according to each dual degree program's requirements. When students pursue degrees combined with Master of Science in Information degrees, the total number of credits required is less than the requirements for each degree if earned separately.

Undergraduate Degree in Information

A new undergraduate degree program leading to a bachelor's degree in information is now offered by the University of Michigan School of Information, with applications beginning in 2013. This degree is designed as a richly interdisciplinary program that builds equally upon the social/behavioral and technological sciences. It promises to be the most rigorous, innovative, and unified information science degree in the nation. Read more here.

Alumni Achievements

Alumni from the University of Michigan's School of Information have proven to be leaders and experts in the field and in their communities. Recent MSI graduates of the School of Information currently work for top organizations including Google, the Federal Trade Commission, the Library of Congress, and Microsoft Corporation. Between 97-100% of new alumni have found employment or are pursuing additional education within one year of graduation.

Cultural and Recreational Opportunities in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor offers a multitude of recreational activities for its students and residents; there are over 1,900 acres of parks in the city, as well as golfing, ice skating, and canoeing facilities. Residents of Ann Arbor also enjoy the city's diverse cultural scene, which is evident in the museums, galleries, and music performances that occur daily. Ann Arbor is frequently ranked as one of the top cities in America by many media organizations, including "CNN/Money," "Bicycling Magazine," and "Frommer's Cities Ranked and Rated."

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Information Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Health Informatics Master of Science (MS)
• Archives And Records Management Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Community Informatics Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Human Computer Interaction Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Information Analysis And Retrieval Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Information Economics For Management Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Information Policy Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Library And Information Science Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Preservation Of Information Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• School Library Media Master of Science in Information (MSI)
• Social Computing Master of Science in Information (MSI)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 137
• Doctoral Degrees 5
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• AppliedNot Reported
• AcceptedNot Reported
• Acceptance RateNot Reported
• EnrolledNot Reported
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $65
• Application Fee - International $75
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesGRE General Test
• Doctoral's DegreesGRE General Test
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 600 paper based, TOEFL iBT