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Information Management (INFM)   

Program Title and Classification

Information Management

Graduate Degree Program

College: Information Studies

Abstract

The Master of Information Management (MIM)  program at the College of Information Studies, Maryland’s iSchool prepares graduates to be industry leaders in information science and technology, maximizing the value of information management solutions and empowering organizations through the optimized decision-making process. Drawing from management, computer science, information systems, and information science, the MIM program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully meet users’ information needs, lead efforts to develop organizations' information management capabilities, develop and deploy emerging technologies, and manage high-value information resources. 

The specific goals of the MIM program are to:

• Prepare professionals for leadership positions that bridge the gap between technology-oriented staff, functional personnel, and management;
• Address the growing need for skilled information professionals who can strategically manage information and technology assets to fulfill critical information needs in organizations;
• Provide leadership in the information management field through the study of ethical, political, social, and technical issues related to information management in modern society;
• Assist organizations in the formation of information policies, development and application of information systems and services, and the use of information management technologies and methods.

The MIM curriculum consists of 36 credits (12 courses) of graduate-level coursework in information management and related subjects, including a balanced mix of required and elective courses. The courses are integrated into four main blocks:

• Core courses provide a foundation of skills and knowledge related to information, technology, user analysis, and management. They are also opportunities for students to determine which aspects of information management they find most interesting and useful.
• Specialized courses in Management and Information Technology enable students to build advanced skills and knowledge and develop the expertise required in the information management field;
• Practicum courses allow students to connect theory from their learning experience in the classroom to real-world settings through projects carried out in partner organizations;
• Elective courses provide flexibility to the program and allow students to pursue their own educational and professional interests in greater depth.

The Master of Information Management degree courses are offered at the College Park campus (College Park, Maryland), at the Universities at Shady Grove campus (Rockville, Maryland), and online.

Admissions Information

General Requirements:

• Statement of Purpose: Though the responses to these questions may have some overlap with the Graduate School’s statement of purpose – applicants may cut and paste, as relevant, from the Graduate School’s statement submission
• Transcript(s)
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)

Program-Specific Requirements:

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): GRE required for international students but can be waived for domestic students with 3.2 GPA and above.
• CV/Resume
• Supplementary Application

The admissions process for the MIM program is designed to determine whether the program is a good fit for student's background, education, and professional development goals. Applications for admission to MIM program are evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum "B" or 3.0 average on a 4.0 scale on all academic work attempted for consideration;
• Strength of the three (3) recommendations from persons able to judge probable success in graduate school;
• Strength of applicant statement of purpose, explaining the reasons for undertaking the graduate study at the University of Maryland;
• Strength of targeted applicant essay, describing why you are interested in the Masters of Information Management program and why this program is a good fit for your professional/career goals;
• Acceptable scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT);
• International applicants are required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS scores;
• Potential for leadership and innovation in information management as reflect in previously earned graduate degrees and work experience;

Please visit the MIM Admission page for more information about applying to the MIM program.

For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: www.gradschool.umd.edu/admissions

Application Deadlines

Other Deadlines: Please visit the program website at http://www.ischool.umd.edu

Degree Requirements

Master of Information Management (M.I.M.)

Successful completion of the MIM degree requires that students complete 36 credit hours of academic work with at least a B average (3.0 GPA). Full-time students complete the program in 24 months. Part-time students typically complete the program in two to three academic years. Students may take courses in daytime and evening and may switch between part-time and full-time enrollment. However, all coursework must be finished within five calendar years of the first registration.

All MIM students must complete four core courses, which provide a foundation of skills and knowledge related to information, technology, user analysis, and management. These courses must be completed within student’s first 18 credits in the program. The MIM core courses include:
 

• INFM 600 Information Environments - An exploration of various models and methodologies used to capture and deploy internal and external information and knowledge in a number of settings; organizational analysis in terms of information creation, flow, sharing, conservation, and application to problem solving; internal and external influences on the management of information and knowledge; various information flows; information management in a variety of settings.
• INFM 603 Information Technology and Organizational Context - Application of communication and information technologies to support work processes, including technology-enhanced communication networks, computer-supported collaborative work, decision-support systems, interactive systems, and systems analysis. Acquisition of information systems and their integration into the organization.
• INFM 605 Users and Use Context - Use of information by individuals. Nature of information. Information behavior and mental models. Characteristics of problems, task analysis, problem solving, and decision making. Methods for determining information behavior and user needs. Information access. Information technology as a tool in information use.
• INFM 612 Management of Information Programs and Services - Key aspects of management - focusing on planning, organizing, leading and controlling. The evolution of management, innovative management for the changing world, management styles and leadership, managerial planning, goal setting and decision making. Ethical issues, designing adaptive organizations responding to change, global environment, diversity, and utilizing the appropriate technology to provide effective management of information programs and services.

After completing the MIM core courses, all students are required to complete a set of electives that provide depth of knowledge in one or more areas of information management expertise. To help students satisfy this requirement, the MIM program offers a variety of specialization guidelines, which provide students with examples of ways their MIM elective coursework can be organized to meet their educational and professional goals. The program offers two specialization tracks:
 

• Information Analysis - with a focus on either Data Analytics or Strategic Management.
• Technology Design - with a focus on either User Experience or Technology Development.
   

If students are interested in developing a general course of study, there is an option for the Individualized Program Plan. There is also an option for the thesis track, titled Information Management Research.
 

In addition, the MIM program has a joint specialization with the iSchool’s Master of Library and Information Science program (MLIS) in Archives and Digital Curation.

The learning in the MIM program is not confined to the classroom. Most MIM courses involve substantial applied components in the form of individual and group projects, in-class exercises, and mini workshops. The required Capstone Experience represent the zenith of this practice-oriented focus. It consists of 2-full semester courses (INFM 736 and INFM 737), totaling 6 credits, allowing students to work on an information management related project. The 2 Capstone courses involve the following components:
 

INFM 736 Information Management Experience (3 credits)
 

• Must be taken prior to INFM 737
• Offered only in the fall semesters
• Curriculum covers:
  • Project Requirements Gathering
  • Project Planning

INFM 737 Information Management Capstone Experience (3 credits)

• Offered only in the spring semesters
• Curriculum covers:
  • Project Execution
  • Project Conclusion

Facilities and Special Resources

The College operates six research centers: the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL), the Information Policy and Access Center (iPAC), and the Center for Advanced Study of Communities and Information (CASCI), the Cloud Computing Center (CCC), the Trace Center, and the Digital Curation Innovation Center (DCIC). 

iSchool faculty and doctoral students also participate in or have affiliations with the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH), and the Computational Linguistics and Information Processing Laboratory (CLIP), as well as the Departments of Computer Science, English, and Sociology, the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and the College of Education.

The College also operates a student computer lab for currently enrolled students.

Faculty and students participate in cooperative research with staff of the University Libraries, the Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory, and other campus units. Students have access through cooperative arrangements and programs to the resources of Archives II, the National Agricultural Library, the Library of Congress, and other prominent research facilities.

Financial Assistance

For more information on merit-based aid, please visit the Financial Aid section of the College of Information Studies website.

Contact Statement

For more information about applying to the MIM program, please contact the iSchool Student Services Office at ischooladmission@umd.edu.

Please visit the College of Information Studies website for details on upcoming Information Sessions or Open House programs.

Website

http://www.ischool.umd.edu

Contacts

Student Services Office

College of Information Studies
4110 Hornbake Building, South Wing
University of Maryland College Park

MD, 20742

Telephone: (301) 405-2038

Fax: (301) 314-9145

ischooladmission@umd.edu">ischooladmission@umd.edu

Associated Information

Courses

INFM

INFM

INST

Keywords

Information, Management, Information Issues and Policies, Information Users and Use, User Experience, Information Strategy, Knowledge Management, Information Technology, Information Mobilization, Information Analysis, Information Security, Access and Privacy, Chief Knowledge Officer, Strategic Information Planner, Business Intelligence Manager, Information Systems, Legal Information Specialist, Information Technologist, Customer Information Director, Information Architect, Information Analyst, Enterprise Information Officer, Manager of Campus Technology and Academic Computing, Social Media, Internet Applications, Web Management, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, Project Management, Business Analysis, Data Analytics, Big Data, Data Mining, Cloud Computing, Technology Development, Technology Design

Relationships

Curation and Management of Digital Assets (online) (Z093)

Human-Computer Interaction (HCIM)

Information Management (INFM)

Information Studies (INFS)

Library and Information Science (LBSC)

Library and Information Science (online) (LBSO)