School of Information

Degree Requirements

School of Information Master’s/Specialist Graduate Student Handbook

The Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) requires 32 semester hours, including four required core courses. Students should fill in their Advising Worksheet using the Course Rotation Schedule linked at the top of the Graduate Course Descriptions page. Please note that only the electives listed on this page are approved to count towards completion of the MSIT.

Required Core Courses (12 semester hours)

LIS 5203 Information Behavior (3 hours)

LIS 5275 Usability Analysis (3 hours)

LIS 5408 Management of Information Organizations (3 hours)

LIS 5487 Information Systems Management (3 hours)

Electives (20 semester hours)

The remaining 20 credits may be taken from among the course offerings listed below and should be selected according to the foundational needs of the student (taking into account current technology skill level) and the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) needed to support the student’s professional goals

LIS 5008 Online Searching (3 hours)

LIS 5028 Writing for the Information Professions (3 hours)

LIS 5255 Information, Technology, and Older Adults (3 hours)

LIS 5263 Theory of Information Retrieval (3 hours)

LIS 5271 Research in Information Studies (3 hours)

LIS 5313 Digital Media: Concepts and Production (3 hours)

LIS 5341 Data Organization (3 hours)

LIS 5362 Design and Production of Networked Multimedia (3 hours)

LIS 5364 Web Site Development and Administration (3 hours)

LIS 5367 Advanced Web Applications (3 hours)

LIS 5385 Social Computing and Collaboration Technologies (3 hours)

LIS 5403 Human Resource Management for Information Professionals (3 hours)

LIS 5405 Leadership in Technology (3 hours)

LIS 5411 Introduction to Information Policy (3 hours)

LIS 5413 Seminar in Information Policy (3 hours)

LIS 5417 Introduction to Legal Resources (3 hours)

LIS 5418 Introduction to Health Informatics (3 hours)

LIS 5419 Consumer Health Informatics (3 hours)

LIS 5426 Grant Writing, Evaluation and Administration (3 hours)

LIS 5442 Information Leadership (3 hours)

LIS 5472 Digital Libraries (3 hours)

LIS 5474 Business Information and Competitive Intelligence (3)

LIS 5484 Introduction to Data Networks for Information Professionals (3 hours)

LIS 5486 Managing Makerspaces (3 hours)

LIS 5489 Network Administration (3 hours)

LIS 5602 Marketing of Library and Information Services (3 hours)

LIS 5631 Health Information Sources (3 hours)

LIS 5703 Information Organization (3 hours)

LIS 5751 Computers as Persuasive Technology (3 hours)

LIS 5765 Data Mining and Analytics (3 hours)

LIS 5775 Organizational Information Security (3 hours)

LIS 5782 Database Management Systems (3 hours)

LIS 5786 Introduction to Information Architecture (3 hours)

LIS 5787 Fundamentals of Metadata Theory and Practice (3 hours)

LIS 5788 Management of Health Information Technology (3 hours)

LIS 5916 Issues in Information Studies – approved course topics:
·  Advanced Social Media (3 hours)
·  Artificial Intelligence Applications  (3 hours)
·  Artificial Intelligence Ethics  (3 hours)
·  Cultural Competence for Information Professionals (3 hours)
·  Data Curation (3 hours)
·  Ethics for Information Professionals (3 hours)
·  Managing Innovation and Change (3 hours)
·  Mobile Application Development (3 hours)
·  Natural Language Processing and Text Mining for Information Professionals (3 hours)
·  Neurodiversity in the Information Professions (3 hours)

LIS 5900 Directed Independent Study – in an appropriate area and approved in advance

LIS 5945 Internship – click here for information

Additional Courses

Additional courses as electives for this degree are available through the School of Communication within the College of Communication and Information:

COM 5126 Organizational Communication Theory & Practice (3 hours)

COM 5450 Introduction to Project Management (3 hours)

COM 5451 Advanced Topics in Project Management (3 hours)

COM 5452 Agile Project Management (3 hours)

Electives available in other academic units may also be taken with permission of the iSchool Director.

Program of Study

To help facilitate course selection, courses have been organized into programs of study along general and specialized areas of interest.  These programs of study are not required for graduation and do not result in any further notation on the diploma or transcripts, but rather function as a planning and advising tool for the students.  Programs of study may help to guide your course selection in order to facilitate achievement of your career goals.  They include:

• Large-Scale Data Management
• Leadership & Management
• Technology & Networking
• User-Centered Design
• Web Design

Time to Completion

• Course work for the Master degree must be completed within 7 years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit.
• Any graduate work transferred from another institution must have commenced not more than 7 years prior to completion of the degree for the credits to be applicable to the Master’s degree.
• Exceptions may be appealed through the School of Information.

Juris Doctor/Master of Science Joint Pathway Requirements

The Juris Doctor/MS joint pathway leads to both a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from the FSU College of Law and a Master of Science in Information Technology Degree from the FSU School of Information. Graduates of the JD/MSIT joint pathway will have a competitive advantage in the job market, in both the practice of law and in other more non-traditional legal careers. The knowledge and skills from both disciplines would make graduates ideal candidates for careers in information governance, cybersecurity, and legal technology companies – including the multi-billion dollar electronic discovery industry. Students in the joint pathway will receive academic advising from both the College of Law and the School of Information. Students interested in pursuing the J.D./M.S.I.T. joint pathway must apply to and be accepted by both the College of Law and the School of Information according to each school’s admission criteria. For this joint pathway, the criteria for the College are the same as for the Master’s degree. While most interested applicants will begin their study at the College of Law, a joint pathway student who completes any coursework in the other program prior to matriculating to the College of Law must obtain prior written approval from the College of Law before applying for the joint pathway. Contact the FSU College of Law Admissions Office for application information.

Hours

Total of 109 hours from both programs:

• 79 hours of Law courses
• 30 hours of LIS courses

In effect, 9 hours of graduate course work in Information Studies are credited toward the 88 hours normally required for the Juris Doctor Degree, and 2 hours of LAW are credited toward the 32 hours normally required for the MS degree. This will save the joint pathway student 11 credit hours of coursework which would otherwise be required to complete both degrees separately.

Time to Completion

All coursework for both degrees must be completed within a five-year period and both degrees will be awarded at the same time. With the exception of the 11 special credit hours described above, students will be expected to fulfill all requirements of both degrees.