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
Choose 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
Digital Curation
(Sections xx6 - Winter Term Only)
The Digital Curation mastery course allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in digital curation through the completion of a client-based project with a specific outcome. Working independently or in small teams, students work with a client on a digital curation problem, which they solve by applying one or more fundamental digital curation skills, including
- Digital curation workflows: assessing a collection of digital objects, and developing a plan for further curation and preservation. May include identifying preservation risks, assessing accessibility issues, data management planning, and working with a designated community to make digital objects more fit-for-use. Focuses on developing a plan, might not include implementing it.
- Metadata projects: creating or applying a metadata standard to a collection of digital objects. May include creating a new schema or a new application profile of an existing standard; refining or creating a controlled vocabulary; assessing users' needs for metadata; or more.
- Data wrangling: working with datasets to make them fit-for-use. May include data cleaning, transformation, re-formatting, or standardization; data aggregation or integration; or working with users’ to identify needs of data.
Note: This pathway will only be in effect for those who began the MSI program before Fall 2024.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with C- or better):
SI 501: Contextual Inquiry and Consulting Foundations
SI 504: Servers, The Shell, and Git
SI 506: Programming I
SI 666: Organization of Information Resources
SI 667: Foundations of Digital Curation
SI 676: Networked Services for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
SI 510: Information Ethics (can be taken concurrently with mastery course)
At least one of:
SI 580: Understanding Records and Archives
SI 647: Information Resources and Services
At least two of:
SI 539: Web Design: Responsiveness & Accessibility
SI 564: SQL and Databases AND SI 639: Web Archiving
SI 585: Scholarly Communication
SI 622: Needs Assessment and Usability Evaluation
SI 633: Assessment in Cultural Institutions
Librarianship and Archival Practice
(Sections xx8 - Winter Term Only)
The Librarianship and Archival Practice mastery courses prepare students for careers in librarianship, archives, and cultural heritage collections management, representation, access, and/or preservation. In the course, students demonstrate their knowledge and skills through completion of a client-based project with a specific outcome. Students work with a client on a problem in archival or library setting, such as:
- Collections: projects related to materials selection, processing, metadata, cataloging, original digitization plans, weeding, and/or outreach;
- Instruction, programs, or events: projects about the planning, facilitation, project management, marketing, and/or evaluation of formal and informal learning activities or community events;
- Community engagement and partnerships: projects that assess community needs, identify service gaps and opportunities, seek and nurture new relationships with partner organizations or communities.
Note: This pathway will only be in effect for those who began the MSI program before Fall 2024.
The Librarianship and Archival Practice mastery course is split into two more specific topics:
Connecting Information & Communities (Section 018)
All students in this mastery course have an interest in the school’s interplay between information, people, technology, and pro-social activity in the context of cultural heritage institutions, especially – but not limited to– libraries and archives. Students in this pathway have primary interest in the human side of cultural heritage institutions and the programs, events, initiatives, and activities that connect the institutions to the needs of those in their community. Students pursuing this pathway learn about fundamentals of librarianship or archival practice, communities and their needs, instructional practice, outreach, and assessment. Sample job titles include (but are not limited to) outreach librarian/archivist, instructional librarian/archivist, and community engagement librarian/archivist, and library/archival management.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with C- or better):
SI 501: Contextual Inquiry and Consulting Foundations
SI 506: Programming I
SI 547: Engaging with Communities
SI 623: Research Methods for Information Professionals
SI 510: Information Ethics (taken concurrently with mastery course)
At least one of:
SI 580: Understanding Records and Archives
SI 647: Information Resources and Services
At least three of:
SI 538: Citizen Interaction Design
SI 626: Management in Libraries & Non-Profit Organizations
SI 632: Appraisal and Collection Development
SI 633: Assessment in Cultural Institutions
SI 643: Instructional Skills for Information Professionals
Managing & Sustaining Collections (Section 028)
All students in this mastery course have an interest in the school’s interplay between information, people, technology, and pro-social activity in the context of cultural heritage institutions, especially – but not limited to– libraries and archives. Students in this pathway have primary interest in the acquisition, organization, maintenance, and weeding of information, particularly those in libraries and archives, with an emphasis on digital activities. Sample job titles include (but are not limited to) cataloguer, digital archivist, collection development officer, electronic resources manager, archivist, metadata specialist, or digital preservationist. Those with a keen interest in specialty skills in preserving digital collections over time might be better suited to the digital curation pathway.
Enforced Prerequisites (completed with C- or better):
SI 501: Contextual Inquiry and Consulting Foundations
SI 506: Programming I
SI 510: Information Ethics (taken concurrently with mastery course)
SI 623: Research Methods for Information Professionals
At least one of:
SI 580: Understanding Records and Archives
SI 647: Information Resources and Services
At least four of:
SI 583: Managing Accountability through Recordkeeping
SI 585: Scholarly Communication
SI 626: Management in Libraries & Non-Profit Organizations
SI 632: Appraisal Collection and Development
SI 633: Assessment in Cultural Institutions
SI 666: Organization of Information
SI 667: Foundations of Digital Curation