Special topics courses - Fall 2026

Intro to Project Management - J. Poulton

SI 311.021 - 3 credits - Class Number 30852 

This course will cover the core fundamentals of project management, including: the project life cycle; project management methodologies (waterfall, agile, scrum, etc.); key project planning and execution concepts (scope, schedule, budget, resources, risk, procurement, quality, communication, stakeholders, and change management); as well as the future of project management and the impact of artificial intelligence. The course will help students develop a project management artifact portfolio by asking them to complete different assignments throughout the semester and contribute to a group final project at the end of the course.

Sports Analytics - T. Finholt

SI 311.030 - 3 credits - Class Number 26067

In this course students will work with the instructor and with training/coaching personnel in U-M Athletics to address a set of analyses related to athlete health, safety or performance, such as by using data gathered from: tracking devices worn in practice and competition (e.g., Catapult); cameras (e.g., TrackMan); or boxscore and other statistical data (e.g, Pro Football Focus). These datasets can be large and complex. For example, wearables data typically consist of a hundred records per second with a dozen or so variables per record (e.g., distance traveled, direction of movement, number of explosive movements) – collected longitudinally across up to fifteen athletes per team per season.

Prerequisites: *Application required: Fall 26 Sports Analytics*
Students are advised to have completed (or be currently taking) an introductory level stats course (e.g., STATS 250) and an introductory programming course (e.g., EECS 183, ENGR 101/151 or SI 106).

Seminars in Organizational Studies - S. Page

SI 311.069 - 1 credit - Class Number 27156

This seminar provides a forum for the discussion of research and theory about organizations and organizational processes.  In keeping with its interdisciplinary character, the seminar will consider both macro and micro-processes and their intersection.  Presentations will be made by faculty and advanced graduate students from within the university, as well as from other universities and centers for research on organizations.

Prerequisites: Senior standing 
This course is owned by Ross.

Entrepreneurship Studio - M.Lee

SI 311.174 - 1.5 credits - Class Number 37823 

In this hands-on studio course, students will run many entrepreneurial experiments with the goal of learning to think entrepreneurially, work through failures and discomfort, and verbally communicate their learnings to others. Students will be placed on teams throughout the studio course to engage in hands-on experiments, case studies, and mini-competitions.

This course runs in the second 7 weeks.

Applied Data Analysis with Excel - R. Vergel

SI 311.175 - 1 credit - Class Number 38724

The course teaches students practical workflows that analysts commonly use to clean, organize, and analyze data in Excel. Through hands-on exercises, students will learn essential functions, pivot tables, and basic visualization techniques to generate valuable business insights. The course utilizes real-world datasets and emphasizes the importance of data analysis in making informed, data-driven decisions.

This course runs in the first 7 weeks.

Applied Data Analysis with Tableau - R. Vergel

SI 311.176 - 1 credit - Class Number 38725

The course introduces students to the workflows analysts use to transform structured data into dynamic, decision-ready dashboards. It focuses on advanced data analysis, modeling, and interactive visualization using Tableau. Students will learn how to combine multiple data sources, create calculated fields, and create dynamic dashboards to facilitate exploration and decision-making.

This course runs in the second 7 weeks.

Research Experience Development Program (REDP)- M. Bui

SI 311.512 - 1.5 credits  - Class Number 33975

This course provides supplemental research training to complement research experiences provided by UMSI researchers. Through a weekly seminar, students will receive instructor and peer support while engaging in their project hosted by a UMSI researcher. Seminar topics will include literature reviews, authorship, ethics, and academic research versus professional research.

Prerequisites: Application required. See  umsi.info/mcompass.redp for more information

Product Discover: Strategy for Innovation & Growth - Z. Razzacki

SI 511.051 - 3 credits  - Class Number 33728

Learn how today’s top companies discover and design breakthrough technology products. SI511 equips you with the tools and frameworks to lead cross-functional product teams, identify high-potential opportunities, and drive innovation from concept to launch. Gain hands-on experience through collaborative team projects and learn directly from industry leaders from companies like Google, Amazon, and PayPal. Whether you’re pursuing a career in product management, UX, strategy, or innovation, this course offers real-world insight and practical skills to make you a standout in the tech industry.

This course prepares students for leadership in product management and strategy, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration between business, design, and engineering. Students will apply frameworks to identify opportunities, validate concepts, and develop viable product strategies, gaining skills critical for driving successful product innovations through real-world, industry-oriented case studies and projects.

Intro to Product Management - W. Thompson

SI 511.155 - 3 credits  - Class Number 30855

In this course, we will dive into the details of digital product management, focusing on planning exceptional customer experiences across web, mobile and mixed reality platforms. Through a blend of theoretical concepts and hands-on exercises, participants will uncover the transformative potential of product management in shaping the future of digital innovation.

Information Behavior - M. Threats 

SI 511.161 - 3 credits - Class Number 37517

This course surveys major theories and research on information behavior—how people recognize needs and seek, share, avoid, interpret, and use information—and how these practices are shaped by cognitive, social, cultural, and technological factors. Students examine information behavior across everyday life, organizations, and digital platforms, with attention to social media, algorithmic systems, misinformation, and generative AI. The course emphasizes applying research insights to design inclusive, ethical, and effective services and systems in libraries, archives, and other knowledge environments.

Writing for User Experience: Content, Design, Strategy - R. Chung

SI 611.104 - 3 credits - Class Number 32955

This course is for students who want to learn how written content enhances user experience (writing as design, content strategy). Effective and professional communication with users, collaborators, and stakeholders will be emphasized, as part of learning how to develop creative written content from idea to implementation. Writing and revising are expected. 

Prerequisites: SI 582 or waiver