Program Overview
Our versatile MSIS curriculum is comprised of 36 semester hours of coursework:
- Core Course - 3 credit hours
- Electives - 30 credit hours
- Capstone Experience - 3 credit hours
Refer to the MSIS Program Handbook for more information on the specific curriculum requirements and policies:
Coursework
Students should review the tentative schedule of iSchool courses when planning a course of study.
Academic Advising: Students may choose to meet with an iSchool faculty advisor to plan their courses. Academic advising is optional. Advising for MSIS Students
Core Course - 3 Credit Hours
INF 380E - Perspectives on Information
All students must take this foundational core course during their first year of study.
Electives - 30 Credit Hours
Select from a range of courses offered by the School of Information or at The University of Texas at Austin.
- Courses at UT: Students may take a maximum of twelve (12) semester credit hours outside of the iSchool. Of the twelve credit hours allowed, students may take no more than nine (9) upper-division undergraduate credit hours at UT Austin outside the iSchool. No more than six (6) upper-division undergraduate credits may be from any one department.
- Individual Studies: A student may also complete up to six (6) semester credit hours of Individual Studies without special permission from the Graduate Study Committee.
- Undergraduate iSchool Courses: Students may not count any iSchool undergraduate courses toward their iSchool graduate degrees.
For inclusion on the Program of Work, outside electives must have faculty advisor approval. The faculty have pre-approved a set of outside electives (see table below) that iSchool students frequently take. If the outside elective is on this list, you do not need to obtain faculty advisor approval. If your desired outside elective is NOT on this list, you must obtain approval from your faculty advisor. Approval must be submitted to the graduate program administrator.
Pre-Approved Outside Elective Courses
Department/Program |
Course Number |
Course Title |
---|---|---|
Electrical and Computer Engineering |
EE380L |
10-Data Mining - WB |
Curriculum and Instruction Curriculum and Instruction |
EDC 390T EDC N385 |
21-Instructional Systems Design Writing for Publication - WB |
Educational Psychology |
EDP 371 |
Introduction to Statistics - WB |
Center for Integrated Design Center for Integrated Design Center for Integrated Design |
ITD 350 ITD 380 ITD 390 |
Designing with Data – WB Design Thinking Design for Health |
LBJ School of Public Affairs |
PA 397C |
Qualitative Methods for Social Science |
Department of Psychology |
PSY 394U |
Data Analytics with Python |
Department of Statistics and Data Science |
SDS 392 |
Introduction to Scientific Programming |
Master's Thesis Capstone Option
Students pursuing the master's thesis take 27 semester credit hours in electives.
Capstone Experience - 3 Credit Hours
Students must select one of four Capstone Experience options:
- Professional Experience Project (PEP)
- Master's Report
- Master's Thesis
- School Library Practicum
Master's Thesis Capstone Option
Students pursuing the master's thesis take 6 semester credit hours split between two semesters.