MI Concentrations

MI Concentrations

The Rutgers MI program offers concentrations that help you focus on your career goals as well as the opportunity to design your own pathway.

Archives and Preservation

Archives and Preservation Concentration Coordinator: Marija Dalbello, Ph.D.

This concentration prepares you to assume roles where you identify and preserve analog and digital records as trustworthy evidence and memory of the activities of individuals, families and organizations. Additionally, you will:

  • Learn how to make records accessible to current users and future generations in heritage institutions and how to make them available to the public.
  • Explore the institutions preserving cultural and scientific knowledge amid the changing perspectives and in diverse social contexts.
  • Learn about the tensions around privacy, access and memorial contestation as well as about the role of records, documents and archival institutions in human rights and social justice.

Concentration Goals and Objectives

You will learn the skills you need to perform preservation roles in organizations and for stewardship across media forms, including digital objects and digitized materials. You will become proficient in appraising records for acquisition and selection, planning, executing and monitoring preservation actions and processes, and in creating a wide range of research tools aimed to make the holdings of archives known to the public.

Courses focus on:

  • Archival theory of arrangement and description
  • Appraisal theories and practices for diverse organizations
  • Preservation principles
  • Technology migration management

We emphasize the ethical dimension and policy grounding surrounding preservation and archives.

Requirements for Archives and Preservation Concentration:

36 credits, plus 3 zero-credit courses

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

Minimum Technology Course Requirement (3 credits):

Note: This course is required for Library & Information Science students. For the other concentrations, our program assumes that students have attained the competencies and objectives listed for 550. Please look at the course to determine if you meet the standards. If you do not, you must also take this course. If you have any questions, contact Associate Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Anselm Spoerri

Foundational Requirements (Select 2 courses / 6 credits):

Note: Refer to the specific course study plans to see if a particular foundation course is required for your concentration.

Concentration-specific Requirements (Select 4 courses / 12 credits):

Electives (Select 3 courses / 9 credits)

General Electives (Select 2-3 courses / 6-9 credits)

  • Field Experience
    • This must be arranged only with official sites and include organized learning experience.
  • Individual Study
    • One individual study is allowed with full-time faculty only.

  • Any course offered in the MI program and/or Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies (CHAPS) program in Rutgers Art History (recommended course: 16:082:530 Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies)

    General elective courses and field experience should match your career objectives and they are subject to the approval by the Archives and Preservation concentration faculty coordinator, Professor Marija Dalbello,. Please see the Archives and Preservation Concentration Requirement worksheet for additional information.

Data Science

Data Science Concentration Coordinator: Vivek K. Singh, Ph.D.

With this concentration, you learn about identifying data-driven problems and solving them using analytics approaches that include data/information retrieval, storage, analysis and visualization.

You can apply these skills to assume a wide range of professional responsibilities and opportunities available in areas that increasingly rely on the availability and use of data, including:

  • E-commerce
  • Finance
  • Healthcare
  • Research and analytics

Concentration Goals and Objectives

There is a growing demand for addressing data-driven problems; this concentration will equip you with the tools, techniques and analytic thinking skills needed to meet this demand. Specifically, this concentration will prepare you to be a leader who will be able to:

  • Analyze value-driven data at scale.
  • Understand the socio-economic context.
  • Derive valuable insights for the betterment of individuals and the society.
  • Have a strong grounding on privacy and the ethical aspects surrounding such data.

Requirements for Data Science Concentration:

36 credits, plus 3 zero-credit courses

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

Minimum Technology Course Requirement (3 credits):

Note: This course is required for Library & Information Science students. For the other concentrations, our program assumes that students have attained the competencies and objectives listed for 550. Please look at the course to determine if you meet the standards. If you do not, you must also take this course. If you have any questions, contact Associate Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Anselm Spoerri.

Foundational Requirements (Select 2 courses / 6 credits):

Note: Refer to the specific course study plans to see if a particular foundation course is required for your concentration.

Data Science Requirements (Select 4 courses / 12 credits):

Electives for Data Science* (Select 3 courses / 9 credits):

*You can also consider taking an Independent Study with a faculty member or finding another course that meets the approval of the Concentration Coordinator.

General Electives (Select 2-3 courses / 6-9 credits):

Choose from any course offered in the MI program at SC&I.

Interaction Design and Informatics (On Campus Only)

Interaction Design and Informatics (On Campus Only)

Interaction Design and Informatics Concentration Coordinator: Sunyoung Kim, Ph.D.

This concentration provides students with the practical skills and theoretical understandings they need to become leaders in the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative products and technologies.

Concentration Goals and Objectives

This concentration gives you the skills needed for you to serve as a professional for careers related to interaction design, human-computer interaction, user experience design and user-centered research. In particular, you will:

  • Create innovative user interface systems through a user-centered design thinking process
  • Explore design opportunities based on qualitative and quantitative data acquired from users
  • Master prototyping skills from paper-based, low-fidelity paper protypes to high-fidelity,  functional prototypes
  • Develop analytical perspectives in understanding and evaluating user interfaces
  • Practice communication skills to effectively deliver design ideas
  • Practice the skills for collaborative project management through a team-based project

This concentration requires 36 credits, which are usually taken over four semesters. All MI students take the same courses for Zero-credit, Technology requirement, and Foundational requirements. To fulfill requirements for this concentration, you need to take 3 concentration requirements. These courses for concentration requirement are designed to acquire knowledge and skills incrementally. In particular:

  • “Foundations of Interaction Design & Informatics” is an introductory course, covering the fundamental principles, techniques, and areas of development in interaction design
  • “Experimental Design and Evaluation” teaches practical skills to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data for user-centered design
  • “Interaction Design” provides students an opportunity to build a strong design portfolio through projects

It is strongly recommended to take “Foundations of Interaction Design & Informatics” in the first semester, followed by “Experimental Design and Evaluation” and “Interaction Design” in the next semesters. It is recommended take one concentration requirement course per semester.

Requirements for Interaction Design and Informatics Concentration:

36 credits, plus 3 zero-credit courses

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

Minimum Technology Course Requirement (3 credits):

Note: This course is required for Library & Information Science students. For the other concentrations, our program assumes that students have attained the competencies and objectives listed for 550. Please look at the course to determine if you meet the standards. If you do not, you must also take this course. If you have any questions, contact Associate Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Anselm Spoerri.

Foundational Requirements (Select 2 courses/6 credits):

Note: Refer to the specific course study plans to see if a particular foundation course is required for your concentration.

Concentration Requirements (9 credits):

Concentration Electives (Select 5 courses/15 credits):

General Elective (2 courses):

Choose from any course offered in the MI program at SC&I.

Library and Information Science (LIS)

Library and Information Science Concentration Coordinator: Nina Wacholder, Ph.D.

Our flexible, interdisciplinary LIS curriculum explores the interplay between theory and practice. You learn the foundational concepts, principles, values, skills, competencies and disposition needed to assume agile leadership roles in providing information services and resources for communities.

Concentration Goals and Objectives

We prepare service-oriented, user-focused practitioners who acknowledge the evolving information, technological and learning needs of a diverse and global society, as well as the social issues involving equity of access. Upon completion of the program, you will be able to:

  • Analyze, maintain, select and build physical and digital collections.
  • Provide formal and informal instruction in a range of traditional and emerging literacies.
  • Perform and instruct in specialized research/information strategies.
  • Perform face-to-face and digital reference services.
  • Analyze and creatively meet community needs.

Requirements for Library and Information Science Concentration:

36 credits, plus 3 zero-credit courses

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

Minimum Technology Course Requirement (3 credits, required for LIS students):

Foundational Requirements (Select 2 courses / 6 credits):

Note: Refer to the specific course study plans to see if a particular foundation course is required for your concentration.

LIS Concentration-specific Elective Courses: (Select a minimum of 3 courses / 9 credits):

General Electives:

Choose from any courses offered in the MI program at SC&I. You can also take up to two courses (6 credits) from outside the program.

School Librarianship

School Librarianship Concentration Coordinator: Joyce Valenza, Ph.D.

This concentration is designed to meet the New Jersey Department of Education requirements to become certified as a School Library Media Specialist.

Concentration Goals and Objectives

Librarians with this degree function as teachers, program administrators, information specialists and collaborative partners who lead in elementary and secondary schools. School librarians create dynamic learning environments providing access, equity and experiences for K12 students to think, create, share and grow. Effective school library programs promote cultures of literacy and the thoughtful and creative use of digital resources.

Revised Program Courses:

If you enter the program in or after Summer 2019 or are in the early stages of the program, follow this revised path.

If you entered the program prior to Summer 2019, read the section below and contact Joyce Valenza for guidance if you are unsure of the best path to follow. You can access further information on this transition plan document.

Students Entering the Program In or After Summer 2019

Requirements for School Librarianship Concentration:

36 credits*: 11 required courses (33 credits), one 3-credit elective, plus three zero-credit courses

Required Courses:

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

3-credit Courses:

*In addition to the courses required for the degree, the School Library Media Specialist certification requires students to satisfy an education component. You can fulfill it in any of the following three ways:

  1. By possessing a standard teaching certificate.
  2. By proving that you completed a NJ State-approved college teacher preparation program.
  3. By completing a cohesive plan of study of at least 9 credits that covers the education content areas mandated by the state.

In the program listed above, the required 9 credits have been incorporated into the existing program. You will graduate with an MI degree and be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS).

Students Who Entered the Program Prior To Summer 2019

Requirements for School Librarianship Concentration:

36 credits*: 11 required courses (33 credits), one 3-credit elective, plus three zero-credit courses

Required Courses:

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

3-credit Courses:

*In addition to the courses required for the degree, the School Library Media Specialist certification requires students to satisfy an education component that can be fulfilled in any of the following three ways:

  1. By possessing a standard teaching certificate.
  2. By proving that you completed a NJ State-approved college teacher preparation program.
  3. By completing a cohesive plan of study of at least 9 credits that covers the education content areas mandated by the state.

You will graduate with an MI degree and be eligible to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CE).

In the course sequence listed above, 6 of the required 9 credits have been incorporated into the existing program. Taking the additional course 17:610:516 Learning, Inclusion, and Student Engagement in School Libraries will allow you, as a current student, to fulfill the NJDOE 9-credit requirement and to qualify for the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS).

Technology, Information and Management (TIM)

Technology, Information and Management Concentration Coordinators:
Lilia Pavlovsky, Ph.D., Suchinthi Fernando

This concentration develops your analytical, management and leadership expertise and will enable you to engage in an array of functions in modern organizations, including:

  • Competitive intelligence
  • Data curation and analysis
  • Information and project management
  • Knowledge sharing
  • Strategic decision-making

Concentration Goals and Objectives

This concentration’s goal is to develop you as an agile information professional capable of serving as a leader and innovator in your organization and profession. You will be able to assume roles that employ an understanding of how information is best applied, managed and created to support organizational objectives. You will also acquire the technological acumen to be able to develop and manage information systems and applications.

Requirements for Technology, Information & Management Concentration:

36 credits, plus 3 zero-credit courses

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

Minimum Technology Course Requirement (3 credits):

Note: This course is required for Library & Information Science students. For the other concentrations, our program assumes that students have attained the competencies and objectives listed for 550. Please look at thecourse to determine if you meet the standards. If you do not, you must also take this course. If you have any questions, contact Associate Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Anselm Spoerri.

Foundational Requirements (select 2 courses / 6 credits):

Note: Refer to the specific course study plans to see if a particular foundation course is required for your concentration.

Concentration-specific Requirements (4 courses / 12 credits):

Concentration Electives (select 3 courses / 9 credits)

You may select other courses with approval from a coordinator.

General Electives

You can select two to three courses from any other MI concentrations.

Design Your Own Pathway

Coordinator: Lilia Pavlovsky, Ph.D.

You do not have to select a concentration. Once you complete the foundation and technical requirements (listed below), you are free to select whichever courses align best with your goals. It is best to do this with the guidance of a faculty member/adviser. If you are new to the program, contact Program DirectorLilia Pavlovsky, Ph.D.

Foundational and Technical Requirements for MI Program:

Zero-credit Courses (required for all students):

Minimum Technology Course Requirement (3 credits):

Note: This course is required for Library & Information Science students. For the other concentrations, our program assumes that students have attained the competencies and objectives listed for 550. Please look at thecourse to determine if you meet the standards. If you do not, you must also take this course. If you have any questions, contact Associate Teaching Professor of Library and Information Science Anselm Spoerri.

Foundational Requirements (2 courses / 6 credits):

Note: Refer to the specific course study plans to see if a particular foundation course is required for your concentration.

"I started reading about the exciting innovations in the field of Data Science and decided to pursue a data-oriented master’s degree. Rutgers offered a variety of programs, but I chose to apply for the MI program because of the program structure and the flexibility provided to the students in building their own pathway."

-Anusha Muralidharan, MI Student