Online Master of Science in Information Sciences (MSIS)
Information Sciences
Program Overview
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s online Master of Science in Information Sciences prepares students to manage, organize, analyze, and apply information across a wide range of professional environments — from libraries and archives to technology, research, and beyond. The program is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA), the recognized standard for library and information science education in the U.S. and Canada, and is available fully online with both synchronous and asynchronous options to fit around your work and life.
Program Requirements
The MSIS combines core coursework, electives, and practicum experience, all tailored to your interests and career goals. Faculty and academic advisors help you build a course plan that reflects where you’re coming from and where you want to go. These pathways shape your elective coursework and practicum focus:
- Archives and Records Management
- UX and Information Architecture
- Digital Curation and RDM
- Knowledge Management
- Academic Librarianship
- Public Librarianship
- School Librarianship
Required Courses:
- INSC 511 – Information Concepts and Foundations
- INSC 512 – Information Organization and Retrieval
- INSC 514 – Information Technology Foundations
Career Outcomes
MSIS graduates work across sectors and settings, including:
- Libraries and information centers — academic, public, school, law, medical, and special collections
- Archives and cultural institutions — museums, historical societies, government archives, and corporate records
- Research and data services — universities, federal agencies, and healthcare organizations
- Technology and UX — companies and organizations focused on information architecture and human-centered design
- Corporate and government knowledge management — organizations that need to organize and share institutional knowledge
- Education and instruction — school systems and academic institutions where information literacy is central
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or international equivalent
- Minimum 3.25 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Transcript copies – official transcripts required after admission
- CV or resume
- Written statement
- Letters of recommendation from three professionals; individuals who have supervised or collaborated with the applicant
- $60 application fee
*All undergraduate degrees are welcome.
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Featured Courses
The MSIS at UT is a broad and interdisciplinary program. Here are just a few examples of the kinds of courses you can take based on your interests and career goals:
Research methods in various information environments; primary and secondary research; research project design; research results interpretation; analysis of published research; techniques supporting the research process.
Basic library-oriented cataloging and classification techniques, tools, and supporting operations. Descriptive cataloging, choice and form of non-subject entries, subject heading work, general classification, authority control, bibliographic utilities, online library catalogs.
Concepts related to spatial data management, including types of spatial data, spatial data discovery, data curation, and metadata creation. Issues related to research data management policies and related information services.
Critical survey of diverse children’s materials, for birth through age 12, in all formats and genres. Emphasis on evaluation, selection, and use in school and public libraries.
Featured Faculty
