The School of Information Studies offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science and Technology (BSIST), an undergraduate minor in Information Science and Technology (IST), a Master of Library and Information Science, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Archives and Records Administration, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Digital Libraries, and a Ph.D. in Information Studies.

The master’s program offered by the School is accredited nationally by the American Library Association.

Requirements for Employment, Licensing, or Professional Organizations. Students should be aware that some professions, occupations, and employers are subject to licensing and/or bonding requirements. When a course of study includes clinical or field training, practice teaching, internships, or the like, students may be subjected to a check of criminal conviction records, prior to acceptance of a student by the placement site. Students are responsible for obtaining the information necessary for them to become knowledgeable about these requirements and plan their studies accordingly. Please contact the appropriate department or program office for further information.

IST Mission Statement

The Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology aims to prepare graduates who are information and technology literate, and who are able to effectively deal with the theory, organization, management, and implementation of information resources and associated technologies in a range of interdisciplinary environments. In addition, we will:

IST Core Competencies

The successful BSIST student will demonstrate understanding of the following:

• The theoretical nature of information science and information technologies.

• The organization and architecture of information based on understanding of the context the content and the user needs.

• User-centered information system and service development.

• Information storage and retrieval systems.

• The management of information, including the processes to enable the flow of information.

• The use of information and communication technology for managing and organizing information and content.

Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology Program

Information science, on which the Information Science and Technology program is based, is the study of the organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and use of information. Information technology (IT) is the collection of tools that make it possible to access and use information. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Science and Technology (BSIST) prepares graduates who will help individuals and organizations effectively use information resources and information technology. Some graduates will go directly into jobs in business and industry sectors that rely heavily on information as a raw material or as a product. Other graduates may go on to graduate study in library and information science, information resources management, computer science, or telecommunications.

Related Area of Study. Each student will work with his/her advisor to select general electives, including related areas of study that are appropriate to his/her career goals and to complete the 120 total credit requirements for the BSIST degree. Because of its interdisciplinary and cross-functional nature, the BSIST program allows students to apply the study of the concepts and tools of information science, information architecture, and information technology to one or more related areas of study. The related area of study is a set of courses outside of the BSIST major, normally a minor or certificate in another field of study, typically including 18-22 credits. In some cases, students may choose to study two related areas as part of their BSIST program.

Related Areas of Study Selected List

• Computer Science

• Health Care Administration

• Biological Sciences

• General Business

• Library & Information Science

• Philosophy

• Global Studies

• Intelligent Systems

• Communications

• Digital Arts and Culture

• Mass Communication & Journalism

With the help of their advisor, students may also choose to create and customize their own associate area of study. This may be credit-bearing courses that students will take to prepare for certification examinations such as Microsoft certifications, CISCO, etc., or a customized selection of courses chosen by students that will sharpen their skills in one or more selected areas of study.

Career Opportunities. The Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology will give students a head start on any number of careers in the information industry:

Admission to the BSIST Program

Standard UWM admission policies for freshmen and transfer students apply. Students may begin the program as freshman pre-majors or after completing several semesters as undeclared or other majors. They may begin as transfer students from another accredited college or university or as students returning to get a second degree.

In addition to being available during standard class times, the BSIST degree is available online and in the Evening Degree Program to serve students both on and off campus.

Entrance Guidelines. Students who meet the standard University admission requirements are admissible to the School of Information Studies. The same criteria for acceptance are applied to instate and out-of-state students. For undergraduate admission requirements, see the Admission section of this catalog.

Advising. Students accepted by UWM who declare an interest in the IST program will be assigned a SOIS advisor. Students are expected to work closely with their IST advisor to tailor a program of electives to best suit their interests and career goals. IST students may also wish to explore minors or certificates in related areas such as computer science or technical writing.

Completing the Degree. The BSIST degree includes a total of 120 credits as follows:

Area I: UWM Distribution Requirements:
General Education Requirements (GER) (21 credits).

Area II: 27 required credits in the IST major:

Area III: Information Studies Electives (15 credits). Students take 5 additional Information Studies
courses at the 300, 400, 600 level or equivalent coursework.

Area IV: BSIST Cross-functional Electives (15 credits).

Area V: General Electives, including Associate Area(s) of Study (42 credits).

To continue and graduate in the BSIST program, each student should maintain a grade point average of at least 2.50 in the major and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all credits counted toward the degree.

Four Year Graduation Guaranty

If a student satisfies all the obligations described in the Four Year Graduation Guaranty, the student will be able to complete an undergraduate degree within four years. If the undergraduate degree completion in four years is delayed by the unavailability of courses, then UWM will relieve the student of the financial tuition burden for courses still required for graduation.

Minor in IST Option

For undergraduate students in other degree programs outside the School of Information Studies, SOIS also offers an undergraduate minor in Information Science and Technology (IST). Fulfillment of the minor entails completion of 18 credits from the following list of courses:

Students who wish to become information and technology literate while pursuing studies in their major areas are candidates. For example, the minor is attractive to students majoring in liberal arts and social science fields where the combination of their major field with the IST minor will help prepare students for careers in information-related work. Fields that combine well with the IST minor include English (particularly Technical Writing), Modern Languages, Communication, Mass Communication, Psychology, Sociology, and the arts. It should also be of interest to students majoring in professional fields such as Computer Science and Business Administration where the courses from IST will complement their major.

For information on SOIS’s graduate degree programs, including the Master of Library and Information Science, and Ph.D. in Information Studies, see the SOIS website at www.uwm.edu/Dept/SOIS.

Courses

(available to all undergraduates)

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Library and Information Science (L&I SCI/INFOST)

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Chad Zahrt
Assistant Dean

Joey Zafra
Assistant Dean

Johannes Britz, Dean, Interim Provost, and Professor
University of Pretoria, South Africa

Amy Cooper Cary, Archives Program Coordinator
University of Michigan

Karen Davies, Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
Loughborough University

Wooseob Jeong, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D.
Florida State University

Dick Kawooya, Lect., Ph.D.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Margaret Kipp. Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
University of Western Ontario

Joyce Latham, Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
University of Illinois

Steven J. Miller, Sr. Lect.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Xiangming Mu, Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Terrance Newell, Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Hope Olson, Prof., Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Shana Ponelis, Lect.
University of Pretoria, South Africa

Betsy Schoeller, Lect., Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Thomas Walker, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mary Wepking, School Library Media Coordinator
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Bonnie Withers, Lect.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Jin Zhang, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh

Michael Zimmer, Asst. Prof., Ph.D.
New York University