A minimum of 36 credits, or 12 courses, is required to earn the master of information (M.I.) degree. With approval, students may transfer up to 6 credits into the program as outlined in the Admissions section of the catalog.

Full-time study at 9 credits or more per semester results in degree completion in one-and-a-half to two years. Part-time study of fewer than 9 credits per semester results in two to three years for completion. The maximum credit load in any semester is 15 credits.

All students are expected to complete the degree within three years.

The full range of M.I. courses are offered on campus in New Brunswick; select concentrations and courses are available online, including the school library media program.

Both on-campus and online students should consult with their advisers regularly to plan their studies to meet degree requirements and career objectives.

Master of Information Requirements

1.  Students pursuing school library certification must follow the prescribed course plan listed in the school library course of study which is approved by the State of New Jersey and is required in order for a student to be eligible for school library media certification.

• 17:610:510  Human Information Behavior
• 17:610:520  Organizing Information
• 17:610:570  Management Principles in Information Organizations
• 17:610:580  Knowledge and Society 

• 17:610:501  Introduction to Library and Information Professions (This course should be completed in the first semester of study, or for students admitted in the summer, in the fall semester.)
  
• 17:610:502  Colloquium in Library and Information Studies (This course should be completed in the last semester or late in the program.)
  
• 17:610:503  ePortfolio Capstone  (This course must be taken in the last semester of study.)
  

5.  All students must complete 36 credits.

Concentrations

Students may choose to select a concentration within the program. Upon fulfillment of the concentration requirements at graduation, the transcript will reflect both the degree and concentration completion. A concentration designation is important for students whose goal is to gain deep knowledge and competency of an area. For example, students who want to work in a library or school library context should select library and information science (LIS) as the concentration. Some concentrations, like data science, have course requirements and pathways that build upon expertise acquired within that concentration. 

Students can take courses from any concentration providing they meet any prerequisite requirements. Students are not required to choose a concentration and can build their own pathways.

Concentrations available:

• Library and information science  (The school library media specialist program is one pathway through the LIS concentration.)
• School librarianship
  
• Data science
• Archives and preservation
• Technology, information, and management
• Interaction design and informatics
  
• Students can also build their own pathways after fulfilling the foundational requirements; contact the program director for further information.