The emphasis of the programme is on developing your knowledge, skills and experience of design, implementation, management and governance effective information environments. This includes examining their purposes, functions and processes; and mediating between information users, resources and systems in both organizational and networked contexts. You will also acquire practical experience in the use of new information and communications technologies, and develop personal awareness and skills relevant to information management in a variety of workplace roles.

The Information Management MSc aims to equip you with an understanding of the core concepts and principles related to the systematic design and implementation of information, knowledge and data environments in organizational and networked contexts. It will enable you to develop your practical skills in handling and designing the technologies for creating, storing, distributing and using information for the benefit of managers, professionals and others.

The information management course at the Information School University of Sheffield is situated within the Faculty of Social Sciences. The basic foundations of information management concern the systematic acquisition, storage, retrieval, processing and use of data, information and knowledge, in support of decision-making, sense-making, and organisational goals. At the same time there is also an interest in and concern with contextualizing these processes in relation to the broader conditions and consequences of data and information processing for individuals, e.g. citizens consumers and patients, for the economy, and for society.

More specialised modules in areas such as business intelligence, e-business and e-commerce, information retrieval: principles and management of search technology information governance and ethics, researching social media, enable you to tailor the curriculum to your own interests and career aspirations.

You will be expected to complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice by September, so the second semester includes a research methods and dissertation preparation module to help you with your research over the summer.

The Information School has an international reputation for teaching and research in information management, and the latest ideas are fed directly into the MSc Information Management.

A variety of teaching methods are used, combining lectures from academic staff and professional practitioners with seminars, tutorials, small-group work and computer laboratory sessions. There is strong emphasis on problem-solving and individual aspects of learning, with the expectation that you will engage in independent study, reading and research in support of your coursework.

Assessments vary depending on the modules you choose but may include essays, report writing, oral presentations, in-class tests and group projects.

There is also a dissertation of 10–15,000 words, which provides the opportunity, under one-to-one supervision, to focus in depth on a topic of your choice. You may choose to carry out your dissertation with an external organisation, for instance if you are a Professional Enhancement student, your project could be directly related to your own work situation. In the past, students who have carried out such dissertations have welcomed the opportunity to tackle 'real-life' problems.

In addition, an important element of the course is the acquisition and development of the transferable skills needed in today’s workplace. These include skills in oral and written communication, developed through doing presentations and report writing as part of assessed work. Organisational and teamworking skills are developed through group work. We seek to develop your management and leadership capabilities on the course too.

Our campus and how we use it

We timetable teaching across the whole of our campus, the details of which can be found on our campus map. Teaching may take place in a student’s home department, but may also be timetabled to take place within other departments or central teaching space.

Information Management MSc (Professional Enhancement)

Start date: September
Duration: 1 year full-time or 2-3 years part-time
Programme codes: INFT144 (full-time), INFT147 (part-time)

This programme is specifically designed for you if you have two or more years' relevant work experience in the information sector and wish to study for a higher degree to develop your knowledge and skills.

Modules

To obtain an MSc you must take modules totaling 180 Credits from the following, including the Core, Dissertation, and Dissertation Preparation modules.

Students shall attend organised visits as prescribed by the Head of Department during the programme of study.

Entry Requirements

To apply for this course you need:

• an undergraduate degree in any subject discipline and at least 2 years' relevant work experience, or
• an undergraduate degree in any subject together with an acceptable relevant professional qualification and at least 2 years' relevant work experience, or
• an undergraduate degree in any subject area, and at least 5 years' relevant work experienc.

If you do not have an undergraduate degree but have other qualifications and substantial relevant work experience you may be considered for entry onto the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma courses.

Other Professional Enhancement courses

• Postgraduate Certificate requires a total of 60 Credits
• Postgraduate Diploma requires a total of 120 Credits

Information management is an area of study that is of relevance to a range of disciplines and fields of study across the humanities, social sciences and sciences. It is also of great practical relevance to organizations in a range of sectors, including business, government, health, education, research, and not-for-profit organizations. However, prospective applicants should also reflect both on the ways in which information management can extend their previous studies, or how it fits their future career aspirations, and the job market.

It is not necessary to have work experience in order to apply for our courses; and successful students will always benefit not only from the content of the course, but also from the interactive way in which the content is taught via seminars, case studies, discussion, lab work, problem-solving etc. However, if applicants do have work experience this will undoubtedly be of benefit, by providing a practical context within which to apply the ideas taught and acquired on the course.

Masters level students will conduct a practical piece of research, as a normal part of their program. Depending on their interest and aptitude, there are further opportunities for studying and conducting research at doctoral level. Staff members research interests are widely publicized via research group and individual web pages, which are available via the Information School website.