Graduate Information Programs and Accreditation: Landscape Survey and Analysis ASIS&T Information Professions Accreditation Meeting September 9, 2008 Washington, D.C. Samantha Becker MLIS Candidate | The Information School MPA Candidate | Evans School of Public Affairs University of Washington

Methodology 2008 Peterson’s Graduate and Professional Programs surveyed annually accredited by USDE or CHEA 6 volumes, 491 disciplinary fields Looked for programs with keywords information informatics human-computer interaction knowledge management

2008 Peterson’s Graduate and Professional Programs

surveyed annually

accredited by USDE or CHEA

6 volumes, 491 disciplinary fields

Looked for programs with keywords

information

informatics

human-computer interaction

knowledge management

Methodology Visited websites of about ½ of the programs Built database with institution name administrative unit degree(s) offered title of major or concentration area

Visited websites of about ½ of the programs

Built database with

institution name

administrative unit

degree(s) offered

title of major or concentration area

Example University of Oklahoma, Graduate College, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Library and Information Studies, Program in Library and Information Studies, Norman, OK 73019-0390. Offers knowledge management (MS); library and information studies (MLIS); school library media specialist (certificate); M Ed/MLIS; MBA/MLIS.

University of Oklahoma, Graduate College, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Library and Information Studies, Program in Library and Information Studies, Norman, OK 73019-0390. Offers knowledge management (MS); library and information studies (MLIS); school library media specialist (certificate); M Ed/MLIS; MBA/MLIS.

Key Findings Approximately 900 information-related master’s degrees Offered in 468 colleges and universities 220 distinct majors or concentration areas Most frequent majors information systems (93) management information systems (93) information technology (57) bioinformatics (51) library and information science (43)

Approximately 900 information-related master’s degrees

Offered in 468 colleges and universities

220 distinct majors or concentration areas

Most frequent majors

information systems (93)

management information systems (93)

information technology (57)

bioinformatics (51)

library and information science (43)

Key Findings 1/3 of academic units on the computer  information science spectrum 1/3 bio- and health sciences, library science, public administration, communications, & education 1/3 in academic units focused on business

1/3 of academic units on the computer  information science spectrum

1/3 bio- and health sciences, library science, public administration, communications, & education

1/3 in academic units focused on business

Academic Units Found programs spread across 500 academic units The highest administrative unit for 85% of programs was a school, college, or faculty 30% of colleges and universities have information programs in more than one unit

Found programs spread across 500 academic units

The highest administrative unit for 85% of programs was a school, college, or faculty

30% of colleges and universities have information programs in more than one unit

Academic Units Larger institutions tend to have stand-alone departments concerned with information Graduate schools have mostly an administrative function Medium sized institutions tend to have information programs in 2 nd level departments, mostly within colleges of arts & science Smaller institutions often have graduate schools that encompass all master’s level programs

Larger institutions tend to have stand-alone departments concerned with information

Graduate schools have mostly an administrative function

Medium sized institutions tend to have information programs in 2 nd level departments, mostly within colleges of arts & science

Smaller institutions often have graduate schools that encompass all master’s level programs

Major Disciplinary Areas

Information Disciplines Bates, M.J. (2007). "Defining the information disciplines in encyclopedia development" Information Research , 12 (4) paper colis29. [Available at http://InformationR.net/ir/12-4/colis/colis29.html]

Computer  Information Science Spectrum 350 programs in computer technology fields Engineering Computer science Information science

350 programs in computer technology fields

Engineering

Computer science

Information science

Program Types 220 majors or concentration areas Top 17 account for 60% of programs Split professional degrees/master of science 12-24 month completion Internships or professional experience often required Capstone projects emphasized; fewer w/thesis requirements

220 majors or concentration areas

Top 17 account for 60% of programs

Split professional degrees/master of science

12-24 month completion

Internships or professional experience often required

Capstone projects emphasized; fewer w/thesis requirements

Program Types 4 major categories information systems Informatics Information technology Information science

4 major categories

information systems

Informatics

Information technology

Information science

Information Systems 205 colleges and universities 305 programs Majors/concentrations include information systems (93) management information systems (93) computer information systems (34) information systems management (12)

205 colleges and universities

305 programs

Majors/concentrations include

information systems (93)

management information systems (93)

computer information systems (34)

information systems management (12)

Information Systems Program focus analysis, design, and implementation of information systems data management project management strategic management and use of information technology Differences mostly in level of technical preparation

Program focus

analysis, design, and implementation of information systems

data management

project management

strategic management and use of information technology

Differences mostly in level of technical preparation

Informatics 106 programs Focused on the use of information within specific disciplines biology/genetics health/medical sciences chemistry media

106 programs

Focused on the use of information within specific disciplines

biology/genetics

health/medical sciences

chemistry

media

Informatics Bioinformatics/biomedical informatics 53 programs 15 in academic units with biology focus 11 in medical schools curricula includes advanced life sciences design and implementation of information systems statistical modeling and analysis many interested in managing and analyzing data from genetic research

Bioinformatics/biomedical informatics

53 programs

15 in academic units with biology focus

11 in medical schools

curricula includes

advanced life sciences

design and implementation of information systems

statistical modeling and analysis

many interested in managing and analyzing data from genetic research

Informatics Health informatics 30 colleges and universities 2/3 in medical, nursing, or health sciences units 34 programs health informatics medical informatics nursing informatics emphasizing use of information for evaluation of patient outcomes

Health informatics

30 colleges and universities

2/3 in medical, nursing, or health sciences units

34 programs

health informatics

medical informatics

nursing informatics

emphasizing use of information for evaluation of patient outcomes

Information Technology 95 colleges and universities 118 programs 45% in business schools Majors/concentrations include information technology (57) information technology management (22) 59 master of science degrees 35 MBA

95 colleges and universities

118 programs

45% in business schools

Majors/concentrations include

information technology (57)

information technology management (22)

59 master of science degrees

35 MBA

Information Technology Program focus managing technology projects databases e-commerce systems computer networks decision support also business topics accounting, organizational development

Program focus

managing technology projects

databases

e-commerce systems

computer networks

decision support

also business topics

accounting, organizational development

Information Science 84 colleges/universities 98 programs Majors/concentrations include library and information science (43) computer and information science (26) information science (11) information studies (6)

84 colleges/universities

98 programs

Majors/concentrations include

library and information science (43)

computer and information science (26)

information science (11)

information studies (6)

Information Science Library and information science ALA accredited those within iCaucus schools have less emphasis on traditional library subjects (cataloging, reference services, collection development) Computer and information science more emphasis on infrastructure architecture, networking, software engineering

Library and information science

ALA accredited

those within iCaucus schools have less emphasis on traditional library subjects (cataloging, reference services, collection development)

Computer and information science

more emphasis on infrastructure

architecture, networking, software engineering

Information Science Information science/information studies more general or theoretical approach emphasize human-computer interaction, information organization, information behavior relatively small portion of information graduate school universe

Information science/information studies

more general or theoretical approach

emphasize human-computer interaction, information organization, information behavior

relatively small portion of information graduate school universe

Other Program Areas Information security 30 programs some designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the NSA emphasize cryptography, digital forensics, risk analysis E-Business/E-Commerce 23 programs 18 MBA emphasize design and implementation of electronic commerce applications

Information security

30 programs

some designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the NSA

emphasize cryptography, digital forensics, risk analysis

E-Business/E-Commerce

23 programs

18 MBA

emphasize design and implementation of electronic commerce applications

Accreditation Agencies Two types of accrediting agencies regional and national accredit entire institutions specialized agencies accredit particular programs

Two types of accrediting agencies

regional and national

accredit entire institutions

specialized agencies

accredit particular programs

Relevant Specialized Agencies American Library Association (ALA) Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

American Library Association (ALA)

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Recommendations Clarify the need for and purpose of a new accrediting agency Complement existing accrediting agencies Define the scope along the computer  information spectrum Focus on domain-specific programs, especially business programs

Clarify the need for and purpose of a new accrediting agency

Complement existing accrediting agencies

Define the scope along the computer  information spectrum

Focus on domain-specific programs, especially business programs