What is an iSchool?
Information schools explore the relationships between information, technology and people, investigating the uses and users of information, as well as information technologies and their applications.
This orientation toward information provides a focus on the organizational and social issues related to the ways people create, store, find, manipulate and share information. Graduates of information schools are adept at designing, refining and building information systems. They also understand the increasingly complex social and organizational environments in which people seek to fill their information needs. They are ambassadors for the transformative power of information.
Rigorous study of the users and uses of information at the UW iSchool helps answer questions such as:
- How can we connect people with the right information at the right time?
- How can we use information to help people achieve their potential?
- How can we harness information’s capacity as an agent for positive change?
Message from the Dean
Dear friends,
The University of Washington Information School — the “iSchool” — is home to leaders, innovators and changemakers. Our community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners is dedicated to making information work, with the full understanding that information is vital in all aspects of life and has the power to make a better world.
Organizations of all types and sizes need people with the savvy to solve information challenges and the skills to manage sophisticated systems. The UW iSchool’s Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) degree is a world-class graduate program that develops ethically-minded leaders equipped with the analytical and management skills to turn information resources, people and technologies into sources of change, growth and innovation.
By offering multiple degree options, all of which are available online, we are able to increase access to this transformative educational experience across the country and around the world. No prerequisite coursework or technology experience is necessary to apply. Whether you earn your MSIM online or on campus in Seattle, Washington, you will be part of a community of socially conscious, data-driven information leaders working in interesting and impactful careers across the globe.
I hope that you will explore our website for more information about MSIM and the iSchool, and please reach out to us with any questions or to attend an information session. I’m confident that we can help you unlock your boundless potential and advance your career!
Thank you for your interest in the UW Information School.
Anind K. Dey
Dean and Professor
University of Washington
Information School
Upcoming virtual information sessions
A home for innovators and leaders
At the iSchool, we share a dedication to our vision and mission. Our inclusive community fosters an environment that furthers our goals and enables us to take on active roles in both local and global conversations.
We are an open, ethical, highly engaged and collaborative community based on trust, transparency and mutual respect. We believe in the importance of the quality of life, embracing diversity, making a difference and having fun.
Our passion
We are inspired by information. We want everyone to know how vital information is in all aspects of life.
Our vision
We envision a world where more effective use of information helps everyone discover, learn, innovate, solve problems and have fun. We envision a world free of existential problems. Information changes lives.
Our mission
We make information work. We prepare information leaders. We research the problems and opportunities of information. We design solutions to information challenges.
READ MORE ABOUT THE iSCHOOL’S MISSIONThe case for information management
The ability to leverage information assets is crucial in the modern business world. Organizations that can’t make the most of their information underperform and often fail. Information management draws on multiple fields and is concerned with:
- The systems used to collect, manage, preserve, store and deliver information.
- The guiding principles that allow information to be available to the right people at the right time.
- The view that all information, both digital and physical, is an asset that requires proper management.
- The organizational and social contexts in which information exists.
- The critical analysis of the impact of information management practices on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Organizations need people who have a deep understanding of how to leverage information to empower users at all levels. There’s strong demand for managers who can use information both as a competitive tool and as a means to create positive organizational and societal change.
DOWNLOAD BROCHUREBenefits of a Seattle-based program
Seattle is a flourishing tech hub bursting with opportunities for both residential and online MSIM students. You will have access to industry-leading guest speakers as well as fantastic networking and career development opportunities. The MSIM curriculum is designed with input from leading information management companies serving on our Advisory Board, including leaders from Amazon, Accenture, Deloitte, the City of Seattle and others.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE