FAQs answered: What background do you need for the MSIM program?

A recent International Data Corporation (IDC) survey of IT leaders indicates that North America is experiencing an IT skills shortage that could impact more than 90% of global organizations and result in over $5 trillion in lost productivity. As IDC’s research director puts it: “Getting the right people with the right skills into the right roles has never been so difficult.”

That makes now a good time to consider earning a master’s degree in information management. Pursuing a graduate degree has never been easier, thanks to the variety of available options. The University of Washington’s Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) program provides multiple degree tracks so every student — whether they are recent college graduates or experienced information professionals — can tailor their degree to their career goals.

The UW MSIM student body is diverse, with backgrounds in business, health care and social sciences, to name a few. The program’s interdisciplinary approach makes the material accessible to all students, including those without experience in tech, data analytics or information systems. This article explores how curriculum design and support systems help all UW MSIM students thrive, regardless of background and previous experience. 

Who is the MSIM program designed for?

The UW MSIM program is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree — in any field — interested in a career as an information management leader utilizing information systems to improve decision-making and innovation, including: 

• Students without a technology background: The UW MSIM is suitable for recent graduates and mid-career professionals with backgrounds in business, health care, education, finance, government and other fields who want to broaden their technical expertise to increase their effectiveness in their current career or move into a new field.
• Students with a technology background: Professionals and recent graduates with computer science or engineering backgrounds often enroll in the UW MSIM program to expand their managerial knowledge and business acumen to take on technical managerial and leadership roles.. 
• Professionals wanting to accelerate their career: Experienced professionals are able to grow their careers by specializing in a specific area of Information Management, such as data science, while also expanding their strategic leadership skills through core courses in management, foundational information systems, ethics, and data-driven decision making.

• Recent graduates: The UW MSIM, specifically its Early-Career and Early-Career Accelerated tracks, is also suitable for recent graduates in any field interested in pursuing a career in information management.
• Note: Any applicant with five or more years of relevant post-baccalaureate experience can qualify for the Mid-Career Track, which can be completed part-time as a residential or online student.

The program’s diverse cohort connects students with peers from a variety of professional backgrounds, enriching learning and career opportunities. The program offers both in-person and online modalities.

Are you ready for the MSIM? Key skills to bring

The UW MSIM offers three tracks to accommodate students of different experience and skill levels:

• The Early-Career MSIM and Early-Career Accelerated MSIM are designed for recent college graduates, career pivoters and emerging information management professionals who wish to develop one or more specializations.
  • Students in the 65-credit Early-Career MSIM program can complete up to two specializations; those in the 40-credit Early-Career Accelerated MSIM may complete one. 
  • The Early-Career program involves one or more internships and a Capstone project; the Early-Career Accelerated program requires a Practicum, which can be fulfilled through an internship, a research project or a sponsored project.
• The Mid-Career MSIM is designed for mid-career information management professionals. Students in this 36-credit program can complete one or more specializations. Additional specializations require added credits.

The program focuses on the technical, managerial and leadership skills required to succeed in information management. It teaches concepts and skills through hands-on learning using modern tools to solve real-world problems, with a curriculum structured to build on prior learning to develop advanced capabilities.

UW MSIM students bring the strengths of their diverse educational backgrounds and experiences to amplify/augment the learning in our interdisciplinary classroom. Students transitioning to technical fields benefit from our bridge courses. These courses are designed to provide foundational knowledge in programming and relational database systems, in preparation for more advanced data science and business intelligence coursework. Students with little or no technical background may need to devote more time to homework, office hours and group assignments.

As its name indicates, the Mid-Career track requires a higher level of relevant professional experience (at least five years).

From student to specialist: skills you’ll build in the MSIM program

Students should leave the program knowing how to:

• Understand integral concepts of systems and systems architecture
• Manage information and information flows within organizations
• Gather, organize and interpret data
• Solve complex problems and make recommendations using data analytics tools
• Make informed decisions on social and ethical issues around information management
• Apply organizational principles and skills to lead information organizations
• Utilize AI applications

The MSIM curriculum emphasizes hands-on experiences both in and outside of the classroom, allowing students to explore various approaches and technical tools, all within a supportive learning environment. This allows all MSIM students to augment their technical skills, regardless of their prior experience.

In addition, students should graduate with advanced skills in their area(s) of specialization. MSIM specializations suit students of all backgrounds. The online modality offers specializations in business intelligence, data science and program/product management and consulting; the residential modality offers these, as well as specializations in artificial intelligence, information architecture and user experience. 

Many UW MSIM graduates have successfully transitioned into information management careers, despite coming from a non-technical background. Jordan Lucas, who entered the program with a bachelor’s degree in political science, aspired to a tech career but says, “It was hard because I didn’t have a STEM undergrad degree. I felt that having a master’s degree would bump me up to that next level that I needed.” Lucas is now a product designer on Microsoft’s Quantum team.

Allison Ford discovered the MSIM after completing a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She explains that her MSIM degree “enhanced my UX knowledge, but I also learned about product management and consulting, which made me a more well-rounded candidate and UX professional.” 

Next steps: Talk to an enrollment advisor

The University of Washington’s Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) program offers options that accommodate students of all skill and experience levels. Residential and online modalities — with full-time and part-time options — enable students to choose the format that best fits their lifestyles and commitments.

Regardless of modality, all students have access to one-on-one academic advising and career support services. A 100% online format enables students to customize their schedules to accommodate their professional and personal obligations. Both residential and online students benefit from small class sizes that encourage group discussions and support individual learning. 

If you want to kickstart or accelerate your information management career, consider enrolling in the UW Master of Science in Information Management. The program is accessible to individuals from all professional backgrounds, offering three tracks and several specialization options. Schedule a one-on-one consultation — Online or Residential — today to learn more about the program and discuss how it can help you reach your career goals.