The School of Information Studies, located in the Faculty of Arts, offers a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Information Studies (MIS). Students in this program choose one of two specializations: information policy or management of information services. The program provides two options: a course-based option and a coursework plus thesis option. In addition, there is a co-operative (CO-OP) program available to students in the coursework option. The School also offers a graduate certificate in Information Studies.

The objective of the programs is to educate bilingual professionals to assume leadership responsibilities in the management of information services and / or the development of information policy, with a focus on new and emerging technologies. Career opportunities include employment in libraries, archives and information centres.

Programs will be offered partly in English, partly in French. Approximately two thirds of the courses will be taught in English and one third in French. To complete the master’s degree requirements, students must pass at least four courses (12 credits) in their second language. In accordance with University of Ottawa policy, students have a right to produce their written work and to answer examination questions in French or in English.

The programs, offered on a full-time and part-time basis, operate within the framework of the General Regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) of the University of Ottawa, which are posted on the FGPS website.

The professors included in the list below are members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. This means that they are authorized to supervise or co-supervise theses. A complete list of the faculty and staff members associated with the program can be found at http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/eng/programs/msi.html

BAILEY, Jane, Assistant Professor
Research related to the potential for regulation of internet hate speech; her ongoing research focuses on the impact of evolving technology on significant public commitments to equality rights; freedom of expression and multiculturalism; as well as t

BÉLANGER, Pierre, Full Professor
Diffusion and appropriation of new technologies; Canadian broadcasting and telecommunication policies; Canadian media industries and strategies; media and national identities; socio semantic of Web 2.0

BONIN, Kenneth-Roy, Full Professor
Organizational administration; evaluation; public finance

BONNEVILLE, Luc, Associate Professor
Travail médical et clinique médiatisé par ordinateur, usages des technologies de l'information et de la communication dans la pratique clinique; les formes de déconnexion aux technologies de l'information et de la communication; travail; organisation; temporalité, communication organisationnelle; performance organisationnelle; productivité; informatisation de la société; efficience clinique et thérapeutique

BOWKER, Lynne, Associate Professor
Machine (-assisted) translation; corpus linguistics; terminology; translation pedagogy

BUJAKI, Merridee, Associate Professor
Voluntary disclosure in corporate annual reports; gender issues in management; mentoring

CAVANAGH, Mary, Assistant Professor
Institutionality of the public library; practice-based organizing and managing; integrated information management and evaluation

COOK, Terry, Adjunct Professor

CURRAN, William, Adjunct Professor

DELSEY, Tom, Adjunct Professor

DORMANN, Claire, Assistant Professor
Serious games (videogames, game-based learning, urban and mobile games); technology-enhanced learning, affective learning; affective and social computing, affective design; human-computer interaction

GEIST, Michael, Associate Professor
Internet law issues; e-commerce policy; technology law issues

HORAVA, Tony, Cross-appointment
Collection management; Scholarly communications; E-books; Copyright issues

KERR, Ian, Associate Professor
Moral philosophy and applied ethics; internet and ecommerce law; contract law and legal theory

PARÉ, Daniel, Associate Professor
Politique et réglementation de la science et de la technologie; Internet governance and regulation; political economy of ICTs; science & technology policy

SCASSA, Teresa, Full Professor

WEIR, Leslie, Cross-appointment

Admission to the graduate programs in Information Studies is governed by the General Regulations of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS). Applicants must have a four year bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative average of 70% (B) calculated in accordance with FGPS guidelines.

All applicants must be able to understand, speak and write proficiently in either English or French and have a passive knowledge (ability to understand the spoken and written word) of the other language. Proof of knowledge of the second language is required. Applicants whose first language is neither English nor French must provide proof of their abilities in both languages. The list of acceptable proofs is indicated in the "Admission" section of the General Regulations of the FGPS.

On the recommendation of the Admissions Committee, applicants who have successfully completed information studies credits or electives at the master’s or doctoral level prior to admission may receive equivalencies or exemptions for courses in the Information Studies master’s program. Equivalencies may be granted for courses completed as a special student or as part of an incomplete or completed graduate program. To be eligible, the courses must have been completed with a minimum grade of 70% (B), no more than five years prior to admission. A maximum of 25% of the credits required for the program can be granted in equivalencies or exemptions.

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. academic performance in previous studies as shown by official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended;
2. an example of a written text demonstrating writing ability (at least 800 to 1000 words) in English or French;
3. proof of second language abilities in either English or French;
4. an up-to-date curriculum vitae providing evidence of relevant employment experience, leadership potential, and computer literacy.
5. the names and contact information for two people prepared to provide recommendations. One of the referees must be capable of evaluating the writing sample; the other should confirm employment experience.

Co-op work terms

Admission to the co-operative program and assignment of placements is the responsibility of the coop office.

Admission is on a competitive basis. The conditions to be met are as follows:

1. be registered full-time students in the course-based option
2. have maintained a B average in their master’s courses;
3. have completed the first session of the master’s program
4. be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Master's Degree Requirements

• Compulsory Core Courses (9 credits)
ISI5103 MANAGEMENT FOUNDATIONS FOR THE INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL (3cr.)
ISI5105 SOCIAL CONTEXT OF INFORMATION (3cr.)
ISI5106 PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE IN THE INFORMATION PROFESSIONS (3cr.)

• Four compulsory specialization courses (12 credits)
Either four courses in the Management of Information Services specialization:
ISI5102 ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION (3cr.)
ISI5104 HUMAN ASPECTS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS (3cr.)
ISI5120 CATALOGUES, CATALOGUING AND CLASSIFICATION (3cr.)
ISI5121 SUBJECT ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION (3cr.)

OR four courses in the Information Policy specialization:
ISI5160 ETHICS, VALUES AND INFORMATION DILEMMAS (3cr.)
ISI5161 INFORMATION AND THE LAW (3cr.)
ISI5162 GLOBAL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS POLICY (3cr.)
ISI5163 POLITICAL ECONOMY OF INFORMATION (3cr.)

• Elective Courses
Electives are chosen in consultation with the student’s program advisor. Students in the master’s program may complete a maximum of 6 credits of directed readings or special topics courses to fulfill the electives requirement. In addition, relevant courses from other graduate programs at the University of Ottawa, or at another university, may be taken with the approval of the School of Information Studies Programs Committee and of the unit responsible for the course or courses in question. Students must make sure to have completed any prerequisites for the selected courses.

- Course-based Option (27 credits)
Students in the coursework option must complete 9 three credit electives courses, in areas related to their chosen specialization.

- Thesis Option (15 credits)
Students in the thesis option must complete 5 three credit electives courses, in areas related to their chosen specialization

- Co-operative Program (15 credits)
Students in the co-op program complete 5 three credit elective courses, in areas related to their chosen specialization.

• Thesis Option (12 credits)
Students in the thesis option receive 12 credits for their thesis proposal and thesis.
ISI6998 PROPOSITION DE THÈSE DE MAÎITRISE / MASTER’S THESIS PROPOSAL
ISI6999 THÈSE DE MAÎTRISE / MASTER’S THESIS (12cr.)

Students must submit to their thesis committee, prior to completing their second session of registration in the program, a clearly defined research proposal that has been approved by their thesis supervisor. The proposal must be defended in the context of ISI 6998. Students unsuccessful on the first attempt are allowed a second attempt. A second unsuccessful attempt leads to withdrawal from the program.

The master's thesis should reveal that the candidate is able to work independently in a scholarly manner and is acquainted with the principal works published on the subject of the thesis. Insofar as possible, the thesis should be an original contribution.

Upon submission, the completed thesis is examined by a committee comprised of the thesis supervisor and at least two other professors who are members of the FGPS. For information regarding the thesis, consult section G of the "General Regulations of the FGPS" and the guide "Preparing a thesis or a Research Paper", which are both accessible through the FGPS website at www.grad.uottawa.ca

• Co-op work terms (12 credits)
The co-op program has the same requirements as the course-based option, except that 12 credits of electives are replaced by the co-op work terms.

ISI6001 STAGE COOP / CO-OP WORK TERM (6cr.)
ISI6002 STAGE COOP / CO-OP WORK TERM (6cr.)

Students accepted into the eight month co-op program complete two full-time paid placements in public, non-profit or private sector organizations operating in the information field. They complete a project in librarianship, information management or archival practice, which allows them to acquire experience in the practical application of research. The placements are completed in session three (spring/summer) session of the first year and session four (fall) of the second year in the program.

Student performance is assessed on a Pass/Fail (P/F) basis by a professor from the School of Information Studies based on the work performance evaluation provided by the work supervisor, and the report written by the student.

Minimum Standards

Duration of the Program

Academic Unit Coordinates