Teaching in the Academic Programs

Teaching and Academic Programs 

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) 

Founded in 1962 at the University of Michigan (U-M), the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) was the first teaching center in the country. CRLT is part of the Provost's Office and works with faculty, graduate student instructors (GSIs) and academic administrators in all nineteen schools and colleges to support and enhance learning and teaching at U-M. CRLT offers a comprehensive array of curricular and instructional development activities.

Faculty are strongly encouraged to visit this web page, engage with the staff there and avail themselves of the multiple supports offered through this center.  Faculty are encouraged to engage with them repeatedly over their years of teaching as well (there is no limit on this resource)! 

Overview of Academic Programs

UMSI has five degree programs: a Ph. D. Program, three master’s programs – the Master of Science in Information, the Master of Health Informatics, and the Master of Applied Data Science – and a Bachelor of Science in Information. Each of these programs has a program director who is appointed for a 3 year term and who chairs one of UMSI’s standing faculty program committees. 

Full information about course requirements for the degrees, policies, etc. are detailed in the various student handbooks for each of the programs. Below each section provides an overview of each program and detail some of the policies that most relate to faculty.

Ph.D. Program

Overview of the UMSI Doctoral Program

The flexibility and scope of the doctoral program attract students from a wide variety of disciplines, from economics to biology to computer science. In the doctoral program students are exposed to a rich diversity of ideas and techniques and develop the ability to perform deep and meaningful research in the information field as a faculty member or as a researcher in government or industry.  Admission to the program is highly selective. 

UMSI Ph.D. students come under the jurisdiction of the Rackham Graduate School. Therefore, policies governing Ph.D. students are derived from UMSI as well as Rackham. 

The best source of information about the UMSI Ph.D. program is can be found on the Office of Doctoral Student Affairs. There you can find links to important information including the PhD student handbook which provides information on UMSI doctoral program regulations, policies, and milestones (and their grading criteria) for maintaining good academic standing. Another source of information is the Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies, in case of disagreement with UMSI policies, the Rackham policies will prevail.

Master of Information (MSI)  

Overview of the MSI Program

The Masters of Science in Information offers students a multidisciplinary approach to the study of information; integrated learning blending theory, principles, research, and practice;  and experiential learning through client-based course projects and internships.

MSI Curriculum

The MSI usually takes students two years to complete on a full-time basis but students may also elect to take it over three to four years part-time. Both mastery courses and career pathways guide students in their selection of courses and how to sequence these courses across a full-time, two-year master’s program. Sequencing is especially important so that students can achieve the depth that their future jobs and overall career goals will require. 

The MSI is fully accredited by the American Library Association.  We are unique in being the only program in the country to offer the Master of Science in Information as our single degree. 

For additional details about our curriculum, degree and requirements visit https://www.si.umich.edu/content/msi as well as the program handbook MHI/MSI Student Handbook. 

Master of Health Informatics (MHI)

Overview of the MHI Program

The Masters of Health Informatics is a degree offered by the School of Information with a partnership with the School of Public Health. The program draws on the expertise of Public Health faculty in health care institutions, policies and incentives, and individual health behaviors and also on the expertise of the School of Information in the human-centered design, implementation and evaluation of information systems.

MHI Curriculum

The MHI has core credits, Internship Credits, and Elective Credits. Core Credits are divided into areas including interdisciplinary coursework, health system and organizational studies, human and social behavior, methods, and technology.

While the program will take students two years to complete on a full-time basis, students may also elect to take it over three to four years part-time.

Please see the program handbook MHI/MSI Student Handbook for further details. 

Master of Applied Data Science (MADS)

Overview of the MADS Program

The Master of Applied Data Science Program thoroughly prepares students for managing data science from beginning to end in any number of real world contexts. It blends theory, computation, and application in a flexible online format. The program includes both the study and application of data collection, processing, and analysis and data visualization and reporting. It teaches students how to draw conclusions and inform decisions with data, while being attuned to ethical considerations. 

Students who matriculate to the program participate mostly in one (1) month one (1) credit courses offered in the fall, winter and spring/summer semesters. They also take two (2) two (2) credit eight week milestone courses and one three (3) credit 12 week capstone course. 

MADS Curriculum

The MADS curriculum is online. Each credit is roughly 4 weeks in length. Areas of content include formulating data problems using experiment design, collecting and processing data including preparing and cleaning it, analyzing and modeling data using machine learning, presenting and integrating results into action using visualization techniques. The MADS program also includes three project based courses where students build data science portfolios. 

Most students study part-time finishing in two (2) to three (3) years. 

Please see the MADS Student Handbook for further details. 

Bachelor of Science in Information (BSI)

Overview of the BSI Program

The Bachelor of Science in Information is currently a junior/senior degree. Students apply in their sophomore year to be enrolled in the degree program. External transfer students also join the program as juniors. Incoming UM freshmen can pre-select the BSI through "preferred admissions" but they must still formally apply in their sophomore year. 

Starting Fall 2025, the BSI will be a sophomore admit program, meaning that students will apply during their freshmen year and be enrolled in the the BSI for three years. External ransfer students will also be able to join the program as sophomores, and incoming UM freshmen will still be able to pre-select the BSI through "preferred admission." 

Please see the BSI Student Handbook for full details and policies.

Advising, Academic Standing for MSI/MHI/MADS and the BSI

Advising MSI/MHI/MADS/BSI

The Office of Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) takes the lead in advising Master’s students; however, faculty are encouraged to participate in advising activities to provide diverse perspectives. Faculty advising is particularly important for master’s students who find they want to engage in research and apply for a Ph.D. program. Undergraduate students are encouraged to meet with faculty for both academic and career advising.  At the very least, faculty should expect to write letters of recommendation and/or act as a reference for undergraduate students and Master’s students as they apply for jobs or graduate school. 

Academic Standing MSI/MHI/MADS/BSI

Policies related to academic standing and probation can be found in each program's handbook (linked above).