1 About the course Skills relevant to your career Our MSc in Information Systems provides you with the practical knowledge you need in the fast- growing field of information systems. We teach you to apply this knowledge effectively and confidently in organisations of all kinds. The course brings together issues relating to information, people, IT and the business environment in an organisational context. We’ll also help you develop skills in keeping up-to-date with developments in this fast-moving area. As a result, our graduates are highly valued in industry, commerce and academia. In this research-led environment you will not only learn the well-established fundamentals but also the most advanced theories and techniques. You will further develop these research activities by exploring topics as part of your course and as part of your dissertation. A world-class place to study The MSc in Information Systems is run jointly by the Department of Information Studies and Department of Computer Science. Both departments have world-leading research groups in areas such as database systems, information retrieval, speech recognition, information extraction and information management. Why take the MSc now? Information industries are now one of the largest growing sectors of the economy. The success of these knowledge-based organisations lies in their information systems, which must effectively gather, process, store and disseminate information. This in turn means that knowledge of information systems, application and management is at a premium in the workplace. For details on how to apply, see page 11. www.sheffield.ac.uk/is ➳
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About the course
Skills relevant to your career
Our MSc in Information Systems provides youwith the practical knowledge you need in the fast-growing field of information systems. We teachyou to apply this knowledge effectively andconfidently in organisations of all kinds.
The course brings together issues relating toinformation, people, IT and the businessenvironment in an organisational context. We’llalso help you develop skills in keeping up-to-datewith developments in this fast-moving area. As aresult, our graduates are highly valued in industry,commerce and academia.
In this research-led environment you will not onlylearn the well-established fundamentals but alsothe most advanced theories and techniques. Youwill further develop these research activities byexploring topics as part of your course and as partof your dissertation.
A world-class place to study
The MSc in Information Systems is run jointly bythe Department of Information Studies andDepartment of Computer Science. Bothdepartments have world-leading research groupsin areas such as database systems, informationretrieval, speech recognition, informationextraction and information management.
Why take the MSc now?
Information industries are now one of the largestgrowing sectors of the economy. The success ofthese knowledge-based organisations lies in theirinformation systems, which must effectivelygather, process, store and disseminateinformation. This in turn means that knowledge ofinformation systems, application and managementis at a premium in the workplace.
For details on how to apply, see page 11.
www.sheffield.ac.uk/is
➳
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Course structure:two ways to takethe MScThe MSc in Information Systems is available either as aProfessional Preparation Programme for those whowant to start a career in this area or a ContinuingProfessional Development programme to upgradeexisting skills. Whichever you choose, your course ismade up of core (compulsory) and optional modules.
Professional Preparation programme
This is aimed at candidates with little (up to one year)or no relevant work experience who wish to pursue acareer in the field. You’ll take modules worth a total of180 credits. The core and dissertation modules arecompulsory. You then choose modules from the list ofoptions to make up the rest of your credits.
Foundations of Object-Oriented Programming (10 credits)
Java and UML for Programmers (10 credits)
Network and Internetwork Architectures (10 credits)
Find out what some of our graduates are doing nowon page 12.➳
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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)programme
If you have two or more years’ relevant workexperience and you want to develop your knowledgeand skills in your chosen professional area, the CPDprogramme is for you.
You can enrol on the MSc, PG Diploma or PGCertificate level of study. For the MSc, you must take180 credits. For the PG Diploma, you need 120 credits.For the PG Certificate, you’ll take 60 credits. All coremodules are compulsory. You choose the rest of yourcredits from the list of options. The number of coreand optional modules you take depends on the level ofstudy.
Foundations of Object-Oriented Programming (10 credits)
Healthcare Information (15 credits)
Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and GraphicalInterfaces (10 credits)
Human Computer Interaction and User InterfaceDesign (15 credits)
Human Resource Management (15 credits)
Independent Study (15 credits). A maximum of threeIndependent Study modules may be taken.
Information Storage and Retrieval Research (15 credits)
Information Systems and the Information Society (15 credits)
Java and UML for Programmers (10 credits)
Java E-Commerce (10 credits)
Network Architectures (10 credits)
Organisation, Management, and Information Systems(15 credits)
Software Analysis and Design (10 credits)
Find out more about each module on pages 4 - 9.➳
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ModulesComputer ArchitecturesDivided into two parts. The first introduces computerdesign and demonstrates how functional units can bemodelled. The second part teaches how to put the bitstogether to make a complete computer. Demonstrateshow to design instructions and how to compile fromhigh level languages into machine code instructions.
Content Management Systems This module introduces you to the requirements forweb-based content management systems, and givesyou the practical skills to design and implement suchsystems yourself.
Database DesignIntroduction to the theoretical and practical aspects ofrelational database design. Provides an overview ofemerging database concepts such as object-orientedand distributed databases.
Designing Usable WebsitesThis module enables you to understand the keyelements in the process of planning, implementing andtesting a website to meet users’ need. You’ll gainpractical experience of creating effective web pagesusing application-specific packages.
Digital Multimedia Libraries Explores the technical and practical aspects of creatingand organising digital libraries, with particular attentionto multimedia collections. You will study digitization ofmultimedia material, management of ‘born digital’content, as well as classification and cataloguing.
E-Business and E-CommerceAddresses theoretical and practical aspects ofe-business and e-commerce through an exploration ofthe digital economy. Equips you with knowledge andskills to understand and manage new ways of doingbusiness.
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Foundations of Object-Oriented ProgrammingIntroduction to the foundations of object-orientedprogramming using Java. The emphasis is on softwareengineering principles, concepts underpinning object-oriented design and development.
Healthcare InformationProvides an understanding of healthcare informationand its importance to different health-related groupsincluding: the public, patients, healthcare professionalsand managers. Introduces you to the climate withinwhich health information services are delivered andexamines the provision and use of information by thesedifferent health-related groups.
Educational InformaticsIntroduction to current practice and research ineducational informatics. Addresses theoretical andpractical issues associated with the use of informationand communication technologies (ICTs) to supportlearning in the information society. Aims to help youengage critically with issues and debates in the field.
Electronic PublishingIntroduction to electronic publication, including: textencoding and mark up languages; the production,retrieval and analysis of electronic multimedia; and thecommercial and scholarly impact of the electronicmode of delivery.
Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and UserInterface DesignIntroduces usability principles and the design processfor user interfaces in interactive systems. The focus ison the underlying principles of HCI and user-centereddesign approach.
Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and GraphicalInterfacesInvestigates the issues and techniques involved inconstructing software with a graphical user interface.Covers the fundamental principles of HCI and soprovides a rationale for evaluating user interfaces.
Independent Study modulesFor students with experience in information work atmanagerial or professional level to pursue an individualtopic or topics relevant to their work background orcareer development needs. Students on the ContinuingProfessional Development course can take up to threesuch modules.
Information Storage and Retrieval ResearchIntroduces you to current research into computationalmethods for the storage and retrieval of textual andmultimedia information. Looks at both semantically andstatistically-based approaches to retrieval.
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Information Systems and the Information SocietyDevelops critical understanding of the impact ofinformation and communication technologies (ICTs) onsocial change in ‘the Information Society’.
Information Systems ModellingConsiders the role of information modelling within theorganisation and provides an appreciation of therigorous methods needed to analyse, develop andmaintain computer based information systems.
Information Systems in OrganisationsIntroduction to organisations, management andinformation systems. Aims to provide an integrated setof concepts and tools for understanding informationsystems in organisations.
Information Systems Project ManagementProvides a broad understanding of the fundamentals ofinformation systems (IS) project management. Looks atthe various IS development methodologies in use. Alsocovers project control activities and techniquesincluding: estimation of development resources, riskmanagement, systems quality assurance and humanresource management.
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Java E-commerceIntroduction to technologies (primarily Java-based)involved in the development of systems to supportelectronic commerce. Focuses on technicalarchitectures to support robust, secure, distributed,scaleable transaction processing.
Java and UML for ProgrammersPresents the object-oriented approach to building largesoftware systems from components in the JavaProgramming Language. You’ll cover large scaleprogram design and implementation issues using theJava Application Programmer’s Interface.
Network and Internetwork ArchitecturesIntroduces the principles of computer networks andinternetworks, together with relevant backgroundmaterial on computer architecture. Emphasis is onconcepts and design issues related to layeredcommunication protocol architectures, local areanetworks and internetworking.
Network ArchitecturesIntroduces computer networks with an emphasis onthe concepts and design issues of layeredcommunication protocol architectures, local areanetworks and packet switching, and the basics ofinternetworking.
Professional IssuesProvides an understanding of the relationship betweentechnological change, society and the law. Emphasisesthe powerful role that computers and computerprofessionals play in a technological society. Introducesthe legal areas which are relevant to the discipline ofcomputer science.
Software Analysis and DesignIntroduces software development in the businessenvironment using object oriented techniques and theUML notation.
DissertationEveryone registered for the MSc has to complete aresearch-based dissertation from the middle of June toSeptember (full-time attendance), after finishing thetaught part of the course. The topic is chosen inconsultation with members of teaching staff.
There are opportunities to carry out dissertationstudies with external organisations. CPD students maywish to undertake a dissertation project directlyrelevant to their own work situation. Students whohave carried out such dissertations have welcomed theopportunity to tackle real-life problems.
The dissertation is a major part of your degree, andyou are allocated an academic supervisor to provideadvice and guidance throughout the period of study.
Professional accreditationThe MSc in Information Systems is fully accredited bythe Chartered Institute for Library and InformationProfessionals (CILIP). Graduates can apply for theprofessional membership grades of the Institute.
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What suits you best?Full-time studyThe full-time course lasts 12 months, starting in lateSeptember each year.
Part-time studyPart-time students also start in September each year.The MSc normally takes about three years to complete.The taught part of the degree is studied over the firsttwo years. You’ll undertake dissertation study in thethird year. The PG Diploma and PG Certificate normallytake a maximum of two years to complete.
Students who are able to complete the taught part ofthe MSc programme and the dissertation in two yearsare permitted to do so, but should note that the thirdyear’s tuition fees will be payable before a student cangraduate.
FundingStudentships are available from the Arts andHumanities Research Council (AHRC) under theirProfessional Preparation Master’s Scheme. If youintend to apply for this funding, we recommend youapply for a place on the MSc as early as possible, ideallyby 31 December the year before the course starts.Competition for this funding is strong. Demand faroutweighs the number of studentships available. Thisfunding is not available to overseas students.www.ahrc.ac.uk
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What qualificationsdo I need?For the Professional Preparation programmeAt least a second-class honours degree, or itsequivalent in any subject. Relevant work experience isan advantage. However, students without workexperience are considered on their own merits.
For the Continuing Professional DevelopmentprogrammeYou need at least two years’ relevant work experiencein information systems and a first degree ininformation studies. If your first degree is in anothersubject, you’ll also need a relevant professionalqualification or at least five years’ relevant workexperience.
What if I haven’t got a degree?If you have other qualifications and substantial relevantwork experience you may be considered for the PGDiploma or PG Certificate in Information Systems.Please contact us for further information and todiscuss your particular circumstances.
What if English is not my first language?You need IELTS minimum overall score of 6.5 with atleast 6.0 in the writing and speaking components andat least 5.5 in the reading and listening components. OrTOEFL minimum score 575 (paper-based) 232(computer-based) with at least 5.0 in the writtenEnglish Test. If your application is successful but youdon’t have the necessary scores, you may be asked toattend an English Language course at the Universitybefore or during the MSc programme.
How to applyOnlineThis is the quickest and easiest way to apply.For details:www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/apply
By mailIf you didn’t get a form with this brochure, you candownload one from the website (above). Return yourcompleted form and all supporting documents to theaddress shown.
Supporting documentsYour supporting documents may be sent by mail, or byemail to [email protected]. This includesdocuments such as references and transcripts.
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Your future career What our graduates doRecent graduates from the MSc in Information Systemshave taken up posts across a range of employmentsectors in roles such as IT Consultant, DataManagement Specialist, Website Developer, IT ProjectManager, Technical Support Analyst, SoftwareDeveloper, Systems Engineer, Graduate AnalystProgrammer and Computer-Based Training Consultant.
What our graduates say
“After completing the MSc in Information Systems Ientered the Graduate Trainee Programme at Compaq.The experience gained from the various courses on theMSc programme has been an invaluable source ofconfidence to me. The requirement and documentationtechniques developed during the dissertation periodhave also greatly assisted me in various other projectsat work.”
Ghulam ChohanGraduate IT TraineeCompaq Computer Ltd
“As an information officer I am responsible forupdating and maintaining the information presentedon the YMCA intranet and the public internet. My roleinvolves programming (mainly in HTML andColdFusion), database management (SQL Server) andanswering public enquiries. The MSc has helped megreatly in my career with subjects like databasemanagement, information systems and Javaprogramming,”
Xiaoping LingInformation OfficerYMCA England
“I feel that the MSc at Sheffield gave me an excellentgrounding for my job in e-learning development. Notonly has it equipped me with useful technical skills,such as web programming and database design, it hasalso given me a wider appreciation of the role of IT inbusiness and the opportunities and challenges thatimplementing new systems brings.”
