Graduate Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM)

The minimum prerequisite for 50000-69999 level courses is graduate standing. The minimum prerequisite for courses 70000 and higher is doctoral standing. Additional prerequisites may apply and are listed in this catalog.

60001/80001 Information Architecture and Knowledge Management in Context (3)
Overview of the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM) program and its concentrations. Basic skills and understandings in information literacy, organization of knowledge, information sources and searching. Information sciences, systems, and professionals in the information society.

60002/80002 Knowledge Organization Structures, Systems and Services (3)
Introduction to various types of knowledge organization systems/services/structures (KOS) used in the networked environment. Understanding of the functional, philosophical, logical and linguistic fundamentals of KOS. Explanation of design options, features of KOS, and procedures to be used in the thesaurus, taxonomy and ontology construction.

60101/80101 Information Architecture (3)
Introduction to the fundamental concepts and practices of information architecture (IA). Students develop practical skills for comparing, analyzing, critiquing and designing information architectures. Major topics include organization, navigation,labeling, search and other core IA concepts. Students learn to create blueprints, wireframes, process flows and other documents used to communicate an information architecture design.

60102/80102 Information and Visual Design (3)
This course provides a cultural and technological context for understanding the information design process. Topics include: basic design and typographic principles, aesthetics and information design, functional integration of visual and verbal elements, creation and use of information graphics, visualization of quantitative information, and visual navigation systems.

60103/80103 Researching the User Experience (3)
Design research seeks to understand user needs, goals and tasks. Deals with research methods for human-centered design of information-rich artifacts and experiences. Covers interviews, surveys, diary studies and other methods applicable to the formative stages of the design process. Students learn to distill research findings into audience segments, user profiles, personas, scenarios and other documents that model user behavior.

60104/80104 Usability I (3)
Provides a conceptual and practical overview of the processes and methods of usability testing, such as Think Aloud protocols, performance measurements and eyetracking analysis. Actual usability testing is performed, using quantitative and qualitative methods and employing current and emerging software tools to facilitate data collection and analysis.

60105/80105 Information Technologies (3)
This course covers four aspects of information technology: essential technology concepts, the making of software, the social consequences of information technology and the role of non-programmers in technology design. Topics include operating systems, networks, search engines, markup languages, social software, dynamic languages, cloud computing, open source software, technology trends and the history of computing.

60110/80110 Content Management Systems (3)
This course provides an overview of the concepts and practices of Content Management (CM) and Content Management Systems (CMS), including understanding the parts and branches of a CMS, criteria for selecting a CMS, CMS configuration, and evaluating and implementing CMS software. Prerequisite: IAKM 60105.

60111/80111 Online Branding (3)
This course will focus on the strategies needed to advance brands through effective online experiences including Web sites, intranets, extranets and emerging web technologies. Students will also learn how to extend the brand through personalization, localization and other segmentation techniques.

60112/80112 Advanced Information Architecture (3)
Web site design from emerging directions, such as the separation of content from presentation, with e.g., the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for formatting web-based documents. The course includes considerations of making web sites compliant with federal regulations or other standards and validation for various markup guidelines. Prerequisites: IAKM 60101.

60113/80113 User and Task Analysis (3)
In order to design and develop effective user interfaces, task analysis process and theory are explored and applied via principles drawn from anthropology, ethnography, cognitive psychology, document and instruction systems design and market research. Practical techniques and methodologies are presented to improve interface design through all phases of the design process. Prerequisites: IAKM 60101 and 60103.

60114/80114 Usability II (3)
Provides students with an understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods appropriate for conducting advanced studies of human interaction with computers. In addition, students learn how to evaluate, purchase, implement and operate equipment for usability labs in a manner consistent with research methods. Prerequisites: IAKM 60104.

60301/80301 Foundational Principles of Knowledge Management (3)
This course covers an introduction to: historical roots for knowledge and knowledge management; theories/definitions of knowledge; theories, applications, tools, and practices of KM; Knowledge Management Life-Cycle Framework and Models; significant issues in KM – best practices, culture, economics, strategy, intellectual capital, sustainable innovation.

60302/80302 Document and Records Management (3)
This course provides principles, projects, and practices for organizational memory management that includes document, records, media, e-mail and enterprise content management with concerns for strategy, compliance, policy, security and workflow.

60303/80303 Knowledge Management in Organizations (3)
Implementation strategies for human resources, organizational processes and technology are explored. The organizational knowledge management activities of knowledge acquisition, generation, formalization, deployment, utilization, measurement and evaluation are presented.

60304/80304 Research Methods for Knowledge Management (3)
This course provides a broad overview of the use of qualitative methods in knowledge management, including an examination of the process of conducting qualitative research from conceptualization, design, data collection, articulation, and preliminary implementation. Critical thinking, analysis, and writing skills are emphasized.

60310/80310 Intellectual Capital Management (3)
This course encompasses the new knowledge-intensive economic units: human capital and social capital intellectual assets, intellectual property, brands, and trademarks. A “lifecycle” approach for intellectual assets is described—creation, codification, valuation, protection, and leveraging of intellectual assets for competitive advantage. Prerequisites: IAKM 60301 and 60302.

60311/80311 Business Process Management (3)
Introduction to Business Process Management and Workflow Management. BPM will describe how organizational business processes, (internal, external, manual and automated), can be transformed and managed to increase efficiency, effectiveness
and positively affect performance. Topics include the discovery, analysis, modeling and automation of workflow processes. Prerequisites: IAKM 60301 and 60302.

60312/80312 Business Intelligence-Competitive Intelligence (3)
An introduction to strategic intelligence consisting of competitive and business Intelligence. Strategic intelligence is an art, science, and craft. Businesses and governments require effective intelligence programs, processes, and tools to track businesses, competitors, markets and trends by acquiring,creating, managing, packaging, and disseminating intelligence knowledge. Prerequisites: IAKM 60301 and 60302

60313/80313 Strategic Knowledge Management-Virtual Communities (3)
Strategic Knowledge Management as it manifests in Virtual Communities: Communities-of-Practice (COPs) and Communities-of-Interest (COIs). Areas covered include: trust, facilitation of virtual communities, leadership and emotional intelligence in a virtual environment, social network analysis, and supporting learning communities with collaborative tools. Prerequisites: IAKM 60301 and 60302.

60401/80401 Health Information Management (3)
Covers the areas encompassing Health information management including the planning, selection, deployment, and management of electronic medical records (EMR), management decision-support and tracking systems (DSS), and other health information technologies (HIT).

60402/80402 Legal Issues in Health Information Management (3)
Introduction to the fundamentals of law for Health Informatics and Information Management. Elements of the course include general legal principles and healthcare; legal electronic medical records (EMR); Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules and security rules; access, requests and disclosure of health information; required reporting and mandatory disclosure laws; risk management and quality improvement; compliance; workforce overview; related ethics and social issues.

60403/80403 Health Information Systems (3)
Introduction to information systems and their applications in healthcare used for managerial and clinical support. Study the fundamentals of information systems, including Electronic Medical Records (EMR), information security. Understand the role of standardized codes, vocabularies and terminologies used in health information systems. Analysis of management and enterprise systems, identify the key elements to manage information resources effectively and the trends affecting the development of health information systems and networks.

60410/80410 Health Records Management (3)
Conceptual foundations and practicum for health records management, including the planning, implementation and operation of electronic medical records (EMR); the management of EMR in management and enterprise systems; identifying, selecting and evaluating EMR and health information systems, applications, and repositories; and issues of data quality, integrity, migration, and interoperability.

60691/80691 Seminar in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (1-3)
Advanced research by students who are qualified to examine problems of certain special areas related to concentrations of study in information architecture, information usability or knowledge management.

60692 Practicum in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (2-3)
Supervised work experience in concentration areas in IAKM program of a professional nature of not less than 100 clock hours with directed readings and preparations of a paper. Not repeatable. IP permissible. Prerequisite: special approval.

60693/80693 Variable Title Workshop in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (1-3)
Intensive examination of special topics of interest to those involved in program concentrations. Maximum number of workshop credits for the M.S. in IAKM degree is 4 semester hours. S/U grading.

60792 Internship in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (1-3)
Supervised work experience of an advanced professional nature that concentrates on developing skills in areas of concentration in the IAKM program. IP permissible. Prerequisite: special approval.

61081 Capstone Experience (3)
Provides students the opportunity to integrate their knowledge from all IAKM courses and experiences, interact with other IAKM students who may have different perspectives, and make connections with real-world problems through a guided, project-based, collaborative culminating experience. Prerequisite: IAKM 60001 and 60002; and special approval.

61095/81095 Selected Topics in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (1-3)
Offered irregularly as resources and/or opportunities permit. Topics could include current or emerging issues in information architecture, information usability or knowledge management. Specific topics will be announced in the Schedule of Classes.

61096/81096 Individual Investigation in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (1-3)
Research or individual investigation for master’s level/doctoral level students. Maximum credit per registration: 3 hours. Maximum credit towards master’s degree: 6 hours. IP permissible. Prerequisite: special approval.

61098 Master's Project (3)
Provides a means for the application of the knowledge, research and competencies learned through study in the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management Program to the development of an information system, product, setting or service. Not repeatable. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: IAKM 60001 and 60002; and special approval.

61199 Thesis I (2-6)
Thesis students must register for a total of 6 hours, 2 to 6 hours in a single semester, distributed over several semesters if desired. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: IAKM 60001 and 60002.

61299 Thesis II (2)
Thesis students must continue registration each semester until all degree requirements are met. S/U grading; IP permissible. Prerequisite: IAKM 60001 and 60002 and 61199.