Information: Information MI (Effective 2024-25) | School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Calendar

Master of Information

Note: the following admission and program requirements are effective from September 2024.

Program Description

The MI program allows students to explore the breadth of information, and also to focus on one area of study/concentration.

Students will choose one of the following three options:

Concentration only,
Concentration plus a thesis, or
Concentration plus a co-op (CCO)

Students will be admitted to one of eight concentrations*:

Archives and Records Management (ARM)
Critical Information Policy Studies (CIPS)
Culture and Technology (C&T)
Human Centred Data Science (HCDS)
Information Systems and Design (ISD)
Knowledge Management and Information Management (KMIM)
Library and Information Science (LIS)
User Experience Design (UXD)

*Note: students who find themselves on a path to be able to complete a second concentration may submit a request to have the second concentration added to their transcript in the final session of their final year.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Application deadlines are available on the Faculty of Information website. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty's additional admission requirements stated below. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
An appropriate bachelor's degree with at least a B average (3.0 GPA) from a university recognized by the University of Toronto.
The bachelor's degree must normally contain at least 75% academic credits — that is, courses that are not professional, practical, technical, or vocational. Courses such as studio art, drama or music performance, theology, education, or undergraduate courses in library science are not normally considered to be sufficiently academic in content for admission purposes.
Applicants who have satisfactory standing in an undergraduate program and who have successfully completed information studies graduate courses in programs equivalent to the University of Toronto MI program may also apply for admission with advanced standing. Each application will be evaluated individually. At least 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) towards the MI degree must be taken at the University of Toronto.
Applicants will be admitted to a single concentration. Applicants will select their preferred concentrations on the application and will be admitted to a concentration by the Master’s Recruitment and Admissions Committee.
All incoming graduate students must have a good command of English. All applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. This requirement is a condition of admission and must be met before an offer of admission is made. The English language requirement may be satisfied using one of the following tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:
  - Paper-based TOEFL exam: 600 with 5.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
  - Internet-based TOEFL exam: 107/120 with 24/30 on the speaking section and 27/30 on the writing section.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): a minimum required score of 7.5 overall with 7.5 on the writing section and 7.0 on the speaking section.
- Certificate of Proficiency in English (COPE): a minimum required score of 95 overall with 41 on the writing component, 27 on the reading component, and 27 on the listening component.
- English Language Program, U of T School of Continuing Studies with an overall score of A in Academic English Level 60.

Concentration-Plus-Co-operative Option (CCO)

To be considered for the CCO, Year 1 full-time MI program students must apply during the first (Fall) session of Year 1. For more information, visit the Faculty of Information website. Acceptance is limited and not guaranteed. Inquiries about the CCO may be emailed to careers.ischool@utoronto.ca.

Program Requirements

Regardless of concentration and option selected, students must successfully complete a minimum of 8.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs), including:
- the requirements of a concentration;
- one course (0.5 FCE) from each of four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives.

Concentration-Only Option

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

Five required half courses (2.5 FCEs total, specific to each concentration). The exception is Library and Information Science, which has four required half courses (2.0 FCEs).
Plus 11 or 12 additional elective half courses (5.5 or 6.0 FCEs total, depending on the concentration).

*Note: of the total 8.0 FCEs for this option, one course (0.5 FCE) must come from each of the following four Professional Requirements areas: Technical, Managerial, Professional Values, and Critical Perspectives. This requirement can be fulfilled by required and elective courses for each concentration.

Concentration-Plus-Thesis Option

The thesis option allows students to gain experience in developing and executing a research project from beginning to end. Students gain familiarity with the research process and hone their research skills. The thesis option is designed for students who have a clearly defined topic, can find a supervisor, and can meet tight deadlines in order to graduate within the usual time frame envisioned for the degree. Faculty approval is required to enter the thesis option; visit the Faculty of Information website for details.

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

Five required half courses (2.5 FCEs total, specific to each concentration). The exception is Library and Information Science, which has four required half courses (2.0 FCEs).
0.5 FCE research methods course appropriate to the student's program of study, with a final grade of at least A–.
0.5 FCE reading course with the student's intended supervisor, with a final grade of at least A–.
A thesis (2.0 FCEs total).
Five additional elective half courses (2.5 FCEs total, specific to each concentration). The exception is Library and Information Science, which requires six additional elective half courses (3.0 FCEs total).

Concentration-Plus-Co-op Option

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

Five required half courses (2.5 FCEs total, specific to each concentration). The exception is Library and Information Science, which requires four half courses (2.0 FCEs total).
INF3900H The Emerging Professional (0.5 FCE).
The two 12-week co-op placement courses: INF3902H and INF3903H (1.0 FCE total).
Eight additional elective half courses (4.0 FCEs total, specific to each concentration). The exception is Library and Information Science, which requires nine additional elective half courses (4.5 FCEs total.)

Concentration: Archives and Records Management (ARM)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1003H, INF1330H, INF1331H or INF2186H, INF2175H, and INF2184H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Concentration: Critical Information Policy Studies (CIPS)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1001H, INF2181H, INF2240H, INF2242H, and INF2243H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Concentration: Culture and Technology (C&T)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1501H, INF1502H, INF2241H, INF2243H, and either INF2320H or INF2331H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Concentration: Human Centred Data Science (HCDS)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1340H, INF1344H, INF2178H, INF2190H, and INF2210H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Concentration: Information Systems and Design (ISD)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1339H, INF1341H, INF1342H, INF1343H, and INF2177H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Concentration: Knowledge Management and Information Management (KMIM)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1003H, INF1230H, INF2175H, INF2176H, and INF2186H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Concentration: Library and Information Science (LIS)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.0 required FCEs (INF1321H, INF1322H, INF1323H, and INF1324H).
6.0 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.5 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 3.0 elective FCEs.

Concentration: User Experience Design (UXD)

*8.0 FCEs as follows:

2.5 required FCEs (INF1602H, INF2169H, INF2170H, INF2191H, and INF2192H).
5.5 elective FCEs or
co-op (1.0 FCE), INF3900H (0.5 FCE), and 4.0 elective FCEs or
thesis (2.0 FCEs), research methods course (0.5 FCE), and reading course (0.5 FCE) plus 2.5 elective FCEs.

Program Length

4 sessions (2 years) full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/F/W);
CCO: 6 sessions (2 years) full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W/S);
11 sessions (5.5 years) part-time

Time Limit

3 years full-time;
6 years part-time