Raj M. Dewan, Dean
ischool.syr.edu

About the School

The Syracuse University School of Information Studies (iSchool) is a leading University center in advancing both the theory and practice of the information professions, based on an interdisciplinary view of information phenomenon. The iSchool at Syracuse University the original information school-is a leader in the information field, which lies at the intersection of management, technology, and people. The iSchool offers an innovative curriculum that is continually updated to meet future industry trends and incorporate rapidly changing technologies.

The Syracuse University iSchool became the original information school in the U.S. when it expanded on the study of library science and embraced the broader field of information. It is a leader in this field, which lies at the intersection of management, technology, and people. The iSchool offers an innovative curriculum that is continually updated to meet future industry trends and incorporate rapidly changing technologies.

Our approach stands out from other institutions that offer computer science, management, information science, and related programs in that our focus is on users and user information needs as a starting point for integrating information and information technology into organizations.

Our faculty combine expertise in information systems, linguistics, computer science, library science, education, business management, school media, digital literacy, management information systems, data science, enterprise and cloud computing, wireless and emerging technologies, and communication. An active research community and research centers explore topics that reflect the faculty’s diverse intellectual backgrounds and interests.

Message From the Dean

Information is part of everything today-and more precisely, every part of our society is being regularly transformed by information and technology, and they are now at the hub of all we do. They have changed the way we get to know each other, the way we interact, how we conduct business, and the means by which we manage politics and government. Even our family lives and social spheres have been affected by the way information and technology impact our lives. We’ve witnessed a pivoting in the ways the world works because of those changes.

The iSchool is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this transformation, to play a central role in how those changes affect what’s happening in society today, and to be an essential part of how information and technology will impact us in our tomorrows.  

The future for this School - and to those who come to study, learn, teach, and work here-is to play a central role in that transformation. Advances in research in Library Information Science, Applied Data Science, Information Systems, Information Management, Telecommunications and Networking, Human-Computer Interaction, Enterprise Data Systems and allied areas that are carried out by the faculty at the School will be essential to that equation. Our futures will not be addressed only by changes in technology, but also by how society understands, reacts to, and formulates responses based on the information it discovers, learns, and shares.

Accreditation

Syracuse University is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and all programs are registered with the New York State Education Department. The MSCHE is a voluntary, non-governmental, membership association that has been dedicated to quality assurance and improvement through accreditation via peer evaluation, since 1919.

The Master of Science in Library and Information Science within Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (iSchool) is accredited by the American Library Association. ALA accreditation indicates that the program has undergone a self-evaluation process, been reviewed by peers, and meets the standards established by the American Library Association and Committee on Accreditation.

The iSchool is also a registered Project Management Institute Education Provider, meaning that the school’s curriculum meets an international standard of best practice in the field of project management.

Vision and Values

The School of Information Studies, established in 1896 and renamed as the Original  Information School in 1974, has a long tradition of leading innovation and change. Our ideals and values are the foundation for our success.

Vision

The iSchool is a globally recognized leader in advancing knowledge and developing creative, thoughtful, and technically capable leaders in the information field.

Mission

The mission of the iSchool is to expand human capabilities by connecting people, information, and technology. The faculty and staff of the iSchool are committed to preparing students to be leaders in the information field, advancing knowledge and using information to solve problems faced by individuals and organizations. Together, the faculty, staff and students of the iSchool impact research and the information profession through our scholarship, rigorous education opportunities, and commitment to service that advances science, improves professional practice, and contributes both to communities in which we live and more broadly to society.

iSchool of One. We are a unified school. The faculty, staff, and students work together, not

as individuals or groups who represent a specific area in which they work or affiliate. We challenge ourselves to benefit from the paradox of a single information field that is manifested in many professional expressions.

Values

Excellence: We are a student-centered institution committed to learning and intellectual diversity. As a community of scholars and practitioners, we pursue research and teaching excellence through the development, integration, and application of knowledge.

Discovery and Innovation:  We value discovery and innovation to advance the information fields. We identify new opportunities, respond creatively to emerging issues, and lead our fields through partnerships and learning communities.

Integrity: As information professionals, we uphold intellectual honesty and responsibility. We carefully consider the implications of our actions, taking fairness and equity into consideration. We contribute to, and promote, the highest standards for the ethical use of information and technology.

Diversity and Inclusion: We strive for diversity in our community and celebrate difference. We embrace a multiplicity of voices to address social and technical challenges through interdisciplinary analysis and solutions.

Global Citizenship and Engagement: We enable our iSchool community to participate actively as global citizens working to advance the common good. We have a responsibility to inform and improve society, and to influence policy through pedagogy, research, and advocacy.

Our Goal

To transform the information field through leadership in research, development, and education.

Our Points of Distinction

• Whatever we do, we do through information and for people
• Through information we transform individuals, organizations, and society
• We recognize that information technology and management processes are means and not ends

Research Centers

Many of the faculty conduct their research individually and in small, flexible, interdisciplinary teams. For certain specialized areas and cross-unit collaborations, however, research centers and laboratories provide a venue that supports long-term commitment to a particular research area. The following research centers and laboratories are located in the school:

• Behavior, Information, Technology and Society (BITS) Lab is the home of an inter-disciplinary team of researchers who develop cutting-edge applications, tools, and software, and engage in innovative studies of how people use information and communication technologies and how their use of these technologies affect society.
• Center for Computational and Data Sciences (CCDS). CCDS is committed to advancing important and practical research in the social sciences using advanced computational approaches. The Center builds on the iSchool’s historic strengths in human language technologies, such as Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning, and the School’s current emphasis on Data Science research.
• Center for Emerging Network Technologies (CENT). The mission of CCENT is to understand the future of networking technologies, and to engage students, faculty and industry in the process of defining and shaping that future. CCENT currently has setup four testbeds for studying emerging network technologies, including wireless networking, network security, unified communication systems, and Internet protocol version 6.
• iSchool Public Libraries Initiative (IPLI).This new center’s efforts are originating a discovery zone for public library innovation, create a hub for student research on librarianship topics and provide a means to circulate new ideas and findings to public library professionals.The initiative is designed to assess needs, collect and catalog existing materials and develop new pods of informational resources for the librarian staff members who work in America’s 17,000 public-library outlets.
• Smart Grid Project Center researchers seek to understand the impact of merging information technologies with the electric grid. Integration of these technologies creates a smarter grid, providing opportunities for the energy industry to improve its reliability and efficiency.

Our faculty members embrace innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in their research. The iSchool supports the Syracuse Student Sandbox incubator, and works closely with the Blackstone Launchpad, a campus-based experiential entrepreneurship program open to students, alumni, staff, and faculty, offering coaching, ideation and venture creation support.

Hinds Hall - Academic Facilities

Hinds Hall, located on the Main Campus Quad, is the home of the School of Information Studies. This four-story, 48,000 square-foot building showcases the latest in technology and design, including collaborative work rooms, state-of-the-art classrooms, research centers, and a student lounge and cafe.

Equipped with high-performance wireless networking, the facility supports virtual collaborations with global partners and includes an enhanced computer laboratory infrastructure with four main labs:

• The iLab: Accommodating up to 40 students, this is our signature computer lab, featuring dual display screens for increased productivity in a variety of computer applications.
• iTELL (Information Technology Experiential Learning Lab): Students get hands-on experience working with the latest telecommunications equipment on their own servers and networking devices in the iTELL Data Center.
• iSysLab (Information Systems Lab): Dedicated to the iSchool’s more technical classes, this lab features a variety of hardware and software for students to use.
• Innovation Studio: This multi-purpose, highly reconfigurable 1,000-square-foot space is modeled after an artist’s studio to promote collaboration, idea generation, and rapid prototype development for student and faculty teams. A video studio with editing bays is attached.
• The ICE Box: The ICE Box stands for innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. This space has become a model for blending creative design and technology within a community environment. The ICE Box merges physical space for co-working and hosting events, and a resource hub supporting entrepreneurship opportunities both on- and off-campus.

The iSchool’s home in Hinds Hall received an American Institute of Architects Central New York Chapter Citation Award for the redesign and renovations conducted by Ashley McGraw Architects of Syracuse.

Undergraduate Education

Syracuse University School of Information Studies (iSchool) undergraduates are innovative problem-solvers who enjoy interacting with people as well as exploring new information technologies such as mobile devices, sensors, and wireless networks, as well as social media and data analytics.

The iSchool offers the undergraduate Information Management and Technology, BS  , which combines technology, business, and communications courses to educate 21^st-century professionals who can enter virtually any industry upon graduation.

Our flexible curriculum allows you to pursue a broad array of intellectual areas while providing a core knowledge of the technical, organizational, and communication skills necessary to succeed in our networked society. You can craft your education to fit your individual interests, and we offer dual degree programs with Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management  and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications .

Students often combine their iSchool education with another passion such as art and design, journalism, sports analytics and management, marketing, political science, or a foreign language. The small-school atmosphere provides individualized attention to each student while the larger Syracuse University community offers a rich array of additional resources.

Students from other schools and colleges at SU can enroll in one of the iSchool’s three minors:

• Data Analytics Minor :  This minor is an attractive offering for students who want to apply the principles of data analytics in their primary field of study, such as Psychology, Sport Management, Engineering, Economics, Sociology, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, or the Natural Sciences.
• Information Management and Technology Minor : Provides knowledge of information technology and related information and communication problems that makes students more marketable, no matter their career.
• Information Technology, Design, and Startups Minor : Provides basic knowledge and skills required to run a successful business including how to develop and refine new ideas – the seeds of innovation – and turn those ideas into a viable venture.

iSchools Organization

We are a founding member of the iSchools Organization an educational organization consisting of deans from over 90 leading information schools across the globe who have joined together to build awareness of, support for, and involvement with the information field. The organization holds a yearly gathering, the iConference, to provide a forum in which information scholars, researchers and professionals share their insights on critical information issues in contemporary society.

Programs

• Information Management and Technology, BS

• Data Analytics Minor
• Information Management and Technology Minor
• Information Technology, Design, and Startups Minor