By LJ Staff

The new Master of Information Management (MIM) degree at the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies (CLIS) has received final approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Board of Regents. The new degree is expected to complement the MLS degree and some courses will be common to both degrees. The first MIM classes are scheduled to begin this fall. The degree is part of a statewide effort to assure that Maryland is a major player in attracting and keeping jobs in the state. It will provide a "pipeline of new professionals who understand the critical role of knowledge in the 21^st century global economy," according to a statement from the school.

The new degree has an initial focus on strategic information management. A second specialty, information architecture and content management, is intended to be developed later as resources permit. Graduates will work within organizations to improve the systematic creation, access, and use of information to further strategic goals and competitive advantages in e-business, e-commerce, and e-government. Students are expected to emerge with the ability to analyze organizational environments, strategic information problems, and client requirements; add value by evaluating, analyzing, interpreting, organizing, packaging, and presenting information in actionable form; and address policy, security, and privacy needs, among other things. Courses in information environments, information technology, use and users, and program management will form the curriculum. An information management team-based experiential learning component is included. Case-based problem solving, team teaching, and multidisciplinary analysis are the foundation. for details.