CIS Exams
Area exams are scheduled once each semester, based on student requests and subject to faculty availability. The exams are written by a faculty committee and exam content is at the discretion of the committee members. Generally exams reflect topics covered in suggested courses and texts and articles suggested by course instructors, area coordinators and examination committee members.
Secondary examinations test students' general knowledge at a level sufficient to teach a course in the specified area of study. Primary examinations include the area secondary examination and an additional portion that tests students' ability to conceptualize, plan and evaluate research in the specified area of study.
Biomedical Informatics
In preparation for the secondary exam, students are encouraged to take both ICS 614 Medical Informatics I and ICS 675 Bioinformatics: Sequences.
A current reading list is available in disCourse.
Communication & Information Theories
CIS 701 (Communication & Information Theories of Society) is the recommended preparation for the secondary exam. The primary exam involves additional readings.
Communication Policy & Planning
No specific coursework is required to take the exam, but students may prepare with COM 650 Communication Policy, COM 660 Communication Planning, and/or LIS 715 Seminar in Information Policy and Planning.
Data Communications
No specific courses are required to take the secondary exam, although ITM 431 is strongly recommended. Depending on student background, one or both of the following courses, EE 449, ICS 451, may also be recommended. For the primary, EE 668 and ICS 651 present the material needed for the exam.
Human-Computer Interaction
The HCI exam committee requires that students take two HCI courses before taking the area exam. Relevant courses include ICS 464 Human Computer Interaction, ICS 664 Human-Computer Interaction II, ICS 667 Advanced HCI Design Methods, ICS 668 Social Informatics, and LIS 677 Human Dimensions in Information Systems.
See the HCI area website for details.
Information Storage & Retrieval
Recommended courses include LIS 663 Basic Database Searching, LIS 671 Digital Librarianship, LIS 678 Personalized Information Delivery, and ICS 624 Advanced Data Management.
See also the ISR Exam FAQ.
Management Information Systems
Relevant courses and seminars include BUS 630 Managing Information Technology for Strategic Advantage, BUS631 Operations and Supply Chain Management, designated ITM 660 special topics, ITM 685 Electronic Commerce, and ITM 704 Doctoral Seminar in Information Systems.
See also the MIS Exam FAQ.
Organizational Communication
COM 623, Organizational Communication, is recommended. Other relevant courses include COM 624, Organizational Communication Training; COM 632, Telecommunication Services; COM 643, Intercultural Communication; BUS 625, Leadership and Communication; BUS 626, Organizational Behavior; BUS 630, Managing Information Technology; ITM 660, Special topics in information systems (ask instructor); and SOC 613, Organizational Analysis.