A Top-Ranked Program at the Intersection of Technology and Society
Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies — known as the iSchool — is consistently ranked among the top information programs in the nation and is recognized globally as a leader in the field. The programs at the center of our partnership span data science, artificial intelligence, information systems, and library and information science:
- MS in Applied Data Science
- MS in Applied Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence
- MS in Information Systems
- MS in Library and Information Science
Research Centers That Push Boundaries
What distinguishes the iSchool is the depth and breadth of its research infrastructure. Students have access to five major research centers from day one:
Center for Computational and Data Sciences
Advancing important and practical research in the social sciences using advanced computational approaches.
Center for Digital Literacy
Understanding the impact of information, technology, and media literacies in today’s technology-intensive society.
Center for Emerging Network Technologies
Researching how systems and technologies are converging to provide solutions for industries and economies.
Center for the Futures of Work, Information and Technology
Exploring the connections between the transformation of work and emerging technologies.
Smart Cities and Civic Technologies Research Center
Conducting interdisciplinary research on human, physical, and natural systems, leveraging information science and digital technologies for a sustainable future.
These centers are backed by significant NSF and government funding, ensuring students are working alongside faculty on research that is both rigorous and relevant.
Student-Driven Innovation: NEXIS
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of the iSchool’s research culture is how it empowers students to lead their own inquiry. NEXIS — New Explorations in Information and Science — is a student-run, membership-driven technology lab where graduate and undergraduate students explore emerging technologies through collaborative research projects.
NEXIS is an entirely student-run research program. Students choose topics of interest to them and receive guidance from faculty throughout the process.
Students apply to join project teams organized around areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, virtual reality, and 3D printing. Teams move through a structured innovation cycle — from problem exploration to minimum viable product — and present their work each semester in a poster showcase for the dean, faculty, and broader iSchool community. NEXIS also has a direct pipeline to the Blackstone LaunchPad for projects with commercial potential. One notable example: a NEXIS-developed AI creation tool called SolaceVision was incubated through LaunchPad, accepted into the Techstars LA accelerator, and is now a funded, operating venture.
Why Information Studies Matters Now
The relevance of iSchool programs is grounded in the realities of our connected world.
We live in a highly interconnected world. Everything from personal health monitoring devices to household appliances is connected to the internet. There have to be people who can figure out how to make all of this work — and do so securely, ethically, and efficiently.
This is the world iSchool students are being prepared to build, secure, and optimize.
The Programs: What Each Prepares Students to Do
The MS in Applied Data Science combines statistical rigor with practical application, preparing students for roles in data science, analytics, and machine learning across virtually every industry sector.
The MS in Applied Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence is a newer and increasingly relevant program, designed for students who want to work at the intersection of AI systems and the people who use them — focusing on responsible design, usability, and the organizational integration of AI tools.
The MS in Information Systems occupies a critical space: the intersection of business strategy and technology implementation. For students seeking careers in technology consulting, product management, or enterprise technology roles, this program provides the foundation to understand both technical capabilities and the business problems they solve.
The MS in Library and Information Science prepares students for careers in knowledge management, digital curation, information architecture, and library leadership — fields that are evolving rapidly as institutions grapple with digital transformation and information access at scale.
Research Engagement: Start Before You Arrive
Schuster emphasized that students should not wait until orientation to engage with faculty research.
I would encourage students who are thinking about Syracuse to reach out to faculty members they might want to work with even before getting to campus. Faculty are often looking for help in their research areas, and students who arrive with an established connection are positioned for a much richer experience.
Entrepreneurship Through the iSchool
iSchool students have full access to Syracuse’s broader entrepreneurship ecosystem, including the Orange Innovation Fund and the ‘Cuse Tank competition. The university’s commitment to innovation extends equally to information studies students as it does to other degree programs — ideas from any discipline are welcomed and supported.
The iSchool has also taken a meaningful step in building out its own dedicated entrepreneurship infrastructure. The Raymond von Dran Student Incubator — named for the late iSchool dean who championed forward-thinking education — now provides eight selected student ventures with dedicated desk space inside Hinds Hall, a secure on-campus environment to work, collaborate, and build. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, resident ventures occupy the space for a year with the possibility of extending, giving student founders the kind of stable, focused environment that early-stage ventures need. For iSchool students, this means entrepreneurship is no longer just a program or a competition — there is now a physical home for it, right inside the school.
Looking Ahead
The iSchool at Syracuse represents more than a degree program — it is a platform for students to engage in meaningful research, build real-world experience, and launch careers in one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy. With five research centers, a student-driven innovation lab, strong industry connections, and access to one of the largest alumni networks in the world, iSchool graduates are well-positioned for what comes next.
In Part 3, we explore Syracuse’s College of Engineering and Computer Science — where the hardware meets the software and the future gets built.