Information Quality

Frequently Asked Questions

The following list represents frequently asked questions about the Information Quality Graduate Program at UALR.

Q. What degrees are offered in the program?

Answer: The UALR Information Quality Graduate program offers the following three programs of study:

• Graduate Certificate in Information Quality (4 courses of 12 credit hours)
• Master of Science in Information Quality (9 courses of 27 credit hours plus 6 hours of thesis or project)
• Information Quality Track in the Integrated Computing PhD Program (72 hours of course work and dissertation research)

Q. What is Information Quality?

Answer: Information quality is about maximizing the value of an organization's information assets and assuring that the information products created by the organization these meet the expectations of the customer who use them.  The study of information quality involves understanding information quality value and business impact, information quality strategy and governance, information quality environment and culture, information quality measurement and improvement, sustaining information quality, and information architecture quality.

Q. What are the admission requirements?

Answer: For regular admission, all programs require that applicants have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.  In addition all applicants should have had coursework or professional experience in computer programming, database systems, and applied statistics.  GRE scores are not required for applicants to the Certificate program, but applicants for the MS and PhD programs must submit GRE scores taken with in the last 5 years. One exception is that the GRE is waived for admission the MS program for applicants who have completed the UALR Certificate program with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.  The GRE cannot be waived for the PhD program.  The combined GRE verbal and quantitative scores should be at least 1,000 for the MS program and 1,100 for the PhD program.  Good communication skills, both oral and written, are also critical as demonstrated by scores on the verbal and analytical writing section of the GRE exam, and for international students, the TOEFL exam. Although not required, professional work experience is add weight to the application.  All applicants must also submit a letter of intent, a resume, and three letters of recommendation.

Q. When can someone start the program?

Answer: Students can enter the program in either the fall or spring semester.  However, it is recommended that students begin in the fall semester when the gateway course INFQ 7303, Principles of Information Quality, is regularly offered.

Q. Will courses be available online?

Answer: Yes, class lectures for courses supporting the Information Quality Graduate Program will be broadcast live by Internet using Blackboard Wimba technology.  Live webcast schedules coincide with the days and times listed for the the on-campus course.  Most courses are scheduled one time per week from 6:00 to 8:40 pm US Central Time  or two times per week (Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays) from 4:00 to 5:45 pm US Central Time.  Lectures for each class are recorded and can be viewed by students at a later time.  UALR operates on a semester system.  The fall semester starts in late August and extends into early December, and the spring semester from early January to mid-May. The exact dates for each semester can be found on the UALR home page under the Calendar link.

Q. What factors should be considered for online students?

Answer: The online model works best for remote students who are able to participate in the classes in real-time.  This may be impractical for some students due to job schedules or differences in time zone.  Even thought remote student have access to class recording, the overall educational experience will be best in situations where remote students can participate live with the instructor and students on campus.

Q. Are the courses offered on a regular basis?

Answer: Yes, to help students plan their program of study, the courses supporting the Graduate Certificate, Master of Science, and PhD programs are offered in regular cycle

Fall Semester

• INFQ 7303, Principles of Information Quality
• INFQ 7367, Information Quality Policy and Strategy
• IFSC 5345, Information Visualization
• IFSC 7320, Database Systems and Information Architecture
• At least one Information Quality Elective (INFQ Prefix) and at least one non-IQ Elective (IFSC, MGMT, or other Prefix)

Spring Semester

• INFQ 7342, Information Quality Tools and Industry Landscape
• INFQ 7322, Information Quality Theory
• IFSC 7310, Information Systems Analysis
• At least one Information Quality Elective (INFQ Prefix) At least one non-IQ Elective (IFSC, MGMT, or other Prefix)

Q. Will I need special equipment or software to participate online?

Answer: No, students should be able to access the lecture broadcasts anywhere there is a computer with a browser and high-speed Internet connection.  A headset with microphone and earphones is recommended for students who want to participate via audio interaction with the instructor and other class members.

Q. Are remote online students graded differently than local on-campus students?

Answer: Grading in each course will be different depending upon the instructor but in all cases local and remote students complete the same assignments and exams and are graded in the same way.  The only difference is that remote students will be responsible for finding an acceptable university-based or commercial proctoring service convenient to their locations.  Students residing within 25 miles of the UALR campus are required to take their examinations on campus at the time and date designated by the course instructor.

Q. What are the requirements for an exam proctor?

Answer: If you are a remote student living at least 25 miles from campus you are responsible for finding your own proctor at a library, community college, or university in your area. An acceptable proctor includes:

• A librarian at an academic or public library
• Testing centers at 2 or 4 year colleges and universities
• Commercial learning/tutoring centers
• A Learning Center or officer of higher rank than the student if in the military
• Corporate education centers

For more information on proctor requirements see the distance learning link.

Q. How do I apply for admission to the program?

You can apply online for admission to the program as follows:

• Go to https://boss.ualr.edu/pls/prod/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon and follow the link for “First time user account creation”
• When you reach the “Select an Application Type” page, select “P. Graduate Degree Seeking” in the Application Type drop-down menu box
• When you reach the point in the application where it asks “Planned Course of Study”, select
  • “INFQ - GC” for the graduate certificate program
  • “INFQ - MS” for the Master’s program
  • “IGCPQ” for the Integrated Computing PhD IQ Track

To learn more about applying to UALR, just visit the UALR’s Admissions website (http://ualr.edu/admissions/).

Please note that the UALR Graduate School will not accept transcripts sent directly from students. You must request your previous school to send official copies of your transcripts directly to the UALR Graduate School. This process is explained in more detail in the application instructions online.

Q. Do I have to take the GRE before I apply?

Answer: It depends on the program. The GRE is not required for the Graduate Certificate Program, but the GRE is always required for all PhD applicants. In the case of the Master of Science program, the GRE is generally required, but may be waived for an applicant who has an outstanding undergraduate record, who has completed the UALR IQ Certificate program with a GPA of 3.5 or higher, or who has successfully completed a graduate degree or substantial graduate coursework.

Q. How much does it cost to complete the program?

Answer: The table below shows the 2010-11 Academic Year rates for tuition and fees for courses taken in the UALR Information Quality Graduate Program. These rates do not include books or supplies and historically have been subject to regular yearly increases of about 3%. Total program costs are estimated based on the minimum hours required for each program and actual charges will vary for each student. Students who are Arkansas residents pay at a lower rate.

Q. What are the job opportunities for graduates of the program?

Overall the demand for information quality and information technology skills is strong, and the graduates from the program are finding jobs in data and information quality roles in industry and government. Several large organizations are actively involved in the program and have offered scholarships, internships, and employment opportunities to our students.