Director of the degree programme: Corinna Coupette

Degree: Master of Science (Technology), 120 ECTS

Abbreviation: INF

The Master's Programme in Information Networks educates societally conscious engineers and ethical leaders with a deep understanding of digital technology. To this end, the programme combines studies in computer science, social science, and organizational studies. Students of the Information Networks programme acquire a broad skillset in designing systems, services, and organizations for the benefit of society, grounded in a solid understanding of research methodology. They also develop a critical perspective on the multiway interaction between technology, society, and business. Our graduates are interdisciplinary, value-driven professionals who can navigate the complexity of software systems, organizations, and human behavior to effectively tackle the most pressing challenges of our time — from leveraging technology to create commercially viable organizations that are also socially and environmentally sustainable to designing ethically sound guardrails for algorithmic systems.
 

Upon completion of the Master's Programme in Information Networks, students can

• create, engineer and design societally sustainable and ethically sound technologies,
  services, organizations, and businesses
• build bridges and facilitate collaborations between different technology experts,
  business leaders, policymakers, activists, and other stakeholders of the information
  society
• reflect critically on the relationship between technology and society and its implications
  for technological, organizational, and societal development
• define their personal and professional identity, role, and goals in the context of
  technology, management, organization, policymaking, and societal impact

Additionally, they have achieved the intended learning outcomes of their chosen major.

The programme offers two majors, both of which share 30 ECTS of interdisciplinary courses and methodological foundations in the intersection of technology, society, and business. The Human-Centred Service Design and Engineering (HuDE) major is designed for students who seek to push the technical and creative frontiers of user-centred software and service development, whereas the Strategic Organizing, Technology, and Society (SOrTS) major is targeted at students who intend to advance human-centred technology and sustainable change by creating and transforming organizations, governing institutions, or engaging in advocacy for the public good.

Both majors can be completed as a long major (60–65 ECTS) or as a compact major (44–45 ECTS). In both cases, choosing electives to form a minor is recommended. If a major is completed as a compact major, choosing at least one minor is required, and choosing two minors is possible.

The Human-Centred Service Design and Engineering (HuDE) major focuses on developing digital systems and services through user-centric and agile processes within organizational contexts. Students will gain knowledge in designing, managing, and implementing software products. The role of a designer and a developer increasingly requires the integration of diverse perspectives and methodologies. In essence, service and software development involve a blend of human understanding, decision-making, and data analysis. Prior to choosing this major, students should have a foundational understanding of human-computer interaction including user-centred design methods, programming and software engineering.

The Strategic Organizing, Technology, and Society (SOrTS) is a multidisciplinary major that focuses on how organizations evolve and adapt in an increasingly technology-driven society. Integrating strategic, technological, and societal perspectives, the major focuses on how political, social, and economic forces shape organizations, technologies, and business practices. Graduates of the major are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to lead organizations and facilitate change with a reflective and human-centred approach while engaging critically with the broader societal implications of organizing and technology.

Completing studies in Finnish/Swedish

Courses within the programme are mainly offered in English. However, you can choose to complete some of the courses included in the major Strategic Organizing, Technology, and Society in Finnish/Swedish language.

In addition, you can include a minor and/or elective studies offered in Finnish/Swedish in your degree.

The master’s thesis can be written in English, Finnish or Swedish. The language of the master’s thesis determines the language of the degree.

The languages used in teaching and studying

The language of instruction is the language in which the teaching is provided. The supplementary language of instruction is a language used alongside the language of instruction. The teaching offered in the supplementary language of instruction depends on the course: for a detailed description of the languages used in a given course, see the course’s MyCourses page.

You can complete study attainments, such as examinations or course assignments, using either the language of instruction or the supplementary language of instruction. In some courses, the language of study attainments may also be a language that is not used in teaching. The languages of study attainments offered are specified in Sisu under each study unit implementation.

You can find course descriptions in Sisu. In your study plan, choose the course and click the course code or search courses by code or name. Learning environments are found in MyCourses through search or after registration in "My own courses".

Code: SCI3177
Scope: compact major 44-45 ECTS, long major 60-65 ECTS
Faculty in charge: Johanna Viitanen
Name of the major in Finnish: Ihmiskeskeinen palvelu- ja ohjelmistokehitys
Name of the major in Swedish: Människocentrerad service- och mjukvaruutveckling

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the HuDE major, students can

• tackle complex problems accounting for human, societal, organizational, and technical
  factors, based on strong problem-solving skills and knowledge
• understand the relationships between software systems, architectures, and human
  aspects of technology in an organizational context
• apply and develop user-centred design methods and processes in product and service
  development
• understand the role of and need for software and information architectures and systems
  in modern organizations and enterprises
• design, develop, and manage digital products and services
   

For the compact major, choose at least 44 ECTS from the courses listed below while conforming to all content requirements as specified in the degree requirements table.
For the long major, choose at least 60 ECTS from the courses listed below while conforming to all content requirements as specified in the degree requirements table.

Languages of instruction
In the Teaching column of the table, the language of instruction for the course is indcated. Any supplementary language of instruction is provided in parentheses.
(EN = English, FI = Finnish)
 

*It is recommended to complete research methods course(s) before starting the Master’s thesis.

**Note: Recommended to be completed before other SE courses.

***Course can be completed several times on different topics. Course code may vary and have additional number in the end, e.g. CS-E505501, etc. Check these in Sisu.

Code: SCI3178
Scope: compact major 45 ECTS, long major 60–65 ECTS
Faculty in charge: Satu Rekonen
Name of the major in Finnish: Strateginen organisointi, teknologia ja yhteiskunta
Name of the major in Swedish: Strategisk organisering, teknologi och samhälle

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the SOrTS major, students can

• analyze and develop organization practices and strategies that create new value for
  different organizations
• understand and apply leadership principles practicing communication, collaboration,
  and self-awareness in complex organizational contexts
• facilitate collaborative development processes in situations of uncertainty and ambiguity
• integrate strategic, technological, and societal perspectives to understand how organizations evolve in the digital era
• understand how socio-environmental issues are constructed and governed through political organizations, policy processes, and networks of actors

Degree Requirements
For the compact major, choose at least 45 ECTS from the courses listed below while conforming to all content requirements.
For the long major, choose at least 60 ECTS from the courses listed below while conforming to all content requirements.

Languages of instruction

In the Teaching column of the table, the language of instruction for the course is indicated. Any supplementary language of instruction is provided in parentheses.
(EN = English, FI = Finnish)

*It is recommended to complete research methods course(s) before starting the Master’s thesis.

**Course can be completed several times on different topics. Course code may vary and have additional number in the end, e.g. CS-E505501, etc. Check these in Sisu

The minor is optional and allows the students to broaden their competence within the Information Networks master’s programme, as well as to fields of technology other than information and communication technology.

If the major is completed as compact (44–45 credits), a minor must be selected. The minor is confirmed in the Personal Study Plan. Please see examples of recommended minors in Planning your studies page.

You can browse all Aalto University minors here: (link to be added)

As elective studies, students can

• select additional courses from their chosen major or other INF major
• select individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University
• select a second minor (if it fits into your degree)
• select Cross-institutional studies (RIPA) from other Finnish Universities
• participate in an international student exchange programme https://www.aalto.fi/en/other-studies/exchange-studies
• include 1-10 ECTS of work experience completed in Finland or abroad.
  • please note that if you include course JOIN-A0003 Contributing in Community (3 cr) in your degree, only 7 credits of practical training is accepted in the degree.

Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the programme and the aims of the master of science (technology) degree. All studies planned to be taken at another Finnish University or abroad should be approved in the personal study plan before taking the courses.

Elective studies may not overlap with student's other studies. For this reason, the
programme may restrict the choices in elective studies.

Elective studies require separate approval through the Personal Study Plan (HOPS).

If you have compulsory language studies in your master's degree, they are included in the elective studies. 

• If you have completed your bachelor's degree in Finland (in Aalto or in another higher education institute), you have fulfilled the compulsory language requirements in the respective degree or received the exemption. You do not need to complete language studies in the master's degree.
• If your language of education is Finnish or Swedish and you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you must
  • demonstrate proficiency in national languages by writing the maturity test in your language of education (Finnish or Swedish) and complete the language proficiency tests (2 ECTS) in the other national language. Read more about the language of education here. You may also apply for an exemption of demonstrating proficiency in national languages.
  • complete 3 ECTS in one foreign language (including both oral (o) and written (w) proficiency).
• If you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language (including both oral (o) and written (w) proficiency). Students, whose language of education is not Finnish or Swedish, may alternatively complete an elementary course in Finnish or in Swedish (3 ECTS). The courses in national languages can be at any level on CEFR scale.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS). Language center offers the language studies.

Students are required to complete a master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic usually related to the student's major and agreed upon between the student and a professor who specializes in the topic of the thesis. The supervisor of the thesis must be a professor in the university, whereas the instructor(s) must have at least a master’s degree.

Master’s thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation.

The master’s thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

For more information about the Master's thesis process, see MyCourses>>