Courses

Note: The abbreviation “P” refers to the course prerequisite or prerequisites. “C” refers to courses that should be taken concurrently. Undergraduate courses are marked by the sign *.

Note: S401 is required of all M.L.S. students, and is optional for M.I.S. students.

L150* Information Sources in Telecommunications (1 cr.) Designed specifically for undergraduates who are premajors or majors in telecommunications and who are required to complete a research project or term paper. Training in use of computerized database systems, as well as selection and use of advanced reference sources. Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

L161* Library Skills and Resources (1 cr.) Designed for undergraduates. Techniques and skills for researching term papers, speeches, and other library projects.

L416* Individual in the Information Age (3 cr.) Focuses on emerging information and communication technologies, identifying political, social, and economic trends that have major impact on information sources and access. Students are encouraged to explore individual approaches to the information concepts and issues, understood in a social context.

S401* Computer-Based Information Tools (3 cr.) Graded S/F. This skills-based course introduces basic applications that will be used throughout the student’s course work and beyond. Students’ experiences in this course should be seen as a basis for further skill development and learning throughout their careers. The course covers computing platforms, access tools, and management tools. Demonstration of skills will be by a mastery test or an assignment in each unit of the course. S401 does not count toward graduate degree requirements.

S501 Reference (3 cr.) P or C: S401. This course introduces students to the basic information sources and services among different types of libraries and information centers, including academic, public, special, and school media.

S502 Collection Development and Management (3 cr.) Theoretical and pragmatic aspects of the selection, evaluation, and management of collections in all types of libraries. Acquisitions, publishers and publishing, policy making, and intellectual freedom and censorship are also covered.

S503 Representation and Organization (3 cr.) Introduces students to various disciplines’ approaches to the understanding, organization, representation (summarizing), and use of knowledge and information. This survey looks for commonality among the approaches taken in information science, cognitive psychology, semiotics, and artificial intelligence, among others. The goal is to identify criteria for evaluation and improvement of ways to organize and represent information for future retrieval. Information systems currently used in libraries and information centers will be studied as examples. Emphasis in the course is on concepts and ideas, with appropriate attention to terminology and technology.

S504 Cataloging (3 cr.) P: S401. Historical development and principles essential to the understanding of the conceptual foundations of providing bibliographic access and control of materials and information. Discussion and examples in the application of AACR2r will be presented to illustrate and reflect current practice. Emphasis is on monographic publications.

S505 Evaluation of Resources and Services (3 cr.) P: S502. Examines the applied evaluation of library resources and services, including collections, document delivery, technical services, reference services, and overall library performance. Emphasis is placed on the available methods and methodological issues. The checklist method, availability studies, document delivery tests, use studies, applied bibliometrics, and the use of automation are covered.

S506 Introduction to Research (3 cr.) P: S401, completion of 9 credit hours in SLIS, or consent of instructor. The research process, including concepts, design, conduct, and evaluation. Principles and characteristics of approaches and methodologies relevant to research in the field. Examples of data sources and introduction to methods of statistical description and analysis; ethical issues.

S510 Introduction to Information Science (3 cr.) Information science students are introduced to the dynamic and shifting information professions, complex organizations, and emerging careers in the field. Issues in information management, user-oriented systems design, socio-technical concepts, and usability are major themes for the course.

S511 Database Design (3 cr.) P: S401 or consent of instructor. Concerned with a comprehensive view of the processes involved in developing formal access to information from a user-centered point of view. Considers various database models such as flat file, hierarchical, relational, and hypertext in terms of text, sound, numeric, image, and geographic data. Students will design and implement databases using several commercial database management systems.

S512 Information Systems Design (3 cr.) P: S515 and S532. Students identify, design, and implement a significant information design project, such as the redesign of a complex Web site for a local business, library, or nonprofit.

S513 Organizational Informatics (3 cr.) Introduces information, technology, and social behavior in the organizational context. Concepts of organization theory, organization behavior, knowledge and information management, and organizational intelligence provide a critical foundation for managing information, people, and information and communication technologies in rapidly changing and dynamic environments.

S514 Computerization in Society (3 cr.) Surveys social consequences of computerization when it is shaped and used by business, public agencies, and individuals.

S515 Information Architecture (3 cr.) Effective information system design integrates knowledge of formal structures with understanding of social, technological, and cognitive environments. Drawing from a range of disciplines, this course investigates how people represent, organize, retrieve, and use information to inform the construction of information architectures that facilitate user understanding and navigation in conceptual space.

S516 Human-Computer Interaction (3 cr.) Examines the human factors associated with information technology and seeks to provide students with knowledge of the variables likely to influence the perceived usability, and hence the acceptability, of any information technology. In so doing it will enable students to progress further towards specialist’s work in the important field of human-computer interaction.

S517 Web Programming (3 cr.) P: S401 or consent of instructor. Introduces basic skills for programming and manipulation of data structures for bibliographic and full text information systems.

L518 Communication in Electronic Environments (3 cr.) Examines conceptual perspectives on information in organizations, covering topics such as types of information, information activities, organizational culture and information technology, communication as information flow, obtaining and using information from the environment, managing information in specialized extended communities, and ethical and quality issues. Focus varies by type of community studied. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies.

S519 Evaluation of Information Systems (3 cr.) P: S401 and 6 SLIS graduate credit hours. Theoretical and practical exploration of the issues surrounding contemporary information systems. A specific focus will be on evaluating information systems from the user perspective. This evaluation approach will cut across disciplinary frameworks: behavioral, cognitive, and social sciences. The approach will also touch on multiple research methods: online surveys, sense-making, critical incident, and network analysis.

S520 Information Seeking and Use (3 cr.) This course introduces students to the concepts of information analysis from a human perspective, focusing particularly on the theoretical models and practical techniques that underpin the field. Sociological and psychological perspectives will be examined in order to develop an approach to the assessment of users’ information needs.

S521 Humanities Information (3 cr.) P: S501, or consent of instructor. Introduction to information sources and services in the disciplines of performing arts, music, fine arts, literature, language, philosophy, and religion. In addition, the course addresses information needs and behavior patterns of users seeking these types of information.

S522 Social Science Information (3 cr.) P: S401, S501, or consent of instructor. Study of the core information tools in the fields of anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. Includes key bibliographic databases and electronic network tools. Evaluation of research dealing with information channels in these fields.

S523 Science and Technology Information (3 cr.) P or C: S501. General materials, reference books, periodicals, government documents, nonbook media in the individual literature of individual disciplines; patents and report literature. Examination of production, publication, distribution, and forms of scientific and technical literature.

S524 Adult Readers Advisory (3 cr.) P: S501. A review and discussion of trends reflected in subject content and use of book and nonbook materials for patrons in secondary school and public libraries in relation to changing young adult and adult needs, and the role of libraries in meeting such needs.

S525 Government Information (3 cr.) P: S501. Survey of government information dissemination in all formats and at all levels of government. Consideration of government information policy. Primary emphasis given to U.S. government information but with some consideration given to state and local publications in the United States, and those of international organizations.

S526 Business Information (3 cr.) P: S501, or consent of instructor. Introduction to basic business materials. Includes resources, research methods, current developments, automated systems, and databases.

S531 Advanced Cataloging (3 cr.) P: S504. Principles, development, characteristics, and internal structures of subject access systems. Evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the major classification schemes and current subject heading systems.

S532 Information Architecture for the Web (3 cr.) P: S401. Focuses on Web site development. Students study information architecture as an approach for site organization and design, and learn about project management for complex web development tasks. In lab sessions, students work with advanced markup languages and scripting and develop sites, typically for real clients.

S533 Online Searching (3 cr.) P: S401 or consent of instructor. Principles, methods, and techniques of advanced online information retrieval (IR). Characteristics of, and search strategies for, the use of bibliographic, referral, citation, fact, numeric, and full text databases and search systems. Considers standards, use of communications software, front-ends and micro-based IR systems, and creation of in-house databases.

S534 Information Retrieval: Theory and Practice (3 cr.) Introduces basic information retrieval (IR) theory and examines cutting-edge IR research in order to gain insights into how theory can be applied to practice. After learning about IR models, classification, clustering, Web IR, and fusion IR, students will explore how these IR methods can be employed in working IR systems to enhance the retrieval outcome.

S541 Information Policy (3 cr.) Data creation, publication, dissemination, and use occur in a complex social context. Legal and regulatory structures continue to evolve to control these processes. This course explores international and U.S. principles, laws, and regulations affecting the information industry. Focus varies with the topic; for example, copyright of electronic information sources or transborder data flow. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

S542 International Information Issues (3 cr.) Comparison of information policies, information standards, and library systems as they affect commercial, scholarly, scientific, and political information contexts.

S543 Computer-Mediated Communication (3 cr.) Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is human-to-human interaction via computer networks such as the Internet. This course examines potentials and constraints of several types of CMC, and considers how content and dynamics are influenced by the systems’ technical properties and the cultures that have grown up around their use.

S544 Gender and Computerization (3 cr.) This course explores the relationship between information communication technologies (ICTs) and the gender of the people who design, use, administer, and make policy concerning computer systems and computer networks such as the Internet.

S551 Library Management (3 cr.) Management and administration of all types of libraries. Covers basics of organizational structure, planning, budget management, human resources issues and skills, and an understanding of the manager in the context of the organization.

S552 Academic Library Management (3 cr.) Background and current trends in the management of academic libraries.

S553 Public Library Management (3 cr.) Background and current trends in the management of public libraries.

S554 Library Systems (3 cr.) P: S401. Principles for the design, selection, implementation, and management of automated systems of all types in libraries, including systems for technical services processing, reference and user services, and management. Focus is on present and future applications of technology in libraries, their technical features, and their implications for library services and management. When possible, some practical experience with a particular application will be provided.

S555 Strategic Intelligence (3 cr.) Introduces different concepts of strategic intelligence, and different contexts in which these are applied; the idea of intelligence is not restricted to national security, or corporate competition: it can apply at the level of the individual citizen, company, community, or country.

S556 Systems Analysis and Design (3 cr.) Using a behavioral approach to information systems, this course covers information systems designed to conform to the needs of users.

S561 User Interface Design for Information Systems (3 cr.) This course focuses on established principles and methods to design effective interfaces for information systems, emphasizing document retrieval, filtering, visualization, correlation, analysis, and research.

S571 Materials for Youth (3 cr.) Evaluation and use of books, magazines, recordings, films, radio and television broadcasts, and other sources of information and recreation.

S572 Youth Services (3 cr.) P or C: S571 or consent of instructor. This course emphasizes the history, philosophy, and description of children and young adult library services. It takes a holistic look at the role of the youth services librarian from planning and evaluation to specific services and programs, and examines the current and future outlook for this type of librarianship. Emphasis is on the public library, but cooperation with appropriate services and programs such as school media centers is also discussed.

S573 Education of Information Users (3 cr.) Reviews important educational theories for application to secondary school, college, and university settings which provide training and education programs to teach students skills leading to information literacy. Standards from AASL and ACRL are applied to instructional design and practice including lecture, collaboration with faculty, and evaluation of online tutorials.

S574 Information Inquiry for School Teachers (3 cr.) This course is intended to be an opportunity for teachers and future teachers (including school library media specialists as teachers) to practice methods in critically thinking about information/media, and to use that process as a means to teach their students to be critical reviewers and communicators as well.

S580 History of Libraries (3 cr.) Development of libraries and information services from earliest times to the present, with emphasis on the library in relation to social, economic, cultural, and political trends.

S581 Archives and Records Management (3 cr.) Introduces basic theories, methods, and significant problems in archives and records management. The course also discusses how archivists are responding to the challenge of managing and preserving electronic records.

S582 Preservation (3 cr.) Examines causes of library and archival materials deterioration. Develops conceptual framework and management perspective for preservation programs using technical standards, program development tools, scientific and administrative research reports, and advocacy literature. Explores the new information technologies and media as both preservation tools and challenges.

S583 Rare Book Librarianship (3 cr.) P: Authorization required. Introduction to the development, organization, and operation of rare book libraries and special collections. Includes an overview of the fundamentals of book collecting, both private and institutional, the antiquarian book trade and auction market, and the profession and practice of rare book librarianship.

S584 Manuscripts (3 cr.) P: Authorization required. Introduction to the nature, functions, and methodology of the organization and administration of archives and manuscript collections. The course will consist of lectures, discussions, field trips, and special projects.

S601 Directed Readings (1-6 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Readings and study in any area of library or information science having an extensive literature. A student may enroll for this course twice in the same semester under different instructors. Normally S601 is completed under the direction of a full-time faculty member. Readings done under S601 shall not duplicate the content of any course now in the curriculum of the School of Library and Information Science.

S602 Directed Research (1-3 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Individual research in a problem in the field of library and information science.

S603 Workshop in Library and Information Science (1.5 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Group study of specific problems in the library and information field. Generally includes a hands- on element. No more than 6 hours of S603 credit may be used toward the requirements for any SLIS degree.

S604 Topics in Library and Information Science (1-4 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Study of specific topics in librarianship and information science. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

S605 Internship in Library and Information Science (2-6 cr.) P: permission of faculty advisor. Graded S/F. Supervised internship in an information management environment. Professionals in library and information management mentor each graduate student. Sixty on-site hours must be completed for each credit earned. Students document their experiences through journals, abstracts of related publications, and a final presentation. Normally, at least 18 credits must be completed before enrollment. Guidelines and placement sites are available on the SLIS Web site.

S621 Audio and Video Sources (3 cr.) or consent of instructor. User-focused approach to decision making in the digital audio and video information environment. Emphasizes collection development in support of user services, including access to remote collections and evaluation of multimedia materials and delivery mechanisms, and issues related to emerging technologies. Scope includes adult and young adult audiences.

S622 Resources and Services for People with Disabilities (3 cr.) P: S401, S501, or permission of instructor. Access to information is essential for sustained independence of people with disabilities. This course studies materials, services, and assistive technologies to support this access.

S623 Genealogy and Local History (3 cr.) P: S501 and S502. Focuses on developing collections and providing reference services in genealogy and local history.

S629 Topics in Information Sources and Services (3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to provide the opportunity for greater in-depth study of the information and literature sources related to area studies, specific academic disciplines, and/or specific library patron audiences. Examples include Slavic materials, Latin American bibliography, and international legal bibliography. Depending on the potential market, the demand for knowledge concerning the specific information, literature, and material, and the expertise of available faculty, there is a wide range of possible topics.

S631 Advanced Cataloging (3 cr.) P: S504. Provides extensive background in description and access for electronic and non-book resources.

S632 Technical Services (3 cr.) P: S551, S552 or S553. Principles of organization and function of library technical services, including acquisition, cataloging, serials, circulation. Special emphasis on research and development in library systems and technology. Includes file organization, documentation system development, analysis, and evaluation for manual, mechanical, and automated applications.

S633 Indexing (3 cr.) P: S504 or S515. Theoretical concepts of subject indexing and thesaurus construction for information retrieval. Examines alternative approaches to traditional indexing techniques. Evaluation and use of appropriate computer software.

S634 Metadata (3 cr.) P: S503 or S515. Metadata is essential in designing and developing effective knowledge systems; it facilitates resource discovery, database documentation, and recording digital documents’ textual and conceptual histories. This course introduces principles supporting the development and implementation of metadata schemes, focusing on issues of interoperability, internal and external standardization, and evaluation.

S635 Ontologies (3 cr.) P: S634 and authorization required. An ontology is a common semantic conceptualization of reality that is shared by members of a knowledge domain; it supports exchange of knowledge among participants. This course explores formal specifications for ontology construction among systems applications and software agents.

S636 Semantic Web (3 cr.) Explores the technologies of the semantic web by examining the application of technologies to WWW information delivery and the principles of formal logic and computation guiding their development.

S637 Information Visualization (3 cr.) Introduces information visualization, highlighting processes which produce effective visualizations. Topics include perceptual basis of information visualization, data analysis to extract relationships, and interaction techniques.

S640 Seminar in Intellectual Freedom (3 cr.) P: 9 cr. of SLIS graduate credit or permission of instructor. Beginning with a history of and alternative philosophical justifications for censorship, the student is introduced to constraints, obligations, and problems relating to intellectual freedom.

S641 Computer-Mediated Discourse Analysis (3 cr.) Computer-mediated discourse analysis (CMDA), applies theories from linguistic discourse analysis, pragmatics, ethnomethodology, and semiotics in the analysis of discourse-language and language use in computer-mediated communication. This course provides hands-on experience in applying empirical analytical methods, and in interpreting the results.

S642 Content Analysis for the Web P: S401. Application of Content Analysis methods to web documents, interactivity features, and links.

S643 The Information Industry (1-3 cr.) This course examines various aspects of the information industry: products, producers, suppliers, trends, and market opportunities. Focus varies with the topic; for example, structural market characteristics, or technical developments and their impact. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

S650 Library Philanthropy (3 cr.) Introduces the role of private giving in support of libraries. Examines personal and corporate philanthropy and their applicability in libraries and information centers.

S651 Art Librarianship (3 cr.) P: FINA A575 or consent of instructor. Academic art library administration, collection development, reference services, technical services operations, facilities, and slide and photograph/picture collections will be emphasized.

S652 Digital Libraries (3 cr.) P: S532 and authorization required. Examines the design and operation of digital libraries and related electronic publishing practices from a socio-technical perspective. Students develop understanding of major issues, concepts, and trends, enabling them to understand the socio- technical character of digital libraries that can and will be effectively supported and used by various groups.

S653 Health Sciences Librarianship (3 cr.) P or C: S501. Health sciences library administration, materials organization, and information services. Emphasis on National Library of Medicine classification, subject headings, printed indexes, and online databases.

S654 Law Librarianship (3 cr.) P: S501 or consent of instructor. An introduction to basic legal materials and law librarianship. Primary and secondary resources; indexes; digests and citators; specialized research methods; current developments in automated legal research. History of law libraries in the U.S., their organization and administration. The role of law librarians in law schools and law firms.

S655 Music Librarianship (3 cr.) P: MUS M539. Academic music library administration, collection development, technical services operations, record and performing ensemble collections, and reference services will be emphasized.

S656 Information Technology Standardization (3 cr.) P: S401. This course presents students with an opportunity to learn about specific information technology standards of interest to information professionals. Additionally, students will learn about various standardization activities and their impact in organizational settings.

S661 Concepts and Contemporary Issues in Human-Computer Interaction (3 cr.) Examines and assesses theoretical approaches developed specifically for understanding the use, informing the design, and assessing the value of information technologies. The course also considers contemporary issues surrounding the situated use of information technologies, such as emotional, embodiment, interpersonal, and social aspects of interaction.

S662 Interface Design for Collaborative Information Spaces (3 cr.) Provides an overview of two-dimensional and three- dimensional interface design. Topics covered include task and user analysis, interface goals and design methods, and empirical evaluation.

S671 School Media (3 cr.) P or C: S501 and S571, or consent of instructor. Establishes the professional teaching and administrative role of the certified school library media specialist in K-12 settings. Situations are examined that pertain specifically to policy development, budgeting, collection development, instructional design, support staff training, facility design, district supervision, and information networking within the modern school corporation. Students make site visits to leading school information centers, conferences, and media fairs.

S672 Seminar on Literature for Youth (3 cr.) P: S571 or consent of instructor. An advanced seminar, addressing such topics as: images of minority groups, societal problems (e.g., poverty and family patterns), or informational needs and materials including access and availability of print, nonprint, and computer resources. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

S680 The Book to 1450 (3 cr.) P: Authorization required. Covers the introduction and development of writing and the history of the manuscript and printed book, from their beginnings to approximately the year 1450. Although there will be some coverage of the non-Western book, the emphasis will be on the history of the book in the West.

S681 The Book 1450 to the Present (3 cr.) P: Authorization required. A survey of the book from 1450 to the present, with emphasis on the development of the book in the West. Focuses on the physical aspects of the book from the mid-fifteenth through the twentieth centuries, and on some of the many roles of the book in society during this period; also increases awareness of current scholarly trends in the history of the book.

S683 Reference Sources for Rare Books (3 cr.) P: S501 or S684. Introduces and evaluates reference sources that are useful in working with rare books in many fields.

S684 Descriptive Bibliography (3 cr.) P: Authorization required. The development of the practice of printing, typefounding, and papermaking; the principles and practice of the bibliographical description of printed books, with emphasis on the period to 1880.

S685 Electronic Records Management (3 cr.) Addresses the major issues and challenges facing the archival/records management professions in their quest to manage electronic records. Students will study and evaluate the impact automation has had on archival theory and practice, analyzing various models and strategies archivists have developed to manage electronic records.

S690 Information Architecture Capstone (3 cr.) The capstone course integrates within a single project the theoretical and practical components of the IA certificate program. Working with one of the program co-directors, who serves as the student’s project advisor, the student will determine both the scope and extent of the project. The student will publicly present and defend the capstone project upon completion.

The following courses at the 700 level are open only to doctoral students.

S701 Introduction to Doctoral Research in Library and Information Science (3 cr.) Role and function of research in society; history of library and information science scholarship; current need for research in LIS; critical analysis of present state of knowledge in the field; relevant research methodologies; barriers to individual initiatives in research.

S702 Doctoral Research Practicum I (2 cr.) P: S701. Student acquires practical hands-on experience with the research process through involvement in a SLIS faculty member’s research project.

S703 Doctoral Research Practicum II (2 cr.) P: S701, S702. Student acquires practical, hands-on experience with the research process through involvement in a SLIS faculty member’s research project. The S703 research project should differ substantially from the S702 project with which the student was involved.

S706 Introduction to Research (3 cr.) The research process, including concepts, design, conduct, and evaluation. Principles and characteristics of approaches and methodologies relevant to research in the field. Examples of data sources and introduction to methods of statistical description and analysis; ethical issues.

S710 Doctoral Research Practicum III (3 cr.) P: S701, S702, S703. The student applies methods of research under the supervision of a SLIS faculty member. The research project may originate with the student or may be one on which the faculty member seeks student assistance.

S763 Research Problems and Methods in Information Science (3 cr.)
P: consent of instructor. Study of current problems and methodological approaches in information science research.

S764 Seminar in Information Science (3 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Intensive study of selected topics.

S765 Doctoral Research in Information Science (1-6 cr.) Independent research or study. A student may enroll for this course more than once in one semester under different instructors.

S790 Dissertation Proposal in Information Science (3 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Doctoral students develop their plans for theses subject to criticism by other doctoral students and faculty.

S799 Ph.D. Thesis (arr. cr.) P: Must have been admitted to candidacy. See advisor for more information.

S999 (1 cr.)

G901 Advanced Research (6 cr.) P: Must have 90 credit hours. Please see advisor for more information on Advanced Research.

Return to Top