Course Descriptions and Syllabi

Core Courses 

203 Information Organization 
Theories, systems, and practices of information organization. Emphasis is on understanding the basic function of library catalogs, indexes, metadata, finding aids and internet search engines. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus 

204 Introduction to Library & Information Science 
A survey of the field including theory and practice, historical trends/developments, computer-based and other information systems and societal concerns. Must be taken as one of the first two courses. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus 

205 Information Sources & Services 
Scope, organization and evaluation of reference sources and services, with emphasis on information use and retrieval in a virtual environment and contemporary models of service delivery. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

239 Research & Evaluation Methods 
Social science research methods applicable to program evaluation and library and information science research; topics include research ethics, research design, literature reviews, data analysis, and reporting research to general and specialized users. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

240 Management of Libraries & Information Centers 
Leadership and management principles relating to the operation of libraries and other information enterprises. Leading, planning, evaluating, staffing, housing, equipping, and financing. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

Electives 

121 Literature & Related Resources for Children 
A survey of books and other materials for children, with emphasis on selection criteria, developing evaluation skills, familiarity with award-winning titles and book presentation. Requires fieldwork. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

125 Library Materials & Services for Young Children 
Materials and services for the young child (infant through preschool). Theories underlying services. Selection, analysis and presentation of books, and other appropriate materials. Requires fieldwork. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

126 Literature & Related Resources for Young Adults 
A survey of books and other materials for young adults, with emphasis on selection criteria, developing evaluation skills, familiarity with award-winning titles and book presentation. Requires fieldwork. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

127 Library Services for Children & Young Adults 
Serving children in the public library, with emphasis on user needs, storytelling and book talk skills, programming, information services, policies and guidelines, and maintaining collections. Requires fieldwork. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

211 Collection Development & Management of Knowledge Resources 
Philosophy and methods of managing collections in physical and virtual libraries, with emphasis on assessing and meeting information needs. May include service learning requirement. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

213 Popular Culture & the Young Adult 
An exploration of contemporary, popular entertainment media oriented toward and accepted by adolescents, with emphasis on film, television, music, magazines, and the Internet. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

214 Teen Spaces 
This course is designed to introduce library students to the built environment by exploring the relationship between humans and the spaces they inhabit.
Credit: 3 Semester hours. Syllabus

221 Planning and Delivering Information Literacy Programs 
Theory and practice of user education with emphasis on developing information literacy programs. Standards, guidelines, instructional models, effective pedagogical techniques, collaboration and assessment. Planning, delivering and evaluation of instruction. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

222 Materials & Services to Diverse Populations 
Information needs of diverse populations, including the aged, illiterate, individuals with disabilities, and racial, ethnic, and linguistic minorities. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

230 Introduction to Digital Libraries 
The contextual framework for digital libraries including the creation, structure, access and use of digital information. Analysis of digital library projects. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

231 College & University Libraries 
Academic library administration, planning, staffing, and evaluation. The history of higher education and the college library in the U.S. The impact of demographic and social changes on the provision of service. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

232 Special Libraries & Information Centers 
The goals, organization, operation, environment, and functions, and services of special libraries and information centers; collection issues, user services, management, and marketing. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

233 Public Libraries & Community Information Centers 
The objectives, organization, and services of the contemporary public library, including the ways in which they serve diverse communities and reach underserved populations. Field trips may be required. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

237 Metadata for Information Professionals 
Metadata applications in a variety of information environments, libraries, archives, museums and information centers. Major metadata schemes, encoding standards, and structures. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

238 Web Design for Libraries & Information Centers 
An information architecture approach to the design of web sites for large enterprises. Topics include information content, organization, labeling, navigation, searching, usability, and accessibility. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

245 Special Collections Librarianship & History of the Books: Principles and Practices 
The organization, administration, service, and care of special collections, with an emphasis on rare books. The history of books and printing, non-book formats, donor relations and collecting, conservation and preservation, ethics, access, security, exhibitions and digitization. Requires fieldwork. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

248 Database Modeling & Design 
The fundamental concepts and issues of database management systems. Topics include entity and relationship modeling, SQL, relational database design, data integrity, and XML. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

249 Archives and Records Management 
Management of archives and manuscript repositories, including basic functions and skills required of an archivist or curator of manuscripts as well as current issues and topics. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

253 Oral History 
Introduction to the theory and practice of oral history. Major topics include the ideological content of speech and storytelling, the role of class and ethnicity, the ethics of scholarly intrusion, and the use of technology. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

257 Archival Representation 
Prerequisite: LIS 249. This course covers the history and principles of archival materials and examines the administrative decisions entailed in the management of an archival institution’s representation program. 
Credit: 3 Semester hours. Syllabus

258 Museum Informatics 
This course introduces how technical innovations influence the social world of museums by exploring information technology and modern information systems in museum environment. 
Credit: 3 Semester hours. Syllabus Spring 2021 Syllabus

260 Information Use and Users 
Survey/seminar on how LIS practitioners and researchers seek to understand user information needs/behaviors. Emphasis on theories of user needs and information use. Populations include children, business managers, attorneys, scientists, university students, general researchers and consumers. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

261 Information Sources and Services for Children & Young Adults 
Non-fiction and reference sources and services in school and public libraries as they relate to curriculum support and information literacy. Focus on the child as reference interview participant/learner. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

262 Project Management in Information Organizations 
This course provides students with an overview of project management and guides them through many of the project management tools and skills required in information organizations. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

263 Marketing and Advocacy in Information Organizations 
This course prepares students to design, implement, and evaluate marketing, communications, and advocacy plans to improve service experiences of information users. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

269 Internship 
Prerequisites: All required courses and preferably all the courses in the specialization. A supervised professional experience combining theory and practice in a library or information center. Meetings and reports are required; may be taken for a total 
Credit: 0 or 3 semester hours. More information

270 Colloquia 
Current issues and trends in library and information science as well as other topics of current interest are presented by prominent outside speakers, alumni, and members of the faculty. No credit. 

271 Special Topics in Library & Information Science 
A special topic on an issue not normally covered in the M.S. curriculum will be examined in-depth. The format will depend upon the topic to be covered. Offered occasionally. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Grantsmanship Syllabus

273 Graphic Novels and Libraries 
This graphic novels and libraries course includes: a brief history of the medium, an introduction to comics
theory, and how librarians are using graphic novels.
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

274 Library Design 
This course addresses why an interior or architectural design program is important and how the
library staff is involved in the planning and design process.
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

275 Cultural Competence for Information Professionals 
This course prepares information professionals to work effectively by learning and applying cultural competence knowledge, skills, and practices required in a culturally diverse environment. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

281 Competitive Intelligence 
Monitoring the external environment to obtain and use primary and secondary information that is relevant for the institutional decision-making process. Identification, selection, collection, interpretation and distribution of information with strategic implications. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

282 Knowledge Management 
The process and practice of facilitating the operation, sharing, acquisition and application of knowledge in an organization; dissemination according to needs and preferences of stakeholders. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

283 Social Justice in the Information Professions 
Topics focus on the relationship between information access and human development. Emphasis placed on critically examining information policies and services (i.e., reference, cataloging, collection development, information access, user studies, e-citizenship, evaluation) in light of relevant elements of the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations, 1948), multiple social justice theories, and social activism trends in the information professions. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

302 Genealogical Sources & Services 
The course will enable students to conduct and assist with family history research using a wide variety of genealogical resources. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

310 Fundamentals of Data Curation
This course introduces students to the field of data curation, which is the active, ongoing management of data throughout its life cycle from creation to archiving to deletion. This process involves data analysis, accessibility and reliable retrieval for research purposes.  
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

311 Records & Information Management (RIM)
Students will learn the management of information throughout its life cycle, from the time of creation or receipt to its eventual disposition.  
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

314 Archival Appraisal and Management
Students will investigate the theories, techniques, and methods that archivists use to identify documents of enduring value for long-term preservation.
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

315 Data Preservation and Access
Course acquaints students with best practices in digital preservation. Students explore current issues LAM professionals confront within relevant organizations.
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

316 Developing an Information Governance Strategy
This course prepares students to analyze the stakeholders, standards, processes, technologies, methods, and tools required to develop an effective information governance strategy.
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

320 Fake News and Misinformation
To empower students with the necessary skills, strategies, and resources to address fake news and misinformation, and their implications for public health, civic engagement, and people’s overall well-being.
Credit: 3 semester hours. Syllabus

901, 902 Special Research & Projects I & II 
The formal presentation of a research paper or project (survey, history, bibliographic essay, etc.) resulting from an investigation of a problem of under the direction of a member of the faculty. 
Credit: 3 semester hours. 

925 Maintaining Matriculation 
Master’s students who are not registered for other courses must register for 925 until degree requirements are completed and the degree is granted. No credit. Fee: $100 

105 Comprehensive Portfolio 
Students are required to submit an e-Portfolio as an end of program assessment in either the last semester of coursework or the semester immediately following. No credit. 


Updated March 2023 -MC