Main Office
Information Sciences Building, 205
P.O. Box 311068
Denton, TX 76203-1068
(940) 565-2445
Fax (940) 565-3101
E-mail: slis@unt.edu
Herman L. Totten, Associate Dean
Graduate Faculty: Carroll, Chandler, A. Cleveland, D. Cleveland, Corbin, Hastings, Magrill, Moen, Murphy, Rorvig, Schamber, Spink, Stein, Totten, Turner.
The School of Library and Information Sciences prepares graduates for significant roles in the information age. The school's mission is to provide resources for growth and leadership to the library and information community and to prepare information professionals of the highest quality to serve the North Texas area, the state, the region and the nation.
The specific goals of the school are:
The school offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees:
The Master of Science degree program is accredited by the American Library Association.
In addition, the school participates in an interdisciplinary doctoral program leading to the following degree:
The degree is offered through the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.
Also available are a special certificate in school librarianship and learning resources, and the post-master's Certificate of Advanced Study.
The school also offers the following degree:
Graduates are prepared for diverse professional positions in both the public and private sectors and practice in a variety of libraries and information service agencies, including academic and public libraries, information analysis centers and information utilities.
Students may take elective courses in library and information science, or they may complete minor programs of study at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Students who are not pursuing degree programs may enroll for individual courses, workshops, seminars and institutes with non-degree status. (For undergraduate programs, see the Undergraduate Catalog.)
Graduate students may study full-time or part-time. They may begin their course of study in the fall, spring or summer term.
Prospective applicants for admission should contact the School of Library and Information Sciences office, as well as the School of Graduate Studies, to receive application forms and current information on the school's programs.
The school's graduate degree programs are available through the Academic Common Market at in-state tuition rates for qualified out-of-state students in the southeastern and southwestern states.
Faculty pursue research in diverse areas of the library and information science fields, including the
implementation and management of automated library systems; microcomputer-based information systems;
computer-assisted instruction in information studies and on-line searching; the use of technical report literature by
scientists and engineers; competency-based learning in the information professions; information access for the aging
and physically handicapped; the relationship of cognitive learning style patterns to information processing;
informa
tion resources and services relating to principal minority groups (African American, Hispanic, Native
American); information resources and services in business and biomedical fields; management of the acquisitions process
and collection development; computer-based bibliographic networks and on-line information services;
computerized indexing and abstracting methods; microcomputer applications in libraries and records management;
technical services and bibliographic control; and evaluation of information services and user needs.
Topics of recently completed studies in the school include bibliographic instruction methods in CD-ROM databases; relationship of product characteristics to sales success of non-theatrical film and video works; factors related to participation of school library media centers in multitype cooperation; variables affecting student use of academic libraries; differences in public library usage patterns between gifted adults and the general public; job satisfaction and psychological needs satisfaction of school library media specialists; factors affecting attitudes toward the role of the library media specialist in the overall elementary school program; effect of increased equipment speed on on-line database searching practices; core collections in nursing school libraries; management factors associated with the effectiveness of school library media programs; the use of executive decision support systems in university administration; and an expert system approach to evaluation of hypertext engineering.
Topics currently under investigation by doctoral students and faculty include expert systems in libraries, decision factors in selecting on-line search products, MARC records enhancement and CD-ROM evaluation.
Faculty members have published the results of their research in a variety of national and international journals, including Journal of the Society for Accelerative Learning, Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Library Resources and Technical Services, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Information Technology in Libraries, The Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, The Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science, The Journal of Technical Writing and Communications, The Journal of the Society for Technical Communications, Serials Librarian, College and Research Libraries, RQ, Journal of Library Administration, International Library Review, Special Libraries, Journal of Library History, Library Quarterly, Catholic Library World, Collection Management, C & RL News, and School Library Media Quarterly.
The Center for the Study of Cognitive Styles and Informatics pursues research leading to the design of more intelligent systems of information storage and retrieval. The center undertakes research on both cognitive learning styles and informatics. Cognitive style research explores differences in the ways users access data, while informatics research focuses on machine representation of knowledge and the person/machine interface.
The master's degree program provides the basic graduate preparation required for the first professional degree. The Master of Science is one of the 58 degree programs in the United States and Canada that are accredited by the American Library Association.
The master's degree is offered through both on-campus and distance education degree programs. The current distance education sites are Texas Tech University in Lubbock and the University of Houston. The on-campus and distance education degree programs are governed by the same policies and procedures for admission, retention and graduation. The programs are supervised by the dean of the school with central coordination under the provost and vice president for academic affairs. The programs function under the same governance structures for ensuring that curriculum and instructional mechanisms are in keeping with the mission and educational outcomes of the school. All policies and procedures related to admission, satisfactory academic progress, courses of study for degree requirements, course objectives, and grading criteria for courses are clearly stated and published as appropriate in the school's bulletin, student handbook, course outlines, or printed program guides.
The master's program prepares information professionals for work in a variety of roles and application settings, including various information agencies and all types of libraries. In addition, the program prepares at a master's level individuals who wish to pursue study in the theoretical development of information science.
To provide this education, the program rests on a broad conceptual framework that is covered in the core courses, and the program is elaborated in courses that educate information professionals for a number of different client settings. The unique nature of this program, and what sets it apart from other programs in the university that may deal in some way with the topic of information, is the approach to the study of information, its behavior and its use from the point of view of the user.
At the completion of the master's program, graduates will be able to:
1. recognize the role of information and its provision and dissemination in a multicultural, multiethnic, multilingual, technological and global society;
2. understand human information behavior and design and implement information systems that meet user needs;
3. understand the principles, analyze the problems, and design and implement practices related to recordable information, including its creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization, description, storage, retrieval, preservation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination and management;
4. demonstrate additional knowledge and competencies appropriate to their individual interests, specializations and career goals;
5. appreciate the role and importance of research in the field;
6. relate the methodologies and content of other disciplines to the information field and understand the contribution of the information field to other disciplines;
7. manifest a commitment to the philosophy, principles, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the field; and
8. understand the importance of professional development, continuing education and participation in professional organizations.
Applicants for admission to degree status and candidacy in the master's program must meet the following requirements:
1. a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution that includes a strong concentration in at least one area;
2. an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.8 (4.0 scale) on prior academic work (special consideration is given to the student's grade point average in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and to the average earned in any post-baccalaureate study completed by the applicant);
3. a score of at least 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative or verbal and analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (a minimum of 400 must also be earned on both the verbal and quantitative scores or on both the verbal and analytical scores; applicants will be considered for regular admission only if satisfactory GRE scores are on file at the time the admission application is considered by the school);
4. three satisfactory letters of recommendation from former professors, employers or others who can give evidence of personal aptitude for, as well as interest in, a career in the information field; and
5. a personal statement of career objectives providing additional information concerning motivation for professional service and areas of special interest.
Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English is expected of all students; if English is not a native language, a satisfactory score of at least 550 is required on the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Applicants meeting the stated minimum grade point average and Graduate Record Examination scores are not guaranteed admission. Should additional information be needed to evaluate the admissibility of an applicant, an interview may be required. All prospective students are invited to visit the campus and the school and are encouraged to schedule an appointment to meet with a member of the faculty.
In exceptional cases, applicants who are judged by the faculty to show promise for successful graduate study may be granted provisional admission, even though they do not meet all admission requirements.
Students may enter the master's degree program in the fall, spring or summer term. Applicants should complete the requirements listed below and meet the admission deadlines listed in the Calendar section of this catalog.
1. Obtain admission to the university and the School of Graduate Studies by filing the following items with the School of Graduate Studies:
a. complete official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended;b. application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies;
c. official scores on the Graduate Record Examination;
d. the application fee; and
e. any other forms or materials required by the School of Graduate Studies.
School of Graduate Studies application forms, instructions and other materials should be requested from the dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
2. File with the School of Library and Information Sciences the following items:
a. application for admission to the School of Library and Information Sciences; andb. three letters of recommendation.
School of Library and Information Sciences application and recommendation forms should be requested from the dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences.
Students may pursue degree concentrations in library science or information science. The program may be completed in one calendar year of full-time study, although many students extend their work over a longer period.
Students in all graduate programs are required to demonstrate general computer proficiency before graduation. This requirement, which should be met before the end of the first 12 hours of credit, may be satisfied by taking SLIS 5710, Information Technology, by passing a computer proficiency examination designed by the school or through faculty approval of prior course work or experience. This proficiency will include knowledge of computing terminology and concepts, as well as minimal competency in the use of specific types of applications software.
Master's students also must present evidence of relevant experience by meeting a field experience requirement. This requirement may be satisfied through appropriate prior experience as approved by the faculty or through a practicum or internship. Students without prior experience must take SLIS 5090, Practicum and Field Study.
Further information concerning these requirements may be obtained through the school.
Neither SLIS 5710 nor SLIS 5090 counts toward fulfilling the 36 hours of graduate credit required for the degree.
Up to 9 hours may be approved for transfer credit (transfer credits must be from another ALA-accredited program at a grade of B or higher). At least 27 hours must be completed within the school. Correspondence course credits and credits by examination are not allowed.
Students must complete all planned course work with an average grade of B (3.0) or better, pass a final written comprehensive examination and file an application for the degree.
Students must earn a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit, including 18 hours of required courses in the school or their equivalents (only 6 hours of core courses may be transferred).
At least 18 additional hours of other course work, planned in consultation with a faculty adviser, are required. Courses selected will depend upon career objectives, interests and previous experience. Up to 6 hours may be taken in other disciplines at UNT, when such courses are related to the student's course of study, on the recommendation of the adviser and approval of the dean.
Students may choose a concentration in either library science or information science. All course selections must be made under the guidance of a student's faculty adviser and approved by the associate dean.
Elective courses beyond the 18 hours of required core courses are determined in consultation with the student's faculty adviser.
Students may elect to focus in a variety of specialization areas.
The School of Graduate Studies requires that master's students make satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements to remain in good standing within a specific degree program. Students whose progress is unsatisfactory may be removed from the program.
Within the School of Library and Information Sciences, satisfactory progress toward the master's degree is defined as maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B).
Should the academic performance fall below a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all work attempted, the student will be placed on academic probation and will be so notified by the School of Graduate Studies. The student will be allowed to register for courses in subsequent semesters, so long as a minimum 3.0 GPA is achieved on all graduate work attempted during any given semester, even though the overall GPA is below 3.0. Such students will remain on probation until the GPA is 3.0 or higher on all graduate work taken.
If a student on probation does not achieve a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher in graduate courses taken in a semester (fall, spring or summer terms), the student will be placed on academic suspension for one semester (fall, spring or summer) and will be so notified by the School of Graduate Studies. Any student on suspension who enrolls in courses will be administratively withdrawn.
Any student on probation who has previously been placed on suspension and fails to make a GPA of 3.0 or higher on all graduate work taken during a semester (fall, spring or summer) will be withdrawn from the master's program and will be so notified by the School of Graduate Studies. A student who has been withdrawn may reapply for the master's degree program three years after the date of withdrawal.
Any student receiving grades below C in more than two courses (6 hours) will be dropped from the program. A course in which a grade of C or less has been earned may be repeated one time only to earn a grade of B or more.
The School of Library and Information Sciences offers joint master's degrees with the Department of History; a Master of Science with an emphasis in library science and a Master of Science in history with an emphasis in applied history. Each is a 36-hour degree, but the two together require a total of 60 hours. Six hours of history and 30 hours of library and information science are included in the master's degree program in the School of Library and Information Sciences; 12 hours of library and information science courses, 15 hours of applied history (exclusive of the 6 hours of history included in the other master's degree) and 9 hours of traditional history are included in the master's degree in the Department of History.
The school participates in an interdisciplinary PhD program in information science administered through the School of Graduate Studies. The multifaceted nature of information requires the focusing of a multitude of resources from a number of academic disciplines, including business computer information systems, communication, computer education and cognitive systems, and computer science, as well as information science.
The program emphasizes the interrelationship of the economic, social, cultural and technological aspects of an evolving information society. The goal is to unify knowledge systems, problem-solving approaches and research methodologies regardless of their disciplinary roots, and to produce graduates who will be leaders in the information age.
The mission of the interdisciplinary doctoral program is to provide a center of excellence in graduate education and research in three related areas.
For a complete program description, see the program listing under the School of Graduate Studies.
The post-master's (sixth-year) program leading to a Certificate of Advanced Study is offered for those
who seek further specialization in a particular aspect of library or information science. Those entering the
program prepare for a level of competency beyond that provided by the master's degree. The program enables the
profes
sional to satisfy continuing education goals or requirements and enables individuals to update their knowledge
and skills in the field of library or information science.
Admission requirements include those specified for the master's program. In evaluating applications, consideration is given to prior study and academic record, Graduate Record Examination aptitude scores, letters of recommendation, and career interests and objectives, as well as any prior professional experience. A satisfactory interview with members of the school's advanced studies committee or with a representative of the school as designated by the dean also is required normally either before or at the time of first enrollment for course work.
The program may be completed in two semesters of full-time study or extended over a longer period.
The student must earn a minimum of 24 to 30 hours of graduate credit, which may include up to 12 hours in other disciplines, chosen or specified according to prior study and individual interests and objectives. Transfer credit may be approved for 3 to 6 hours, and at least 12 to 15 hours must be completed within the school.
The program of study, which is tailored to individual needs, must be planned with a faculty adviser and approved in advance by the dean of the school. No comprehensive examination or special research requirements are specified. Students must be admitted to candidacy to continue beyond 12 hours. Students must complete all planned course work with an average grade of B or better, and then file an application for the certificate.
Students who hold or obtain a valid Texas teaching certificate may qualify for an all-level learning resources endorsement (for positions in school libraries and learning resources centers) by completing a program of 24 semester hours (which also may be applied to the master's degree, excluding practicum) and by subsequently passing the appropriate state competency examination.
The program, which must be planned under advisement and be approved by the School of Library and Information Sciences and by the Certification Office of the College of Education, normally includes SLIS 5090, 5210, 5340, 5400, 5420, 5430, 5600 and 5720 (or their equivalents) with some substitution possible depending on prior study and experience.
At least 12 of the required hours must be completed at UNT, and all the required hours must be eligible for master's degree credit at UNT.
Students who meet the above requirements may pursue additional hours of study to qualify for the professional certificate for learning resources specialists. Candidates for this certificate normally will complete the requirements for a master's degree plus additional hours. Those interested in the professional certificate or other certification in this area should contact the school for advisement.
Students who plan to specialize in health sciences informatics normally will include in the program of study the SLIS core courses, SLIS 5205, Information Indexing, Abstracting and Retrieval; SLIS 5365, Health Sciences Information Management; SLIS 5615, Electronic Databases and Information Services; and SLIS 5637, Medical Informatics.
In addition, students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship in a biomedical environment.
For further information about any degree or certificate program, write or call the School of Library and Information Sciences. Personal interviews and counseling may be arranged through the school office.
The School of Library and Information Sciences does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of its programs and activities, as specified by federal laws and regulations. Copies of the school's ADA compliance policy are available in the school office. Problems may be reported to the school's ADA liaison, Information Sciences Building, Room 205; (940) 565-2445.
UNT Undergraduate Catalog Table of Contents
UNT Graduate Catalog Table of Contents
UNT Undergraduate Catalog Course and Subject Guide
UNT Graduate Catalog Course and Subject Guide