The Department of Information Science prepares graduates for significant roles in the information age. The department offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science, the Master of Science, the post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Study, and the Doctor of Philosophy, as well as graduate-level certification in school librarianship.
The department’s mission is to provide resources, research and service for education; provide leadership to the library and information community; and prepare information professionals of the highest quality to serve the state, the region and the global community. The department also conducts relevant basic and applied research, engages in instructional development and provides professional expertise and service to the department's constituent communities. We believe in the importance of teaching, supported by intellectual contributions and service.
The goals of the department are to:
- prepare information professionals who demonstrate excellence in leadership, service, research and education in a technology-driven environment;
- advance and contribute to leading-edge research and scholarship;
- contribute to professional, academic, and public interests through consulting, continuing education and leadership; and
- provide high quality distributed learning opportunities while maintaining a high-quality residential experience.
Undergraduate Programs
The bachelor’s degree, emphasizing general educational preparation, represents a first step in preparing students for careers as information professionals. By combining a major in information science with an area of special interest in the context of new information technologies, students may be qualified for a variety of positions in information centers, bibliographic utilities and networks, information industry companies, and specialized publishing, abstracting and indexing services.
Students intent upon careers as information professionals should be prepared to undertake an additional year of study to earn the master’s degree. It is the master’s degree that is recognized as the basic professional degree and that is normally required for professional positions and continuing advancement in the field. The master’s degree may be completed on a part-time basis, during which students may be employed in paraprofessional or other positions.
Graduate Programs
The department offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science with majors in information science and library science. In addition, the department administers a doctoral program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy with a major in information science.
Certificate Programs
The department offers a certificate (non-degree) program in advanced study, and graduate academic certificates in youth services in libraries and information settings, storytelling, advanced management in libraries and information agencies, archival management, digital content management, digital curation and data management, leadership in professional development in technology for schools, and rural library management.
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, public and school 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.
Students may study full-time or part-time. They may begin their course of study in the fall, spring or summer term/semester.
The department’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 states who pursue studies on campus.
The Master of Science degree program is accredited by the American Library Association [50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611; (800) 545-2433].