Program Overview

Graduate Certificate in Archives and Special Collections

The Graduate Certificate in Archives and Special Collections is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the theory and practice of archival work. The program requires students to complete 18 credit hours of work, including five required courses, one required elective, and a Certificate Capstone Paper.

Required Courses

• LIS 646: Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice (3 credits)
• LIS 647: Introduction to Archival Organization (3 credits)
• LIS 648: Archival Practicum (3 credits)
• LIS 645: Digital Preservation (3 credits) or LIS 649: Preservation of Documentary Materials (3 credits)
• LIS 652: Metadata for Digital Collections (3 credits)

Electives

• LIS 506: Cataloging Multimedia Objects (3 credits)
• LIS 533: History of the Book (3 credits)
• LIS 580: British Studies (3 credits)
• LIS 631: History of Libraries and Librarianship (3 credits)
• LIS 634: History of Children's Literature (3 credits)
• LIS 642: Special Libraries (3 credits)
• LIS 649: Preservation of Documentary Material (3 credits)
• LIS 650: Museums as Information Centers (3 credits)
• LIS 657: Introduction to Museum Operations (3 credits)
• LIS 658: Museums Today (3 credits)
• LIS 692: Special Problems (on an approved archival topic) (3 credits)
• HUM 502: Digital Humanities (3 credits)

Certificate Capstone Paper

Students must complete a 2500- to 4500-word research paper on an approved topic related to archives or special collections.

Course Descriptions

LIS 506 – Cataloging Multimedia Objects

This course provides a better understanding of organizing and cataloging resources of various formats in the electronic era. Students will have opportunities to theorize best practices and perform cataloging skills on unique resources existing in libraries, museums, and archives.

LIS 533 – History of the Book

This course introduces students to general book history as well as bibliography and the nature of rare book collections. Beginning with an overview of the book in ancient times, the course places an increasing emphasis on the development of books in western culture.

LIS 580 & 587 – British Studies

LIS 580 – British Libraries, Archives, and Special Collections: Comparative or historical studies of library and information institutions, collections, models of service, or professional practice in the United Kingdom. LIS 587 – Research: To provide the opportunity for in-depth research projects using the resources of metropolitan London and/or the United Kingdom.

LIS 631 – History of Libraries and Librarianship

This course examines the history and development of public, academic, and school libraries from ancient times to the present, with an emphasis on changing social, economic, cultural, and technological landscapes.

LIS 634 – History of Children's Literature

Traces the development of children's literature in England and the United States to the early 20th century.

LIS 645 – Digital Preservation

This course offers a comprehensive overview of digital collections from the conceptual understandings to critical issues of planning, developing, and managing digital collections at libraries, museums, and archives.

LIS 646 – Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice

This introductory course provides a broad introduction to the theory and practice of archival work, from the history of the profession and the types and varieties of archival repositories to the role and value of archives, archivists, and special collections curators in the information age.

LIS 647 – Introduction to Archival Organization

This introductory course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to the arrangement and description of archival materials and collections, from the initial processing of new acquisitions to the completion of print and online finding aids.

LIS 648 – Archival Practicum

Students gain practical, hands-on experience at an archival or special collections repository through the application of theories, ethics, principles, and skills learned in archives courses.

LIS 652 – Metadata for Digital Collections

This course provides an overview of metadata as it applies to resources at libraries, archives, and museums in the digital environment. Principles and practices are focused on best practices, interoperability, and quality control of metadata.

LIS 692 – Special Problems

An independent study course of genealogy research or a special problem study to be approved by the director.