Program Overview

Medical Librarianship - Graduate Certificate

Overview

The Medical Librarianship graduate certificate prepares students to work in medical and health sciences libraries; in the community; and as part of a health system, hospital, clinician office, academic center, government research agency or medical specialty organization. Students in the certificate have the option to intern at a medical library, which will allow them to apply their skills and knowledge, as well as to observe the typical daily activities and requirements of medical librarians.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree in library and information science or equivalent American Library Association-accredited master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

Application Deadline

• Fall Semester: April 15
• Spring Semester: November 15
• Summer Term: March 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Coursework

Certificate Requirements

• HI 60419: Consumer Health Informatics (3 credits)
• LIS 60620: Health Information Resources (3 credits)
• LIS 60671: Introduction to Cataloging Principles and Practices in Medical Libraries (1 credit)
• LIS 60672: Reference Sources and Services in Medical Libraries (1 credit)
• LIS 60673: Medical Library Management and Culture (1 credit)
• Certificate Elective (choose one):
  • HI 60401: Health Informatics Management
  • HI 60411: Clinical Analytics
  • HI 60636: Standardized Terminologies in Healthcare
  • LIS 60401: Leadership in Libraries and Information Centers
  • LIS 60602: Resource Description and Access
  • LIS 60603: Subject Analysis, Representation and Access
  • LIS 60613: Information Needs, Seeking and Use
  • LIS 60614: Collection Management in Libraries
  • LIS 60616: The Special Library
  • LIS 60649: Indexing and Abstracting
  • LIS 60655: Copyright: Understanding User Rights and Responsibilities
  • LIS 60669: Information Services for Diverse Populations
  • LIS 60692: Internship in Information and Cultural Heritage Institutions
  • LIS 61096: Individual Investigation

Minimum Total Credit Hours: 12

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Certificate GPA: 3.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Articulate and apply the principles of resource description, subject analysis, medical descriptors and qualifiers and cataloging management principles with medical resources in the medical library.
2. Describe and perform a medical reference interview and conduct information searching with evidence-based medicine principles and resources.
3. Describe information seeking behavior patterns and identify information needs for various user groups in medical libraries.
4. Apply knowledge of management, budgeting and advocacy in medical libraries.
5. Identify the ethical and legal considerations for health information professionals as it relates to HIPAA and the role of the health information professional.
6. Outline how health information literacy, patient-centered health and wellness information sources and practices can affect health care consumers in the community.

Full Description

The Medical Librarianship graduate certificate prepares students to work in medical and health sciences libraries; in the community; and as part of a health system, hospital, clinician office, academic center, government research agency or medical specialty organization. Students in the certificate have the option to intern at a medical library, which will allow them to apply their skills and knowledge, as well as to observe the typical daily activities and requirements of medical librarians.

Why Kent State University

Graduate Aid and Assistantships

Each year, the College of Communication and Information provides support for our new and continuing graduate students. All applicants are considered when they apply.

Explore Our Research

Our faculty are leaders in the fields of information science, user experience design, health informatics and knowledge management.

Top 25 Ranking

U.S. News & World Report ranks Kent State University in the top 20 Best Library and Information Studies Programs in the country in its 2022 edition of Best Graduate Schools. Kent State is the only Ohio institution included in this ranking.