Program Overview

Information Science and Library Science Combined Degrees

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) in Information Science and Library Science is a combined degree program that prepares students for a career at the intersection of information, people, and technology.

Program Type

• Major: Information Science
• Grad Track: Yes
• Format: On Campus, Online, Hybrid
• Est. time to complete: 5-6 years
• Credit Hours: 156

Program Description

The program rests on a broad conceptual framework that explores the nature of information, its organization and retrieval, and its access and use from the user's viewpoint. In addition, the program prepares individuals who wish to pursue doctoral studies in information science theory, research, and practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Information Science program at the University of North Texas
• Master of Science in Library Science program (ALA-accredited)

Concentrations

• Archival Studies and Imaging Technology
• Information Organization
• Knowledge Management
• Law Librarianship and Legal Informatics
• Music Librarianship
• Youth Librarianship

Marketable Skills

• Information analysis
• Project management
• Database design and application development
• Information architecture and website design
• Oral and written communication
• Information resource management
• Information access and services
• Information organization, cataloging, and classification
• Curation and preservation
• Information behavior and systems

Program Highlights

• Special lectures hosted by the college and the department feature renowned scholars who provide different perspectives and insights into the information science field.
• Our students and faculty are active members of different professional associations and learned societies.
• The Department of Information Science provides limited travel support to select students who are in good academic standing.
• The Master of Science in Library Science is ranked 20th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.
• The Health Informatics program is ranked sixth in the nation.

Career Opportunities

• Reference librarian
• Technical services librarian
• Youth and children's librarian
• Museum/archive curator
• Special collections librarian
• Electronic resources librarian
• Cataloging/metadata librarian
• Instructional services librarian
• Law/legal librarian
• Institutional repository /digital collection manager
• Data curation specialist

Sample Courses

Information Access and Knowledge Inquiry (3 hrs)

Epistemological foundations of information use. Basic principles and techniques of information access and knowledge inquiry. Survey of research in information seeking behavior and user interaction. Introduction to systems of access, search, retrieval, and navigation, as well as reference collection management and services. Study of evaluation methods for resources in all formats, services and user satisfaction.

Information Organization (3 hrs)

Principles, concepts and practices of information organization and presentation. Concepts and problems of human information behavior, classification and categorization related to information organization. Database technology, structure and design. Standards for information organization, data representation and information exchange. Systems for organizing information and facilitating information access in various information use environments.

Economics of Information (3 hrs)

Information as an economic good and resource. Equity and distribution of information as public good and as a commodity. Economics of the information industry. Supply and demand of information and its pricing. Micro- and macro-economic information indication and studies in national economics.

Digital Citizenship (3 hrs)

Investigates best practices for the use of technology in schools and libraries. The nine elements of digital citizenship are examined extensively: digital access, digital commerce, digital communication, digital literacy, digital etiquette, digital law, digital rights and responsibilities, digital health and wellness, and digital security.

Storytelling for Information Professionals (3 hrs)

Storytelling ethnography, history, theory, methods and bibliographic resources. Story research, analysis, selection, adaptation and preparation. Oral performance development and audience dynamics. Program planning, implementation, evaluation and grant writing for schools, libraries or other information settings.

Information and Knowledge Professions (3 hrs)

History, roles and scope of the information and knowledge professions. Basic concepts and issues including impact of information technology on the individual, intellectual freedom, privacy and diversity. Legal and ethical aspects of managing information and knowledge organizations. Course activities emphasize team building and leadership skills.