Throughout my time in the Kent State University MLIS program, I focused mainly on taking courses within the Museum Studies pathway in the Cultural Heritage Informatics & Stewardship cluster area. Since my ultimate goal is to become a museum registrar or library cataloger and help manage collections, I also pursued a secondary focus on information organization and took courses within the Information and Knowledge Organization cluster area that were related to general collection management, cataloging, metadata, and museum documentation/cultural object cataloging.
For more information on my areas of specialization within the MLIS program, please see the Specializations page.
Exploration of the nature of information and technology in information-intensive environments. Topics to be addressed include information lifecycle processes such as production, storage, sharing, and consumption; social, cultural, economic, legal, and technological contexts for understanding information processes; the roles of information professionals and agencies, and their place in the larger information marketplace; current and emerging information technologies that shape the information economy.
Course description retrieved from the 2022-2023 Kent State University Catalog
LIS 60020: Information Organization (3 credits)
Introduction to the theory and practice of information organization and retrieval in various information environments. Familiarity with principles, standards, tools and current systems relating to organization of information and retrieval. Exploration of supported information system functions such as searching, browsing, and navigation. Assessment and evaluation of information organization and retrieval systems.
LIS 60030: People in the Information Ecology (3 credits)
Takes a user-centered approach in exploring the information needs and behaviors of people (as individuals and in groups, communities, and institutions) in relation to the larger information ecology that surrounds them. Topics covered include an overview of information ecology; the user-centered paradigm; major information needs and information behavior theories, models, and findings; the landscape of information sources and services for users; factors that influence people’s information needs and behaviors; and user empowerment, information ethics, information fluency, and related issues.
LIS 60040: Information Institutions & Professions (3 credits)
Examines the political, social, economic, and technical forces that influence the larger environments in which information institutions are situated. This course explores characteristics of the environments in which information professionals may work, including but not limited to academic, school, public, and special libraries, museums, archives, cultural heritage institutions, government organizations, corporations across all industries, and information creators and publishers. The course explores characteristics of the information profession including core values and principles, emerging professions, and understanding possible futures in profession, and explores ideas of organizational behavior in information institutions that operate across the institution as a whole, within groups, and within individuals in the organization.
LIS 60050: Research & Assessment in Library & Information Science (3 credits)
Focuses on quantitative and qualitative research methods applicable to information settings and environments. Explores research design, data analysis, proposal development, and ethical issues.
The first of three one-credit courses in digital technologies, this course presents foundational knowledge on the principles that underlie digital resources and services in modern information society, with specific emphasis on data representation, encoding, formatting, and data modeling.
LIS 60602: Cataloging & Classification I (3 credits)
Principles of cataloging with emphasis on Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress Classification systems, Library of Congress subject headings, online cataloging and administration.
Course description retrieved from the 2019-2020 Kent State University Catalog
LIS 60608: The Public Library (3 credits)
Analysis of the historical, sociopolitical, technological, fiscal and organizational factors affecting American public librarianship. Includes evaluation, planning, networking, funding, automation, buildings and censorship.
LIS 60614: Collection Management in Libraries (3 credits)
Principles of collection development and management for public, academic, school and special libraries, including maintenance (weeding and analysis), needs assessment, acquisitions, e-resources, licensing, and preservation.
LIS 60635: Cultural Heritage Informatics (3 credits)
Cultural heritage informatics brings a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary approach to supporting the entire lifecycle of cultural heritage information and documentation procedures for the benefit of the preservation, study, and promotion of cultural heritage. The course covers methods of creating descriptions for cultural objects, as well as organizing, delivering, and presenting the cultural heritage (tangible, intangible, and digital) resources in the digital age. The course aims to prepare students for careers focusing on or transcending libraries, archives, museums (LAMs), historical societies, and other cultural institutions by introducing them the methodologies and technologies commonly used in cultural heritage informatics and can be broadly implemented in LAMs.
LIS 60652: Foundations of Recordkeeping in Society (3 credits)
An introduction to the core principles and practices of recordkeeping and the multiple and complex roles records and archives play in identity, evidence, transparency, memory, accountability, equity, representation and trust in society. This course covers historical and contemporary recordkeeping contexts related to individuals, family, community, organization, corporate, academia and government, as well as traditional, nontextual and digital formats of records and archives.
LIS 60654: Preservation & Conservation of Heritage Materials (3 credits)
Types and causes of deterioration of various kinds of library, archival, and museum collections; storage and preventive care, preservation through photographic reproduction and digital conversion, and conservation of rare materials.
LIS 60700: Foundations of Museum Studies (3 credits)
Intended for those interested in learning more about museums or specializing in museum studies. The goal is to introduce students to various aspects of all types of museums as dynamic networked systems positioned around objects, people and ideas. Covers history and types of museums, the roles of objects and ideas, structure, function, museum workers and users, and the purpose and future of museums.
LIS 60701: Museum Collections (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the organization, care and meaning of objects held in museum collections. Through both theoretical and practical concepts, basic collection management and registration skills are introduced. In conjunction, students explore the meanings made of museum objects.
LIS 60702: Museum Communication (3 credits)
Museums communicate to the public in a multitude of ways: interpretation, exhibition, publication, educational programming and using a web presence. This course introduces important concepts, theories, applications, processes and technology used in museum interpretation and communication. Students are provided with a balance of practical techniques with thoughtful conceptual exploration.
LIS 60703: Museum Users (3 credits)
Families, individuals and students visit museums and community institutions for a variety of purposes including leisure, education and curiosity. Introduction to the research and theory on museum user experience. Inquiry involves examining notions of learning, engagement, and transformative experiences of users, characteristics of users and the social dynamics of the museum experience. In addition, reviews several programmatic techniques and methods used in museums to increase engagement and learning for patrons.
LIS 61095: Selected Topics in Information Studies: Developing Memorable Museum Tours (1 credit)
Offered irregularly as resources and/or opportunities permit. Topics will be announced in the schedule of classes.
Official course description is unavailable. This one credit hour course describes how to design and develop effective and memorable museum tours.
LIS 61095: Selected Topics in Information Studies: Digital Collections & the User Experience (1 credit)
This one credit hour course introduces the key elements and principles for effective user experiences in digital collections, including interface design and search, browsing and user support functionality.
Course description retrieved from Spring 2023 Course Syllabus
*Due to interruptions during my program, I ended up completing more than the required 21 credits of electives.
Completed in a student’s last semester. It will include the creation of an electronic portfolio to represent and self-evaluate the student’s experience throughout the MLIS program, considering program learning outcomes and preparation for a career in the field of library and information science.
All course descriptions were retrieved from the 2023-2024 Kent State University Catalog unless otherwise noted