Option B: Project-Centered Field Experience

Why Choose Option B?

• Your work-life schedule doesn’t allow for a formal 120-hour field experience.

• You want to do something project-based.

• You already did a practicum and don’t want to do another field experience.

• You already work in an organization where you wish to stay.

Schedule

• All students take the Capstone during their last semester in the MLIS program.

• When you enter the program: Talk with your advisor about your career interests. Take courses that will help you prepare for your dream job. And start thinking about how the Capstone will cap all of that off. (See what we did there?)

• When you complete 18 credit hours: Declare for Option A or B by meeting with your advisor and filling out this Google Form.

• One semester before your final semester: Complete a formal proposal for your Option B Project. Register for the Capstone by talking with your advisor and filling out this Google Form. The proposal is due on the last day of classes the semester before your Capstone semester.

Preparing for Project-Centered/Action Research

Conducting project-centered research is a special skill. Even experienced researchers will benefit from studying the processes involved. You will get the opportunity to practice some project-centered research during some core classes, but consider taking additional courses to gain more knowledge and practice.

• Action research project in LIS 600

• LIS 685: Change and Project Management 

• LIS 661: Library and Information Science Research

• LIS 688: A Design thinking/Innovations class

• Other action research or assessment projects from other courses

You will work with your advisor on preparing your proposal for your Project-Centered Field Experience.  

Preparing to do a project-centered research project should involve the information system you wish to work with. You should contact them at least two months before your proposal is due. Proposals are due by the last day of classes the semester before your Capstone.

What Constitutes a Project-Centered Field Experience?

• This is NOT an independent study! 

  • It must take place in a professional work context.

  • It must be supervised by a credentialed LIS practitioner in addition to your advisor.

• Your proposal will lay out a problem to be solved. Your experience will solve the problem.

Examples:

• Strategic planning

• Roll out a new youth services program

• Develop a new way to handle ref desk traffic

• Streamline cataloging workflows 

Finding a Project:

• You will need to do the leg-work to line up your Project-Centered Field Experience.

• Start early!

• Find an institution. It can be the place you already work, one where you would like to work, or a place you’re simply interested in.

  • Check out the LIS jobs board at https://soe.uncg.edu/academics/departments/lis/lis-careers-and-organizations/jobs/ for ideas.

  • Follow the UNCG LIS listserv

• Contact the manager of this institution and/or of the department in the institution where you would like to focus.

  • Think about who will supervise your Project-Centered Field Experience. They will be an important mentor during the capstone and afterward.

• Ask questions:

  • What are your biggest challenges?

  • Do you have projects you would like to pursue but don’t have the time to work on?

  • How can I use design thinking to help your institution?