Coursework

A list of courses taken as part of the Kent State University MLIS program

LIS 50647 Introduction to Digital Humanities

Provides students with a greater understanding of how new forms of knowledge production and representation, computational thinking and applications of various information and digital technologies have impacted research and pedagogy in humanities disciplines. Special attention is given to how information professionals can support and promote digital humanities work. Students have the opportunity to explore, apply and critique the technologies, tools, methods and values of the digital humanities field.

LIS 60020 Information Organization

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

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 and Professions

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 and Assessment in Library and Information Science

Focuses on quantitative and qualitative research methods applicable to information settings and environments. Explores research design, data analysis, proposal development, and ethical issues.

LIS 60099 Master’s Portfolio in Library and Information Science

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.

LIS 60510 Digital Technologies I: Data Fundamentals

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 60511 Digital Technologies II: Internet Fundamentals

The second 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 online information systems, the Internet, and data security.

LIS 60652 Foundations of Recordkeeping in Society

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 and Conservation of Heritage Materials

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 60657 Theory and Methods of Archival Acquisition, Selection, and Appraisal

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory, methods and traditions employed by records professionals to form and shape archives as societal memory. This course focusses primarily on acquisition, selection, documentation and appraisal theory and methods. Students will also examine contemporary records frameworks and approaches and issues faced by archivists, special collections librarians and manuscript curators employed to identify, evaluate, acquire and dispose of records.

LIS 60658 Theory and Practice of Archival Description

This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of archival description, including 1) principles of provenance and original order, 2) hierarchical arrangement and description; 3) standards central to archival description including Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS), Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC), and Encoded Archival Description (EAD); 4) archival authority work, including Encoded Archival Context (EAC); and 5) subject access for archival materials. Other related topics to be addressed include approaches to description of born-digital archival records, management of description programs, design of information systems for archival description, project management and cost analyses, and community-driven archival description such as tagging and reparative description.

LIS 60665 Rare Books and Special Collections

Study of the theory and practice of rare books and special collections librarianship. Topics to be addressed include identification and description of collections, history of the book, valuation, collection development, preservation, security, access and discovery, promotion and outreach, and administration of collections and resources.

LIS 60700 Foundations of Museum Studies

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 61095 Special Topics: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Society, and Ethics

This course explores the effects and ethical implications of advances in artificial intelligence (AI) on both individuals and society as a whole. It introduces cutting-edge research on various topics related to human-AI interactions, including the societal impact of AI-driven solutions, biases and fairness, transparency and explainability, machine and natural language AI systems, as well as ethical guidelines and methods for AI-human interactions and experiences. In the context of real-world applications, students will critically analyze existing AI systems to understand their societal impact and the need to design systems that are ethical and human-centered.