The MLS program at Emporia State University requires that students take 36 total hours of coursework, including 11 hours of electives. Below, you will find my MLS coursework complete with syllabi.
LI801 Foundations of Library and Information Science
This is the first class that MLS students take, and it serves as an introduction to the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of the LIS field. The global information society is examined, and characteristics of information and information professionals are defined and explored.
LI802 Theoretical Foundations of Service: Diagnosis and Customization
This course focuses on understanding cognitive and psychological theories and their relation to information services. Comprehending these theories will help students move toward developing user-centered services.
LI804 Organization of Information
Organization of Information acts as an introduction to the many ways in which people have recorded and organized information in the past with a focus on current practices of organization. It also explored the societal issues that accompany classification and what it means that classification is at the core of librarianship.
LI805 Leadership and Administration of Information Organizations
The purpose of Leadership and Administration of Information Organizations was to provide students with an overview of the multi-faceted environments in which organizations function. The many components of an organization, such as people, culture, and management, were explored in conjunction with the complex tasks that accompany the administration of an information organization.
LI810 Research in Library and Information Science
Research in Library and Information Science focuses on introducing students to practical applications of research methods and providing instruction on how to plan and execute research while employing qualitative and quantitative methods.
LI813 Reference and User Services
The purpose of Reference and User Services is to introduce students to a variety of both print and electronic reference sources, discuss evaluation methods of those sources, and examine the nature and practice of the reference interview while learning effective search strategies.
LI814 Cataloging and Classification of Materials in Libraries and Information Agencies
Cataloging and Classification introduces students to the philosophies that guide the description and organization of information in libraries and information agencies. Students are taught how to use practical tools such as AARC2, MARC, and Library of Congress Subject Headings.
This course introduces students to fundamental aspects of technology, such as file management, networking and databases, but also explores the Web 2.0 world and the social nature of information technology.
LI819 Information Retrieval and Customization
The purpose of Information Retrieval and Customization is to equip students with advanced information retrieval skills, familiarize students with principles of information design theory, and emphasize the importance of customizing information for unique users or user communities.
LI843 Web Design and Development
Web Design and Development introduces the basic principles of web creation, design, and maintenance. Students gained technical programming skills in HTML and CSS while exploring overarching issues like usability, accessibility, and standards for web designers.
Database Design teaches students the theory of information management within the context of database use and frameworks, with special attention paid to relational databases.
LI855 Collection Development and Management
This course examines the principles and policies that guide the evaluation, selection, and acquisition of print and digital resources. Students also gain exposure to the development, organization, and management of many different types of collections in various institutions such as libraries, special collections, and archives to name a few.
LI862 Current Issues in Technology: Introduction to Metadata
This course model identifies different topics of interest in technology, and this course in particular serves as an introduction to the concept and practice of creating metadata. Introduction to Metadata acts as a primer for the metadata novice on the principles that guide the creation and implementation of metadata standards. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves with theoretical and practical coursework.
LI880 Capstone: Assessing the MLS Experience
The final course that students take is LI880, which encourages reflection on the coursework that has been completed up to that point. From that reflection, students create and present an e-portfolio that identifies their competencies in the program outcomes and the values of the profession.
Alyssa Vincent 