Learn More!
The iSchool hosts a number of opportunities for you to explore the LIS program. Attend Information Sessions at the iSchool or online, whichever suits your schedule. More >
Archives, Preservation & Records Management Specialization
Recordkeeping, from governmental to organizational to personal, is one of the most ancient and essential human and institutional functions. Records are created and maintained for purposes of evidence; accountability; and personal, social and corporate memory. Archives serve a crucial cultural function, providing society with a sense of identity and memory. Records-management programs help organizations to be compliant with regulatory agencies, responsible to constituent groups, and effective and efficient in the use of informational resources.
Our Archives, Preservation & Records Management Specialization is one of the leading programs of its kind in the United States. You can earn your MLIS, FastTrack MLIS, Certificate of Advanced Study, or PhD degree, gaining an in-depth knowledge of:
- records and recordkeeping systems;
- electronic records management;
- archival appraisal and access;
- the history and evolution of recordkeeping systems;
- digital preservation; and
- preservation management of library and archives collections.
Our program will give you the skills and knowledge to identify and analyze recordkeeping systems from legal, evidential, and cultural perspectives. Students study in an engaging and intellectually stimulating environment, taking courses in diverse topics including:
- appraisal and records scheduling;
- organization and representation of archival materials;
- reference and access;
- advocacy and public programming;
- ethical issues;
- preservation and preservation management of library and archive collections;
- digitization and digital preservation;
- research methods for archival research; and
- management of archives, preservation, and records programs.
You may also have the opportunity, at both the Masters and Doctoral levels, to work on research projects leading to publication. This program is designed to provide you with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills for managing and making decisions concerning records in a variety of traditional and non-traditional settings requiring archival and preservation expertise. As part of your course of study, you can gain critical experience through a for-credit field experience in a regional museum, archives, or organization. Graduates of this specialization have found successful and challenging careers in government, higher education, corporations, and cultural organizations.
Students follow a prescribed set of courses over a one-year (full-time) or two-year (part-time) program. This specialization is also offered through the FastTrack MLIS program, our on-line degree program.
For more information about this specialization, please contact our Student Recruitment Coordinator at lisinq@sis.pitt.edu or 412-624-3988.