School of Information Sciences - Library and Information Science Program

Field Experience (LIS 2921 and LIS 2924)

A field experience (3 credits/150 hours of supervised professional work in an approved information environment) is recommended, especially if you lack professional experience. Placement positions allow students the opportunity to apply their learning to a practical work experience. Field Placements must be coordinated by a faculty supervisor and a site supervisor. Placements are available in corporate libraries, medical libraries, legal libraries, academic libraries, public libraries, archives, as well as other organizations.

For a partial list of field placement host sites and contact information, click here.

You may download (and print out) LIS field experience guidelines and forms here.

Goals

1. To offer students an opportunity to extend their academic goals to a practical work experience.
2. To show in concrete terms the work options available to students through an apprenticeship semester that can provide job-related training.

Prerequisites for LIS 2921

1. Students must have completed the four core courses with a passing grade.
2. The field experience must complement the student's education in LIS and other university courses. Field experience assignments will be made on the basis of the student's past experience, or to introduce the student to new areas of information management which complement the student's academic background or area of interest.

Prerequisites for LIS 2924 (APRM)

1. Students must have completed a minimum of twelve credit hours in good academic standing.
2. The field experience must complement the student's education in LIS and other university courses. Field experience assignments will be made on the basis of the student's past experience, or to introduce the student to new areas of information management which complement the student's academic background or area of interest.

Requirements

1. Students must register for field experience as they would for any other LIS course, which includes an advisory meeting with their faculty advisor to discuss their field placement.
2. In addition to registering for field experience, a one- or two-page proposal outlining the student's goals must be submitted to the faculty advisor along with the Field Experience Application Form. A file copy of the form must be submitted to the program for record keeping purposes.
3. The proposal must be approved by both the faculty advisor and the site supervisor in the semester prior to beginning the field experience. Suggestions for writing your proposal are here.
4. Students should plan on working a minimum of 150 hours per term for three credits. Individual schedules will be arranged between the student and the site supervisor, and it is the student's responsibility to notify the faculty advisor of the schedule arrangements.
5. Students must meet with their faculty advisor at least once a month, or as necessary, to discuss their progress at the site. It is recommended that the students keep a written log of the placement experience to be examined by and discussed with the faculty advisor.
6. A report of 5-10 pages relating the field experience to the student's academic goals is required for the completion of the field experience. This report should also include the student's specific duties at the site and a critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the field experience in terms of academic and personal development. This report must be submitted to the advisor in order to monitor the effectiveness of the agency in providing professional opportunities to the student.
7. Grading will be based on performance as rated by the site supervisor and the quality of the final report as rated by the faculty supervisor. Grade will be pass/fail designation.