Standard II. Curriculum

II.5. When a program includes study of services and activities in specialized fields, these specialized learning experiences are built upon a general foundation of library and information studies. The design of specialized learning experiences takes into account the statements of knowledge and competencies developed by relevant professional organizations.

The Master of Library and Information Science offers students the opportunity to pursue specializations or to create, with the guidance of their adviser, an individualized program of study. The specializations reflect statements of knowledge and competencies developed by relevant professional organizations and are described below. Each specialization is guided by a faculty member with expertise in that area. (See Appendices CUR 4 and CUR 5 for complete details regarding the recommended program of studies in each specialization)

Archives, Preservation, and Records Management (APRM, due to become Archives and Information Science (AIS) in Fall 2013): This specialization provides the skills and knowledge to identify and analyze recordkeeping systems from legal, evidential, historical, and cultural perspectives. Students gain an in-depth knowledge of records and recordkeeping systems, digital records management, archival appraisal and access, the history and evolution of recordkeeping systems, digital preservation and curation, and preservation management of library and archives collections. The APRM curriculum partly responds to the Society of American Archivists (SAA) Guidelines for a graduate program in archival studies, but also goes beyond what such professional guidelines suggest. Lead faculty: Richard Cox.
Children and Youth: Resources and Services: The School has a long-standing tradition in the area of Children and Youth Library Services. Without forgetting its important roots in children’s literature, the school prepares information professionals who can reach out to the child of the 21st century. The specialization was re-assessed in 2008 so that it could remain aligned with the set of competencies for librarians serving children and youth in public libraries, as outlined by the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adults Library Services Association (YALSA). In 2009, new courses were added in two key areas; (1) early literacy; and (2) technology. A field experience with a focus on children’s and youth services in public libraries was developed in 2010, linked to learning objectives specific to the specialization. Lead faculty: Leanne Bowler
Digital Libraries: This specialization offers the knowledge and skills essential for a successful career in the digital libraries field, focusing on relevant information technologies, information-organization principles, and end-user needs. Students in this specialization take courses in both the LIS and IST programs and can focus on either the systems that support digital libraries or on the digital collections, including the curation and management of such collections. This course of study was developed based on the expertise of the various faculty involved: Martin Weiss, Daqing He, Sherry Koshman, Michael Spring, and Christinger Tomer. This specialization will be revised based upon results of the comprehensive curriculum review to be undertaken over the next year. Lead faculty: Christinger Tomer, Daqing He, Jung Sun Oh, and Peter Brusilovsky.
Health: Resources and Services: This specialization focuses on medical libraries and knowledge-based information in the clinical and research setting. Students also explore medical informatics or consumer and patient-health information sources and services. The intent of this specialization is to orient prospective health-information professionals to the theory, methodology, and practice of medical information management, including but not limited to medical librarianship. LIS 2586 Health Sciences Information Sources and Services is designed to meet the competencies listed in the Medical Library Association’s Educational policy statement. Students in LIS 2586 Health Sciences Information Sources and Services certify via the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Health System in four modules on ethical conduct of research with human subjects and responsible literature searching. LIS 2587 Applications in Medical Informatics is designed to cover the topics in the American Medical Informatics Association statements on education and also here. Students in LIS 2587 must certify in HIPAA via the UPMC Health System. Lead faculty: Ellen Detlefsen.
Information Technology: Students who specialize in information technology learn how to assess, organize, and manage the various electronic systems that support contemporary library and information services, and also gain theoretical understanding that prepares them to participate in the design and evaluation of future systems. The specialization emphasizes courses in database design and implementation, information architecture, and information visualization. Students may also take courses in digital preservation and the management of digital collections. This course of study was developed based on input from the LIS program faculty and the expertise of Professors Tomer and He. Lead faculty: Christinger Tomer and Daqing He.
Reference: Resources and Service: The Reference specialization provides students with working knowledge of a wide range of reference sources and services in areas such as government documents, social sciences, science and technology, law, health, and humanities. Students learn how to analyze users’ needs to determine what information is appropriate; to make useful judgments about the relevance, trustworthiness, and quality of sources; and to assess methods for delivering the desired information. These courses best support some of ALA’s “Key Action Areas” and various divisions’ guidelines and standards such as those from RUSA (Reference and User Services Association) and ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries). Lead faculty: Elizabeth Mahoney.
School Library Certificate Program (SLCP): This specialization prepares students to be certified school library media specialists. Students in this specialization earn both an MLIS degree and an Instructional I teaching certificate in Library Science, K-12, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The curriculum is based on the national guidelines developed in 1998 by the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communication and Technology as well as the American Association of School Librarians’ Standards for initial programs for school library media specialist preparation." Lead faculty: Mary Kay Biagini.
Individual: The School recognizes that many students prefer to customize their program of study to suit their individual professional interests, needs, and motivations. To allow for flexibility in program construction, students are offered the option to follow an individualized path, constructed in collaboration with the student’s adviser. Pitt Online students currently fall under the individualized category, as the new Pitt Online program does not yet offer specializations. The individualized program is developed with the advice of each MLIS student’s adviser.