Archives Concentration Requirements

What does an archivist do? Why would you want to become one? Visit the following URL at the Society of American Archivists website for some answers to these questions: So You Want to Be an Archivist: An Overview of the Archival Profession ( http://www.archivists.org/prof-education/arprof.asp )

The forty-two (42) hour master's program requirements are:

Eighteen (18) hours of required core courses
LSC 502: Management of Library and Information Sources
LSC 503: Collection Development
LSC 504: Reference & Information Services
LSC 505: Organization of Information
LSC 508: Introduction to Information Science & Technology
LSC 557: Research and Evaluation in Library and Information Science

Twenty-four (24) hours of elective courses
All MLIS programs of study (POS) are individually designed to meet each student’s specific career goals. Each student meets with her or his faculty advisor to determine the elective courses that are best for that student. The elective courses listed here are ones that often help meet the goals of those wishing to work in special library settings, but students are not restricted to only these courses.

Experiential Learning
LSC 595: Professional Field Experience [Internship]
Highly beneficial for all students. Those who lack previous library experience or wish to change specialties should definitely enroll in LSC 5 95.

Other Electives for Careers in Archives

LSC 506: Technical Services
LSC 510: History of Books and Printing
LSC 512: History of Libraries and Librarianship
LSC 514: Information Policy
LSC 515: Information Ethics
LSC 544: Visual Information Science
LSC 545: Indexing and Abstracting
LSC 546: Computer Systems in Library Automation
LSC 548: Information Architecture
LSC 549: Information Storage and Retrieval
LSC 550: Organization of Digital and Nonbook Materials
LSC 562: Administration of Special Collections, Archives, and Manuscripts
LSC 564: Introduction of Library Preservation
LSC 565: Rare Book Librarianship
LSC 593: Independent Work
LSC 597: Selected Topics: Digital Libraries

Electives from other concentrations
Most archives are part of larger organizations rather than independent organizations. Students should therefore consider courses listed under other concentrations. Many archivists work in academic and special libraries so courses under those concentrations may be particularly relevant.

Electives from other academic units
With the approval of her/his faculty advisor, a student may apply up to six graduate credits from other academic departments toward her/his MLIS degree. Students planning careers in archives may find that courses in other areas such as History or Public Administration help to advance their career goals. Students who want to become subject specialists in an archival setting may wish to take graduate courses in their subject field.

Dual master degrees
Cooperative programs at the University of Rhode Island enable students to pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously. Many students interested in archives choose to enter the GSLIS/History Cooperative Program. A student in this program may simultaneously earn the degrees of Master of Arts in history and Master of Library and Information Studies.