Course description
Course content
This is a modular programme. The modules are:
Semester One
-Information Literacy
-Information Organisation
-Information Technologies
-Research Methods
Semester Two
-Records Management and Information Rights
-Strategic Information Management
-Information Services
Pathway A: Children and Young People
PAthway B: Achives, local history and genealogy
-Network Resource Management
-Specialist Information Services (business, Health or Law) or Information Architecture
Semester Three
-MA Dissertation
The modules encompass the knowledge and skills required by today’s information professional and will enable graduates to perform the sophisticated information roles demanded by many types of organisation. In semester two there are module choices. This will allow participants to pursue their individual career preferences and develop a level of expertise in specialist areas. In some modules this means a choice of assignment, in others it means the opportunity to work in smaller groups to study a specialist option, such as business, legal or health information, children and young peoples services, archives, local history and geneology.
Mode of attendance
The programme may be studied in either full or part time mode.
FULL TIME
Full time participants can complete the Masters degree in three semesters, the duration of which is a calendar year, commencing in September.
PART TIME
Part time participants may complete the Postgraduate Diploma in two years and the Masters Degree in three years.
DISTANCE LEARNING
Candidates who already possess a recognised postgraduate qualification may apply to join the Masters stage of the programme and may complete their dissertation largely by distance learning.
Placement
A three-week professional placement is available within the programme and takes place between semesters one and two. The placement is compulsory for participants who join the programme without relevant experience if they subsequently wish to become a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. It is, however, optional (but highly recommended) for participants who do have relevant prior experience.
Assessment
The programme contains no examinations and is assessed only by coursework, together with a dissertation.
Continuing Professional Development
The continuing professional development of students is important, throughout the course is a CPD strand supporting students in developing their professional awareness and key skills. The CPD events link to the taught modules. CPD events will include guest speakers, workshops, visits and debate.
Entry requirements
The programme welcomes graduates with a variety of subject backgrounds and experience. A degree is a prerequisite. Prior work experience is helpful but not essential as a professional placement is provided as part of the programme.
Learning and specialist resources
Learning resources are provided through the state-of-the-art Learning Resource Centres. The award winning Aldham Robarts LRC has networked PCs available for student use. In addition, the Information Technology Suite has teaching laboratories, equipped with class sets of PCs. A wide range of resources are available remotely.
Career destinations
Past successes have shown that participants on the MA Information and Library programme will go on to become active in the design, management development and operation of information and library services in a range of diverse organisations.
These can include commercial and business organisations, legal, health, industrial information services as well as academic, public and special libraries.These are increasing opportunities in the wider information industry, including e-government, web development and supply, design and development of information products.
Recent surveys have shown considerable variety in the jobs
