Curriculum: Digital Librarianship

NCCU School of Library and Information Sciences

MLS curricula — Digital Librarian

(On Campus Requirements —
See http://www.nccuslis.org/distancelearning/dl-mls.htm for distance learning requirements.)

Objectives of the digital library concentration are to educate students as librarians who have the ability to

  1. Explain design and operation of digital libraries from a socio-technical perspective including creating, organizing, preserving and accessing digital information.
  2. Describe principles supporting the development and implementation of metadata standards for a variety of digital library settings, focusing on issues of interoperability, internal and external standardization and evaluation.
  3. Demonstrate the basics of web usability, navigation and accessibility, and how to organize and present digital information on the web.
  4. Delineate issues involved in human use of information technologies, and the intellectual basis for user interface design, usability evaluation, user-centered design methods, and human information usage
  5. Identify social, cultural, economic and legal issues related to digital libraries and communication technologies.

Required Course of Study (36 semester hours)

Required Prerequisites to all Library Science Courses (taken in the order listed or concurrently)

LSIS 5000, Foundations of Librarianship and Information Services.
LSIS 5225, Selection and Use of Information Sources.
LSIS 5120, Management and Systems Analysis.Other required courses (taken in the order listed or concurrently)

LSIS 5425, Organization of Information.
LSIS 5325, Uses and Users of Information
LSIS 5810, Research MethodsOther requirements for concentration

Two MLS coursesLSIS 5420, Introduction to Digital Libraries (prerequisite: LSIS 5425)
LSIS 5830, Metadata Applications for Digital Libraries (prerequisite: LSIS 5425)(offered for on-campus only)One MIS course: (choose one from the two)LSIS 5115, Information Technology and Intellectual Property
LSIS 5835, Human Factors in System DesignOne type of library course: (choose one from the four)LSIS 5140, The Special Library
LSIS 5160, The Academic Library
LSIS 5180, The Public Library
LSIS 5130, Administration of the School Media CenterTwo elective courses to complete 36 hours (consult Dr. Yoo-Lee)

The following courses are highly recommended as an elective.LSIS 5620, Practicum in Library Specialization
LSIS 5451, Database Systems*Other electives must be approved by your advisor & the Dean of the SLIS.

Language requirement

What is NCCU’s foreign language requirement?

Foreign Language: 

The School of Library and Information Sciences is committed to its mission to prepare professionals to become leaders who can advance the library and information sciences in a diverse and global society. SLIS previously required its graduates to meet foreign language standards or equivalent standards. Currently, there is no foreign language requirement for students in the Masters of Library Science or Masters of Information Science programs.

Students who need a foreign language for their future careers are able to take courses at the North Carolina Central University Modern Foreign Language Department. No courses taken for this purpose may be counted for course credit toward a master’s degree in library science or information science or related certificates.