Library & Information Studies (MLS)
Programme Overview
This programme sets out to equip graduates with a bachelor’s degree in other disciplines with professional education in the field of library and information studies in order to prepare them to effectively manage library and information units and organizations in different types of environments.
Programme Objectives
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the programme, applicants must be graduates of approved universities normally with at least a lower second class honours degree in any discipline. Previous work experience in libraries is an advantage but is not essential. Applicants are required to be computer literate, (that is, to have a basic knowledge of the operation of a computer and the software associated with it). It is therefore in the interest of students, at this stage, to ensure that they have done an introductory course before entering the programme.
Programme Structure
All full-time students will take ONE (1) academic year (Aug.-May) to complete all the required courses, and if they choose to pursue Option 1, they will take an additional academic year (Aug.-Sept.) part-time to complete the Research Paper. For those who select Option 2, they will take an additional semester (Aug. – Dec.) to do the remaining TWO courses.
Part-time students will take TWO (2) academic years to complete all required courses and ONE (1) year part-time to complete the Research Paper, making a total of 3 years. For those students who choose Option 2, they will take the two years plus an additional semester (Aug.-Sept.) to complete the programme.
Students are offered two options for finishing the degree after the completion of the TEN required courses for Semesters 1 and 2.
Option 1 requires students to do the TEN (10) courses and then write a research paper while
Option 2 requires students to do the TEN (10) required courses and TWO (2) additional courses in the third semester. One of the courses must be an independent study.
All students do the same set of courses for the first two semesters (if full-time), and the first four semesters (if part-time) after which they will choose to follow one of the two options. This will affect the length of the programme overall.
PROGRAMME – OPTION 1
The student will be required to read TEN (10) semester courses, write a research paper of 10,000—15,000 words, and earn an additional 3 credits from Fieldwork, making a total of 39 credits as shown below.
Students are required to obtain a minimum of thirty-nine (39) credits consisting of:
Ten 3-credit courses 30 credits
Six weeks practicum (fieldwork) 3 credits
Research Paper 10,000—15,000 words 6 credits
SEMESTER 1
In the first semester (August—December), student will be required to take the following FIVE courses:
Compulsory Courses: (3 credits each)
LIBS6001 - Foundations of Library and Information Studies
LIBS6101 - Management of Information Units
LIBS6201 – Catalogue Creation and Use
LIBS6301 - Bibliography and Reference Methods and Materials
LIBS6501 - Information Technology I
SEMESTER II
During the next semester (January—May), the student will take FIVE (5) courses which include THREE (3) compulsory courses and TWO (2) electives.
Compulsory Courses: (3 credits each)
LIBS6202 - Subject Analysis and Indexing in InformationRetrieval
LIBS6401 - Research Methods in Library and Information Studies
LIBS6504 - Integrated Library Systems
Electives Courses: (3 credits each)
LIBS6102 Management of University and Research Libraries OR
LIBS6103 Management of Special Libraries and Information Centres OR
LIBS6104 Management of Public Libraries
LIBS6105 Management of School Libraries and Learning Resource Centres
LIBS6302 Information Resources in Science and Technology OR
LIBS6304 Information Resources in the Social Sciences OR
LIBS6305 Contemporary Literature for Children and Young Adults (Not offered
2012/13)
LIBS6503 Introduction to Digital Libraries
LIBS6703 Archives and Records Management
SUMMER
During the ensuing summer (June-August) students will be attached to an approved library for SIX (6) weeks to undertake fieldwork (3 credits).
LIBS6904 Practicum in Library and Information Studies
SEMESTERS 3 AND 4
In Semester 3 students are expected to begin working on their Research Paper which should normally be handed at the end of Semester 4 in May.
LIBS6899 - Research Paper (of between 10,000—15,000 words)
During Semesters 3 and 4 students are expected to attend at least FOUR (4) research seminars and to make at least ONE presentation based on their research.
The research seminars are designed to provide a platform for students to present research ideas, completed or in-progress, in a formal and collegial setting and to get feedback about their research.
Students who have previously completed the Diploma in Library Studies and who have demonstrated academic growth will be assessed by the Department and may be required to do additional courses before proceeding to do the research paper.
NOTE: Students who have read a Research Methodology course before, may, with the approval of the Head of Department, take another course chosen from the electives listed below.
MASTER IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES - OPTION 2
Students will follow the same programme as those in Option 1, including Fieldwork, until the third Semester for full-time students and the fifth semester for part-time students.
DURATION
For full-time students choosing this Option, they will take the first TWO semesters to do the TEN required courses, then they will need only ONE (1) more semester to complete TWO (2) additional courses, making a total of THREE semesters.
Part-time students within this Option will take TWO (2) academic years and ONE semester to complete all courses.
The Additional Courses for this Option are as follows:
LIBS6901 Trends and Issues in Library and Information Environment
LIBS6902 Independent Study - an extended essay/concept paper of 5,000 -8,000 words on a subject previously approved by the Department.
In order to graduate, students in this Option are required to obtain a total of 39 credits consisting of:
Twelve 3-credit courses 36 credits
Six weeks practicum (fieldwork) 3 credits