University at Albany: Undergraduate Bulletin - School of Information Science and Policy

Department of Information Studies

Professors

Stephen E. DeLong, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow)
University of Texas at Austin

Carol Doll, Ph.D.
University of Illinois

Philip B. Eppard, Ph.D.
Brown University

Associate Professors

Deborah Lines Anderson, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Hemalata Iyer, Ph.D.
University of Mysore, India

Assistant Professors

Thomas P. Mackey, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Terrence A. Maxwell, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Joette Stefl-Mabry, Ph.D.
Long Island University

Abebe Rorissa, Ph.D.
University of North Texas

Huahai Yang, Ph.D.
University of Michigan

Adjunct Faculty

Theodor J. Borys, M.S.
University at Albany

Guy J. Cortesi, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Visiting:

Jennifer G. Powers, Ph.D.
University at Albany

Adjuncts (estimated): 6

Teaching Assistants (estimated): 0

Professional courses in information science and policy are usually taken on the graduate level. However, as a means of providing undergraduate students with information and library skills which may be of value in their studies or for the purpose of providing a general introduction to the field, a number of programs are available to undergraduates. These include a Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major in Information Science and a combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. program. Both of these programs are described below in greater detail.

The school offers a broad program of study which prepares students for careers as information management specialists in corporate, governmental and public service agencies, or as librarians, media specialists and information professionals in schools, public libraries, colleges, and other organizations concerned with providing reference, research, recreational resources, and information services. Undergraduate students contemplating a career in this field are encouraged to review professional opportunities and undergraduate preparation for admission to graduate study with the school�s administrative staff. Interested students should also consult graduate bulletin or the web page (https://www.albany.edu/sisp/ba/) describing the school�s programs and faculty.

Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Information Science

The Department of Information Studies has developed a Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Information Science with other faculty in Computer Science, Communication, Linguistics and Cognitive Science, Philosophy and Psychology. The major is concerned with five curricular strands: characteristics and properties of information; the flow of information from its origination to utilization; personal, economic, political and social value of information; the cognitive, intellectual and technological structures that govern information transfer; the public and private organizational environments where information exchange has taken place.

Admission: Students must obtain the approval of the program director before they can officially declare this Faculty-initiated interdisciplinary program as their major.

To schedule appointments, receive course advisement and resolve problems, you can reach the Information Science and Policy�s undergraduate advisors at [email protected].

Degree Requirements for the Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Information Science

General Program B.A. A minimum of 46 credits including a 31 credit core: A Csi 201; R Isp 100, 301, 361, 433, 499W; A Mat 108 (or substitute statistics course from the list below); A Psy 101 or 102; A Lin 220; A Phi 210.

3 credits from: A Lin 321, 322, 325, 499 (when 499 topic appropriate)

3 credits from: A Psy 270, 380, 381, 382

9 credits from: A Csi 203, 204, 205, 310; 416, B Itm 215 (or A Csi 101), B Itm 330; R Isp 423, 424

A Mat 108 substitutes: R Crj 281, A Eco 320, A Psy 210, A Soc 221

The following undergraduate courses offered by the Department of Information Studies are considered liberal arts and science courses for purposes of degree requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degrees: R Isp 100, 301, 361, and 499W. Courses listed in this section are preceded by the school�s letter R.

Combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. Program

The combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. program in information science and policy provides a unique opportunity for capable, highly motivated students to pursue any undergraduate liberal arts major while at the same time beginning their professional preparation for a career in the rapidly expanding information management fields. The emphasis of the program is on the planning, provision and administration of information systems and services in libraries and information centers. A distinctive feature of the curriculum is the stress placed upon user and human as well as technological factors. Students will be able to combine academic study with work experience in a locally based major corporation�s information handling facility such as IBM, GE, or a college and university, public, hospital, newspaper, school, bank or law library in the tri-city area (Albany, Troy, Schenectady).

Graduates will be prepared for employment in a wide variety of public and private sector settings within business, industry, law, humanities, health and human services, and education where they will function as librarians, information systems specialists, information analysts or information officers and managers.

The department is especially strong in five areas: (1) information and public policy, (2) reference resources and processes, (3) archives/records administration, (4) indexing and abstracting, and (5) data storage technologies.

Students may be admitted to the combined program at the beginning of their junior year or after successful completion of 56 credits, but no later than the accumulation of 100 credits. A carefully designed program can enable the student to earn the B.A. or B.S. and M.L.S. within 10 semesters. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation are required. The Graduate Record Exam is not required for admission. In qualifying for the baccalaureate, students will meet all University and school requirements, including existing major and minor requirements, general education requirements, minimum liberal arts and sciences requirements, and residency requirements.

Additionally, students will complete a minor in information science and policy including, as a minimum, the following courses: A Csi 101 or A Csi 201 or B Itm 215; R Isp 523, R Isp 601, R Isp 602, and two additional R Isp courses at the 500-level or above.

In qualifying for the master�s degree, students will meet all University and school requirements, including completing a minimum of 42 graduate credits, and any conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, or other professional experience, and residency requirements. The combined program allows students to complete 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate that are applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Students will be considered as undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits and satisfactory completion of all B.A. or B.S. requirements. Upon meeting the baccalaureate requirements, students will automatically be considered as graduate students.




	Department of Information Studies Professors Stephen E. DeLong, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow) University of Texas at Austin Carol Doll, Ph.D. University of Illinois Philip B. Eppard, Ph.D. Brown University Associate Professors Deborah Lines Anderson, Ph.D. University at Albany Hemalata Iyer, Ph.D. University of Mysore, India Assistant Professors Thomas P. Mackey, Ph.D. University at Albany Terrence A. Maxwell, Ph.D. University at Albany Joette Stefl-Mabry, Ph.D. Long Island University Abebe Rorissa, Ph.D. University of North Texas Huahai Yang, Ph.D. University of Michigan Adjunct Faculty Theodor J. Borys, M.S. University at Albany Guy J. Cortesi, Ph.D. University at Albany Visiting: Jennifer G. Powers, Ph.D. University at Albany Adjuncts (estimated): 6 Teaching Assistants (estimated): 0 Professional courses in information science and policy are usually taken on the graduate level. However, as a means of providing undergraduate students with information and library skills which may be of value in their studies or for the purpose of providing a general introduction to the field, a number of programs are available to undergraduates. These include a Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major in Information Science and a combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. program. Both of these programs are described below in greater detail. The school offers a broad program of study which prepares students for careers as information management specialists in corporate, governmental and public service agencies, or as librarians, media specialists and information professionals in schools, public libraries, colleges, and other organizations concerned with providing reference, research, recreational resources, and information services. Undergraduate students contemplating a career in this field are encouraged to review professional opportunities and undergraduate preparation for admission to graduate study with the school�s administrative staff. Interested students should also consult graduate bulletin or the web page (https://www.albany.edu/sisp/ba/) describing the school�s programs and faculty. Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Information Science The Department of Information Studies has developed a Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Information Science with other faculty in Computer Science, Communication, Linguistics and Cognitive Science, Philosophy and Psychology. The major is concerned with five curricular strands: characteristics and properties of information; the flow of information from its origination to utilization; personal, economic, political and social value of information; the cognitive, intellectual and technological structures that govern information transfer; the public and private organizational environments where information exchange has taken place. Admission: Students must obtain the approval of the program director before they can officially declare this Faculty-initiated interdisciplinary program as their major. To schedule appointments, receive course advisement and resolve problems, you can reach the Information Science and Policy�s undergraduate advisors at [email protected]. Degree Requirements for the Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Information Science General Program B.A. A minimum of 46 credits including a 31 credit core: A Csi 201; R Isp 100, 301, 361, 433, 499W; A Mat 108 (or substitute statistics course from the list below); A Psy 101 or 102; A Lin 220; A Phi 210. 3 credits from: A Lin 321, 322, 325, 499 (when 499 topic appropriate) 3 credits from: A Psy 270, 380, 381, 382 9 credits from: A Csi 203, 204, 205, 310; 416, B Itm 215 (or A Csi 101), B Itm 330; R Isp 423, 424 A Mat 108 substitutes: R Crj 281, A Eco 320, A Psy 210, A Soc 221 The following undergraduate courses offered by the Department of Information Studies are considered liberal arts and science courses for purposes of degree requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degrees: R Isp 100, 301, 361, and 499W. Courses listed in this section are preceded by the school�s letter R. Combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. Program The combined B.A./M.S.I.S. or B.S./M.S.I.S. program in information science and policy provides a unique opportunity for capable, highly motivated students to pursue any undergraduate liberal arts major while at the same time beginning their professional preparation for a career in the rapidly expanding information management fields. The emphasis of the program is on the planning, provision and administration of information systems and services in libraries and information centers. A distinctive feature of the curriculum is the stress placed upon user and human as well as technological factors. Students will be able to combine academic study with work experience in a locally based major corporation�s information handling facility such as IBM, GE, or a college and university, public, hospital, newspaper, school, bank or law library in the tri-city area (Albany, Troy, Schenectady). Graduates will be prepared for employment in a wide variety of public and private sector settings within business, industry, law, humanities, health and human services, and education where they will function as librarians, information systems specialists, information analysts or information officers and managers. The department is especially strong in five areas: (1) information and public policy, (2) reference resources and processes, (3) archives/records administration, (4) indexing and abstracting, and (5) data storage technologies. Students may be admitted to the combined program at the beginning of their junior year or after successful completion of 56 credits, but no later than the accumulation of 100 credits. A carefully designed program can enable the student to earn the B.A. or B.S. and M.L.S. within 10 semesters. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation are required. The Graduate Record Exam is not required for admission. In qualifying for the baccalaureate, students will meet all University and school requirements, including existing major and minor requirements, general education requirements, minimum liberal arts and sciences requirements, and residency requirements. Additionally, students will complete a minor in information science and policy including, as a minimum, the following courses: A Csi 101 or A Csi 201 or B Itm 215; R Isp 523, R Isp 601, R Isp 602, and two additional R Isp courses at the 500-level or above. In qualifying for the master�s degree, students will meet all University and school requirements, including completing a minimum of 42 graduate credits, and any conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, or other professional experience, and residency requirements. The combined program allows students to complete 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate that are applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students will be considered as undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits and satisfactory completion of all B.A. or B.S. requirements. Upon meeting the baccalaureate requirements, students will automatically be considered as graduate students. Top