*Available as an entry course for students enrolling under the Hong Kong University SPACE program
The changing nature of society has brought a growing demand for knowledge and information at work, in education and in leisure. Librarians, archivists, knowledge managers and many other information professionals are meeting that demand by providing effective access to information resources and services.
Qualified information professionals play a vital role in facilitating the creation, management and preservation of information and in the development of information literacy. Our graduates provide the necessary link between the information resources, whether physical or digital, and the users of that information. In addition, many graduates will become involved in the management of people and resources and will require knowledge of modern management techniques.
Specialisations are available in:
Graduates of the Master of Information Studies are highly skilled and adaptive information and knowledge professionals. They understand the nature of the information life cycle from creation, through management and use, to preservation; have highly developed information-handling skills; possess the flexibility to adapt to a rapidly evolving environment; have a strong client focus and have the ability to take leadership in developing innovative solutions to the problems posed by the expanding data universe.
Graduates will enter the workforce at the forefront of the evolving information professions. With this background, the range of opportunities open to them is broad, covering public and academic libraries; research, government and corporate information centres; and the cultural heritage sector. Depending on the specialisation studied, graduates may also be qualified to work as information professionals in areas such as records management, archives, information brokerage, knowledge management, information architecture or community information services.
This degree is recognised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) as a professional qualification, enabling graduates to work in the full range of library and information sectors.
With the new specialisations, the School will be seeking to gain recognition from other relevant information associations.
This course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience in the information field.
To support the development of your knowledge and skills in contemporary information practice, our learning support systems include:
There is a professional study visit subject, comprising four days of visits to a range of information agencies, and a three-week professional placement.
There are no residential schools associated with this course.
The Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master degree (with specialisations) are an articulated set of courses, and credit is given in each higher level for subjects completed in the lower level courses.
Qualified information professionals may receive credit for previous study (see Admission requirements).
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) now offers student income support to students undertaking study in a number of professionally-oriented Master by coursework degrees. Eligible students undertaking approved Master degrees will be able to access Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy. For more information, visit the DEEWR website.
Students enrolled in the Master of Information Studies will be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma of Information Studies after completion of the core subjects totaling 64 subject points, normally after two years of study. Having completed a further 32 subject points, you will be eligible for the Master of Information Studies (general or with a specialisation).
Students may graduate with the Graduate Certificate in Information Studies on completion of four subjects (32 points).
Further information can be found at Frequently Asked Questions.
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Students must complete 96 points comprising a core of nine subjects (64 points) and four elective subjects comprising any four subjects (32 points) chosen from the specialisation subjects offered.
Students may accelerate their progress in the course by undertaking a higher subject load than the usual part-time load of two subjects per session.
Core subjects
The core requires completion of nine subjects (64 points), comprising seven 8 point subjects and two 4 point subjects.
INF405 The Digital Environment
INF406 Information Sources and Services
INF407 Professional Study Visit (4 points)
INF408 Professional Placement (4 points)
INF415 Management of Information Agencies
INF425 Describing and Analysing Information Resources
INF429 The Information Society
INF435 Collections
INF447 Research Evaluation
Upon successful completion of the above subjects, students are eligible to exit the Master degree with the Graduate Diploma of Information Studies.
Specialisations
Students continuing on to complete the Master of Information Studies need to undertake a four subject specialisation in one of the following areas, OR complete any four subjects chosen from across all of the subjects offered.
Librarianship MInfoStud(Lib)
Students will be required to successfully complete any four of the following subjects:
INF409 Online Reference Services
INF433 Information Literacy
INF446 Online Content Creation
INF505 Services to Children and Young Adults
INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
INF507 Marketing of Libraries and Information Agencies
INF510 Application of Bibliographic Standards
INF517 Digitisation
INF518 Community Histories
INF519 Community Outreach
INF520 Preservation of Information Resources
INF539 Advanced Information Retrieval
Children’s Librarianship MInfoStud(ChildLib)
Students will be required to successfully complete any four of the following subjects:
ETL401 Teacher Librarianship
ETL402 Literature in Education
INF505 Services to Children and Young Adults
INF519 Community Outreach
INF521 Trends in Children’s Literature
Library Leadership MInfoStud(LibLship)
Students are required to successfully complete all four subjects:
INF507 Marketing of Libraries and Information Agencies
INF514 Human Resource Management in Information Agencies
INF515 Strategic Library Management
INF522 Project Management in Information Agencies
Information and Knowledge Management MInfoStud(Info&KM)
Students are required to successfully complete the following subjects:
INF441 Principles of Knowledge Management
Plus three from:
INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
INF523 Knowledge Management Systems
INF524 Technology for Information and Knowledge Management
INF538 Value-added Information Services
Information Architecture MInfoStud(InfoArch)
Students are required to successfully complete the following subjects:
INF440 Introduction to Information Architecture
Plus three from:
INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
INF523 Knowledge Management Systems
INF525 Web Usability
INF526 Web Design and Publishing
INF539 Advanced Information Retrieval
ITC412 Systems Analysis
ITC540 IT Infrastructure Management
Records and Archives Management MInfoStud(Rec&ArchMgt)
Students are required to successfully complete the following subjects:
INF527 Records, Archives and Society
INF528 Records and Archives Practice
INF529 Government, Organisational and Private Records
Plus one from:
INF430 Audiovisual Archiving
INF431 Preservation of Audiovisual Materials
INF443 Digital Preservation
INF520 Preservation of Information Resources
Community Networking MInfoStud(CommunityNet)
Students are required to successfully complete the following four subjects:
INF506 Social Networking for Information Professionals
INF517 Digitisation
INF518 Community Histories
INF519 Community Outreach
Applied Research MInfoStud(AppRes)
Admission to this specialisation requires approval from the Course Coordinator plus achievement of a Credit average or better in the Graduate Diploma of Information Studies or equivalent entry program.
The following three subjects (one is a two-session equivalent subject) must be successfully completed:
INF501 Readings in Information Studies
INF513 Research Methods in Information Studies
INF550 Research Project in Information Studies (16 points)
Students must complete the core of the Master of Information Studies (64 points) comprising seven 8 point subjects and two 4 point subjects.
Students must complete 32 points comprising any four subjects chosen from across the Master of Information Studies program.
The following enrolment pattern is provided as a guide for a part-time distance education study sequence. Students have the flexibility to vary their study load and enrolment pattern according to their individual needs and subject availability.
Session 1
INF405 The Digital Environment
INF407 Professional Study Visit (4 points commenced)
INF429 The Information Society
Session 2
INF406 Information Sources and Services
INF407 Professional Study Visit (completed)
INF435 Collections
Students may elect to exit at this point and graduate with the award Graduate Certificate in Information Studies.
Session 3
INF408 Professional Placement (4 points commenced)
INF415 Management of Information Agencies
INF425 Describing and Analysing Information Resources
Session 4
INF408 Professional Placement (completed)
INF447 Research Evaluation
Students may elect to exit at this point and graduate with the award Graduate Diploma of Information Studies.
Session 5
[ ] Specialisation or Elective Subject
[ ] Specialisation or Elective Subject
Session 6
[ ] Specialisation or Elective Subject
[ ] Specialisation or Elective Subject
Students completing Session 6 will gradaute with the Master of Information Studies.
The minimum entry requirement is an undergraduate degree or equivalent in any discipline. Applicants should also have a basic knowledge and understanding of using personal computers and the internet.
Successful applicants must have substantial access to the internet and a computer during the period they are enrolled in the course in order to complete course requirements.
Master of Information Studies applicants who have a professionally recognised Graduate Diploma in the field of library science or information management may be eligible for a maximum credit of 64 points.
The following information gives you an overview of studying by distance education.
Course materials
When studying by distance education you may receive:
Distance education students usually study two 8 point subjects per semester. More or fewer subjects may be studied in consultation with the Course Coordinator.
Teleconferencing
Telephone tutorials may also be used to supplement face-to-face contact between students and academic staff. Conference calls enable several students, either at home or at a common location, to participate in a group tutorial with academic staff.
Direct telephone contact and email
Students are encouraged to maintain direct contact with staff by telephone or email. Office telephone numbers and email addresses will be supplied and telephone answering services are available in the offices of Course Coordinators. Students will also be advised of numbers for the School's central telephone answering and facsimile machines.
Online forums
Students may participate in various forums online, enabling direct and instant contact with staff and other students.
For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:
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Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia) |