MLIS Courses Taken
Unless otherwise noted, all courses listed below were taken online through the University of Alabama's MLIS program. Course descriptions include the instructing professor and description sourced from the class syllabus / program description.
01
Information in Communities
Fall 2022 by Dr. Dimitrios Latsis
"This course introduces students to values and ethics and power structures that impact information and information services to diverse communities. It serves as a foundation for broadly thinking about information, communities, power, and social responsibility of LIS professionals."
02
Professional Paths
Fall 2022 by Dr. John Burgess
"This course introduces students to the variety of professional paths that an MLIS might pursue and will encourage students to explore the diversity of areas of library and information practices that may interest them. At the end of the course, students write an introduction to their program portfolio providing first attempts to define their own professional paths."
03
Graphic Novels in Library Serving Youth
Spring 2023 by Dr. Jamie Naidoo
"This course examines the ways in which graphic novels, comics, and other visual narratives serve as engaging and enriching media for contemporary youth (children and young adults); explores the use of these materials in classrooms and libraries to teach information, visual, and cultural literacies; and provides opportunities to explore and critically analyze visual narratives using multiple methods."
04
Information Science
Fall 2023 by Dr. Laurie Bonnici
"This course examines information science through theoretical foundations and practical approaches of the field. The course is intended to act as a forum for discussion of the many questions asked in information science as they relate to the nature and roles of information and information institutions, information behavior, information systems, storage, retrieval, use, and dissemination. Students will learn fundamental approaches to understanding the relationships between Information and individuals, organizations, and society."
05
Special Libraries and Information Centers
Spring 2024 by Prof. Sybil H. Bullock
"This course surveys the evolution, philosophy, ethics, environments, management, and operational aspects of special libraries and information centers. Upon completion of the course, the student should understand what is "special” about special libraries; characterize knowledge management and describe customer services offered by the typical special library and information center; explain the organizational placement and client-orientation of special librarians and information professionals, discuss management issues unique to special libraries; evaluate library services, and plan a special library budget."
06
Research Methods
Spring 2024 by Dr. Suellen W. Epps
"This course introduces research design and statistical techniques used in library, media, and
information science. At the conclusion of the course, the student should be able to comprehend
and utilize research reports in these fields and to design and carry out basic research projects."
07
Philanthropy, Fundraising, and Grants
Fall 2024 by Prof. Jess Ross
"The objective of this course is designed to discuss and expand students’ knowledge of philanthropy and its varied foundations in public, academic, and special library settings as well as study its potential critical implications when private contributions are used in place of public funds. . . Upon completion of the course students will be able to: Competently discuss and evaluate benefits and issues of philanthropy, fundraising, and grant writing
as it relates to public funding in contemporary society, Learn how to find, apply for, and manage grant funding, Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between philanthropic private donation
and public funding."
08
Digital Libraries
Fall 2024 by Dr. Yuan Li
"The Digital Libraries course is designed to equip students with the specialized knowledge and skills to lead the development and management of digital collections and libraries in various settings, including academic and research institutions, cultural heritage organizations, special collections, archives, and other information centers. This course explores both conceptual and practical aspects of digital libraries, addressing key issues, challenges, and strategies. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of digital libraries, covering topics such as project management, collection development, digitization, metadata, digital library applications, user access and interfaces, usability, and evaluation."
09
Information Literacy Instruction
Spring 2025 by Dr. John Burgess
"This course introduces concepts, theories and practice of library user instruction. Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to: Articulate the various theories, from education and library and information studies, that underpin professional practice in information literacy instruction, Select information literacy instruction models appropriate to the learning needs of patrons in various library and information settings (e.g. academic/school/public/special libraries), Discuss approaches to planning, managing and evaluating instruction in various organizational settings, Consider problems and issues associated with the provision of instructional programs. Be able to design student learning outcomes and an assessment plan for a library instruction session in order to effectively plan for a library instruction session, Be able to design a “one-shot” library instruction session that accommodates multiple learning styles in order to teach a library instruction session."
10
Internship: Columbia University Libraries
Spring 2025 with Librarian Ben Chiewphasa
[Learning About and Leading Library Instruction] "The intern will begin this project by observing different librarians' online instruction sessions (including workshops as well as course-integrated instruction when possible), and learning about instructional best practices using readings selected by the librarian supervisor and modules from the Columbia Center for Teaching & Learning. Then, the intern will lead two online library workshops (on the topics of using the library catalog, searching databases, or using Zotero), and one workshop on a topic of the intern's choosing that they will design and teach toward the end of the semester."
11
Information Ethics
Summer 2025 by Dr. John Burgess
"This course provides students with the conceptual frameworks, methodologies, analytical approaches, and argumentation skills needed as information professionals to resolve complex ethical crises and dilemmas surrounding the use of information, data, and emerging
technologies."
12
Metadata Fundamentals
Fall 2025 by Prof. Kun Lu
"This course examines conceptual and ethical foundations of metadata in a range of practice contexts including library cataloging and special collections. Introduces data management software tools and techniques used for acquiring, cleaning, enhancing, and analyzing metadata datasets."
