SC&I Courses

This course provides an introduction to the role that algorithms increasingly play in daily life, addressing the social forces that they both shape and that they are shaped by. Although algorithms are not new, their development and use has accelerated in recent years, resulting in a critical mass of academic literature on the topic. The course takes a multidisciplinary approach to interrogating algorithms, drawing primarily on literature from information science, computer science, and science and technology studies, with additional readings from disciplines such as philosophy, law, and public health. After completing this course, students will be able to critically engage with the role of algorithms in society on both theoretical and practical levels.

Overview of creation, production, and distribution of materials. Emphasis on community analysis, collection development planning, criteria and methods for selection, collection evaluation, and collection management procedures and techniques.

This course will emphasize the fundamental theory and practice of manuscript and archival administration, and its relationship to information management. The course will focus on accepted methodology and current issues relating to the collection, organization, preservation and use of historical materials.

Examination of the document life-cycle of the records of organizations: generation and control--filing, storage, and retrieval systems using various technologies; protection and disposition--retention regulations and practices. Discussion of how records management concepts and contexts differ from archives and library organization and retrieval systems.

Competitive and strategic intelligence can support various corporate and organizational objectives and functions. Systematic programs for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating information for decision making. Special attention to the information audit; to tailored selection and analysis of information for given user groups; and assessment of quality and value of information services.

This course studies the fundamentals and basic techniques for evaluating the usability of products and services through qualitative and quantitative research methods. Students will gain the knowledge and skills to conduct effective user experience (UX) research, applying diverse methods to understand user needs, behaviors, and preferences. Through practical examples, they will learn to define research objectives, formulate hypotheses, analyze data, synthesize findings, and deliver actionable recommendations. These skills will enable them to make data-driven design decisions that enhance the usability of digital and physical products.

This course focuses on the full range of information resources studied and used in applied contexts, placing emphasis on access to information through reference tools and the use of information by learners. Important considerations are an analysis of strategies for searching and evaluating these works and comparisons between printed and electronic media. Emphasis placed on research tools, communication, information services, policy development, and evaluation..

Introduction to the nature and use of federal, state, local, and international government information resources. Problems relating to the acquisition, bibliographic organization, and reference use of public documents. Major emphasis on information resources of U.S. federal government.

This course provides an overview of the health information ecosystem and the role of health information professionals in supporting evidence-based decision making in health and medicine among multiple diverse constituents, include health professionals, researchers, and patients. Topics covered include evidence hierarchies and study designs, constructing and appraising exhaustive and reproducible search techniques for general and specialty medical databases, medical subject headings, and systematic reviews.

The course surveys the range of literature and media published for children, explores children’s developmental reading needs and interests, prepares youth services librarians to evaluate resources across formats and genres, and explores the potential for creating rich literacy cultures in schools and public libraries.