School of Information
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242-0001
United States
Contact
Degrees/Certificates Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) with Archival Studies concentration
Programs Offered
Program Philosophy
Individually and collectively, Kent State University's School of Information puts excellence in action every day - through first-class research, inspired teaching and meaningful outreach across Ohio and beyond. The iSchool at Kent State University is the only American Library Association accredited Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree program in the state of Ohio. An MLIS degree is the basic requirement for professional employment in most libraries and information centers. Home to 600 graduate students, a world renowned faculty, state-of-the-art technology, and a national reputation for outstanding scholarship, SLIS at Kent State University is your key to a challenging career in the library and information science profession. Kent State University's School of Information is the largest single master's program at the university. The School is ranked in the top twenty LIS programs nationally by a U.S. News and World Report survey. The archives, special collections, and preservation specialties are an area of growth and opportunity at Kent State. In the last ten years, the curriculum of this specialty has expanded to include many advanced electives beyond the foundations of archives and now includes courses in archives and special collections, genealogy, digital preservation and curation, and museum studies. Students interested in doctoral level work are also welcomed; Kent State's iSchool offers a PhD under the auspices of a collaborative program housed in the College of Communication and Information.
Facilities
The School of Information is located on the Kent State campus, offering classrooms, technology, and expert instruction by full-time and part-time faculty. Administrative and faculty offices are in close proximity to classrooms, laboratories, and the School office, offering students instruction, advising, and administrative assistance in one convenient location. Housed on the third floor of University Library in the heart of Kent State's campus, the School of Information in Kent boasts state-of-the-art technology, computing facilities, distance learning and videoconferencing facilities, and wireless internet access. In Fall 2010, the School opened a state-of-the-art laboratory to support instruction in digital imaging and digitization of audiovisual materials.
Our online learning opportunities are provided through the Canvas course management system; each course is offered by faculty with significant teaching experience and a strong enthusiasm for online learning. Courses are offered asynchronously, with optional opportunities for additional interaction via live videoconferencing, chat, and webinars.
Practicum/Internships/Assistantships Offered?
Internships may be taken for two or three hours of graduate credit (equivalent to 100 or 150 clock hours spent working in a library, information center, archive, museum, or media center for internship-related training and activities). The onsite internship supervisor must have an MLIS or a related subject specialist degree (e.g., masters or Ph.D. in history would be considered acceptable for a supervising archivist). A full-time faculty member will also serve as advisor to the student during the internship.
The School has a limited number of graduate assistantships available each year on a competitive basis to full-time students. A graduate assistantship provides full-time students with tuition remission and a stipend in exchange for 20 hours of work per week. The positions begin in the Fall semester.
Research
Faculty members in the areas of archives, preservation, and digital collections welcome graduate students with complementary research interests. The School of Information actively participates in an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program based within the College of Communication and Information.