Library and Information Studies (LIS)

Explores the definition, impact, and history of information and information transmission. Introduces technology used to create, read, store, retrieve and transmit information. Analyzes societal institutions, techniques, and processes for the creation, distribution and management of information. Assesses the role of the information professions and information systems in culture and society. Identifies and investigates the theoretical foundations, history, and ethics of information. Explores the techniques and processes involved in the creation, distribution and management of information. Explores current information issues such as the digital divide and the impact of social media.

Information policy and developments in information technology have a dramatic impact on society and how we find and use information. In turn, society is struggling with these dramatic changes and their effect on economics, politics, and the lives of individuals and communities. This course will explore the relationship between information policy and information, technology and society. Through readings, discussions, and assignments, students will probe complex issues such as information overload, the digital divide, information ethics, indeterminate authority, and the open access movement

Special Topics courses allow students to examine a variety of timely, cutting-edge areas in the field of Information Studies.

Information seeking is a complex information and communication activity in which people need access to diverse information resources in order to deal with personal, work-related, and social information problems. In a world full of easily available information, it is important to understand how the information we gather is a direct result of not only how information is created and organized, but also the way we seek information and how we evaluate the available sources we find. This course will examine the individual and social aspects of information needs, seeking, evaluation, and use in order for the students to gain an understanding of how to seek, gather, retrieve and use information.

Information management has been identified as a key function in public and private organizations in supporting the plans, decisions and operations of the organizations. The knowledge and skills of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data are critical to everyone who must keep track of information in on-the-job as well as everyday life situations. This course is an overview of general information management concepts, information management implementation techniques, concerns and strategies. Current trends in the area will also be introduced

The fields of Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Science have both made critical contributions to our understanding of how people process, use, and create information. This understanding has the potential to impact everyday life, whether it is in a career or in personal activity. This course will provide an overview of how cognitive psychology, together with cognitive science, can be applied to information studies. DISC ¿ 3 cr.; letter graded; not repeatable; no pre-reqs. Required for major, minor, or concentration; free elective. Effective Fall 2016 and subsequent fall semesters.

Information ethics, privacy, and policy permeate and impact all aspects of society and provide the foundation for governance. This course explores such concepts as the rule of law and democracy, the economics of information (intellectual property, copyright), intellectual freedom (censorship, access to information) and cyber-infrastructure (privacy and security, information communication technologies, social media, big data

There is little doubt that we live in a point in time where information and communication technologies permeate all aspects of life. How did we come to this ¿Age of Information¿ and how has information affected and been affected by human events? Is the current age the only period of human history impacted by ¿information revolutions?¿ Through readings, discussions, assignments, and presentations, students will probe information history to discover the complex role of information as a component of the events of human civilization from antiquity to the present day.

This course will provide the student with an introduction to decision making and how the results are communicated to individuals and organizations through organizational storytelling which combines information, communication, strategy, administration and organizational studies into a powerful communication tool for use in for-profit, non-profit, and other organizations. Properly done, organizational storytelling is used to communicate information, strategy, and decisions while providing a more innate understanding of organizational actions, decisions, or activities to both internal and external organizational members or stakeholders in both positive and challenging times in an organization¿s lifespan.