Graduate Program: Archival Studies (Certificate NDP)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Archival Studies (Certificate NDP)  
Program Description

The Graduate Certificate in Archival Studies is designed to give students a solid grounding in the core knowledge of the archives and records management profession. The curriculum is structured around the guidelines for graduate programs set by the Society of American Archivists, ensuring that students will be competitive for jobs in a range of institutions possessing archival collections. 

For graduate students in other degree programs, the Certificate will provide an opportunity to learn more about archival practices as they affect the composition and meaning of cultural artifacts and the historical record. In addition, the program will offer advanced continuing education opportunities to practitioners working in libraries and archives, especially on the challenges posed by the emerging of digital recordkeeping.

Student Outcomes
This program is built around the official guidelines of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) for graduate archival studies programs, which call for a minimum of 18 credits as a foundation for archives and records management professionals. Upon graduation, students will have a thorough grounding in the core knowledge of the profession, focusing on the nature of records and the basic archival functions of records appraisal, acquisition, arrangement, description, preservation, reference, access, outreach, and archives administration. Students will also gain essential contextual knowledge of the organizational, legal, and cultural factors shaping archival records as they are created and managed over time.

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

The ever-increasing pace of technological innovation requires a more information-savvy workforce that understands not only the how, what, where, when, and why of technology and data but how to apply that knowledge.  At the University of Arizona’s School of Information, we have faculty and students engaged in research and education around all aspects of the information sciences without regard for disciplinary boundaries. We do research in: artificial intelligence; data management and curation; computer vision; computer-mediated communication and learning; natural language processing; social networking; human computer interfaces; dark networks; computational art creation; eCommerce, eGovernment, and eHealth; computational music; library sciences; educational and entertainment technologies; and much more.

We are preparing our graduates to be the doers, thinkers, solvers, and game-changers, not only of the problems and opportunities we see now, but also of the myriad scenarios we can’t yet imagine but are sure to arise during our students’ lifetimes.

**The Masters of Information degree has undergone a name change effective Spring 2023. Interested future students should search for the Masters of Science in Information Science, with sub-plans in either Machine Learning or Human-Centered Computing**

 
College

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campuses where offered

Arizona International Direct - Online

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

Arizona Online - Online

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Eric Gonzales
520-621-3567
Graduate Program Coordinator
Holly B Brown
520-621-7879
Director of Graduate Studies
Zack Lischer-Katz
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Megan Jia Mcnulty-Luoma
520-626-9962
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

The School of Information applies the same minimum criteria as it does for the Master of Arts in Library and Information Science.

  • a bachelor's degree from an accredited school/institution
  • a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • All students are required to complete certificate coursework within 4 years.

If you are not a current student in the School of Information, Master of Arts in Library and Information Science program, please carefully read the minimum requirements to apply for certificate admission.

Please complete this online application for admission to the Graduate College with and pay the application fee.  As part of the online application, you are required to submit the following materials. 

  • Unofficial transcripts from ALL higher education institutions attended (official transcripts are not needed until applications have been recommended to the Graduate College by the School of Information)
  • Unofficial proof of English proficiency scores (international students only) - official scores will be sent directly to the university
  • Current resumé or curriculum vitae (CV) in the "Supplemental Questions" section
  • Write a 750-1000 word Statement of Purpose that outlines any library experience, knowledge and/or skills you have that would make you successful in the program
  • Provide email addresses and contact information for two recommenders in the ‘Letters of Recommendation’ section.  Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by the recommenders no later than the application deadline.  Letters of recommendation uploaded past the deadline will not be considered

Please email official e-Transcripts to si-transcripts@email.arizona.edu directly from the institution or mail one official transcript to the following address (do not send to the Graduate College).  Official transcripts from ALL higher education institutions attended are required.

School of Information
The University of Arizona
Harvill 409
1103 E 2nd St.
Tucson, AZ 85721

If you are a current student in the Master of Arts in Library and Information Science program and meet the minimum requirements for this certificate, please submit the following:

  • Complete and submit a GradApp application
  • Write a 750-1000 word Statement of Purpose that outlines any library experience, knowledge or skills you have that would make you successful in the program
  • Unofficial transcripts - you can just uload the same transcripts from your MA application
  • A current resume and letters of recommendation are not required for current students. (You can just put your email address in the two recommenders fields as something needs to be in that field to be able to submit the application)

Both the application and written statement will be reviewed by the Certificate Coordinator for a decision.  

 
Standardized Tests

No standarized tests required.

 
Funding Opportunities

Financial Aid Opportunities are available for students completing a certificate program through UAOnline.  Please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OFSA) for more information.

There may be funding opportunities available through the School of Information, if completing both a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science and a certificate program.  Please see the School of Information Graduate Funding webpage for information and deadlines to apply.

 
Admissions Deadlines

 

Admission Deadlines:

Fall Semester: June 1

Spring Semester: October 15

Summer Semester: March 15

 

International Admission Deadlines:

Fall Semester: February 15

Spring Semester: September 1

Summer Semester: March 1

 

Global Campus Experience

Fall Semester: July 15

Spring Semester: November 15

Summer Semester: May 1

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

12 

Core Coursework Requirements

Certificate Requirements
The certificate requires a minimum of 12 to 15 credit hours in total (depending on admissions qualifications), including 9-12 units from required courses and 3 units from an elective course. 

Required Courses [12 credits]:
LIS 504:  Foundations of Library and Information Services (3 units)
LIS 540:  Introduction to Archives (3 units)
LIS 640:  Advanced Archives (3 units)
LIS 671:  Introduction to Digital Collections (3 units)

 

 
Elective Coursework

Elective Courses [3 credits]:
LIS 530:  Cataloging and Metadata Management (3 units)
LIS 541:  Preservation (3 units)(available to main campus students only)
LIS 557:  Documenting Diverse Cultures and Communities (3 units)
LIS 570:  Database Management and Development (3 units)
LIS 584:  Introduction to Copyright (3 units)
LIS 641: Community-focused Archives and Museums (3 units)
LIS 672:  Introduction to Applied Technology (3 units)
LIS 673:  Managing the Digital Information Environment (3 units)
LIS 674:  Preserving Digital Collections (3 units)
LIS 675:  Advanced Digital Collections (3 units)
LIS 693:  Internship (3 units)
LIS 699:  Independent Study (3 units)

 
Additional Requirements

N/A

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 
Persistent link:
Last revised 20 Jun 2022