Interested in earning an online archival certificate, with MLIS or post MLIS degree, from an ALA-accredited program?

1. Interested in an online
Certificate in Archives and Special
Collections?
Dr. Matthew Griffis and Dr. Teresa Welsh
www.usm.edu/slis

2. What is an archives certificate?
 18-credit hour graduate
program that prepares
students for careers in
archives and related
fields
 combines online
courses related to
archival history, theory,
methods, organization,
and ethics, with an
archival practicum
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3. What is an archives certificate?
 can be earned with an
MLIS degree, a related
master’s, or as post-
master’s certificate for
those holding an MLIS or
master’s degree in a related
field
 completed entirely online
via assignments, weekly
class meetings (in a live,
virtual classroom), and a
practicum arranged near the
student
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4. Why earn an archives certificate?
 a graduate certificate can increase professional
opportunities:
 archivist at public or private repository, college or university
 curator of special collections at an academic library, research
center, or other cultural repository
 public history professional
archives professionals come from a variety of academic
and professional backgrounds:
 History, English, Education, Library and Information Science
 Digital Humanities, Information Technology, Computer Sciences
 Public History, Museum Studies
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5. 5
What courses should I take?
 Required courses:
 LIS 646: Introduction to Archival Theory and Practice (3 credits)
 LIS 647: Introduction to Archival Organization (3 credits)
 LIS 648: Archival Practicum (3 credits)
 LIS 645: Digital Preservation (3 credits)
 LIS 652: Metadata for Digital Collections (3 credits)
 Electives (choose one):
 LIS 506: Cataloging Multimedia Objects (3 credits)
 LIS 533: History of the Book (3 credits)
 LIS 580: British Studies (3 credits)
 LIS 631: History of Libraries and Librarianship (3 credits)
 LIS 634: History of Children’s Literature (3 credits)
 LIS 692: Special Problems (on an approved topic) (3 credits)

6. What are the admission requirements?
 online application form
and fee
 official transcript(s)
 resume or CV
 a “Statement of Purpose”
(application essay) of 750 -
1,000 words that explains
your interest in a career in
archives and special
collections
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What happens after you apply?
 after all required items are submitted and application
fee paid ($60)….
 application is reviewed by the Graduate School and
then the SLIS Admissions Committee
 the Committee considers total application
 past academic record (2.75 - 4.0 GPA on last 60 hrs = regular admit,
2.0 - <2.75 GPA = conditional admit)
 application essay
 resume or CV
SLIS Director reviews recommendation, sends to
Grad School

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What are the deadlines?
 SLIS has rolling applications… we review applications up
until beginning of each semester
 Graduate School closes applications to upcoming
semester about a month before the new semester…. but
 applicants who begin online application before closing the
portal are allowed to complete the application
 applicants may apply as non-degree and earn up to 12
credit hours that can be applied to degree
 SLIS accepts new students in fall, spring, and summer

9. Why choose Southern Miss SLIS?
 accredited by American Library Association since 1980;
re-accredited in 2012 for max 7 years
 only ALA-accredited program in state; assigned LIS
leadership status by Institution of Higher Learning
accredited by Council for Accreditation of Education
Preparation (CAEP)
 rated USM top-tier program
 award-winning faculty; distinguished
alumni
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10. What is unique about SLIS?
 no rigid cohorts; no out-of-
state fees
 classes meet each week in live,
virtual classrooms
 British Studies each summer in
London
 children’s Book Festival in
spring
 variety of core courses,
electives offered each semester
 personal attention from faculty,
staff, GAs
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11. What are the program options?
 MLIS degree w/choice of 5 electives
 MLIS w/School Library Licensure emphasis
Graduate Certificates (12 credit hrs can count for both
MLIS and certificate if earned together)
 Grad Certificate in Archives & Special Collections
 Grad Certificate in Youth Services & Literature
dual master’s degree in MLIS/Anthro, MLIS/History,
MLIS/Political Sci, or MLIS/IT
other online USM certificates in Business Foundations,
Instructional Technology
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12. How to keep up w/SLIS news:
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Social Media
 Facebook:
facebook.com/School-of-Library-and-Information-Science-
 Twitter: twitter.com/usmslis
LinkedIn: Southern Miss School of Library &
Information Science
YouTube Channel: SLIS at Southern Miss

13. Read SLIS Connecting:
open-access e-journal
indexed in DOAJ, Ulriches
Directory, Google Scholar
published each spring &
fall, downloaded more than
54,000x
3 or more refereed student
research papers
updates on program,
classes, students, alums,
faculty
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14. Questions?
Email:
matthew.griffis@usm.edu
teresa.welsh@usm.edu