1. University of Arizona
School of Information Resources and Library Science
MA Program Degree Requirements
June 2009
A total of 12 courses or 36 credits plus the submission of an electronic portfolio are required in
order to graduate. Each class represents three credits.
1. Core Classes (all four courses below are required):
IRLS 504: Foundations of Library & Information Services
IRLS 506: Research Methods for Library & Information Professionals
IRLS 515: Organization of Information
IRLS 520: Ethics for Library & Information Professionals
2. Distributed Electives (choose one from each of the four categories below):
Evaluation of User Needs & Information Resources
Focuses on issues related to intermediating information needs and uses, with an emphasis on the
identification and evaluation of information-bearing objects singly and in collections.
IRLS 521: Children & Young Adult Literature in a Multicultural Society
IRLS 524: Information Resource & Services
IRLS 532: Online Searching
IRLS 533: Medical Online Searching
IRLS 560: Information Resources Development
IRLS 572: Government Information: Policy & Resources
IRLS 585: Information Literacy Instruction
IRLS 587: Information Seeking Behaviors
IRLS 589: Scholarly Communication
IRLS 660: Business Information Resources
IRLS 671: Introduction to Digital Collections
IRLS 696B: Issues in Libraries: Writing Seminar
Management of Information Services
Focuses on issues related to the management of information resources, services, organizations,
and environments, with an emphasis on planning, evaluating, and strategizing.
IRLS 502: Management & Security of Public Non-Profit Information Systems
IRLS 561: Academic Library Administration & Practice
IRLS 562: Public Library Administration & Practice
IRLS 564: Corporate Library Administration & Practice
IRLS 565: Health Sciences Library Practice & Administration
IRLS 581: School Library Administration & Practice
IRLS 608: Planning & Evaluation of Library & Information Centers
IRLS 613: Decision Making for Library & Information Professionals
1

2. IRLS 673: Managing the Digital Information Environment
IRLS 681e: Law Library Practice & Administration
Information Technology & Networked Digital Information
Focuses on issues related to information and communication technologies and networks, with an
emphasis on impacts on individual users, groups, organizations, and society.
IRLS 570: Database Development & Management
IRLS 571: Introduction to Information Technology
IRLS 573: Information Technology in Libraries
IRLS 574: Digital Libraries
IRLS 575: User Interface & Website Design
IRLS 614: Information Theory & Transfer
IRLS 634: Data Management in Health Care Systems
IRLS 646: Health Care Information Theory
IRLS 650: Theory of Leadership & Organization
IRLS 672: Introduction to Applied Technology
IRLS 674: Preservation of Digital Collections
IRLS 675: Advanced Digital Collections
Cultural Perspectives on Libraries and Information
Focuses on issues related to equity and diversity, with an emphasis on the values and service
orientation of the library and information professions.
IRLS 521: Children & Young Adult Literature in a Multicultural Society
IRLS 542: Issues in Special Collections
IRLS 550: Information Environments from Hispanic & Native American Perspectives
IRLS 551: Equity of Access
IRLS 553: Issues in Culture & Information Technology
IRLS 554: Diverse Cultures, Communities, & Libraries
IRLS 555: Issues in Indigenous Information Services
IRLS 556: Adult Services in Public Libraries: Theory & Practice from Cultural Perspectives
IRLS 557: Documenting Diverse Cultures and Communities
IRLS 559: Marketing of Library and Information Services to Communities
IRLS 651: Information Policy & Cultural Perspectives
3. Free Electives
• Two classes from the distributed elective categories above or from any other SIRLS
courses listed on our schedule.
4. Other Curricular Options (choose two courses, or six credits, from the following):
• UA, non-SIRLS, or out of department courses (prior approval is required from faculty
advisor)
• Most DigIn Certificate Program courses (IRLS 671, 672, 673, 674, 675)
2

3. • Internship/practicum (limit three credits within 36 credits; faculty advisor approval is
required; students may take an additional internship beyond 36 credits but only three
credits may be presented for the MA)
• Independent study (approval from faculty advisor is required; must be directed by a
SIRLS full-time faculty member)
• Thesis (usually six credits across two semesters)
• Additional SIRLS electives (distributed electives or not).
• SIRLS students may only transfer credits earned from another ALA-accredited library
and information science program. Up to six transfer credits in which a letter grade of A
or B was earned may be accepted upon approval of the student's advisor. Transfer credits
cannot be used to take the place of any of the four core courses (IRLS 504, 506, 515,
520). Courses taken at the University of Arizona are not transfer courses; they are out-of-
department courses and must also be approved by the student's advisor before they can be
applied to the degree. Additional restrictions are placed on out-of-department courses,
such as they cannot be older than six years at the time of graduation and a letter grade of
at least a B must be earned.
In summary, students can present only one internship or practicum toward the 36 credits
needed to graduate. If students take two non-SIRLS courses for six credits, UA or otherwise,
they cannot then present internship or practica credits for graduation.
5. Electronic Portfolio (required capstone assignment; no credits attached):
• An introductory, or beginning, competency reflection is due as part of an IRLS 504
homework assignment
• A mid-program competency reflection is due the semester you complete 18 credits; your
Plan of Study (POS) will not be approved until you have completed this step
• A professional reflection is due any time during your program of study at SIRLS
• A final program reflection is due the semester of graduation
• ePortfolio website: http://sirls.arizona.edu/
Please contact any of the following people with questions about the above information:
Program Coordinator, Sr., Polly Lindeman Mitchell, plmitch@email.arizona.edu
Admissions Officer Geraldine Fragoso, gfragoso@email.arizona.edu
Interim Director Tom Wilding, wilding@email.arizona.edu
3