General Information
Programs
Library and Information Science (LIS)
The program offers students a fully online 36-hour master’s degree (MSLS) as well as the
option of earning School Librarian certification. The LIS program has continuing
accreditation from the American Library Association (ALA) and encompasses skills and
areas such as knowledge creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition,
organization and description, storage and retrieval, preservation, analysis, interpretation,
evaluation, synthesis, and dissemination of information. Students can pursue nine tracks:
Academic Libraries, Generalist, Health Information, Information Organization/Knowledge
Representation, Information Systems, Instructional Services, Public Libraries, School
Libraries, and Youth Services and Literature. The program also has an ongoing Alternative
Spring Break internship program at the Smithsonian Libraries and National Library of and a
local internship program at UK Libraries.
Information Communication Technology (ICT)/Information Studies (IS)
The ICT undergraduate major focuses on the intersection of technology, people who use
that technology, policies and regulations that govern the use of that technology, and
communities or environments in which that technology is used. The program offers a BA or
BS and has two tracks: ICT Commercialization and Technology Management. Students can
also customize their own program of study. There is also a study abroad opportunity in
Germany for ICT students.
The ICT master’s program, which began in August 2015, is designed to prepare students to
assume positions that require more in-depth knowledge of the field. The curricula reflect the
knowledge and skill sets students need to successfully compete in the ICT job market.
Students in the ICT master’s program will begin to focus on a certain area or aspect of
Information Communication Technology. Students admitted to the master’s program may
concentrate their studies into one of three tracks: health, technology and analytics, or policy and
regulation. Or, students may choose to work with their adviser to create a program of ICT
that best suits their educational and professional goals.
Information Studies focuses on preparing students to store, manage, and extract data
efficiently. The minor is an attractive complement to most majors at UK. IS courses are
taught by both LIS and ICT faculty as well as part-time instructors. Several courses for the
Information Studies (IS) minor (offered fully online at UK) are cross-listed with the ICT
core courses.
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