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Graduate School Course Catalog 2011-2013 
    
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Graduate School Course Catalog 2011-2013 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School of Library and Information Sciences

Dr. Irene Owens, Dean and Professor
Telephone: (919) 530-6485
Fax: (919) 530-6402
E-mail: iowens@nccu.edu

Mrs. Keneta Wright Brooks
Telephone: (919)-530-7585
Fax: (919) 530-6402
Email: kwright7@nccu.edu

Mrs. Virginia Purefoy Jones, Librarian/Assistant to the Dean
Telephone: (919)-530-7323
Email: vpjones@nccu.edu

Joint Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science (J.D./M.L.S.)

Please visit:
http://law.nccu.edu/academics/jointdegree.html

Joint Master of Business Administration/ Master of Information Science (M.B.A./M.I.S.)

Please visit:
http://mba.nccu.edu/about_coursesmba.php

Admissions

School of Library and Information Sciences

  • June 1 for Fall admission; November 1 for Spring admission
  • If international student: May 1 for Fall admission; October 1 for Spring admission

Honors

For the School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) students, degrees with honors will be awarded as:

  • Summa Cum Laude to students with a grade point average of 4.0
  • Magna Cum Laude to students with a grade point average of 3.9
  • Cum Laude to students with a grade point average of 3.75 to 3.89.

History

The School of Library and Information Sciences (SLIS) was authorized by the North Carolina State Legislature in 1939 and is the only graduate program of its kind among historically black colleges and universities. The School of Library Science was organized as a professional school in 1941. An undergraduate major was discontinued in 1943. The Master’s program in Library Science was initiated in 1950, with the first M.L.S. being awarded in 1951. The school name was changed to the School of Library and Information Sciences in1984. Beginning with the 1990-91 academic years, the school offered an interdisciplinary program in information sciences leading to the Master’s in Information Science (M.I.S.)

The school vision is to promote access to information for all humanity. Supporting this vision, the SLIS mission is to prepare professionals to become leaders who can advance the library and information sciences in a diverse and global society.

Located on the third floor of the James E. Shepard Memorial Library, the SLIS has offices, classroom, labs, and a library. There are two special collections housed in the school: (1) papers of African-American librarians and (2) works by African-American authors and illustrators of children’s materials. The computer laboratory supports the curriculum objective of fully integrating the instruction of automated library systems, computer information systems, database management systems and internet applications into all courses. The SLIS has a webpage at www.nccuslis.org.

Priorities

The SLIS has evolved from a program dedicated to educating and training librarians to one that also offers training for positions in information management, informatics, and digital librarianship. The school offers a curriculum leading to two separate graduate degrees – the Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) and the Master of Information Science (M.I.S.). In addition, the SLIS offers two joint degree programs with the School of Law (J.D. /M.L.S.) and the School of Business (M.I.S./M.B.A.). Students can also complete NC Public Librarian and NC Department of Public Instruction School Media Coordinator certification and licensure. Courses are offered evenings, Saturdays, summers and online (through the NCCU Extended Studies division).

The faculty recognizes the growing importance of web-based and multi-media resources and computer-related technologies. The consensus is that instruction in these areas must be integrated into all courses to which they are related, regardless of the availability of courses that are entirely devoted to them. Finally, freedom has a very special meaning for this school. The concept of intellectual freedom, therefore, is given a prominent place in all instruction. Avoiding censorship of racially and sexually biased materials is a particularly difficult area, but it is faced honestly by the faculty.

Programs

The SLIS offers a curriculum that leads to two separate degrees –the Master of Library Science and the Master of Information Science. General preparation in librarianship and information science and opportunities for some specialization is also provided. The school also offers a joint program with the School of Law and with the School of Business in which students can receive joint degrees. The SLIS offers the M.L.S. and M.I.S. degree via the Internet (except for the Archives and Records Management track in Library Science).

Joint Degrees

The School of Library and Information Sciences also offers two joint degrees:

  • with the School of Law a law librarian degree: Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science (J.D./M.L.S.)
  • with the School of Business a joint degree: Master of Information Science/Master of Business Administration (M.I.S./M.B.A.).

Admission Requirements

Admission to the SLIS requires that candidates possess an undergraduate degree at the Bachelor level and a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, experience, and letters of recommendation are also considered in the admissions process. Applicants must submit official score reports for the GRE taken within the last five years. Applicants holding an earned doctorate degree may request a waiver. See www.nccuslis.org for full list of admissions requirements. For more information and to begin the process, contact the SLIS Director of Graduate Studies.

Degree Requirements

The general requirements for the degrees of Master of Library Science and Master of Information Science for students who have been admitted are:

  1. Successful completion of 36 hours of course work approved by the Dean. In addition, a candidate for graduation must have a minimal cumulative average of a B (3.0) for graduation. Course requirements for students with another master’s or
    doctorate may be reduced at the discretion of the Admissions Committee or approved by the Dean.
  2. Matriculation for a minimum period of two semesters or four summer sessions. All work credited towards a master’s degree must be completed within a period of six years.
  3. Demonstration of reading knowledge in a foreign language, sign language, statistics or a programming language. The requirement may be fulfilled by one semester of course work (3 hours credit) at the undergraduate or graduate level. Alternatively, the requirement may be fulfilled (a) if the student passes a modern language examination administered for this purpose by the Modern Foreign Language Department at North Carolina Central University in French, German, or Spanish, or (b) if the student has a currently valid professional IT certification.

Joint Degree Requirements (J.D/M.L.S.)

J.D. /M.L.S. students must take the core courses, one type of library course, and an elective for a total of 24 hours of credit. Consult an academic advisor and the School of Law for a complete list of joint degree requirements.

Faculty and Staff

Owens, Irene, 2005 – Dean and Professor
B.S., Elementary Education, Barber-Scotia College
M.L.S., Library Science, University of Maryland
M.A. R.S., Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Howard University
Ph.D., Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Brooks, Keneta Wright, 2010 – Executive Assistant to the Dean
B.A., Sociology, Georgia State University
B.S., Psychology, Georgia State University

Jones, Virginia Purefoy, 1977 – University
Librarian/Assistant to the Dean
B.A., Spanish, North Carolina Central University
M.L.S., Library Science, North Carolina Central University

Preston, Marie, 2010 – University Library Technician
B.A., History and Government, Bowie State University
M.L.S., Library Science, North Carolina Central University

Aber, Susan E. Ward- Lecturer
B.S., Geology, University of Kansas
Professional Gemologist, Gemological Institute of America
Ph.D, Library and Information Management, Emporia State University

Abdullahi, Ismail, 2005 – Associate Professor
M.L.S., Library Science, North Carolina Central University
Ph.D., Library Science, University of Pittsburgh

Amaniampong, Gyesi – Lecturer
M.S., Engineering, Dresden University of Technology
Ph.D., Engineering, University of Cambridge

Ballard, Robert M., 1976 – Professor
A. B., History, Morehouse College
M.S., Library Science, Atlanta University
M.A., Education, Eastern Michigan University
Ph.D., Library Science, University of Michigan

Bracy, Pauletta B., 1981 – Professor
B.A., Fisk University
M.L.S., Library Science, University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D., Library Science, University of Michigan

Cogdell, Edna, 1994 – Lecturer
B. A., English, Fayetteville State University
M. S., Educational Media, North Carolina A. & T. State University
M.L.S., Library Science, North Carolina Central University
Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Fayetteville State University

Exner, Little Bear, Frank, 2004 – Lecturer
B.A., Liberal Studies, Bowling Green State University
M.L.S., Library Science, North Carolina Central University
M.I.S., Information Science, North Carolina Central University
Ph.D., University of Pretoria (RSA)

Green, Ravonne, 2009 – Lecturer
B.S., Library Science, James Madison University
M.S., Library Science, Vanderbilt University
M.A., Ed.S., Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Mayo, Kim, 2008 – Lecturer
B.A., English Literature and Secondary Education, Hofstra University
M.L.S., Library Science, North Carolina Central University
Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Morgan, Chad, 2008 – Lecturer/Online
Coordinator
B.A., History, University of Florida
M.A., Ph.D., History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Morgan, Deanne, 2009 – Lecturer
B.S., Political Science, East Tennessee State University
M.S., Library Science, University of Illinois
J.D., Law, Southern Illinois University

Ozoh, Ruphina, 2010 – Lecturer
B.A., Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria
M.S.L.S., Library and Information Science, Clark Atlanta University
Ph.D., Information Technology Management, Capella University

Peterson, Gabriel, 2007 – Assistant Professor
B.S., Chemistry, New Mexico State University
M.S., University of Texas at San Antonio
Ph. D., Information Science, University of Missouri at Columbia

Seaver, Barry, 2009 – Lecturer
A. B., History, Cornell University
M.A., History, University of Connecticut
M.S., Library Science, Columbia University
Ph.D., Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Swain, Deborah E., 2003 – Associate Professor
B.A., English, Duke University
M.A., English, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Ph.D., Information Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Terrell, Thomas, 2009 - Lecturer
B.A., Interdisciplinary Humanities, Florida Technological University
M.A., Educational Media and Instructional Technology, University of Central Florida
Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Central Florida

Underwood, Linda, 2009 - Lecturer
B.A., Library Science and Social Studies, Marshall University
M.A., Reading Education, Marshall University
M.L.I.S., Library and Information Science, Louisiana State University
Ed.D., Education, West Virginia University

Wu, Yan, 2009 – Lecturer
B.A., English Education, Southwest Jiaotong  University (China)
M.S., Ph.D., Information Science, University of North Texas

Yoo, Eun-Young, 2004 – Assistant Professor
B.A., English, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
M.A., Journalism and Mass Communications, Sogang University
Ph.D., Library and Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programs