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Home – Programs – Career Pathways – Web Programming and Information Architecture

Web Programming and Information Architecture

The MLIS program requires 43 units for graduation. Within those units, five courses are required: LIBR 203, LIBR 200, LIBR 202, LIBR 204, LIBR 285, and either LIBR 289 or LIBR 299. Beyond those five courses, a student is free to select electives reflecting individual interests and aspirations.

The Career Pathway described here is provided solely for advising purposes. No special designation appears on your transcript or diploma. All students get an MLIS degree.

Description

This career pathway concentrates on the theories and supporting techniques related to the design, building, and management of Web-based information systems. These include:

• Design and development of user-centered information systems in a variety of information environments
• User interactions with information structures
• User interactions with other users
• Web applications
• Web site design and content creation
• Web based programming languages

Students in this career path will develop skills and expertise to improve the user's experience when interacting with Web-based systems. Work in information systems and design requires more than just the acquisition of a practical skill set. It is the ability to tailor technology to various information communities. It also requires knowledge of the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of the audience as prerequisites to building any information resource.

Employment Opportunities

Opportunities exist in all types of libraries as well as information agencies, automated library system vendors, and Web design companies. Sometimes the whole job will focus on technology; sometimes part of the job will consist of designing, building, and maintaining Web content. Students who concentrate in this specialization may work as:

• automated systems librarians
• database coordinators
• database developers
• emerging technologies librarians
• information architects
• knowledge integration librarians
• project managers
• reference tool developers
• systems analysts
• technology coordinators and trainers
• usability analysts
• user experience designers
• virtual services managers
• Web 2.0 developers
• Web content managers
• Web designers
• Web project managers
• Web technologists

Core Theory and Knowledge

• Ability to analyze and determine library computing requirements, develop new means of delivering service, coordinate and implement new electronic services, and support ongoing services
• Communicate ideas to peers as well as clientele without the overuse of technical jargon
• Identify specific needs for technologies in information search and management
• Match needs in specific situations with the functions and applications of emerging technologies
• Understand computing fundamentals (data structures, operating systems, usability issues, Web site design and creation, Web programming/scripting languages, Web 2.0 tools)
• Understand the principles of user-centric design and style, as well as how to choose appropriate interaction methods for particular circumstances and populations

Recommended Coursework

Required Courses:

• LIBR 203 Online Social Networking: Technology and Tools
• LIBR 200 Information and Society
• LIBR 202 Information Retrieval
• LIBR 204 Information Organizations and Management
• LIBR 285 Research Methods in Library and Information Science
• LIBR 289 or LIBR 299 Culminating Experience

Note: For this career path, LIBR 202 is the most important course. If you are not comfortable with the material and format of LIBR 202, then this is not the career for you.

Foundation Courses:

• LIBR 240 Information Technology Tools and Applications
• LIBR 242 Database Management
• LIBR 246 Information Technology Tools and Applications: Advanced
  Particularly Web 2.0, PHP, JavaScript, AJAX, XML
• LIBR 251 Web Usability
• LIBR 294 Professional Experience: Internships

Recommended Courses:

• LIBR 241 Automated Library Services
• LIBR 243 Systems Analysis
• LIBR 247 Vocabulary Design
• LIBR 282 Seminar in Library Management
  Section on project management
• LIBR 287 Seminar in Information Science
  Particularly virtual services, open movement, sections on specific current technologies

Effective leadership and management (of people and information) is critically important for all types of work environments and clients.

We recommend that students consider also selecting some courses from the Leadership and Management career path to complement or supplement core skills in other areas.

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