updated 8/15/2008

Overview

The program emphasizes research-based learning and incorporates opportunities for service learning, internship, and work-study in a wide range of public and private organizations and agencies. In addition to providing a strong background for graduate work in library and information science, law, social science, and business, the graduate will be well suited to compete for beginning level positions as a competitive intelligence analyst, consultant, database developer and analyst, data mining specialist, information architect, archivist and records manager, information broker, information consultant, Internet researcher, knowledge management consultant, online searcher, navigation designer, researcher/analyst, Web designer/developer/programmer, and others related to organizational needs for workers who understand information resources and services.

Admission

First-year Students. In order to be admitted to the B.S. in Information Science degree program of study in the School of Library and Information Science, first-year students must meet all University admission requirements. In order to continue in the program, each student must attain a minimum USC GPA of 2.50 upon completion of 30 degree-applicable hours. Credit received for remedial work is not counted toward the 30 hours.

Transfer Students. A student desiring to transfer to the B.S. in Information Science program of the School of Library and Information Science from either another college or school of the University or another institution must have a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.50 on all work attempted. Transfer students from other institutions must take at least half of the information science course work in residence at the University of South Carolina Columbia. Required information science courses from schools taken from other schools must be validated by proficiency tests. No more than 12 semester hours of required information science courses from other schools may be applied toward the B.S. degree in Information Science.

Keyboard proficiency and completion of ENGL 101 and 102 with grades of C or higher are prerequisites for admission to the B.S. in I.S. upper-division program.

Progression Requirements

Each student within the school is expected to make orderly progress toward a baccalaureate degree. To facilitate this, the school’s undergraduate program is divided into upper and lower divisions.

1. Lower-division students are those who have earned fewer than 60 semester hours toward the degree or who do not meet admission requirements to the upper division.

2. Admission to the upper division is based upon a minimum 2.50 cumulative USC GPA; completion of SLIS 201 and 202 with grades of C or higher; completion of 60 or more semester hours toward the degree; completion of most general education requirements (see below); selection of a particular program of study within the School; and selection and approval of a minor. All students desiring to be admitted to the upper division must formally apply for admission some time after completion of 45 semester hours and SLIS 201 and 202 and before completion of more than 75 hours of University course work.

3. All students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on USC courses in order to maintain good standing in the School and to graduate with a B.S. in Information Science. Grades will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Students who have less than a 2.50 GPA on USC work are not in good standing and will be placed on probation within the School. With the exception of upper-division courses, they may continue to take course work toward their degree if seats are available.

4. All majors within the School will be expected to pass all Information Science courses used toward the degree with a minimum grade of C.

5. No Information Science course may be repeated more than once by any student.

Second Degree. Students from other USC colleges who expect to obtain a second baccalaureate degree from the School of Library and Information Science must file a statement of intent with the School before completing 90 semester hours, must meet regular admission and progression requirements of the School, must be assigned an Information Science advisor, and must formally apply to and be accepted by the School not later than the next-to-the-last semester in which the student expects to receive the Information Science degree.

B.S. in Information Science Degree Requirements
(126 hours)

1. Satisfactory completion, with a cumulative GPA at the time of graduation of at least 2.50, of all SLIS courses required for the degree.

2. Total cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 on all course work attempted.

3. Approval of a program of study for the B.S. in Information Science and a minor field of study.

General Education Requirements (72 hours)
English (15 hours)
ENGL 101 and 102 (grade of C or better in each)
One course from ENGL 282 through 289 (ENGL 283 and 285 are recommended)
One course from ENGL 460, 462-465, 600-605
One additional ENGL course

Humanities and Fine Arts (9 hours)
SPCH 140 or 260
MART 110
LING 300

Social and Behavioral Sciences and History (30 hours)
JOUR 201
Two HIST courses (one must be non-U.S.)
Three courses from AFRO; COLA; CRJU; GEOG (except 201, 202, 545, 546); LASP; POLI; RELG; SOST; THEA; WOST
Four courses from ANTH, PSYC, SOCY

Natural Sciences, Numerical/Analytical Reasoning, Foreign Language (18 hours)
Seven hours natural science chosen from the following fields to include one 4-credit laboratory science course from: ASTR; BIOL; CHEM; ENVR; GEOG 201, 202, 545, 546; GEOL; MSCI; PHYS
STAT 110 and one of the following: STAT 201, MATH 122 or 141, PHIL 110 or 111
Additional hours from natural science or numerical/analytical reasoning or foreign language
Foreign language: students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of two or better on a USC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of foreign language at USC. Course work equivalent to university foreign language course work at or above the 121 level will apply toward the BSIS degree. If USC foreign language courses numbered 109 and 110 (or 111) are taken to meet the University's proficiency requirement, a maximum of 4 hours will apply toward the BSIS degree.

B.S. in Information Science Degree Courses (36 hours)

Required Courses (12 hours)
All students majoring in information science must satisfactorily complete, with a grade of C or better, the following courses (see complete description of each course below):
SLIS 201 Introduction to Information Science (3)
SLIS 202 Information Use and Literacy (3)
SLIS 301 Knowledge Representation and Information Retrieval (3)
SLIS 402 Management within Information Environments (3)

Related Required Courses (12 hours)
CSCE 204 Program Design and Development–Introduction to Programming (3)
TSTM 343 Introduction to Technology Support and Training Management (3)
TSTM 348 Application for Technical Support II–Database Management (3)
TSTM 362 Web-based Support Systems–Training Systems (3)

Listing of Elective Information Science Courses (12 hours required)
SLIS 310 Research Methods in Information Science (3)
SLIS 315 Information Policy (3)
SLIS 410 Knowledge Management (3)
SLIS 420 Communication and Information Transfer (3)
SLIS 430 User Centered Information Architecture (3)
SLIS 435 Digital Information Infrastructure (3)
SLIS 440 Competitive Intelligence (3)
SLIS 480 Emerging Topics in Information Science (3)
SLIS 494 Independent Study in Information Science (3-6)
SLIS 496 Internship in Information Science (3-6)

Additional Elective Courses or Minor (18 hours)
A student majoring in information science has the option of completing a specified minor sequence of prescribed courses prescribed by the unit offering the minor (see Complementary Programs below) or selecting an additional 18 hours of elective courses, as approved by the advisor. General education requirement courses do not count as electives. All elective courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or better. For descriptions of specific minors, students should consult the department in which they wish to minor for a list of courses, noting completion of their minor and have prerequisites that may not count towards the minor. A minor advisement form must be completed by the end of the junior year (having completed between 60 and 90 semester hours) year and approved by the school.

SLIS Complementary Programs
A student majoring in one of the University programs listed below may choose the prescribed minor in information science. Similarly, a B.S. student may take one of the predesigned complementary programs established with the technology support and training management (TSTM) program in the College of Hotel, Retail, and Sports Management; the visual arts program in the College of Arts and Sciences; or the public relations or visual communications majors in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. At a minimum, the 18 hours of SLIS courses, as described below, satisfy the complementary program requirement.

Technology Support and Training Management Courses
TSTM 345 Introduction to Networking (3)
TSTM 352 End-User Interface Design (3)
TSTM 444 Corporate Training and Development
TSTM 445 Advanced Networking (3)
TSTM 545 Telecommunications (3)
TSTM 562 Advanced Web Support Systems (3)

Visual Communications Courses
JOUR 364 Introduction to Visual Communications (3)
JOUR 337 Photovisual Communications (3)
JOUR 464 Graphics for Visual Communications (3)
JOUR 529 Informational Graphics
JOUR 537 Advanced Photovisual Communications. (3)
JOUR 564 Advanced Visual Communications (3)

Public Relations Courses
JOUR 201 Survey of Mass Communications (3)
JOUR 303 Law and Ethics of the Mass Media (3)
JOUR 328 Principles of Public Relations (3)
JOUR 463 Topics (3)
JOUR 542 Public Opinion and Propaganda (3)
JOUR 568 Public Relations Practicum (3)

Media Arts Courses
MART 210 Digital Media Arts Fundamentals (3)
MART 321 Writing for Media (3)
MART 380 Web Media Arts (3)
MART 522 Writing for Corporate Media. (3)
MART 581 Interactive Computer Media Arts(3)
MART 582 Interface Design for Media Arts (3)

SLIS Courses
SLIS 201 Introduction to Information Science (3)
SLIS 202 Information Use and Literacy (3)
SLIS 301 Knowledge Representation and Information Retrieval (3)
Plus any 3:
SLIS 315 Information Policy (3)
SLIS 410 Knowledge Management (3)
SLIS 420 Communication and Information Transfer (3)
SLIS 430 User-Centered Information Architecture (3)
SLIS 435 Digital Information Infrastructure (3)
SLIS 440 Competitive Intelligence (3)
SLIS 580 Emerging topics in Information Science (3)
SLIS 594 Independent Study in Information Science (3)
SLIS 596 Internship in Information Science (3-6)

SLIS Minor for Students Majoring in other programs (18 hours)

A student with a major in other University programs may choose to select a minor field of study in Information Science. A minimum of 18 hours of SLIS courses, as described below, satisfies this minor requirement:
SLIS 201 (3)
SLIS 202 (3)
SLIS 301 (3)
Any 3 other SLIS courses in the 300-500 range (prerequisites must be observed)

Course Descriptions (SLIS)

• 201 -- Introduction to Information Science. (3) Major concepts, principles, theories, issues, and trends in the development of Information Science.
  
• 202 -- Information Use and Literacy. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201 or concurrent enrollment) Concepts, issues, theories, and techniques of information storage and retrieval systems. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of information systems, their use and application, and evaluation method.
  
• 220 -- Using Information Resources. (3) (Prereq: CSCE 101 or equivalent) Introduction to information services and sources available in print and electronic format. Techniques for locating, evaluating, and using information resources basic to academic work.
  
• 301 -- Knowledge Representation and Information Retrieval. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201 or concurrent enrollment) Introduction to the concepts, issues, theories, and techniques of information storage and retrieval systems.
  
• 310 -- Research Methods in Information Science. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201, STAT 110 or 201 or concurrent enrollment) Overview of major types of research methods and techniques within the field of information science. Methods of data analysis, evaluation of published research, and ethical principles.
  
• 315 -- Information Policy. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201) Problems and ethical issues that arise in the development and implementation of information policies in Information Science.
  
• 325 -- Children's Literature. (3) A study of materials for children from birth through elementary school (age 13) with emphasis on the evaluation, selection, and use of those materials to meet the educational, cultural, and recreational needs of children.
  
• 402 -- Introduction to Management Within Information Environments. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201 or concurrent enrollment) History, development, and implementation of theories and practices associated with managing information environments.
  
• 410 -- Knowledge Management. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 301) An introduction to the background, principles, practices, and technologies of knowledge management for library and information professionals.
  
• 420 -- Communication and Information Transfer. (3) (Prereq: 201 or permission of instructor) An overview of the communication models, major concepts, trends, and other related issues of information transfer with a focus on information seeking and use in digital age.
  
• 430 -- Use-Centered Information Architecture. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 202) Processes and techniques for designing user-centered information systems on the Web. Issues of needs analysis, content development, cognitive models, human-computer interaction, interface design, and usability testing.
  
• 435 -- Digital Information Infrastructure. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 202, 402) Theoretical and technological foundations of building the digital information infrastructure. Emphasis on technical aspects of managing digital assets for Intranet and Internet use.
  
• 440 -- Competitive Intelligence. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201, 202, 301, 402) Strategies and techniques for locating competitive intelligence information.
  
• 480 -- Emerging Topics in Information Science. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201, 202, 301, 402) Examination of selected current and emerging topics in the field of information science. May be repeated once for credit as topics vary.
  
• 494 -- Independent Study in Information Science. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201, 202, 301, 402) Independent study in an area of information science relevant to the student’s professional goals. May be repeated once for credit as topics vary.
  
• 496 -- Internship in Information Science. (3) (Prereq: SLIS 201, 202, 301, 402, and permission of the school) Supervised field experience in an information agency relevant to student’s professional goals. Approval of the appropriate internship application must be submitted early in the semester preceding enrollment.
  
• 501 -- Teaching and Training in Distributed Environments. (3) Knowledge and skills for applying complementary technologies for learning in distributed learning environments (Pre-K-lifelong) through lecture, demonstration, and discussion.
  
• 523 -- Materials for Early Childhood. (3) Media resources and techniques for children from birth to 9 years. Reading interests and developmental needs of young children. Authors, illustrators, indexes, bibliographic tools, evaluation sources, and professional literature. Not open to students enrolled in M.L.I.S. program.
  
• 525 -- Materials for Children. (3) Media resources for children. Reading interests of children and their curricular and independent needs for information. Authors, illustrators, indexes, bibliographic tools, and sources of evaluation of materials for children. Techniques and literature for read-aloud programs and storytelling. Not open to students enrolled in M.L.I.S. program.
  
• 527 -- Materials for Adolescents. (3) Media resources for adolescents. Reading interests of adolescents and their curricular and independent information needs. Study of relationships of media to information needs and critical comparison between classic and contemporary materials for adolescents. Indexes, bibliographic tools, and sources of evaluation of materials. Not open to students enrolled in M.L.I.S. program.
  
• 529 -- Topics in Library, Information, and Media Services. (3) Specific topics of current concern to the library, information, and media professions to be identified by suffix letters. Not open to students enrolled in M.L.I.S. program.
  
• 530 -- Applications of Information Technology and the Infrastructure. (3) Introductory knowledge for school library media specialists, teachers, administrators, parents, and other citizens interested in practical applications of information technology to support learning, decision making, and community building.
  
• 600 -- Storytelling: Theory, Practice, and Development. (3) Storytelling methods, techniques, and materials encompassing heritage, art, literature, and programming.
  

College of Mass Communications and Information Studies