February 13, 1998UNT SLIS Board of Advisors

SLIS Masters DegreePrograms of Study

• Maintains generalist orientation within the accredited MLS

• Provides opportunity for concentration• Offers coherent framework of courses • Emphasizes student/advisor negotiated

contract

February 13, 1998UNT SLIS Board of Advisors

POS Principals & Perspectives

• Entrepreneurial– Faculty propose POS– Develop curriculum

• Responsive to: – perceived market

needs– opportunities– trends

February 13, 1998UNT SLIS Board of Advisors

Structure of POS

• Core courses as foundation• Specific POS course requirements• No preordained credit hour

requirements (minimum of 36 hours)• Draws upon existing course inventory

and encourages development of new courses

• Courses can support one or more POS

February 13, 1998UNT SLIS Board of Advisors

Three POS for 1998

• General Practitioner – Basic 36 hours MLS– Generalist– 9 hours core courses– 15 hours -- one course required in each area:

• Information Organization• Information Access• Information Technology• User Information Behaviors• Management

• Medical Informatics• Learning Resources Endorsement/School

Library and Media

February 13, 1998UNT SLIS Board of Advisors

Some Implications

• Rapid response to changing markets and technology and information trends

• Rational basis for course inventory– each course supports one or more POS– eliminate courses not being used

• Potential for major course development to support POS

• Potential for collaboration (within & outside UNT) to support POS

February 13, 1998UNT SLIS Board of Advisors

Your Tasks

• Today: Each group will– Discuss POS as strategy for SLIS curriculum

• Dangers -- too narrow scope of specific POS?• Opportunities -- making SLIS more competitive?• Criteria for selecting POS -- which ones should we

do?

– Assess whether graduates would have more value to you?

– Identify and develop a POS for consideration

• Future: BOA will– Ongoing assessment of POS strategy– Feedback on proposed and existing POS