Complete SIS Course Listings
Undergraduate Courses
CI 150 Communication in an Information Age
(3) Overview of human, mass, and mediated communication. Introduction to
finding, organizing, and evaluating information.
102 Technologies for Information Retrieval
(3) Principles, selection and use of computer-based information
management applications; software identification and task appropriate uses;
telecommunications, utilities, and memory management systems; multiple
operating systems and technology for national network connections.
301 Introduction to Web Technologies
(3) Introduction to the Internet and World Wide Web technologies and
practices. Topics include the history and development of the World Wide Web
and the Internet; standards-compliant markup and tools for creation of
markup (e.g., XHTML and style sheets); introductory Web page and Web site
design.
310 Information Seeking: Resources and Strategies
(3) Information as critical resource for research and decision making;
emphasis on planning, executing, and evaluating information searches, with a
focus on the student’s major academic area.
330 Books and Related Materials for Children
(3) Materials for children in leisure time or classroom activities;
criteria for selecting books, magazines, recordings, films and related
materials; storytelling and other devices for encouraging reading.
350 Information Consumer
(3) Information in society, information economy, knowledge/learning
society; publishing and information providers: hosts, bulletin boards,
nets,; information overload/anxiety, science fraud, gate keeping concepts;
updating systems, environmental scanning; information consumption
techniques.
351 Race, Gender, and Information Technology
(3) Examines how expression of gender and race affect, and are affected
by, information technologies. Course considers how information technologies
interact with race and gender in various contexts: high-technology
workplaces; classification and information organization; cultures of
computing; and library and information-centered environments. Course is
framed by two broad, interrelated concepts – the expression of identity
(individual and group) in cyberspace and the "digital divide," and reviews
theoretical background in the social studies of gender, race, technology,
and knowledge.
410 History of the Book
(3) History of writing and various methods of bookmaking.
450 Writing about Science and Medicine
(3) Writing workshops to analyze examples of successful science writing
and write series of articles for general public based on scientific
journals, news conferences, technical meetings and interviews.
451 Information Management in Organizations
(3) Introduces concepts and techniques for the interdisciplinary study of
information, organizations, technology, and individuals, sometimes referred
to as knowledge management. Topics include characteristics of data,
information and knowledge; introduction to knowledge management; sensemaking
in organizations; organizational learning; intellectual capital; communities
of practice; ecological approaches; knowledge acquisition, representation
and sharing; uses of information technology for information and knowledge
management; and roles of professionals in managing information management
initiatives.
(RE) Prerequisite(s): 310.
Comment(s): With consent of instructor, prior knowledge may satisfy
prerequisite.
460 Internet Applications and Technologies
(3) Introduces World Wide Web and related Internet technologies (e.g.,
XHTML, XML, CSS) and how they are used to solve organizational, individual,
discipline-specific and social problems. Topics include the history of and
the role of Internet standards in the design of information systems;
metadata; principles and practices of standards-compliant, accessible Web
design; informatics.
(RE) Prerequisite(s): 301.
Comment(s): With consent of instructor, prior knowledge may satisfy
prerequisite.
461 Information Architecture and the User Experience
(3) Introduction to the design of the representational systems and
interaction paradigms required of effective information systems. Topics
include taxonomy creation; interface design; and techniques for design
testing.
Comment(s): With consent of instructor, prior knowledge may satisfy
prerequisite.
470 Advanced Internet Applications and Technologies
(3) Principles and practices of applying advanced techniques and
standards to organizational, individual, discipline-specific, and social
information problems; applications in disciplinespecific branches of
informatics. Topics include semantic Web technologies; server- and
client-side scripting; and the use of databases in Web-based information
systems.
Comment(s): With consent of instructor, prior knowledge may satisfy
prerequisite.
495 Special Topics
(3) Detailed study of a specialized area of information studies or
information technology. Topics vary by semester.
Graduate Courses
500 Thesis (1-15) P/NP only.
502 Registration and Use of Facilities
(3-15) Required for the student not otherwise registered during any
semester when student uses university facilities and/or faculty time before
degree is completed. May not be used toward degree requirements. May be
repeated. S/NC only.
(3) Generation, production, management, dissemination, and use of
information. Roles of information in society, information seeking and user
behavior, information industry, economics of information products and
services, technological and organizational change, information professions,
and issues.
Required Course.
520 Information Representation and Organization
(3) The structure and organization of intellectual content regardless of
format. Emphasis on how content is created, exchanged, and stored so it can
be found. Includes standards and best practice for describing and
characterizing intellectual content. Required Course.
521 Cataloging and Classification
(3) Basic library-oriented cataloging and classification techniques,
tools, and supporting operations. Descriptive cataloging, choice and form of
non-subject entries, subject heading work, general classification, authority
control, bibliographic utilities, online library catalogs.
522 Organization and Representation of Multimedia Information Resources
(3) Principles and practices of description and access to information
resources in nonprint media and/or nontextual formats: visual, auditory, and
electronic (including Internet) resources.
(3) Philosophies, standards, and procedures for manual and automatic
document indexing, back-of-the-book indexing, vocabulary control, thesaurus
construction, and abstracting.
530 Information Access and Retrieval
(3) Information access, retrieval, and use. Information seeking, user
interfaces, information services and tools. Database structure, search
engines, query logic, and evaluation of retrieval system performance.
Required Course.
531 Sources and Services for the Social Sciences
(3) Information sources in political science, sociology, psychology,
geography, history, anthropology, business, and education.
532 Sources and Services for Science and Engineering
(3) Information sources in engineering, physical and life sciences.
533 Sources and Services for the Humanities
(3) Information sources in philosophy, religion, fine arts, performing
arts, literature, and language. Organization and management of regional
collections.
534 Government Information Sources
(3) Selection, acquisition, organization, and utilization of government
information in variety of formats from legislative, judicial and executive
branches of federal, state, local, and international government and
inter-governmental agencies.
535 Advanced Information Retrieval
(3) Bibliographic, non-bibliographic, full-text databases, e.g.,
non-bibliographic formula and structure databases, contents-page/full-text
databases, patents; document delivery alternatives, evaluation, and
testing.
(3) Competing theoretical positions and definitions regarding the
existence and importance of the information society; historical evolution
and selected key contributors of information society theories; issues of
globalization including critical perspectives of economic, social,
political, and cultural aspects.
(3) Issues and trends concerning information industry: products and
services. Standards, enabling technologies, choice of distribution media,
entrepreneurial opportunities. Legal, ethical, and quality concerns.
(3) Costing and pricing of information; value of information and value
added services; cost-benefit analysis and tradeoffs; policy issues related
to economic aspects of information exchange and transfer.
539 Information Policy
(3) Role of government in creation and exchange of information; review of
key national and international policy areas relevant to information
creation, production, and distribution; development of information policy
for organizations.
540 Research Methods for Information Professionals
(3) Research methods in a variety of information environments; primary
and secondary research; research project design; research results
interpretation; analysis of published research; techniques supporting
research process.
550 Management of Information Organizations
(3) Supervisory and management concepts, strategies, and techniques
applicable to information professionals working in libraries, archives,
records management, and other information organizations.
551 School Library Media Centers
(3) Planning, implementing, and evaluating school library programs.
Curricular involvement, role of technology, site-based management,
relationships with district and state services.
(3) Mission, status, and history of academic libraries and academic
librarianship in community colleges, colleges, and universities; trends in
higher education, information technology, and government’s impact on pubic,
technical, and administrative services.
Prerequisite: 550 or consent of instructor.
553 Specialized Information Agencies and Services
(3) Specialized information agencies and services, with emphasis on
client-centered systems in the profit and not-for-profit sectors.
Examines evolving role of special librarians with attention given to
methodology for associating information services with the particular
requirements of organizations. Virtual field visits are an integral part of
the course.
Prerequisite: 550 or consent of instructor.
554 Public Library Management and Services
(3) Development, roles, political environment, governance, organization,
fiscal management, services, marketing, and performance evaluations.
Prerequisite: 550 or consent of instructor.
555 Scientific and Technical Communications
(3) Evolution of scientific and technical communication; current trends;
role of formal and informal communications; major STI organizations and
their roles.
556 Knowledge Management for Information Professionals
(3) Covers classic theories of knowledge and theories of first and
second-generation knowledge management paradigms. Introduces related
disciplines and the knowledge lifecycle, types of knowledge, organizational
learning, intellectual capital, communities of practice, knowledge
ecologies, knowledge audits, knowledge sharing repurposing of information,
uses of information technology, and roles of information professionals in
developing knowledge management initiatives.
(3) Theory, strategy, design, and practice in providing instructional
services and technology for end users of information and information
systems. Includes practical experience.
558 Library Services for a Diverse Society
(3) Examines the issues of diversity and multiculturalism in libraries
and librarianship. Considers general issues affecting institutions in
addition to libraries. Examines specific social characteristics and the
social/cultural groups constructed around these characteristics. Considers
the needs of such groups, and library responses to these needs, and how to
create a more diverse library profession.
560 Development and Management of Collections
(3) Selecting and preserving a variety of items (tangible and intangible)
to meet needs of particular users; community analysis; policies and
procedures; evaluation; purchasing.
561 Contemporary Book Publishing
(3) Creation, design, production, marketing, and distribution; various types of publishers.
(3) Principles and practice in visual aspect of communications. Graphic
design, typography, printing and production techniques, and publication
design as these apply to electronic information delivery systems.
564 Archives and Records Management
(3) Objectives and functional elements of records systems, archival
programs, management information systems and techniques within various types
of organizations. Management of information internal to organizations.
(3) Technological and social aspects of electronic publishing and digital
libraries. Technologies and standards that enable electronic publishing and
digital libraries. History of electronic publishing and digital libraries
and their impact on user needs and information provision.
566 Business Intelligence for Information Professionals
(3) Principles and practice of gathering and synthesizing business
intelligence, including competitive intelligence, environmental scanning,
and issues management: information evaluation and synthesis; role of
strategic information in modern organizations.
567 Information Network Applications
(3) Scholarly and community-based electronic communications. National and
international standards, tools, resources; identification, analysis,
evaluation, and management of tools and resources; construction of local
technologies as developed and applicable.
571 Resources and Services for Children
(3) Critical survey of books and related materials for children,
development of genres. Evaluation, selection, and utilization for school and
public libraries.
572 Resources and Services for Young Adults
(3) Critical survey of books and related materials for young adults;
personal, vocational, and recreational needs and interests. Evaluation,
selection, and utilization for school and public libraries.
573 Programming for Children and Young Adults
(3) Philosophy and objectives of public and school library services for
children and young adults. Reading, listening, and viewing guidance for
individuals and groups. Program planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Prereq: 571 or 572
574 Resources and Services for Adults
(3) Examines strategies and procedures for developing programs in
libraries. The course provides public service librarians with the knowledge
and skills to create, evaluate, and improve programs with some emphasis on
reader’s advisory. Prerequisite: 560.
575 Valuing Diversity: International and Intercultural Resources for Youth
(3) Examines texts and materials for youth that reflect the contemporary
settings and lives of young people from all over the world. This course will
review the scholarship of literature and film to determine how to recognize
stereotypes; how to understand publishing worlds; and how to recognize
universal themes that transcend ethnicity, religion, gender, class, and
nationhood.
576 Storytelling in Libraries and Classrooms
(3) Examines the history of those who influenced the programming and
styles of storytelling. Additionally, the course will offer techniques and
sources for selecting, preparing and telling stories to library and
classroom audience.
580 Information Science Theory
(3) Definitions of information, information sciences, and information
technology; theories of information, information representation, retrieval,
and transfer; standards and technologies for information processing and
distribution; research front; bibliometrics and infometrics; relationships
with other disciplines.
582 Information Systems Planning and Evaluation
(3) Information systems used in libraries and information agencies.
Emphasizes planning, evaluation and system implementation. Covers usability
engineering, interface design, and human computer interaction.
583 Information Systems Problems and Principles
(3) Use of systems theory and analytical tools for understanding and
improving information systems. Emphasizes the interaction between
technology, processes, and stakeholders. Focuses on problem identification
and problem-solving techniques, system design representations,
object-oriented system design, system prototyping, and project
management.
584 DatabaseManagement Systems
(3) Defining data needs, data structures, role of operating systems in
data management, file organization, database management systems, logical
data models, internal data models, database administration and evaluation.
Design and implementation of application using database management
system.
(3) Evolution, trends, capabilities, and limitations of technologies
applied to information capture, storage, preservation, access, and
distribution.
586 Information Retrieval Systems
(3) Historical perspective on information retrieval research; statistical
and probabilistic retrieval techniques; cognitive user modeling; expert
intermediary systems; associations, relations, and hypertext.
(3) Covers strategies for mining the Web, Web engines and directories,
cognitive accessibility, Web design and development, and usability
engineering.
588 Human-Computer Interaction
(3) Survey of human-computer interaction and introduction to human and
technological factors of importance to design of usable information systems.
Basic phenomena of human perception, cognition, memory, and problem solving,
and relationship to user-centered design. Methods and techniques for
interaction design and evaluation.
589 Information Networking Technologies
(3) Concepts and terminology of information transmission. Information
network architectures and standards. Contemporary and emerging information
networking technologies.
590 Problems in Information Sciences
(3-6) Prereq: Consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hrs.
591 Independent Project or Research
(3-6) Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. May be repeated. Maximum 6
hrs.
594 Graduate Research Participation
(3) Advanced research techniques under supervision of staff research
director whose area coincides with interests of student. Prereq: Consent of
advisor and research director. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours.
Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
595 Student Teaching in School Library Information Center
(9) Planned professional semester; full day school library work and
classroom observation activities. S/NC
596 Field-Based Experience in School Library Information Centers
(2) Prescribed activities to gain competencies in a school library
information center setting. Must be taken twice. May be repeated. Maximum 6
hrs. only.
(3-6) Opportunity to translate theory into practice under guidance of
qualified information professionals. Prereq: Completion of required and
pertinent advanced courses relevant to student’s practicum design. Minimum
3.0 cumulative GPA. Written consent of advisor and approval of practicum
coordinator. May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. S/NC only.
601 Advanced Seminar in Information Sciences
(3) Theories, research, and traditional practices of information
representation, organization, and access, and retrieval. Research
opportunities and methods in information sciences. Relationship to and
interaction of information sciences with other disciplines.
Upcoming SIS Events
- Labor Day Holiday(3 days)
- SAA Fieldtrip to Knox County Archives(7 days)
- SIS - ISI Samuel Lazerow Memorial Lecture 2008(40 days)
- Fall Break(41 days)
- Thanksgiving Holidays(90 days)
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Contact SIS
School of Information Sciences
University of Tennessee
451 Communications Bldg.
1345 Circle Park Drive
Suite 451
Knoxville, TN 37996-0341
Phone: (865) 974-2148
Fax: (865) 974-4967