Courses

Below you will find the current course offerings listed by semester and then alphabetically by department. Students and Faculty should log in to workday.simmons.edu and view the live course listings for the current semester. The current semester listings below are updated weekly. If you have any questions about these courses, please contact the Registrar's Office at or 617-521-2111.

Summer 2024 Course Schedule

Last Updated: 03/28/2024 10:00AM

Library Science

LIS 404 - Principles of Management

Designed to acquaint students with the basic management functions of planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. The course is intended to help provide understanding of human interactions in the workplace and develop the practical problem-solving skills needed to handle managerial problems professionally. Approaches to managing, from authoritarian to participative to laissez-faire, are examined. Readings, case studies, critical incidents, simulations, and discussions. This is a required course for the Libraries & Librarianship concentration.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Lisa Hussey
3
TBD

LIS 407 - Information Sources and Services

This course focuses on topics related to services, information sources and information seeking processes as manifested in a variety of information centers. Introduces information concepts and services, including: question-negotiation (the reference interview), customer service, ethics, evaluating the collection, management, user service philosophy, service in different institutional settings and for diverse populations, and the assessment of services. Students learn about the creation, packaging, access and presentation of information in different types of sources and formats. This is a required course for all MS students.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Eric Poulin
3
TBD

LIS 415 - Information Organization

The phenomena, activities, and issues surrounding the organization of information in service of users and user communities. Topics include resource types and formats, information service institutions, markup, descriptive metadata, content standards, subject analysis and classification, and the information life cycle. Readings, discussions, examinations, and oral and written exercises. This is a required course for all MS students.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 2024/05/15 - 2024/08/21
Wednesday
6:00PM - 8:50PM
Daniel Joudrey
3
TBD

LIS 421 - Social Informatics

Social Informatics refers to the body of research and study that examines social aspects of computerization - including the roles of information technology in social and organizational change and the ways that the social organization of information technologies are influenced by social forces and social practices. This graduate seminar is for students interested in the influence of information technology in the human context, including cultural heritage, professional concerns, and social inequities. The course introduces some of the key concepts of social informatics and situates them into the view of varied perspectives including readers, librarians, computer professionals, authors, educators, publishers, editors, and the institutions that support them.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
Yonsei TBD TBD
Lisa Hussey
3
TBD

LIS 439 - Preservation Management

This course covers the fundamentals of planning and managing programs of prevention and remedial treatment for the preservation of information resources in libraries and archives. The study of the nature of all types of materials and the factors contributing to their deterioration serves as background. Preservation planning topics, such as environmental control and light, security, risk management, fire prevention, housekeeping and storage, general collections maintenance and testing methods, are covered. Additional topics include: emergency planning in the areas of preparedness, mitigation and response; selection of materials for basic repair, conservation or reformatting; budgeting for preservation activities; preservation training for staff and users; digital preservation; and cooperative programs. Course includes readings, guest lectures, media presentations, field trips, demonstrations, and individual projects.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Donia Conn
3
TBD

LIS 440 - Archival Access and Use

Explores access to and use of archives and manuscript collections within the framework of archival description and representation. How archives are described and the surrogates that are used to represent them profoundly impact their access and use and are central to the archives profession. Students will explore various types of archival use including exhibits (physical and virtual) in addition to the creation of surrogates for primary sources and will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of EAD (Encoded Archival Description) as well as other emerging metadata standards. This is a required course for the Archives Management concentration.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Katherine Wisser
3
TBD

LIS 441 - Appraisal of Archives and Manuscripts

Archival appraisal, or the assessment and evaluation of archival records to determine their continuing value for permanent retention, is one of the central and most critical challenges and responsibilities of the archivist. Building on the introductory exposure to appraisal offered in LIS 438, this course will focus on developing a theoretical framework for appraisal. It will introduce students to the theories and methodologies of appraisal and will explore appraisal models developed and implemented within the profession. It will place the issues and activities within the context of the documentation of society and the preservation of organizational and community memory.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Joel Blanco-Rivera
3
TBD

LIS 442 - Establishing Archives and Manuscript Programs

Developing a knowledge base that encompasses a variety of competencies around sustaining an archives is vital for archivists who often work in small one or two person repositories or may face the challenges of establishing new repositories. This course will analyze the requirements of such small or emerging programs and focus on the ways to develop strategic plans, locate and pursue sources of funding, market and design outreach, understand the physical and intellectual resources of an archival facility,; and sustain program growth. The class will also examine these issues within the context of different types of archives (i.e. government, academic, historical societies). This is a required course for the Archives Management concentration.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
John Ansley
3
TBD

LIS 447 - Collection Maintenance

This course in preservation management deals with the planning, implementation, and management of an effective collections maintenance program, including an effective repair program for a small/medium general collection. Topics include developing criteria for the selection of items in need of repair, binding, or replacement; learning the proper repair and housing techniques for bound and unbound materials in order to be able to administer an in-house repair program; selecting and processing materials for remote storage facilities; the cost factors involved in developing a collections maintenance program for general collections; and selecting and managing staff, space, equipment, and supplies for such a program. This course takes place at the North Bennett Street School, Boston, MA.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
01 2024/06/04 - 2024/06/13
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Donia Conn
3
TBD
02 2024/05/14 - 2024/05/23
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Donia Conn
3
TBD

LIS 448 - Digital Stewardship

This course teaches the core concepts and skills needed to create and manage digital collections and repositories. It covers the digital convergence of cultural heritage information in libraries, archives and museums. It introduces strategies for managing digital objects over the long term through active, ongoing oversight of the total environment (content, technologies, and user expectations) during all phases of the information life cycle. The course also includes extensive discussion of policy issues affecting digital collections, including sustainability issues for digital repositories, and open access to digital resources.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Adam Kriesberg
3
TBD

LIS 450 - Public Libraries

This course surveys the history, staffing, organization, development, and future of public libraries, addressing the principles and techniques associated with planning and delivering public library services to individuals and communities. Students will examine the governance and service structure of metropolitan and town libraries and consider the political, fiscal, and societal trends affecting them. Special attention will be given to the analysis of the library needs of specific groups and relationship of these needs assessments to the implementation of particular programs and services.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Linda Schuller
3
TBD

LIS 453 - Collections Development and Management

Activities through which library collections are systematically developed and managed are explored, especially the formulation and implementation of written collection development policies. Other specific topics include identification of user needs; collection evaluation; fund allocation among competing departments, subjects, and/or media; selection methods; intellectual freedom; storage alternatives; and cooperative collection development. Course includes readings, guest lectures, and a term project in which a collection development policy for a real information agency is prepared. This is a required course for the Libraries & Librarianship concentration.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Kristi Chadwick
3
TBD

LIS 456 - Records Management

This course addresses the theories and methodologies associated with managing institutional records, both paper-based and electronic. It introduces the set of activities required for systematically controlling the creation, distribution, use, maintenance and disposition of recorded information maintained as evidence of business activities and transactions. With an emphasis on case studies, students will learn about records appraisal, scheduling and disposition, functional analysis and records management program implementation and policy. Prior experience working with institutional records and/or LIS438 is recommended.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Stephen Dalina
3
TBD

LIS 460 - Technology and the School Library Teacher

This course will prepare the school library teacher to successfully integrate new and emerging technologies into the school library program, technology lab, and classroom. Technologies studied will be appropriate for integration into all areas of the school's curriculum. Web-based and mobile resources and tools are used extensively throughout the course and are directly tied to current topics in successful school library management and practice. Hands-on learning and discussion of issues that could arise as a part of technology integration with pre-K - 12 students are foundational elements of the course. The role the school library teacher plays in the professional development of teachers in his/her school as a resource person, leader in technology instruction, facilitator, collaborator, and instructor will be discussed throughout the course. Meets Technology Requirement for students in the School Library Teacher Program.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Georgina Trebbe
3
TBD

LIS 475 - Organizational/Information Ethics

The course will examine the ethical implications of decisions made within various organizational contexts regarding issues such as property ownership, strategy formulation, the utilization of computer technology, employee relations, accountability, conflicts of interest, as well as other topics relevant to today's managers. Participants will examine the ethical implications of cases at the individual, organizational, and societal levels. The course will assist professionals to clarify and apply their own moral standards and ethical norms, beliefs, and values to unfamiliar, complex situations in which the appropriate application of these values may not be obvious. The course makes no effort to dictate what is "right," "proper," and "just"; that is left to the individual's own moral standards of behavior and ethical systems of belief.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Lisa Hussey
3
TBD

LIS 481 - Library Collections and Materials for Children

This course addresses the evaluation, selection, and organization of materials for children (ages 0 - 12) in public and school library collections. Students will become familiar with materials for children in various formats, including the picture book, easy reader, transitional book, and chapter book; and will attend to fiction and nonfiction published to meet young people's recreational and curricular reading and information needs and interests. This course places strong emphasis on the evaluation of both individual items and library collections of children's material as well as on the selection of material for children for the purposes of collection development.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 2024/05/14 - 2024/08/20
Tuesday
6:00PM - 8:50PM
Melanie Kimball
3
TBD

LIS 483 - Library Collections and Materials for Young Adults

This course addresses the evaluation, selection, and organization of materials for young adults (young people ages 12 - 18) in public and school library collections. Students will become familiar with materials for young adults in various formats and genres, including traditional and graphic novels, and will attend to fiction and nonfiction published to meet young adults' recreational and curricular reading and information needs and interests. This course places strong emphasis on the evaluation of both individual items and library collections of young adult material as well as on the selection of material for young adults for the purposes of collection development.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 2024/05/16 - 2024/08/22
Thursday
6:00PM - 8:50PM
Melanie Kimball
3
TBD

LIS 485 - Introduction to Programming

Introduces computer science and programming using a high-level programming language (currently Python). Teaches program design in the context of contemporary practices both object oriented and procedural. Presents fundamental computer science topics through initiation and design of programs. Students learn to think logically and to apply this thinking to debugging computer programs. This is a required course for the Information Science & Technology concentration.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
TBD
3
TBD

LIS 488 - Technology for Information Professionals

This course provides the conceptual foundation and context of computing, Internet and related technologies as used in information-intensive professions. With an emphasis both on concepts (along with an emphasis on terminology that appears in the professional literature) and skills (interactive demos and/or hands-on sessions), the course encourages students in trying out and learning new pieces of technology. The course provides an overview of topics such as how computers work (hardware, software, history of IT); networking; internet, related technologies and the future of WWW; content management systems; RDBMS and XML; ethics; security; information search and retrieval; the impact and implications of technological change on libraries, archives and other information centers; technology today and tomorrow; and other related topics. Along with providing the general technology foundation needed before taking other technology courses offered at SLIS, this course also introduces some of these other courses. Students are strongly encouraged to take this course early in their course program.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
TBD
3
TBD

LIS 500 - Independent Study

The independent study program provides an opportunity for the student with a distinguished academic record, who has achieved degree candidacy, to pursue an individual topic related to his/her own interests for use in a substantial paper or project. A faculty member guides and advises the student in conferences, reviews preliminary drafts, and assigns the final grade. Academic credit is dependent upon substantial accomplishment at a distinguished level of quality. Members of the faculty actively encourage publication of those completed seminar studies that represent useful contributions to professional literature. The study proposal must be initiated by the student at least eight weeks before the semester in which it is to be undertaken. The student bears responsibility for formulating the study, approaching an appropriate faculty member, securing his/her consent to act as a sponsor, and submitting a full written statement outlining the study to that sponsor at least four weeks before the semester opens. Ask your advisor for instructions and Independent Study proposal forms.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Lisa Hussey
3
TBD

LIS 512 - Advanced Field Experience in Library and Information Science

This course is a focused field experience combined with a related academic components. The field experience involves a minimum of 130 hours in an LIS setting and approximately 20 hours of coursework completed online. As a 3-credit course, it has a significant hands-on learning component. Through discussion with key personnel in the organization and working under professional supervision, the student gains hands-on experience in the information environment. Examples of coursework include: readings; discussion forums; reflections or journal entries; and/or examples of field work. Prerequisite: 18 credit hours including all SLIS core and concentration requirements.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 TBD TBD
Katherine Wisser
3
TBD

Literature & Writing

LTWR 105 - Creative Writing: Non-Fiction

Designed for students with a solid base of writing skill who wish to grow further as writers. Teaches writing of non-fiction that a non-captive audience would willingly read. Focuses primarily on the personal narrative.

Section Section Dates Time Instructor Credits Location
OL01 2024/05/13 - 2024/07/01
Monday, Friday
2:00PM - 4:50PM
Farooz Rather
4
TBD
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