Information Science  MSc

Course Content

The Information Science MSc is a part of the Information Studies Scheme (ISS) and has several modules in common with MA/MSc Library Science and MA/MSc Information Management in the Cultural Sector. Students may be able to transfer between these courses during their first term.

Key features of all ISS courses include:

• balance between academic rigour and professional relevance
• focus on conceptual, philosophical and historical aspects, as a basis for reflective practice and life-long learning
• research-based teaching, emphasising the relevance of
research and critical evaluation for professional success
• use of practitioner lecturers to complement academic staff
• balance between face-to-face teaching, taking advantage of
our central London location, and e-learning support
• international outlook, with a possibility of study abroad
• collaboration with the main information-sector recruitment
agencies, to ensure course relevance and assist in
graduate employment.

Please see the ISS FAQs for further details.

Course Structure

The course involves study of 7 core modules and 1 elective module, plus a dissertation.
Core modules are:

• Library and information science foundation
Gives a thorough introduction to the principles and concepts of the information sciences, and shows that these foundations underpin the practice of information science, librarianship, and other information disciplines. Emphasis is places on a historical perspective, and on current and future developments, showing how basic principles can be used to make sense of complicated and changing issues.

• Information resources and organization
Gives an understanding of the principles and practice of the organization of information and knowledge. Topics covered include metadata, cataloguing and resource description, classification and taxonomy, subject headings and thesauri, indexing and abstracting, and construction of controlled vocabularies.

• Information management and policy
Introduces the principles of the management of information resources of diverse kinds in a variety of environments, and the strategies and policies which make this possible. Emphasis is on the specific issues of the disciplines which manage information and documents: information resource management, knowledge management, records management and archiving, collection management, etc.

• Digital information technologies and architecture
Provides the technical background required to store, structure, manage and share information effectively. Topics include: introduction to computing, internet and web, database systems and searching, Web 2.0 technologies (blogs, wikis, etc.), semantic web, information architecture

• Research, evaluation and communication skillsProvides knowledge and skills which are relevant in the academic environment, in the workplace and for lifelong learning. Topics covered include: nature of research and evaluation; research methods, including surveys, system and service evaluation, system design, and desk research; data analysis; literature analysis; written and oral communication; ethical issues; project management.

• Information retrieval
Provides a broad introduction to documentary information retrieval, and to the evaluation of information retrieval systems. Topics covered include information retrieval models, search strategy and tactics, bibliographic retrieval, OPACs, web search, mobile information retrieval, image and sound retrieval, implementation and evaluation of retrieval systems.

• Information domains
Provides an understanding of information provision in a variety of domains, including academic subjects, professional disciplines and everyday and leisure topics; gives an insight into subject-specific information work. Topics include information in law, business, healthcare, and the arts, in academic subject areas such as history, mathematics, chemistry and languages, for everyday and general reference.

The elective module is chosen from a range which typically includes:

• Libraries and publishing in the information societyGives a broad understanding of the ways in which the publication of recorded information is changing, and the impact which this will have on publishers, libraries, other information providers and society in general. These issues are related within a framework of forces for changes: technical, economic, social and political.

• Information law and policy
Gives an overview of the law as it applies to information provision: UK and international legal principles, data protection, freedom of information, breach of confidence, computer misuse, duties of care, government information policies

• Independent study
Allows students to undertake individual in-depth study of a topic which is not fully covered by other modules, and which is appropriate for independent literature-based research. Topics are chosen by agreement between student and supervisor. 

• Web applications developmentIntroduces the principles and practice of building dynamic web applications. Topics covered include web applications architecture, markup languages, web servers and protocols, connectivity with database systems, client side processing, integration of components in a functional application

• Open source systems
Provides an overview of open source systems, including information systems and library management systems, and their deployment, focusing on human aspects and on collaborative aspects of development. 

• Data visualisation
A practical 'hands-on' module, which equips students with the technical and design skills to create and use data visualization applications for use in workplace and research environments. Includes principles of good information design, and guidelines for the data visualization workflow.