Announcement:  The IMS Program stopped accepting new students at the beginning of the Spring 2023 semester. The IMS Program is in the process of being discontinued with a planned sunset date at the end of the Fall 2024 semester.

Yan Quan Liu, Program Coordinator
Tel. (203) 392-5763 
E-mail: liuy1@SouthernCT.edu

The Department of Information and Library Science prepares students for positions in library and information science and related fields. At the undergraduate level, a Bachelor of Science degree program in Information Management and Services (IMS) is offered. The program integrates coursework in information science, library science, and interdisciplinary studies. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. Students may also enroll in a minor in information management and services. 

IMS Presentation

A consortium enables students enrolled at the other three Connecticut State Universities to take undergraduate courses in information and library science at Southern Connecticut State University.

Roadmap for the BS in IMS

The Student Learning Outcomes of the IMS Program

Graduates of the IMS program will be able to:

• Explain the roles of libraries and information centers in a democratic society.
• Describe the basics of information seeking behavior and user studies.
• Exhibit good customer service and communication skills.
• Explain common library and information technology terminology.
• Illustrate current issues and trends in data literacy and presentation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of information organization, storage, retrieval, evaluation, dissemination, and utilization.
• Identify basic reference and information resources and referral procedures.
• Identify appropriate methods and techniques for material processing, storage, and preservation.
• Apply learned skills and knowledge across a broad span of paraprofessional positions in libraries and information centers.

Major in Information Management and Services 

The B.S. degree program prepares graduates for careers in a variety of information-based fields. The program also prepares graduates for support positions in libraries. The major consists of 39 credits, 24 credits of required core courses, 9 credits of electives from computer science and 6 credits of electives from cognate areas. 

The Liberal Education Program (LEP) requires students to take courses within three tiers: 18 Credits of Tier 1 Foundations courses covering First Year Experience, Critical Thinking, Multilingual Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Technology Fluency, and Written Communication; 27 credits of Tier 2 Explorations courses covering American Experience, Creative Drive, Cultural Expression, Global Awareness, Mind & Body, Natural World I: Physical Realm, Natural World II: Life & Environment, Social Structure, Conflict & Consensus, and Time & Place; and 3 credits of Tier 3: Connections (Senior Capstone). 

ILS Major (39 credits; minimum 2.5 Overall GPA)

Required (24 credits):
     ILS 302 - Information Service
     ILS 320 - Technical Services
     ILS 330 - User Services
     ILS 360 - Data Literacy and Presentation
     ILS 421 - Organization of the Information Center
     ILS 425 - Information Sources
     ILS 440 - Information Service Technology
     ILS 400 - Library - Information Service Practice

Electives (9 credits) chosen from:

     CSC 104 - Web Technology
     CSC 152 - CS1: Programming Fundamentals
     CSC 200 - Information Management and Productivity Software
     CSC 207 - Computer Systems
     CSC 212 - CS2: Data Structures
     CSC 334 - Human Computer Interaction
     CSC 335 - Database Systems
     CSC 465 - Computer Networking and Security II
     CSC 477 - Data Mining

Electives (6 credits) chosen from one of these cognate areas:

Management
     MGT 200 - Managerial Communication
     MGT 300 - Management and Organization
     MGT 305 - Organizational Behavior 
     MGT 415 - Developing Team Managerial Skills
 

Psychology / Sociology
     PSY 210 - Infant & Child Development
     PSY 215 - Adolescent Development
     PSY 227 - Social Psychology
     PSY 370 - Educational Psychology or
     PSY 371 - Educational Psychology for Early Childhood Majors
     SOC 201 - Social Statistics
     SOC 361 - Urban Sociology
 

Communication
     COM 101 - Public Speaking
     COM 225 - Interpersonal Communication
     COM 258 - Cinematic Technique

Minor in Information Management and Services 

The minor in information management and services may be used as a pre-professional preparation as a career ladder component for students who have earned an associate of science degree in the field and as a career-oriented concentration for students in professional studies or liberal arts programs. To become an information management and services minor, students must complete a minor declaration/change form, which is available online in the Registrar’s Homepage under forms (https://inside.southernct.edu/onestop/forms) -- Change of Major/Minor. By clicking on the 'Change of Major/Minor' link it takes you to a login page, the student logs in and selects their declaration/change of a Minor.

ILS Minor (18 credits; minimum 2.5 Overall GPA)

Required (12 credits):
     ILS 302 - Information Service
     ILS 320 - Technical Services
     ILS 330 - User Services
     ILS 440 - Information Service Technology
 
Electives (6 credits): See lists above under CSC, MGT, PSY, SOC, and COM

State University Consortium

A consortium of the Connecticut State Universities enables students enrolled at the other three State Universities to take undergraduate courses in library science at Southern Connecticut State University. Students register and pay tuition and fees at their respective colleges. An interview should be held with a faculty advisor at Southern. 

Information and Library Science Courses

ILS 244 - The Use of Information Sources
The range of media, technology and services available to students in the modern library is examined and applied. Cannot be used to fulfill requirements for major in Library Information Service. 3 credits.

ILS 360 - Data Literacy and Presentation
This course provides the foundation for understanding the key issues associated with natural characteristics of data, and data presentation including data management, data presentation and multimedia data. 3 credits.

ILS 400 - Library - Information Service Practice
A 150-hour work experience in a library-information service agency. By arrangement. 3 credits.

ILS 421 - Organization of the Information Center
The structure and function of information service agencies. 3 credits.

ILS 425 - Information Sources
Sources of information in the public and private sectors: selection, acquisition, utilization. 3 credits.

ILS 440 - Information Service Technology
Utilization of major technologies in library-information service agencies: video, microforms, computers. 3 credits.

Course Rotation Plan

A typical course sequence follows:

Freshman Year - 30 Credits

Sophomore Year - 30 Credits

Junior Year - 30 Credits

Senior Year - 33 Credits

Updated from the 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog  

Last updated: September 18, 2023