MLIS 2010 Update

Are you thinking of studying next year? There are have been some recent changes to the MLIS programme that might effect your decision making. As part of the LIANZA conference some of us went along to a meeting to discuss these changes with Brenda Chawner, one of the lecturers from Victoria University. It wasn’t a very well attended session to be honest, but did give the current students chance to air their views and be re-assured by Brenda on the choices they make over the next few months that will effect their degree.
Currently, the MLIS runs as a one year, full time course, of 10 papers and a research project. If you are working in Christchurch, then you can study 1 or 2 papers at a time and take between 2 and 4 years to complete. As of next year the emphasise of the course will change slightly. Following the lead from other countries Victoria have decided to drop the word ‘Library’ from their Masters Degree, and will instead be offering a MIS – Masters of Information Studies. If you follow the same core subjects as the current MLIS degree you can graduate with a MIS (LIBS) – a Master of Information with a Library Studies endorsement. With a slightly different set of core papers you can also get an Archives and Records endorsement (ARCR).
If the whole idea of 4 years of part-time study is too much, Victoria have also introduced two other qualifications: a Postgraduate Diploma and a Postgraduate Certificate in Information Studies. The Diploma takes 8 papers and the Certificate takes 4 papers to complete and again, depending on your choices can have the endorsements LIBS or ARCR after them.
Victoria have been working with LIANZA as well, and the core content of the MIS (LIBS) reflects the body of knowledge that is needed to become a Registered member of LIANZA. There is no word yet where the diploma or certificate sit in relation to registration, but Lianza are currently looking at it.For more information do visit the School of Information Management website.