The Florida State University College of Information

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Reference Services

Purpose

To prepare librarians to assume the role of an information, research, and instructional specialist in order to provide assistance to library patrons.

This certificate program offers training in searching, selecting, and using information resources in a wide range of forms and formats; understanding information needs; and communicating and working effectively with diverse populations.

After you are admitted, a faculty advisor will be assigned to help you identify the four courses that will facilitate achieving your goals.

Certificate Requirements

Required: LIS 5603, Introduction to Information Services
Take a total of 9 credit hours from the following courses. No other courses may be substituted for any of the courses listed below.

LIS 5105 Communities of Practice (3 credits)
LIS 5241 International and Comparative Information Services (3 credits)
LIS 5313 Design & Production of Media Resources (3 credits)
LIS 5417 Introduction to Legal Resources (3 credits)
LIS 5524 Instructional Role of the Information Specialist (3 credits)
LIS 5576 Information Needs of Adults (3 credits)
LIS 5900r/5916r Directed Individual Study (3 credits) (Topic must be approved by your faculty advisor)

Requirements for Admission and Award of a Certificate

Note: This Certificate is available to non-degree students only.

Non-Degree students must:

Have earned a Bachelor degree prior to admission;
Apply and be admitted as a “special student” (i.e., non-degree) to the University;
Submit a completed Application for Certificate to the College of Information; and
Request an official transcript to be sent directly to the College of Information, in addition to the one(s) required by the University for admission.

Note: Non-degree students do not need to take a standardized test (e.g., GRE) for admission into a certificate program. If a student decides later to apply for admission as a degree-seeking student, GRE score will be required at that time.

To receive the certificate, students must:

Complete 12-credit hours of course work (four courses) from the approved list of courses, and
Earn a B or higher in each of the four courses taken for credit. (This is a higher standard of academic performance per course than required for the degree.)

Send your completed Application for Certificate and one official transcript to:

Graduate Certificate Program
Attn: Marion Davis
College of Information
Florida State University
P.O. Box 2100
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2100