Certificates in Advanced Library and Information Science (CALIS)
Statement of Purpose
The Certificate in Advanced Library and Information Science (CALIS) is offered to those who complete a successful, coherent program of specialized study and research beyond the Master of Library and Information Science (MLISc).
Option A of CALIS allows specialization in applying computer and information technologies to information environments; and extending information management skills in information system design, evaluation, and the development of user services.
Option B of CALIS in school librarianship allows specialization in applying computer and information technologies to elementary and secondary school libraries; and extending curriculum planning skills in information literacy and general literacy instruction.
No diploma is awarded, however a certificate of achievement is sent after successful completion of courses and the research project. The Certificate provides an opportunity for professional development concentrated on aspects of information technology.
Admissions Criteria
The post-master's certificate requires 15 credits of approved LIS and ICS graduate courses, a research project proposal, a research paper presenting the methodology and results of the project, and an oral presentation to an LIS audience. Each student has an adviser and a faculty committee (2-3) during the research project phase of the certificate.
Qualified applicants are admitted to the program as a classified special non-degree graduate student. Enrollment is limited to MLISc-degree program students and those who already hold an MLISc who wish to return as special non-degree classified students.
Option A requires:
- LIS 647 - Systems Approach to Library Operations
- LIS 663 - Basic Database Searching
- LIS 670 - Introduction to Information Science & Technology
Option B requires:
- LIS 663 - Basic Database Searching
- LIS 670 - Introduction to Information Science & Technology
- LIS 681 - Books & Media for Children
- LIS 682 - Books & Media for Young Adults
- LIS 686 - Information Literacy & Learning Resources
Professional Promise to contribute to the field as shown in two letters of reference.
Computer Literacy as shown by having passed an introductory computer programming, html or other mark-up and scripting languages course, or by demonstrating proficiency at an equivalent level.
Enrollment Requirements
Once admitted, students are expected to remain enrolled each semester until the requirements are completed. If it is necessary to withdraw temporarily, students must reapply for admission when returning, observing application deadlines.
Credits over five years old are not applicable to the certificate requirements, thus the program must be completed in no more than five years.
Students must be enrolled in the program during the semester when the certificate is to be awarded. If the 15-credit requirement has been met and students are not taking additional courses during that semester, LIS 699 Directed Reading may be used with the research paper as the basis for the reading, although it does not count toward the 15-credit requirement.
Application Procedures
Follow instructions carefully. Incomplete applications are not processed.
Application form: Complete, sign, and date. Follow instructions carefully. Applications incorrectly completed will not be processed. List all colleges ever attended, including non-degree studies.
One official copy of transcripts: Two official original transcripts from all colleges/universities ever attended must be mailed to the LIS program. These must bear the signature of the school's registrar and official seal. If the transcript is not in the English language, two original transcripts (in the original language) as well as two official original translated transcripts in English must be provided. Any unusual transcript records must be addressed in the Statement of Objectives.
Two letters of reference: Written by faculty members, librarians and/or employers, and sent directly to the LIS program. They should address the applicant's potential in post-graduate study and provide an opinion as to their suitability in a library and information career. Inform referees that program policy allows students to view these letters.
Authorization/Confidentiality: Written consent in the application form is required for those wishing to designate a friend/relative who can obtain information about your application status. No information is disclosed without this authorization.
Supplementary Information Form: The form and all supporting documents, such as certified bank statements, are required for international applicants.
Computer Literacy Checklist demonstrating proficiency.
The Statement of Objectives serves as a means of judging an applicant's writing ability, and must be in essay form between 500 and 1,000 words long. A resume or curriculum vitae may augment the Statement of Objectives.
Application Deadlines
Application forms and accompanying documents must be sent to the LIS Program by April 1 for the fall semester, and November 1 for the spring. There is no summer admission, but a student may start in the summer as an unclassified student if accepted for the fall.
The deadline for international applicants is January 15 for the fall semester, August 1 for the spring. Applicants are urged to apply well before the deadlines owing to the complexity of foreign admissions processing.
Certificate Requirements
Option A
Option A of the CALIS is offered to those who complete a successful, coherent program of specialized study and research beyond the MLISc. The program is intended to allow 1) specialization in applying computer and information technologies to information environments, and 2) extending information management skills in information system design, evaluation and the development of user services.CALIS Prerequisite Courses
A passing grade in an introductory-level computer programming, html or other mark-up or scripting languages course (or demonstrated proficiency at an equivalent level), and a minimum 3.3 GPA in the following:
- LIS 647 - Systems Approach to Library Operations
- LIS 663 - Basic Database Searching
- LIS 670 - Introduction to Information Science & Technology
CALIS Elective Courses
A minimum of 15 credit hours, approved by the faculty adviser, from the following:
- LIS 664 Abstracting & Indexing for Information Services
- LIS 665 Teaching Information Technology Literacy
- LIS 667 Advanced Database Searching
- LIS 672 Technology for Libraries & Information Centers
- LIS 673 Information & Records Management
- LIS 674 Database Design & Creation
- LIS 676 Expert Systems for Library & Information Environment (or comparable ICS course)
- LIS 677 Human Dimension in Information Systems
- LIS 678 Personalized Information Delivery
- LIS 679 Library Systems Operation & Interpretation
- LIS 693 Special Topics in Librarianship (with permission)
- LIS 694 Special Topics in Info Technology
- LIS 695 Seminar in Research in Librarianship (or comparable research methods course)
- LIS 715 Seminar in Information Policy & Planning
Six graduate-level Information and Computer Science (ICS) credits may be applied to the prerequisite and certificate requirements. Other relevant courses may be counted if approved by your advisor.
Students must also complete a research paper on a topic related to the field of librarianship that meets the approval of the CALIS Committee and give an oral presentation of their research to students and faculty.
Option B
Option B of the CALIS is in School Librarianship and available to those who complete a successful, coherent program of specialized study and research beyond the MLISc. The program is intended to allow specialization in 1) applying computer and information science technologies to elementary and secondary school libraries, and 2) extending curriculum planning skills in information literacy and general literacy instruction.
CALIS-SL Prerequisite Courses
A passing grade in an introductory-level computer programming course (or demonstrated proficiency at an equivalent level), with a minimum GPA of 3.3 in the following:
- LIS 663 Basic Database Searching
- LIS 670 Introduction to Information Science & Technology
- LIS 681 Books & Media for Children
- LIS 682 Books & Media for Young Adults
- LIS 686 Information Literacy & Learning Resources
CALIS-SL Elective Courses
A minimum of 15 credit hours, approved by the faculty adviser, from the following:
- LIS 642 Media Technology & Resources
- LIS 647 Systems Approach to Library Operations
- LIS 664 Abstracting & Indexing for Information Services
- LIS 665 Teaching Information Technology Literacy
- LIS 667 Advanced Database Searching
- LIS 672 Technology for Libraries & Information Centers
- LIS 673 Information & Records Management
- LIS 674 Database Design & Creation
- LIS 677 Human Dimension in Information Systems
- LIS 678 Personalized Information Delivery
- LIS 679 Library Systems Operation & Interpretation
- LIS 685 Traditional Literature & Oral Narration
- LIS 689 Asian American Resources for Children & Youth
- LIS 693 Special Topics in Librarianship
- LIS 694 Special Topics in Info Technology
- LIS 695 Seminar in Research in Librarianship (or comparable research methods course)
Six graduate-level Information & Computer Sciences (ICS) and/or College of Education credits, or other relevant courses may be applied to the prerequisite and certificate requirements if approved by your advisor.
Students must also complete a research paper on a topic related to the field of school librarianship that meets the approval of the CALIS Committee and give an oral presentation of their research to students and faculty.
Research Methods
Every CALIS project, regardless of its specific nature, must have an accepted form of evaluation or measurement of outcomes supported by data. There are a variety of qualitative and quantitative forms of research that may be utilized to explore problems in information science, library science, information systems and information environments.
Students must confer with their adviser to select the most appropriate methods for their particular inquiry since each method requires specific strategies and procedures. Some problems require a variety of methods to gather and analyze relevant data. For example, an instructional or educational project that aims to teach a sample of a population certain knowledge and skills must involve (i) a needs assessment of potential participants, (ii) a pre-test of relevant initial and target skills, as well as (iii) a post-test outcomes assessment of their accomplishment of the instructional objectives.
The following research methodologies may be employed in CALIS research projects:
- Historical Research
- Case Study
- Survey Research
- Marketing Research
- Quasi-experimental Research
- Experimental Research
- Action, Field, or Ethnographic Research
- Protocol and/or Content Analysis
- Evaluation Research
- Systems Analysis
- Usability Testing
Proposal Guidelines
Purpose of Proposal
- To crystallize the researcher's ideas into a physical task.
- To show the approving body that the research is possible and worthwhile.
- To establish an informal contract that provides a goal for the researcher.
The proposal also ensures that time is not wasted in exploring sterile problems, and should form the basis for a significant portion of the final research paper.
The proposal should follow, rather than precede, wide reading in the area of interest and selection of a problem. During these earlier stages students should maintain close contact with their adviser.
Proposal Format
Proposals begin with a title page, with the title of the project, date, student's name, CALIS, University of Hawaii Library and Information Science Program. It should consist of four main parts plus any appendices. To adequately cover the necessary topics, proposals should be no less than 10 pages long.
Section I should be an introduction that includes a general description of the context of the problem, a statement of the problem to be studied, necessary definitions, as well as major (and minor) research questions and an informal statement of the major/minor hypotheses. The significance of the problem should be stated, and the feasibility of the investigation established.
Section II is a formally cited review of the literature pertaining to the problem to be studied. It would usually include historical background, theory relevant to the research, and a review of current literature on the topic. As a guide to style of presentation, the student should use one of the accepted manuals of style, such as the University of Chicago Manual of Style, Modern Language Association Style Manual or the American Psychological Association Publication Manual.
Section III outlines the methodology, including a formal statement of the hypotheses to be tested, a description of the research design, and a clear statement of the population to be studied and its environment. Techniques and procedures should be given if sampling is to be conducted, as well as a statement of the reasons for selecting these techniques. The methods used to design the test(s), questionnaire(s), or other instruments should be described, with the materials attached in an appendix. Validity and reliability concerns should be discussed both for the instrument(s) and the research as a whole.
If a pilot study is to be conducted, it should be described in this section, with a statement of anticipated tests and data analysis procedures. Include a timetable and budget, and, if humans are to be used as subjects, proof that their protection is ensured. Allow sufficient time before you begin the project for the UH Committee on Human Studies to review the procedures and certify that participants' privacy and safety will be protected.
The final section is a bibliography of references including, but not limited to, all works cited in the earlier sections.
Any additional materials (instruments, cover letters, statements of permission to conduct research in specific settings, etc.) are to be included as appendices.
Sample Proposal Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. General description of area of concern
- B. Problem to be studied
- C. Definitions
- D. Major research question
- E. Minor research questions
- F. Significance of problem and justification
- G. Hypothesis
- II. Review of the literature
- A. Historical outline
- B. Theory relevant to the research
- C. Current literature
- III. Methodology
- A. Restatement of the hypotheses in formal terms
- B. Research design
- C. Population to be studied
- D. Environment of the population
- E. Sampling technique and procedure
- F. Design of instrument
- G. Validity and reliability concerns
- H. Pilot study proposal
- I. Procedures of analysis
- J. Protection of research subjects
- K. Timetable and budget
- IV. References
- V. Appendices
Research Paper Guidelines
The research paper required for CALIS is expected to contribute to the field by presenting new knowledge or new synthesis of published information. It should be of publishable quality, meeting acceptance criteria for scholarly journals. While students are encouraged to publish, this is not required.
The research paper is expected to involve a level of effort greater than that normally expended on a term paper, but less than that expended on a master's thesis. It should demonstrate competence in the use of appropriate research methodology.
Submit the paper's topic and approach according to the above guidelines for approval by the CALIS Committee before beginning the work on it. Students should arrange with a faculty member to serve as adviser for the research paper, and confer with the adviser as needed during the research and writing stages.
The paper will be evaluated on the basis of originality, organization, appropriateness of research design or methodology, clarity of presentation, and other factors traditionally applied in judging scholarly work.
Students will present their research results at a LIS Research Colloquium or other appropriate forum.
As a guide to style of presentation, the student should use one of the accepted manuals of style, such as the University of Chicago Manual of Style, Modern Language Association Style Manual or the American Psychological Association Publication Manual.
A near final draft should be submitted to the Committee in sufficient numbers so the members can all read it. In accepting the research paper, the Committee may make recommendations for changes to be incorporated in the final accepted draft. A copy of the final accepted paper must be submitted to LIS. Students are encouraged to post the paper on their Web site as part of an e-portfolio.
Generally, it will be expected that the format of the paper will meet Graduate Division guidelines with regard to such things as margins and print quality (laser printed, one inch margins all around, use endnotes or parenthetical references instead of footnotes).
Sample Research Paper Outline
On the title page, include the title of the research paper, your name, date, CALIS, University of Hawaii Library and Information Science Program, the date and names of the committee members.
I. Abstract
-- Briefly summarize problem, method and resultsII. Introduction
III. Methodology-- State the research problem
-- Review relevant literature
-- Describe the research design and all procedures followedIV. Results
-- Present analyses of data.V. Discussion
-- Present interpretations of dataVI. Conclusion
VII. References-- Summarize important findings
-- Make recommendations for future research and practice
-- Cite all resources mentioned in the textVIII. Appendices
-- Include instruments used to gather data
-- Approvals from Human Studies Committee, etc.