The College of Communication & Information Sciences at The University of Alabama provides a program of study that leads to an ACHE-recognized Certificate in Archival Studies. This certificate offers a comprehensive grounding in the academic discipline of archival studies, and an understanding of the theory, art, and practice that informs archival work. Students have the opportunity to develop competencies for work with rare books, manuscripts, traditional records, and digital media.
Graduates of the certificate leave prepared for employment in academic, cultural, public, governmental, and corporate environments. Recent graduates are currently employed at leading institutions, including the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH), the New York State Archives, the University of Washington, Birmingham-Southern College, and Samford University.
Admissions
Applications are accepted from students pursuing graduate work in allied disciplines, or already possessing graduate degrees in related disciplines.
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- Three (3) letters of recommendation; for applicants who have been in school in the last 5 years, at least two (2) letters must be academic references.
Students who do not meet these requirements, but who excel in other areas, may be considered for "Admission with Permission to Continue."
Students pursuing the MLIS should apply for admission to the archival studies concentration.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
Students complete a total of 15 hours for the archival studies certificate. Twelve hours come from required archival courses and the final 3 hours are from an approved archival elective.
| Archival Studies Certificate | Hours |
| LS 555 | Intro Archival Studies | 3 |
| LS 556 | Archival Theory & Practice | 3 |
| LS 557 | Archival Appraisal | 3 |
| LS 558 | Archival Repres., Access & Use | 3 |
| 3 |
| Elements of Letterpress | |
| Elements of Bookbinding | |
| Boxmaking | |
| Records Management | |
| Digital Libraries | |
| Prog. Digital Libraries | |
| Metadata Fundamentals | |
| Internship | |
| Universal Access | |
| Race Gender & Sexuality in LIS | |
| Social Aspects of Information | |
| Issues In Librarianship | |
| Directed Research | |
| Descriptive Bibliography | |
| Print Culture and Society | |
| Book Artifact Materiality Text | |
| Electronic/Contemporary Pub. | |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Transfer Credit
Transfer credits are not allowed for the archival studies certificate.
Time Limits for Degree Completion
All requirements for the master's degree must be completed during the six years (18 consecutive semesters) immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded. Additional information about time limits for degree completion for Masters programs is available at the Graduate School.
Academic Misconduct Information
Student academic misconduct is not permitted. In the event of perceived academic misconduct, the University Academic Misconduct Policy will be followed. More information is available here.
Withdrawal or Leave of Absence Information
Students who need to withdraw from a course, the university or take a leave of absence should contact their academic advisor and the SLIS director. Additional information is available on the Graduate School website related to withdrawals and leaves of absence.
Academic Grievances Information
Academic grievances are addressed according to the "University-Wide Academic Grievance Procedures" outlined in the University of Alabama Faculty Handbook.
Grades and Academic Standing
See here for Graduate School Policy information.
