Information Studies FAQ - Part 2
Curtin Courses
Are all Curtin courses available both on-campus and by distance education?
All the courses discussed below are available on-campus in Perth and by distance education delivered online through our learning system. Students undertaking courses by distance education do NOT have to attend any study periods on campus.
What if I can't study full-time?
All courses are available full-time or part-time. However, students who wish to enter a course in semester 2 of the academic year and who wish to study by distance education may only study a maximum of two units during their first semester. This will ensure that the correct sequence of units of study can be followed.
How do I qualify as a professional librarian or records manager/archivist at Curtin?
To qualify as a professional librarian or records manager/archivist you must either:
-
enrol for a qualifying undergraduate degree - 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time;
-
undertake an undergraduate degree in any subject of your choice at any tertiary institution and then take a graduate diploma or masters degree in information studies - 1 year or 1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time after graduation from first degree.
Undergraduate course
Bachelor of Arts (Librarianship and Corporate Information Management)
The undergraduate course has compulsory streams of units in both librarianship and records management. Graduates from this course will be dual qualified in both professional fields.
Graduate courses
Graduates from other degree courses may choose from the following routes to a recognised professional qualification:
-
A one-year full-time or equivalent part-time Graduate Diploma in EITHER Information and Library Studies OR Records Management.
- A 1.5 year full-time or equivalent part-time Master of Information Management degree with a major in EITHER Information and Library Studies OR Records Management and Archives. The final semester of this course may be taken either as optional units of study or as a research project.
- A 1.5 year full-time or equivalent part-time Master of Information Management degree with a major in BOTH Librarianship AND Records Management and Archives. This course leads to dual qualification in both professional fields but does not offer the opportunity to study optional units or undertake a research project.
Students who have already completed a recognised graduate diploma at Curtin or another university may upgrade to a master's degree by completing one extra semester full-time of study.
I am not sure whether I should apply for a graduate diploma or a masters degree. Which is best?
If you are certain that you only want to become professionally qualified in as short a time as possible, you should apply for the graduate diploma. If you intend to apply for AusStudy, you will have to do a graduate diploma as AusStudy is not available for master's degrees. However, there are clear advantages in obtaining the higher qualification and most students should consider entering the Master of Information Management course. If you wish you will be able to exit the course once you have successfully completed one of the Graduate Diploma qualification.
I am already qualified. What courses can I do to upgrade my qualifications?
If you hold a sub-degree-level TAFE/college diploma in librarianship or records management/archives but do not have an undergraduate degree, you may be eligible on the basis of this diploma to enter the undergraduate course in order to upgrade to a full degree. You will be given exemption from part of the course on the basis of your diploma. If you hold a certificate-level qualification or equivalent, you will need to establish your eligibility for a degree course at Curtin in some other way. You may then apply for exemption from part of the course but this exemption is not guaranteed.
If you hold a sub-degree-level TAFE/college diploma in librarianship or records management/archives and ALSO have an undergraduate degree in another subject, you should apply for a graduate course as detailed above. There may be some tailoring of the syllabus to meet your specific needs, but normally no exemption from parts of the course will be given (See question on RPL below).
If you hold the degree of Bachelor of Science (Library Technology) from Edith Cowan University you can upgrade to a professional qualification by applying for the Graduate Diploma in Information and Library Studies or the Master of Information Management degree. The syllabus of these courses will be tailored to your needs.
If you have an undergraduate degree in librarianship or records management/archives, you may wish to undertake further study to improve your knowledge of current trends in information studies. You may choose between:
-
A 0.5 year (one semester) full-time or equivalent part-time graduate certificate. Certificates are currently available in Knowledge Management and Records Management.
-
A 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time honours course. This gives the opportunity to undertake a guided research project and learn the skills of research in professional areas.
-
A 1.5 year full-time or equivalent part-time coursework Master of Information Management degree. After completion of compulsory coursework, the syllabus can include a research project of one-third of the course. Prospective international students should note that IELTS/English Language Bridging course entry score into the Master of Information Management degree, is an overall grade average of 65%, with 70% in the Tertiary Study Skills unit and 70% in the Academic Writing unit.
-
A master's by research degree [MA (Media and Information)] in which a single research project will be undertaken. The length of time needed to complete the research project varies from student to student. Students who do not have an honours degree at undergraduate level will need industry experience before enrolling for a research masters.
If you have a graduate diploma qualification in librarianship or records management/archives you may choose between:
-
A 0.5 year (one semester) full-time or equivalent part-time specialised graduate certificate. Certificates are currently available in Knowledge Management, and Records Management
-
A 0.5 (one semester) full-time or equivalent part-time upgrade to the Master of Information Management degree. The syllabus may consist of a research project, a graduate certificate (see above) or a mixture of coursework and project.
-
A master's by research degree [MA (Media and Information] in which a single research project will be undertaken. The length of time needed to complete the research project varies from student to student.
Doctoral degrees by research are also available. Those interested in doctoral research should contact the Information Studies Coordinator
I would like to have some knowledge of this area of study but do not want or need to be professionally qualified. What are my options?
If you already have a degree you can undertake a 0.5 year (one semester) graduate certificate (see above). There are also limited opportunities for applicants with some tertiary study and substantial work experience to undertake a graduate certificate without having already completed an undergraduate degree.
If you do not have a degree or do not want to complete a graduate certificate, you are welcome to take individual units of study as an extension student. Extension students pay fees separately for each unit and are not formally enrolled in a Curtin course. Certificates are awarded to those who successfully complete a unit.
Successful completion of two relevant extension units makes a student eligible to enter an undergraduate course at Curtin. However, it is important to remember that this does NOT guarantee a place on the chosen course.
What skills will I need before I commence the course?
All students will need a good standard of competency in the English language.
List of qualifications which meet Curtin's English requirement.
You should have had some experience in using a Windows-based computer and have good word processing skills. We suggest that you take a short computing course if your knowledge of computing is poor.
Do courses include periods of work experience and fieldwork?
Qualifying courses at the undergraduate and graduate level all include at least one period of supervised work experience. This will be arranged by the Information Studies Practicum Coordinator in consultation with the student. Undergraduate students and graduate students taking courses which qualify them both in records management and library studies will undertake two periods of practicum. Information Studies will organise the placements as near to their home location as possible for students studying by distance education.
Each practicum lasts between two and three weeks full time and assignments and projects in the following semester may be based on the practicum experience.
Students who have experience of working in information services may be able to apply for full or partial exemption from the practicum component and this is done at the time of enrolment in the relevant practicum unit. However, they will still complete all assignments or projects, often using their own workplace as the basis for these. It may be suggested that students with exemption still spend some time in another information service to widen their experience.
Some units of study in the courses involve visiting information services or doing other fieldwork. Students studying by distance education may need to organise their own visits but assistance is available from the teaching staff at Curtin.
I already have qualifications and experience in information studies. Will this exempt me from parts of my course?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) (formerly called Advanced Standing) is a process whereby students may apply for exemption from part of a course. This exemption may be based on previous study or, less often, on previous experience. An application must be made on the proper form when first enrolling for the course and advice will be given at enrolment.
RPL applications must be accompanied by original documentation or a certified copy of documentation.
Information studies at Curtin has some standard agreements for RPL, in particular for those applying for the undergraduate course who have a previous para-professional diploma in a relevant area. In addition to this, the undergraduate course incorporates four units of study in another subject and two units of study in generic media and information units. Some exemption from these streams may be possible for those who have previous tertiary study in any subject area.
RPL for graduate courses is normally granted only if the applicant has previous relevant study at graduate level. If you have a 3-year undergraduate degree, you will need to study for the complete 1.5 years to obtain a masters degree, in order to satisfy our requirement that masters graduates should have had at least 4.5 years of degree-level education.
Are your courses recognised by the relevant Australian and overseas professional associations?
Qualifying courses in information studies are recognised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Records Management Association of Australia (RMAA) and by the Australian Society of Archivists. Overseas recognition varies from country to country. ALIA the RMAA and the ASA may be able to advise you on any agreements they have with other countries.
I don't want to spend all my time doing professional study. Can my degree include other subjects?
The BA (Librarianship and Corporate Information Management) includes a 4 unit minor stream in another subject. The choice of possible subjects is wide.
It is also possible to take a four year double degree in which you combine study in the professional areas taught in Information Studies with study in another discipline. You will then be fully qualified in both disciplines. Some double degrees are available.
I would like to study a subject which is not taught at Curtin. Is this possible?
Students may study some part of their course at another tertiary institution, although it is not possible unless both institutions agree. This is particularly useful if undergraduate students wish to take a specialised elective unit in Information Studies or a minor stream which is not offered at Curtin. It also offers to distance education students the opportunity to experience some on-campus study if they live near a tertiary institution. There are not so many opportunities for cross-institutional study at graduate level, but students may be able to take specialist information studies units from other institutions in the final semester of the masters course.
Is it possible to do some subjects in librarianship/records management as part of a degree in another subject?
It is possible to do individual units, a minor of four units or a major of eight units in librarianship/records management if the course you are enrolled for makes provision for optional streams or elective units. However, you will not be recognised by the relevant professional library, records or archives associations as professionally qualified.
